Problems with iChat? Go to port 443.

My new MacBook is awesome except when it isn't. Like iChat. Since I got this computer, I can't keep iChat connected. What happens is this: iChat will connect and then, after about 1 minute, it will disconnect and retry about 5 times until it complains.

After a little research, turns out the default port 5190 is the problem. It needs to be switched to 443. No kidding. Out of the box it doesn't work, news to Apple fans everywhere: Apple isn't perfect.

Here's what you do: in iChat preferences, select Accounts. Then under the Server Settings tab, change port 5190 to 443. Close the prefs window. You may need to quit and relaunch iChat.

On port 443, mine stays connected now!

Apple - MacBook Pro - 17-inch: 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2 memory (PC2-5300), 250GB Hard Drive, 8x SuperDrive - MB166LL/A (MacBook Pro)