[ubuntu-uk] Using Windows live

[Tony Pursell]

On Thu, 2011-01-13 at 15:53 +0000, Graham Smith wrote:
> My better half wants to communicate with a relative in Canada, who has
> told her its easy, "you just click on the Windows Messenger icon on
> your desktop"
> 
> 
> However, given that my better half is looking at a Ubuntu desktop, it
> isn't as easy as suggested.  I know nothing about Instant messaging,
> but now have to sort this out.
> 
> 
> Can I assume that she will need a Windows Live account, can she sign
> up for this from Ubuntu or is Microsoft going to say this isn't
> Windows go away.
> 
> 
> I gather from what I have read that Empathy will work with Windows
> Live, once she has an account.
> 
> 
> However, does anyone have any advice that will help me avoid any
> obvious problems, or suggestions of a best approach.
> 
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> 
> Graham
> 

In theory, empathy should be able to work with MSN (aka Windows Live
Messenger), however, there are problems.  

Firstly, if you go to the Windows Live web site to sign up for an
account it may tell you to get lost as you are not using Windows.
However, there are ways for Firefox to fool websites into thinking you
are using Windows.  Maybe someone will tell us how that's done.

Then there is the big problem that Empathy does not work well with MSN.
At least, I have not been able to get it to work with the full video
experience.  Personally, I think this is one of the major deficiencies
in Ubuntu at present. However, straight typed chat is no problem.

Tony