Someone recommended the program Digsby to me today. I watched the video on their site. It seems to be a multi-service IM client with Twitter, Facebook, email, and other social network services built in. A lot of stuff in the video actually turned me off, like “what if you could update your status on all your networks at once?” Well, I hate that idea. I always hated going to someone’s facebook page and seeing that it was just all their tweets, or vice versa. Besides, having just quit facbook, the only social network I use is twitter and I like TweetDeck for that.
But what the hell, it’s a free download, so if it was a decent IM client, I would be happy and ignore the rest. So I download and start the install process. Here’s what you get first:
In addition to installing itself, it wants to install a browser plugin that is going to give them money every time you buy something from certain merchants. Um… wtf? No thanks. Uncheck that and move on, cautiously at this point.
Next up we get this screen.
I admit, I actually fell for this one. I didn’t read carefully. Didn’t see an opt-out checkbox like on the other screen, clicked the “Accept” button, thinking it was a “Next” button. Moving on innocently, we get to this point:
OK, this is getting frigging ridiculous. They want to change my home page to “Google Powered Digsby” as well as my default search engine. Bug off! Worse even, is they want to use my CPU for grid computing. I didn’t even check what the hell they’d be computing on it, I just did a quick triple opt out and continued on, a bit pissed off at this point.
Then this window pops up.
No, I don’t want a damn Digsby account. I just want to see what the program does. I close that and get to the main interface, and see this:
Apparently, I HAVE to have a Digsby account to use the software at all. Well screw that. Just wasted 10 minutes of life. I close that, intending to uninstall the damn thing, but decide to check my email first. Whoa! There’s a giant “Welcome to Xobni” panel in my Outlook. Baffled, I uninstalled both Xobni and Digsby, and then walked through the Digsby install process again to see how I got duped into Xobni. That’s where I got the screenshots.
In the past, I’ve made critical remarks about software I’ve installed, only to have the developer contact me personally and say something like, “sorry you didn’t like it.” In a few cases, I felt bad – maybe I had been a bit overcritical, off the cuff puts downs, etc. But in this case, I’d say that Digsby leaves the impression of severe sleaze, bordering on malware. By my count, it tried to install 3 other pieces of software and make two browser configuration changes, all opt out. Two different UIs, for opt out, which caught me off-guard and tricked me into installing something I didn’t want. My fail, but that was their intention. So I have no problem slamming this piece of… software.
You have been warned.
what crap, I recommend Trillian Astra, I spent the $20 for Trillian Pro years ago and haven’t looked back since. They also have great free versions. http://www.trillian.im/
My entire office installed Disgby about a month ago. I was the only one who didnt accidentally install Xobni! It’s definitely a sneaky one. I too almost clicked the Accept button mistaking it for a Next button.
I also hate the need to sign up for an additional Disby account just to sign into my other accounts using their software. Having done all that though it is a decent multi-IM app for windows since there’s no Adium for PC 😉
Annoyingly it sets your status as some kind of Digsby recommendation which you need to disable in options. Some of my friends thought I was personally recommending it to them when I had in fact done no such thing. This isn’t obvious to you as the Digsby UI says Available however your users see the real status!
I agree that their installer is pretty sleazy, but it’s actually a nice bit of software if you manage to get through the minefield. The Digsby account feature is actually nice, because when you log in all of your IM accounts and various settings will come with you across multiple machines.
I think they ought to just try the shareware model and get people to register rather than install various revenue sharing apps, but they’re doing what they can do stay in business.
I agree with Josh. The installer is a real POS, but the software is nice. I used to use Pidgin, but Digsby’s facebook/twitter integration is a bit nicer in my opinion.
The software may be good. If so, it’s a shame they give such an awful impression with the installer. I finished it with a bad taste in my mouth and complete distrust of the company.
Currently, I use Miranda-IM. Free, open source, lots of plugins, and under active development. Updates come out every week or so. It was my favorite 3-4 years ago when I was on Windows and I was happy to rediscover it again.
I used to use Trillian, free version. I tried it again when I came back but felt the UI looked really clunky. Miranda-IM is very minimal looking.
Wow, just took another look at Trillian, and noticed it had some skin and ui options that I had overlooked. Downloaded the free version and it also wanted to install the Ask toolbar and Xobni! Same UI as Digsby. Damn.
Yes I use the minimal skin, I love it.
Holyhell I’ve had this installed for about a year now and I don’t remember it being this bad.
Another thing that pisses me off with it is that for ages it was taking over my status messages to promote digsby. It took me a couple of goes to find the setting to turn that off.
I really like the software but it really is starting to bug me about how sneaky it is being. I don’t even recommend it to people anymore.
