iChat AV issue

[CrackedButter]

This will be the first time i have used iChat so bare with me on this.

I have a friend who is on AOL, i have his screen name and his email but i don't know if he is online or not. I'm used to ICQ what with it asking for the server for details and what not. With iChat it seem i have a word in my buddy list which doesn't seem to respond to anything, i cannot even send a message offline to see if it works.

I know Apple software is supposed to be easy and i feel such a pleb for asking, but how does this thing work? The help section is useless btw.

EDIT: It also seems that if i right click on that persons name it gives me the option of 'get info', i press it to find a menu which i have to fill in! I thought it would "get it" for me, strange!

 

[Grimace]

it depends on the user. It won't just "get it" for you - especially if the end user didn't input any data. that is usually for away messages anyway...

if the person is green, double click on their name to start a text field. If orange - they are idle, but around. If red, they are away.

 

[Grimace]

you also need to add him as a buddy. Find that menu, put in his AOL screen name - and you're all set. If you haven't added any buddies, your buddy window will be kinda blank - possibly what you're experiencing now.

 

[CrackedButter]

Okay, i suppose i will have to wait for him now, i cannot believe this is so basic and yet its alien to me the way it works!