Hi. First Im a real dodo when it come to pcs. Slowly learning more everyday but still in the Jurassic period compared to most of you all. Anyway can some plesae explain how to use Pidgin. I have a google account and am trying to speak to some on live messenger. Does this mean I have to download the software for both messengers?
That isn't what Pidgin does.
Pidgin is a client for all of the networks in one app, but in order to talk to someone on a specific IM network, you will need to have an account on the same network (or a linked one where two networks allow inter-communication already). Pidgin does not add any inter-network functionality. It only allows you to talk to the people you would be able to talk to if you downloaded just the standard client for the IM network that you have an account on.
So, in this case, either your friend needs an IM account on google talk, or you need one on MSN (live messenger).
Jimbo is correct, you still need to have accounts on both IM services. For example, I am 'alanbcohen' on AIM, Google, Yahoo, and MS Messenger as well as '49972123' on ICQ. Pidgen (or Miranda) allows you to sign on to two or more services from one client program. You don't have to have the same id (like I do) on each service.