or networked server; you can drag that monster file directly to your buddy’s PC, through Messenger, for a direct machine-to-machine transfer. Tip: The following pages assume that you’ve made the Messenger menu bar appear (which it doesn’t normally). To do that, click the Å button near the top of the buddy list; from the shortcut menu, choose “Show the menu bar.”
Building the Buddy List The first thing you need is a chatting companion, what’s called a buddy in instantmessaging circles. It can be anyone with a Microsoft account (Hotmail, Xbox, Windows Live, Messenger), or anyone with a Yahoo Messenger account. (The three big chat networks are Microsoft’s, Yahoo’s, and AOL’s; only AOL chatters can’t communicate with Windows Live Messenger.) All your buddies are listed in the startup window, as shown 7-19. Figure 7-19: On this buddy list, your favorite chat partners appear at the top. (And how do you designate someone a Favorite? Right-click his name and choose “Add to favorites,” of course.)