IRC Client Recommendations
While you’re certainly welcome to join us via the web-based Mibbit client, you may want to download and use a dedicated IRC client program to make your chat time more enjoyable. We recommend the following options:
Microsoft Windows clients
mIRC: Full-featured and powerful client with lots of advanced options. Free to try for 30 days, registration is $20. You can use the program indefinitely without registering, though it does display a nag screen when you launch it. Several #gunblogger_conspiracy regulars swear by it.
Pidgin: A multi-protocol instant messaging client that also supports IRC. You can log into multiple accounts on AIM, Yahoo, Jabber/Google Talk and IRC, all at the same time and in the same program. Free and open-source.
Cross-Platform client
ChatZilla: a plug-in for the FireFox web browser that adds IRC support. Free and open-source. Recommended by pdb.
Mac OS X client
Colloquy: Full-featured OS X-native client with support for plug-ins and themes. Free and open-source. Recommended by alan and TD.