Windows Live Messenger 8.0 - Review, Screenshots, and Invites!
18 12 2005
I have recently been invited to beta test Microsoft Windows Live Messenger 8.0 by Microsoft. This is Microsofts’ next generation (geared towards Vista I do believe) messenger that is part of the whole Windows Live deal. Above is a screenshot of the about screen for you to enjoy. But before I continue the review, a few more screenshots:
BETA Notice
Instant Message Window
Contacts list with color changer
Changed Message History window
The settings window
The new “Welcome to Messenger” window
Mini Contact Card upon Mouseover on Contacts
The Actions menu on the contacts list
The new Edit Contact window
Signing in….
Surprisingly, I’m not very satisfied. I have found the program to be extremely buggy, crashing multiple times within a period of just a few hours. If will also freeze on me periodically.
Live Messenger features a color changer on the contacts list, which will change the color scheme of both the contacts list and the instant message window, along with the Send button in the instant message window.
Multiple times I have wanted to uninstall and re-install my trusty version 7.5, but I have decided not to. v8 really isn’t that bad, but it does have its down sides. I also find that the buddy list is very cluttered it seems, and is laggy while browsing through the list.
It also features a new (but annoying) new feature on the contacts list. While browsing through your contacts, if you put the mouse over any contact it will instantly bring up a mini contact card and options to call them, view their webcam, etc. This is very annoying (in my personal opinion) and really lags the contacts list while browsing through it.
However, just like the disclaimer says, this is a very early beta and does not represent the quality of the final product. So I hope anyways. It is definitely usable and stable enough to use on a daily basis. I have also noticed that all the games, custom emoticons, and more, still work after the upgrade.
If anybody wants screenshots of something I didn’t screenshot, leave a comment and I’ll get to it as fast as possible.
One of the advantages to being a Windows Live 8 tester is having the ability to invite other users into the beta program. Currently, I have a few invites to give out to commentors here at tech this out. These invites are going like hotcakes and everybody wants one. Within the next few days, I will pick a few lucky commentors from this post and send an invite to the service to the email address they provide. However, while leaving a comment, you must enter a valid email address in the field (it wont be public, don’t worry. I’ll have it in my admin center). Please note, however, comments may not appear immediatley. Sometimes I need to moderate them. Don’t worry, I will get them up ASAP. Also, please use the email address you plan on using for MSN Messenger. If you enter bob@gmail.com, you will only be able to sign into Windows Live Messenger 8 using bob@gmail.com.
Checkout Windows Live Messenger and more at Ideas @ Live.
Update: The comments are pouring in, and it will be tough to pick winners. However, I will be getting more invites soon and will update you guys when I do. I will leave this open until Tuesday or so maybe and try to get a wider selection of people to pick. Enjoy! - Me
Update: (December 19th, 2005) I’m leaving this open for a few days. Keep those comments coming in.. 17 or so really isn’t that much to pick from!
Update: (December 20th, 2005 2:40 PM) Don’t worry, I haven’t left ya guys hanging. I’m waiting for some more comments, so that I can pick from a broader selection. Plus, I’m going to keep this contest open for a few more days so I can get some more invites so that I can pick MORE winners. Keep commenting, you don’t have a chance if you dont leave a comment! Also, I uninstalled WLM8 on one of my machines due to stability errors.
Enjoy! 
Update: (December 25th, 2005) I have sent out 3 invites to 3 lucky commentors. I am very honestly sorry if you did not recieve an invite, it was very hard to pick and there were many I wanted to pick but couldn’t. But keep checking back because as soon as I have more invites (hopefully a few days) I will offer them again. Thanks for participating.
- Jesse
Previously known as Devious
Does this work on windows x64?
Wow… after reading your comments on Msn 8 maybe it wont be as good as I hoped it to be. I dunknow it seems Msn just isn’t ever up to what people want. Hopefully they listen to people this time to improve it.
Although from what I have heard around the net it is generally ok… I guess its just the same all beta tests have there problems, ups and downs.
I just hope they don’t try and copy other IM’s and use there unquie features.
Great Info.
Matthew.
Really enjoyed reading your review. Should be a vast improvement over the current MSN
Nice story
Spread the love and please please please give the me the invite
im dying to see what they did with messenger
im using Mail beta and its leaps and bounds beyond that blue monstruosity…
Hey Jesse! How’s it going? Remeber me?
Ah the heck with it, we’ve never met. I just thought if it was more personal I’d get an invite. So what do you say eh, send one my way.
