MSN alternatives

[Robert]

Ok, I dealt with MSN up until they converted to that fucking Live messenger bullshit where they try to subjugate you with the toolbar every time you open it, I'm looking for a sleek alternative with no advertising but with basic features, (contact pictures, blocking, chat logging, -maybe- a link to my email but I can do without, would like to have "Show what I'm listening to now" but don't care, and comments next to names of myself/contacts). I tried Trillian Pro but went right back to MSN, maybe I just didn't know enough about it to make it do what I want.

Help me out /bg/

edit: forgot to mention; I'm really only looking for an alternative to MSN, I use DeadAIM and I'm quite fond of that so I'm not looking for an all-in-one

[Cephius]

Trillian or Pidgin is the way to go. They are all-in-one messengers, so you have to configure them a bit. Enter your account info, what client it is (AIM, MSN, ect) and it'll load it for you and put all your contacts together.

[Killgannon]

simple googling returns:
http://www.amsn-project.net/
which looks exactly like what you're looking for
<insert just fucking google it here>

[Robert]

wow pidgin is fucking awesome thanks <3

[SephYuyX]

Just use the basic messenger thats built in with XP?

Go to Start > Run and put in msmsgs and hit enter.
Te actual .exe is located in Program Files > Messenger

[Ikith]

Or digsby you can program a few social sites like myspace into it and get alerts through it as well. The only thing I don't like is they have your data saved up on their server somewhere !