ClChat 3.7 Review

 PRODUCT NAME

        CLChat 3.7


 BRIEF DESCRIPTION

        An IRC like server and a GUI client for the servers like Grapevine.


 AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION

        Name:           Oliver Wagner

        E-mail:         o.wagner@pluribus.wupper.de.

        WWW:            http://ramiga.cts.com/clchat/clchat.html

 LIST PRICE

        Freeware.  No money is asked for it whatsoever.  You may find this
        product on Aminet in comm/tcp/ or any other public Amiga archive.

 SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS


        HARDWARE

           1 Meg of RAM required for client if running a server more is
           recommended.

           A Hard Drive is required and CLChat uses 184k if fully
           installed.

        SOFTWARE
        
           Requires AmiTCP 4.0, TIA, or MLink.
           MUI 2.3
           Workbench 2.04


 COPY PROTECTION


        There is no copy protection, since this program is freeware.  

 MACHINE USED FOR TESTING

        Amiga 4000/040 40mhz, 30meg fast, 2meg chip.
        1 HD Floppy, 2.1gig, 540IDE hard drives, EGS
        Spectrum, Idek 17" monitor, and Workbench 3.0.


 INSTALLATION

        CLChat now has a easy to use Commodre Installer script.


 REVIEW

     CLChat is a wonderful multi-user chat program.  When you download
 the archive and install you will be asked if you want to install the
 server and the gui.  You do not have to install your own server as there
 are already many public 24hr servers available.  There is a collection of
 linked servers called ARC-Net, see the manual or web site for more info.
 After you have installed CLChatGUI and start it, you might find it
 familar, as the interface is close to that of an IRC client.  The actions,
 private messages, and different channels give it a very IRC-like feel.
 You and a friend may go there to chat, and find a few others to chat with,
 or go to your own channel for a discussion.

     With its Dialog box, sending private messages repeatedly is very
 easy, in a way much like DCC chat.  You and your friend want to exchange
 pictures?  CLChat has a file transfer button that sends files direct
 between machines, making transfer rates very fast.        
 
     One of CLChats nicest features is it's arexx port.  You can use it to
 make bots or scripts.  This is a usfull item that todays irc clients
 are missing.



 DOCUMENTATION

        The documentation is in Amiga guide and very easy to follow.


 LIKES

        I like that CLChat is like the IRC, but more personal.  Not as
        many users, just a bunch of Amiga people chatting.


 DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS

        There is really nothing to dislike as the author has worked hard
        to make it perfect.


 COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS

                   CLChatGUI vs. the IRC client Grapevine.
                   
     It is much like Grapevine with user bar on the side, with all of the
 basic type commands of the irc, a nice preference program with all the
 related items, screen, beep and such.  The server give clchat all of it's
 irc like qualities with a dcc chat type funtion and a dcc send like file
 sending direct between machines makes clchat a pleasure to use.


 BUGS

        Most all of the bugs that were present have been takin care of
        thanks to a speedy author.  


 WARRANTY

        Oliver Wagner makes no warranties on CLChat.


 CONCLUSIONS

        In conclusion I think CLChat in another one of those really great
        net programs that you must add to your collection.  You are sure
        to enjoy it with all of its marvelous features.