Windows 7 - New to Live Messenger

Hi
I have just stared using Live Messenger for a course I am taking. I
generally just view my mail in a browser or on my phone. Are there benefits
to using Live Messenger that I do not know about? It seems like it took me a
lot of extra steps to set this up. Thanks,
Karen

I do not use IM for viewing email. Mostly a stand alone email client;
primarily Pegasus Mail, sometimes Mozilla Thunderbird. Or Windows Live Mail
for a couple of Hotmail accounts.

Windows Live Messenger is for Instant Messaging; sort of like real-time
conversation over a telephone. I have shared photos, and web camera views, as
well, if you like that sort of thing. Both sides require a web cam for video
conversations to work.

--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum