> > Here's a random thought: AIM alerts you when someone says something. The flashing windows can really help out when you're trying to multi-task.
>
> You'd think, but I find them just as interruptive as when the window first bounds into existence. It's too loud of a visual distraction. But that's me.

What I meant is that if you are, say, typing a paper and talking with someone on AIM at the same time, you can automatically know when they've said something. At that point you can switch windows and talk, if you want, instead of how chat forces you to come back to the window at periodic intervals to check and see if people have said anything.