IRC (Internet Relay Chat) is a virtual real time chat line between you and other users on the Internet. Aside from the personal communications, the discussions on every subject under the sun, (some that never see the light of day) so many people from so many cultures and walks of life are logging on IRC everyday. You can "talk" to them, no matter where they are in the world.
IRC was originally written by Jarkko Oikarinen in 1988. Since starting in Finland it has been used in over 60 countries around the world. IRC was designed as a replacement for the "talk" program for Telnet (you can still Telnet into IRC, it is very slow though, and that is another set of servers) but has become much much more than that. IRC is a multi-user chat system, where people convene on "channels" , they are called channels on IRC and NOT "rooms", (a virtual place, usually with a topic of conversation, and not) to talk in groups, or privately. More often, people just get on and blab about whatever they want.

Active Worlds Browser

Version: 1.1 Build 151 Last Modified: April 18, 1997 File Name: awb151.exe Size: 1,146,574 Available as: Freeware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure Active Worlds. HomePage: http://www.wbm.ca/orbitirc Description: Real-time chat software that can be used from the World Wide Web. Has a 3D type interface where everyone adopts an "avatar" and rather than chat rooms, you point anc click to walk closer to different groups. There are many "worlds" available where you can go to chat with different people. Rating:

AtChat

Version: 1.0 Last Modified: May 10, 1997 File Name: atchat10exe Size: 782,349 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure At Chat. HomePage: http://www.abbottsys.com/atchat.html Description: Have your friends download a copy of AtChat and run your own chat group! No more fussing with public chat on IRC, online services or Web sites. Now you can chat direct anytime, no servers needed! AtChat puts YOU in control. So your chat is FAST and PRIVATE. You can even transfer files while chatting! It's a new way to communicate with friends, family or business colleagues worldwide. --Chat direct: no IRC, no Online Services, no Web pages! --Connect to almost anyone, all you need is their email address! --Host your own group chat, perfect for meetings! --Transfer files and chat at the same time! --FAST and PRIVATE! Rating:

Internet Tele Cafe

Version: 3.00a Last Modified: April 15, 1997 File Name: tc300-32.exe Size: 1,750,246 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Just click on the file after you download it and it will install itself. HomePage: http://www.telecafe.com/telecafe/ Description: This Chat system has grown to become one of the Largest Chat Sytems of it's kind. With over 19,000 Members, you will really enjoy meeting new people from all around the world. This system only becomes better when you use the specially designed software, that will give you the benefit of easy viewing, along with the joys of sounds. Rating:

IRCFerret for Win95

Version: 3.00a Last Modified: March 23, 1997 File Name: netferret102.exe Size: 3,014,656 Available as: Trialware (expires June 15, 1997) "Newbies": Download the file put it in a directory and then run setup. HomePage: http://www.webferret.com/netferret/ircferret.htm Description: Looking for friends, new and old? IRCFerret will search the IRC Networks around the world to find them. Searches are specified by the keywords you enter, matching them against every IRC users email address, nickname, and description. You can even limit specific channels to search. The IRC networks will be searched simultaneously, without you having to manually connect and search yourself. Searches are done intelligently and efficiently to save you time and bandwidth. Once the search results have been returned, you can (if you have an irc client installed) join the channel with the user you have selected, and start chatting. If the user has his web page URL in his description (common practice), IRCFerret lets you launch your web browser and automatically takes you to the users web page. Rating:

ICQ 32-bit 1.113 beta

Version: ICQ 32-bit 1.113 beta Last Modified: July 3, 1997 File Name: icqsetup.exe Size: 1,429,325 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": ICQ sets itself up with an execute file, however you may need help to configure this program. HomePage: http://www.mirabilis.com/ Description: Would you like to know if your friends & associates are surfing the net? Right now? No longer will you search in vain for friends & associates on the net. does the searching for you, alerting you in real time when friends & colleagues sign on. You can chat, send messages and files, play games or use it as the perfect business tool to find and contact associates in realtime through the internet. Rating:

LOL Chat

Version: 2.01 Offical Release Last Modified: October 19, 1997 File Name: lc201.exe Size: 1,147,904 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Just click on the file after you download it and it will install itself. HomePage: http://www.lolchat.com/ Description: A new chat client that features Unlimited Connections , Full Answering Machine, Multiple File Transfer, Login List, Surf Mode with support for Netscape and Internet Explorer and much more. Rating:

