After reading this history of AOL’s Instant Messenger program, naturally my thought was, “I wonder what it looks like if I sign in today?”

My next question, “What are the chances I remember my password?”

AIM was the ubiquitous online thing during my late high school years and certainly through college.  Asking if someone was on AIM then was like seeing if they have Facebook now.  At any time of the day, you could log on and see the icon of that little yellow AOL guy next to a screenname chosen by one of your friends and fire off a message to chat with or bother them.

But that was a long time ago.  After nailing my password on the first try (real useful info to keep stored in that brain of yours, Chris), I was a little surprised at what I saw:

I have friends!  Online!  TWO of them!!!

Granted, they have those little phone icons and not the “I’m online just like you!” yellow guys, but still.  I sent a message to PATMAN04, my brother, who told me he set up AIM years ago to just text him when someone sends him an IM:

Why yes, yes I was.  For helenafalz, I used SnapChat to send her a picture of my buddy list, and her response made it clear she probably last logged in roughly when I did:

Now, of course, it’s so easy to get in touch with anyone you want at any time, whether through texting, gchat, Facebook or any number of apps, like SnapChat.  However, none of them will ever have the fully satisfying experience that came with AIM’s sound effects:

Long live AIM.