While MSN Messenger 3 offers a completely redesigned interface to go along with new features like the voice chat support and file sharing capabilities mentioned earlier, as well as support for emoticons, a MoneyCentral tab for tracking stocks, support for Passport Public Profiles, improved connectivity with firewalls, cell phone and pager connectivity options, and support for cheap world-wide phone calls and free U.S. phone calls, the client still faces an uphill battle.
With so few features relative to the competition and an inferior search tool for finding users, it's hard to recommend the MSN Messenger over the likes of ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo Mesenger. If you're a regular user of HotMail and/or MSN, it might make sense to start out with the MSN Messenger, but you'll very likely run into the Messenger's limitations after a short time and want to look for a more useful messaging tool.
Pros: Streamlined interface, excels at sending instant messages, freeware
Cons: Lacks some advanced features found in competing clients, inferior search tool
