When Shana Histand (senior–food science) was a sophomore living in the dorms, she would use America Online's Instant Messenger to talk to her roommate, who sat across the room from her.

Two years later Histand is still using the software, but not as often.

"Back then, it was still novel," Histand said. "When I use it now, it's only a few hours at a time. I use it to talk to friends further away and to procrastinate."

AOL Instant Messenger and similar services are offered as free downloads over the Internet. Once a user signs up for a free screen name, he or she can chat directly with other users by typing messages. More recent versions of the software include the ability for users to send files and pictures to each other.

Megan Merrill (senior-biology), Histand's roommate during her sophomore year, remembers the days when Histand would send messages across the room. Today, Merill has a different use for the software.

"I use Instant Messenger to talk to people who don't go to school here. I don't spend much time on it, though," Merrill said.

Tom Kania (junior–computer science) also uses Instant Messenger to talk to friends outside of campus, yet sometimes he finds himself wasting too much time.

"Instant Messenger is the devil. I am trying to cut back on the amount of time I use it. Last semester it was ridiculous," Kania said.

Kania, who can't stand "boring repetitive conversations," has a secret method of keeping track of who is using the service.

"I have about nine screen names," Kania said. "I have one screen name that no one knows about. I use it to see if it's worth going online."

Anytime is a good time to go online for Joe DiNenno (junior–computer science).

"I use Instant Messenger just about every day," DiNenno said. "I like the fact that you can send pictures over it."

DiNenno's one complaint: "Sometimes when you type something, the other person might take it as offensive when it's really not. You can't tell a person's accent."

Over the past few years, as instant messaging services have grown in popularity, more students have been taking advantage of them.

Nate Stark (junior-computer science) is no stranger to instant messaging services. He has enjoyed talking to friends on ICQ, a similar service to AOL's, for four years.

"Four years ago to last year, I used ICQ. I didn't like AOL, but my ICQ buddy list started dwindling. Now, I use AOL because everyone is using it. Even if I start talking to someone on Napster, we end up talking on AOL Instant Messenger," Stark said.

Stark said he uses Instant Messenger especially when he writes papers.

"I want to talk for 10 minutes," Stark said. "It ends up being 45. Instant Messenger is convenient for people wanting to keep in touch. It's a nuisance when you want to do stuff."

Stark isn't a fan of the sounds the software makes, but his girlfriend evidently is.

"My girlfriend has a feature, her computer moos when I go online," Stark said. "Whenever I log on, she says 'I heard you mooing.'"

Although Stark has a cable modem with a constant Internet connection, he doesn't use the away message feature because he "always misses" the message.

Kania is at the other extreme.

"Since I don't have an answering machine, I leave Instant Messenger on to get messages from people," Kania said.

Kania's Instant Messenger pet peeve: "It's annoying when people send me messages saying 'I'm in class right now.' I don't think professors know people are using it in class."

Merrill also noticed people using Instant Messenger in classes.

"People use it in class all the time. They chat with friends when they are supposed to be using Minitab. You would like to think that professors would know," Merrill said.