Are there any decent alternatives though? I’ve tried pidgen and trillian but I dont think they work as well. I’ll give that Miranda-IM a go now.
I’m on meebo. It’s web-based, so nothing to install.
Weel, I agree on the point that this piece of Software is awesome and i use it very much! i use to use pidgin before but this is really awesome and great
I actually use Digsby and I think it’s a great application.
But I do agree with you that the installation gives a bad image about the software
Ive tried lot of MSN alternatives on Windows, and nothing beats gold-old-standard-issue Windows Live Messenger. It works for sending messages and files, hassle free, secure and zero spyware.
I had the very same experience yesterday. I was like c’mon! with every new screen, I was asked to install more and more crap apps or functionalities that I didn’t ask for. Use my CPU for grid computing?? Computing WHAT exactly?
I finished the installation process, avoiding all the bloat, I think. And when I launched the app, my antivirus complained about some objectionable behaviour (an heuristic malware detection of some sorts) so I blocked execution and uninstalled that piece of crapware.
KP. This is only ene of the things of why I don’t back for Windows. MacOSX is much better. I know have some Flash developers backing for it, windows seven is better but still windows.
Henry, what does this have to do with Windows or OSX? It’s a third party piece of software. That’s no different than saying “I don’t like Flash because some people make bad Flash banner ads.”
KP, here’s what I do… Use VM instances.
In windows, create a VM instance of Windows. (I use VM Ware).
One instance for development, one for play, etc.
You can reset it anytime.
etc.
Also, even w/ that, every 6 months, I reinstall windows and load my dev VM instance back in.
hth
When I was on windows I liked using Digsby, that said, the installer is awful and sneaky. I held off installing it a few times and tried to double check online to see if it was a legit installer. I can’t imagine the number of people that have installed crap along with it.
I’ve been using Pidgin for a few months and I think it’s great… Much better than all of the other alternatives that I’ve tried, and it’s not scummy at all.
I wouldn’t trust anything that obviously steals the likeness of Homestar Runner for a logo. homestar would totally thrash these guys.
I’m glad someone noticed the homestar runner rip-off.
Another vote for Pidgin, I’ve been happy with it for about 6 months now.
i installed digsby like a year ago, there weren’t as many invasive screens on the installer, that i remember anyway. but i was peeved to find the yahoo/digsby tool bar on my browser.
but the client is awesome, for the most part. a lot better than Pidgin.
my $0.02
Yeah, I started using Digsby a few months ago when the upgrade for Trillian was–in my opinion–too much chrome; not enough functional interface (that is, I felt that the UI had too thick of borders etc.).
I liked Digsby primarily because it was built by (my alma mater) RIT students/graduates… and it was free. And it was pretty lightweight. However, I never liked how the history worked. And, ultimately, I changed back to Trillian for the very nicely done history feature.
As to the invasiveness of Digsby–I hear you. I think the basic line or reasoning (which is faulty) is that “hey, it’s free–we gotta make money somehow”. But I do think it ultimately hurts them.
I use disgby and yes if you are lazy and don’t have the time to read/check options you will have a bad taste in your mouth…maybe because you have become so accustom to being spoon fed…. This is free software made by a group of people that had to find someway to support it other then beg for donations. Honestly software development can not subsists on donations alone if you want it to be up to date as well as have new features. So they made deals with other companies to allow them to bundle (ALL WITH OPT OUTS) for some cash upfront to help them to continue to develop it. It just frustrates me to see bashing something because of ignorance. Like blaming the Cop that writes you the speeding ticket because you didn’t know what that sign that said 45 meant….I guess I shouldn’t be surprised… with the average American attention span @ <5mins and most willing to do whatever they are told by anyone with a microphone why push the comfort zone and think…. just sad…
Yeah, this install process feels like purgatory. This “Digsby donates” thing is also quite sketchy.
I use Digsby too. Its an awesome solution if you have multiple computers. The online account of digsby is used for sharing all preferences accross all clients. Once configured, you dont need to configure anywhere else. Pretty good FB chat integration und fantastic gmail integration.
The only thing is, that it likes to promote itself accross all networks 😉 Quite evil and wants your unused processor resources. (in my case, wouldnt matter that much, because when im not at my pc its mostly in standbymode, so no computing is done at all.
But you can turn that off in the settings. They re still seeking a way to get money for what their doing.
I started using Digsby and I like it a lot! I agree that the installation sucked but it’s otherwise a nice little application. It’s good that you can turn off those ads and computing things if you want to even after you have installed it!
Another thing that I like is that you can put the chat widget on your blog so visitors can chat with you! I have it on my blog and it works very well. 🙂
~ Hugs Lori ~