From what I'm reading there seem to be some notable improvements, and the new Pidgin also has a portable feature that allows you to load it onto a pen-drive and use it without installing it to the computer. =] Think of it as a "light" version of an instant messenging client.
I don't know when Lenny will have it, and I'm not in the mood to compile from source lately 'cos I've a headache and a backache of huge proportions; but those of you running Windows
I haven't tried this "on the fly" option (by loading it to a pen drive) yet, but if it works it could prove very useful.
Personally, I like multi-protocol clients because it's incredibly annoying to have 100000000 different clients open to connect to the 100000000 IM networks that people use.
In this way, with just one client (uh... some call those "program") you can use many different networks, like AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, etc. Even LJ's IM or Google Talk; all at the same time. You can also be signed up to two different AIM (or whatever) accounts at the same time, and chat from both. That often saves resources (that your comp can use for something else), RAM, time and you have less chances to crash your system.
Additionally, it provides "tabbed" chat-windows, which helps at keeping things organized, in clear view and handy. It comes with spell-check support and several other options, it allows transfer of files, buddy notifications, custom away messages, custom IM icons and all that jazz.
But the best part of it is that it is FREE AND OPEN SOURCE. =D
