09/21/2007, 10:15am, EDT

Friday, September 21st

.Mac users being kicked out of Windows Live?

Some users of Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger service have this week found themselves unable to connect, according to scattered accounts. If a user with a "mac.com" e-mail address attempts to sign on to Messenger, the client software will display an error message, informing them that they need to change their address to resume service. "Because of a recent system update," the error reads, "you must change the e-mail address that you use to sign in to Windows Live(TM) Messenger. Until you change your e-mail address, you won’t be able to use Windows Live(TM) Messenger."

The service blockage appears to be directly targeted at Mac owners, as users with accounts from the likes of Gmail have indicated no disruptions. Microsoft has not replied to a two-day old MacNN inquiry, but it is known that the company hosts a rival service to .Mac, Windows Live Spaces. Microsoft has otherwise been generally friendly to the Mac, creating Mac-specific clients or allowing logins through third-party software such as Adium.

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jarod

LOL

09/21, 10:18am, EDT

MicroDUMP wants even LESS subscribers. Hmmm interesting to see the slow demise of the plague.

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doctor9

Aaah...same old thing

09/21, 10:27am, EDT

Once again, we Mac users are dropped to 2nd class status. But of course, we should never complain because then we might be accused of being Apple Fanboys!

Then again, it is MSN/Live... no use crying over something that is irrelevant.

/

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pinenuts

annoying

09/21, 11:19am, EDT

happened to me. annoying

Baninated

Joined Aug 2007

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thraxisp

It gets Worse

09/21, 11:57am, EDT

I had the same experience. Unfortunately, my account is completely useless with the Tech Support folks telling me to upgrade to the latest version of Windows and Windows Messenger, delete all my contacts, tell all my contacts to delete me, and start over from scratch. :(

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Feathers

monopolistic tendencies..

09/21, 12:01pm, EDT

...are alive and well. M$ says our way or the highway. Just when people were starting to question the need for continued close scrutiny of their business practices, they score a wonderful own goal with this one. It has all the belligerent stupidity of er...Steve Ballmer?

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Joined Oct 1999

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Guest

Just temporary: rectified

09/21, 12:06pm, EDT

This was a temporary hickup, although not without consequences. For all the details, check out http://www.mess.be

sputschic

ugh

09/21, 12:11pm, EDT

"Windows Live"? What's that? And why would there are Mac users on it? GTFO, switcheurs.

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Guest

Easy There

09/21, 12:16pm, EDT

This was a hiccup, I had te same problem and recieved the following email response from tech support: "We understand that you may have received prompts when you attempted to sign in with your @MAC.COM Messenger ID. We had a short maintenance on the servers which caused this. Based on our tests, you may be able to sign in to MSN Messenger at this time and will not be prompted to change your ID anymore." The problem has been completely fixed. Easy there conspiracy nuts!

PS - As for why any Mac user would be using this, try living outside of America. Virtually no one uses AIM.

Bengt77

Indeed

09/21, 1:04pm, EDT

I wouldn't know about the other, other continents, but here in Europe almost everyone uses Windows Live Messenger (used to be called MSN Messenger). Works really well, though. No complaining here about it, but this hiccup is irritating (although I use my Windows Live Hotmail address for Messenger, and for spam-sensitive sites where I have to fill in an e-mail address).

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dwoodruff

curious

09/21, 1:09pm, EDT

Why would any Mac user intentionally use Windows Live? As punishment for their sins?

Getting kicked from that spank is like being escorted from a lynching.

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