What is the difference between Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft Messenger and MSN Messenger?

like, I know one is for Mac and stuff but can someone give me a detail compare and contrast of them all?

Windows Live Messenger 8.0

MSN Messenger 7.5

Microsoft Messenger 6.0

What is the difference between Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft Messenger and MSN Messenger?windows 98

Hi there...

WINDOWS LIVE MESSENGER (WLM) is the latest version of Microsoft's instant messaging client. Very much like Yahoo instant messenger (YIM), or AOL instant messenger (AIM). Anyone running Windows XP can download Windows Live Messenger and begin IMing with other users.

WLM has a slew of new features compared to its previous versions - the most interesting to me is the ability to share folders with people you're chatting with. WLM promises to interact directly with Yahoo Messenger in the near future.

WLM is actually version 8, because it is really just a new name for, the latest version of and the replacement for MSN Messenger.

It's the same program with a new name, and new features.

MSN MESSENGER is simply the "old" version of Windows Live Messenger - nothing more, nothing less. Versions 6 through 7.5 all seem to be popular and "in the wild".

If you have Windows XP, you probably want to upgrade to the latest version: Windows Live Messenger. If you're running any other version of Windows, you may need to stick with these older versions of MSN Messenger.

Windows Messenger is yet another instant messaging client, very much like MSN Messenger and WLM. It comes with Windows XP and runs only on Windows XP. It's typically version 4.7, though the updated Windows Messenger 5.0 also runs on Windows 2000.

Important: Windows Messenger is not MSN Messenger, nor is it WLM. That's important because you can run Windows Messenger at the same time as MSN Messenger or WLM. That can get confusing if they are both logged into the same account because a message about being logged into two places may result.

WINDOWS MESSENGER is a different program from the other two. It has a different feature set, and release on a different schedule. In particular, Windows Messenger is more tightly integrated with applications such as Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, or the Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP. The differences, and the confusion, don't end there, though. Microsoft has a Knowledgebase article that touches on more of the technical differences, and provides instructions for installing and running both on the same machine. The good news is that chances are, you'll never need to know how, or why, you would want to.

What is the difference between Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft Messenger and MSN Messenger?microsoft support internet explorer

why would you consider ANYTHING from ms?