[Eve]

Hi !

I'm stepping into this subject because I have a question :

Why is a IM chat platform an advantage, compared to a forum ? from user point of view I mean, so except for forum maintenance that I understand is a hard work.

I think that :

advantages of forum :
- keeps history
- can search in the forum
- more "serious" interface, that reminds users to think if the posted message is relevant and clear before posting it
- web search can give results that are in the forum 
- you give your time to contribute *when* you have time and knowledge, instead of as soon as there's a question you want to reply immediately, but may have no time to do so
- vintage 90's smileys
disadvantages of forum :
- you need to plan some lines in your message to say that you have already searched the web, and that you are not looking for a fight, and to cover yourself in case it your message already has been posted somewhere, etc.
- heavier interface than text IM

advantages of IM :
- instantaneous...
- quick questions, quick answers
disadvantages of IM :
- search within the IM app harder than with forum ? (quick questions / answers may be lost)
- not searchable from a web search engine
- history loss
- harder to write long detailed messages that are some times needed to require help / advice or to share your experiences, or to join logs
- easier fights, faster fights
- not sure how unrelated people (eg. not interested in the project) can stumble across the project, and just bring noise in the conversations

to summarize, what I think is bad in IM is that it's instant . Or I may have misunderstood the subject.

Cheers
Eve