IRC

[techtopia]

I used to use IRC many moons ago, but it kind of went by the wayside in favour of other non-techie pursuits.

 

Thinking about getting back into 'it', but haven't a clue where to start! I've forgotten so much! Use to use mIRC, but see there is no free version these days (was there ever?) so which free client should I use? And what networks are most active? I'll be looking for general chatter, a few ahem 'freebies' and general banter.

[tom_newton]

Try X-Chat 2 for Windows for a decent client - or pidgin I think works, but not used it. We do IRC for inter-office tech chat in SmoothWall.

[jedmondson]

There is an unofficial edugeek irc chat room. http://www.edugeek.net/forums/general-chat/53834-edugeek-emergency-chat.html

[RabbieBurns]

I use irssi

[p858snake]

Try X-Chat 2 for Windows for a decent client - or pidgin I think works, but not used it. We do IRC for inter-office tech chat in SmoothWall.

I use the PChat compile of XChat compared to the silverex one, It just seems to get updated slightly more and its already packaged to be portable , also pidgin is horrible at IRC and should be hurt.

[tom_newton]

Thanks for that! I'm actually using xchat on linux, but some of the windows chaps here used silverex. I know from quit messages that a few of my colleagues in southampton use pidgin - i'll let them know they're being doylems

[PeteM]

Wow, I thought IRC died ages ago. I remember Dalnet, Starnet, EFnet etc etc from the mid 90's and even setting up an IRC quiz bot on an internal network for a bit of fun. Thousands of channels catering for a wide range of tastes.

[CAM]

I am trying TurboIRC7 at home which isn't too bad. Can't link to site on school network though.

[synaesthesia]

Still use mIRC (actually paid for it) although you can continue to use it without paying, just you'll have the nag screen for 30 secs at startup after 30 days. Xchat otherwise is damned good, irssi even more so if you're a bit geekier

 

Quakenet is still the largest network and has a huge range of chans and topics, and I'll be bound to plug that as I'm staff there and run an officially recognised hardware/software support channel.

Otherwise freenode is good for technical stuff. Most of the other networks are too full of rubbish these days other than independent and small/specialised IRC networks - Edugeeks included

Steer clear of Efnet/Gamesnet/whats left of Dalnet and you'll probably be fine

[Sylv3r]

I use mIRC still also.