When Microsoft decided to revamp their entire GUI for their popular and world-renowned Live Messenger, it was a total mistake. We loved the old Windows Live Messenger, which was easy to navigate, fuss-free to use and glitch-free (well, nearly).
Microsoft decided instead to add more redundant features such as allowing users to “appear offline” to a certain bunch of people, “optimized” linking to other MSN Live services via administrative controls which were at best poorly implemented. The reasoning was that, people wanted more control over their privacy and will love micro-managing their profile options just like what Facebook did.
It was probably a good assumption on Microsoft’s part. However, in reality, the plan was badly executed. The new interface is clunky, messy and awfully awkward to use – by default, the new MSN Live Messenger 2011 is set up as a “full-view” when installed although users can switch to “compact view” which is more reminiscent of the good-ol Windows Live Messenger 8.5/2009. Whenever you change a status message, it is “updated” or rather, spammed immediately across your network which is totally uncalled for.
When you click on “Edit Profile”, an Internet Explorer pops up and loads a page whereby you are “allowed” to change both your first name and last name. This feature restricts a user by forcing them to type in their real names. On the Internet, I dare say most, if not all of us, love anonymity and therefore have no wishes for everyone on our contact list to know our names (full name, no less).
And who wants to hotmail sync-ed to Live Messenger? Everytime we check email, we will “appear online” on Live Messenger, which is incredibly stupid. When we click on the “inbox” button on our Live Messenger, the outlook express pops up and this is 1 “feature” I would rather be removed.
Also, when we appear offline and want to switch back to online, people whom we “blocked” (now called “appear offline”), are instantly granted the “unblocked” status. I cannot believe the Microsoft engineers are so daft, or maybe their GUI designers arent talking to the programming team? Beats me.
Needless to say, most of the people who have jumped onto Facebook never looked back to MSN Live Messenger. Not because Facebook chat is better but if we had wanted something similar (a website interface inspired chat), why would we have installed MSN Live Messenger in the first place?
MSN Live Messenger 2011 sucks to say the very least and the experience was unbearable – I could almost feel it tearing me inside out as I barely managed to struggle with the cloyingly-helpful interface. There were times whereby I wished I had a sledgehammer by my side.
To Microsoft – you killed your own product and if by any chance that any Microsoft Engineer reads about this post, please bring back the beloved old Messenger.
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