Microsoft Chat (formerly Comic Chat)

Version: 2.0 Beta 1 Last Modified: February 1, 1997 File Name: mschat2.exe Size: 1,111,728 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Just click on the file after you download it and it will install itself. HomePage: http://www.microsoft.com/ie/comichat/default.htm Description: Comic Chat is a new kind of graphical chat program, developed at Microsoft. As users type text into Comic Chat, a comic strip unfolds showing the various participants in the conversation as comics characters, and their utterances in word balloons. On the fly, each Comic Chat client automatically determines a number of aspects related to comics generation. These include: Which characters to place in each panel, The gestures and expressions for these characters, The layout of word balloons in the panels, When to move on to a new panel, What zoom factor to use for each panel and more. These decisions take less than a second a panel, and the result is an aesthetic comic strip, representing the conversation. You can also use Comic Chat on any IRC channel. Comic Chat will automatically assign each text chat user in the channel a character, so even if all the participants don't have Comic Chat, you will get a comic representation of all of the chatters on the channel. Rating:

mIRC 32-Bit

Version: 5.11 Last Modified: September 11, 1997 File Name: mirc511t.exe Size: 794,624 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure mIRC. HomePage: http://www.mirc.co.uk/get.html 16-bit version: Windows 3.1 version Size: 857,088 Tips and Tricks page: http://www.sna.com/wray/mirc.html Description: Feature for feature one fo the best, if not the best IRC program out today. mIRC has several different remote switches, aliases, and dcc that can be used for your IRC enjoyment. Rating:

NetPopup

Version: 2.23 Last Modified: April 5, 1997 File Name: netpopu2.zip Size: 324,705 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Netpopu with be easy to set up, you may need some help with the configuation. HomePage: http://www.vtoy.fi/~malo/netpopup.html Description: NetPopup is a realtime way to send messages in Internet or TCP/IP-network. Messages are sent directly, using multithreading, to other computer(s) without an e-mail server. Since most users has dynamic IP-address, NetPopup has built-in feature, Seeker ,which allows you easily to search other NetPopups from the net. Rating:

OrbitIRC

Version: 1.24 Last Modified: May 7, 1997 File Name: orb124.zip Size: 2,499,597 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure OrbitIRC. HomePage: http://www.wbm.ca/orbitirc Description: OrbitIRC is an IRC Client. It gives a user easy Point-and-Click control over all aspects of an IRC Chat or DCC File Transfer. OrbitIRC does away with all those hard to remember command line commands! It has a unique interface where there are no windows hiding other windows - everything is in the open for you to monitor your IRC session. It's a fresh look at a great internet pastime. Rating:

Pirch 32-Bit

Version: 0.92 Beta Last Modified: January 12, 1997 File Name: pirch32s.exe Size: 1,065,747 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure Pirch. HomePage: http://www.mirc.co.uk/get.html 16-bit version: Windows 3.1 version Size: 835,670 Description: An IRC client that has all the commands and features you come to expect, but also many nice ones that you wouldn't. For example: New media player functionality, drag & drop sound files to play them right from the media player Support for multimedia plugins including RealAudio, now you can play .ra/.ram RealAudio files as well as other sound formats including .mod, .au etc with /sound command. All you need is the appropriate player and a line in the extension map. New /LINKS command that will display a map of the IRC network and allow you to quickly & easily connect to a different server or add alternative servers to your personal server list /FETCH command that will allow you to download files and information from worldwide web servers. Have your own channel? Set up a channel motd!! Extended customizability of the popup menus. Now you can define popups for Main Channel Pane and Server Window in addition to the channel names list. This new version also adds video capability. Rating:

VIRC '97

Version: 1.0 Last Modified: September 15, 1997 File Name: virc97_100.zip Size: 1,134,470 Available as: Shareware "Newbies": Easy to set up, however, you may need help to configure VIRC '96. HomePage: http://www.megolilth.co.uk/virc 16-bit version: Windows 3.1 version Size: 963,307 Description: Feature for feature one fo the best, if not the best IRC program out today. mIRC has several different remote switches, aliases, and dcc that can be used for your IRC enjoyment. Rating:

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