Hey, I tryed this beta at a friends house too and I hated it, and Im sure unless Microsoft offers a “Classic” theme and a “10 yearold kid Retarded” theme, I won’t switch to 8.0 until Latest possible. Its dumb tho, I’ve signed up for loads of MSN betas, but haven’t been invited though. Guess its luck of the draw.
I hope I’m the lucky winner of the invite! Been wanting to test this on XboxLive and at work for ages. Fingers crossed…
Nice review! I find the WL products to be quite good IMO, but I would love the chance to try out this new BETA of messenger please
I love the new live messenger looks great and dosent have ads like aim
Actually, it does have ads. and many of them.
I am really interested in this, I have always felt that MSN Messenger’s design isn’t faithful to the true windows ‘look and feel’. However, the chances of me getting an invite are slim, it looks like alot of folks are already lining up for them.
Do you have a WLM invite left? If so, I would really like to beta test it as I’ve done so in the past but unfortunately did not receive a random account from Microsoft. Thanks a lot!
Yes I have a few actually. Just like I said I will be picking a few lucky commentors within the next day to recieve invites.
me! me!
I am long for the invitation> I hope you can give me one ~ My Mail:doggiebox@msn.com
yeah
~friend~,i want to have a invitation so much
~,first .i say “thank you “to you ,second ~so ,third ~so ……
my email:a821024@msn.com
Heya man! How are ya….? Hope it’s good!!
Could you please invite me?
Cya !!
@ Digger: This should work fine on x64bit.
Cheers
hey jesse, i’d love to have an invite if ya got any left! Thanks
rygher3@hotmail.com
Hey Jesse,
If you can send me an invitation aswell I would gratly appriciae it.
hello,
I will be really grateful if you donated me an invite. I would kiss you x10000 (well, no that’ll frighten you off) lol. If you do, I will give any invites given to me away to people on this site who are not fortunate enough of getting one. Thank you.
Lewis 13 (professional tester
)
my email is lewisireland[at]hotmail[dot]com btw
Thanks
giveme giveme! I’m hot and sexy!!
please someone send me an invite? thankyou so much danjames(at)hotmail.com
thankyou again
Dan
I was invited by Microsoft, and I now have Live E-Mail. Would it be possible to get an invite for the beta messenger 8.0? I use the 7.5 every day and would like to be one of the lucky beta testers.
Thanks
mikenjersey@hotmail.com
[…] From tech this out: Windows Live Messenger 8.0 - Review, Screenshots, and Invites! “I have recently been invited to beta test Microsoft Windows Live Messenger 8.0 by Microsoft. This is Microsofts’ next generation (geared towards Vista I do believe) messenger that is part of the whole Windows Live deal. Above is a screenshot of the about screen for you to enjoy.” From tech this out: Introducing Meebo, the best thing since sliced bread! “I have come across this great web service called Meebo. If you are like me, you have multiple IM protocols in order to stay in touch with all your contacts. It is near impossible to have everyone conform to one single service (Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, MSN, etc.).So when on my computer, I use the great application GAIM. The best thing about GAIM is that not only is it cross protocol, it is also cross platform as well. So I can use it at work on my Windows XP system as well as my Linux setup at my aunts house.” […]
can i please have an invite my email is nic_dell@msn.com
It would be really nice to try that out.
Thanks anyway
fonherrera at gmail.com
Fonz
[…] I have just received 5 Windows Live Messenger Invites. If you want to learn more about it, just click here — I posted a long review about it. First five people to comment get invites. Leave your passport email address and you’ll get invites immediatley. […]
kugjigufbc6yed
can i have an invite
bart.wouters@hotmail.com
Can someone generous can send me an invite for MSN Messenger 8.0 beta ?
my address is mickaelkhalifa@hotmail.com
I am in hurry to use it and it seems great !
Thank you in advance !
Mickael
may u please send me an invite i would be to much gracefull to u my email is yasser_hosn@hotmail.com
Hi
If you have any left can you send one to me plsl
I really want it
Thank you in advance
azoescu@hotmail.com
plz send me invitation at mailtoomer@hotmail.com
Hi
If u or anyone has an invite can u please send me one please???
My E-Mail Address is…
thefallen_interlude@hotmail.com
thank u very very much if u send me one i already down loaded the 8.0 Beta I just need that invite.
How did u guys get msn messenger 8.0 downloaded,
step by step?