OS X Mountain Lion Portable Genius

Getting Started with Messages

Instant messaging is one of the most popular forms of communication today. On the Internet, you can have instant conversations with anyone, anywhere in the world. Messages is a great instant messaging client that can do much more than just send text clips back and forth. You can also exchange files, like pictures, documents, and music. Because Messages is also on the iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone, you can converse with users of those devices from your Mac; it’s the same app, just on different platforms. To start using Messages, you need to set up an account and add some contacts to your Buddy List.

Setting up an Messages account

Messages can use several different types of instant messaging accounts, which are laid out for you in Table 5.8.

You are also able to use your Apple ID for Messages, which might be the preferred method for some.

After you get your account affiliations in order, it’s time to start up Messages. From within the Finder, press +Shift+A to open the Applications folder, and then double-click the Messages icon, or simply click the Messages icon in the Dock. When you open Messages for the first time, you are greeted with a welcome screen. Simply click Continue to move forward and set up an account.

To add your instant messaging account ...