I exclusively used MSN Messenger in my elementary and high school days (which admittedly straddles 2005).
I can't say that an unbloated app like Signal is a fundamentally different experience except for some of the deficiencies that've been ironed out (better file/image sharing is one that certainly comes to mind).
I'm open to being wrong on this point though!
EDIT: Actually, you can add Discord/Signal/Telegram to Pidgin for the throwback UI.
I can't say that an unbloated app like Signal is a fundamentally different experience except for some of the deficiencies that've been ironed out (better file/image sharing is one that certainly comes to mind).
I'm open to being wrong on this point though!
EDIT: Actually, you can add Discord/Signal/Telegram to Pidgin for the throwback UI.
https://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/ThirdPartyPlugins