POWERSHAKER  Snak 5.3.3 is the best IRC program for OS X Snow Leopard. I've been running Snak since OS X Tiger. After two OS upgrades, it still works like a charm. I've tried other IRC clients, but only Snak impressed me. You really do get what you pay for. I didn't mind paying the small shareware fee at all. I highly suggest Snak for IRC. I have had no problems with Snak, and I've been using it for over two years now.  
(Version 5.3.3)

IDJSTER  When OS X was released I spent a lot of time looking, waiting and looking some more for a good OS X IRC client. Nothing filled my needs until Snak. I kept using OS 9 until then. No other client was a full-featured and reasonably mature. Certainly there are other IRC clients, and some are quite good, but nothing can match the versatility and usability of Snak. I paid my $19 back then as soon as it was released and just recently paid another $19 (I think) for the upgrade. Paying for one upgrade in all those years isn't too bad at all.

Is it worth $29 to buy? If it fills your needs, then yes. If Colloquy or some other client does that then fine. They couldn't for me, so the cost was small. I definitely recommend Snak with no hesitation.  
(Version 5.3)

DAN1983  Snak use to be a good IRC client but now with its 'new' upgrade policy and out-dated and ugly interface and yet its high price tag there are may better and free irc clients out there. Give Colloquy and MacIrssi a try before even looking at Snak!  
(Version 5.1.5)

MARCOPOLO  My favorite IRC client. You get what you pay for. That's always true, and Snak just proves it. The UI is well thought through, straightforward.

Support is good, polite, helpful and quick. It's even got a reasonably good manual, well hidden under the Help menu. Worth the price. Recommended.   
(Version 5.1.1)

PECOSBILL  Per the 3/20/06 comment on macintouch.com, I'm not sure I would support a product that violates its license agreement. The post there said that the license agreement back then was for lifetime free upgrades (pay only once). Snak is now demanding payment for a new upgrade. Poor business practices don't deserve support.  
(Version 5.1.1)

ZEITKIND  Well.. after using Snak for over 5 years now, I finally switched to Colloquy. Snak was the best IRC client around, but there are some bugs for years now which got never fixed and UTF-8 support is also still missing. I don't need a client with 253621-dcc-features, I just need a client which is smart enogh to handle nick name right.  
(Version 5.1.1)

KIDDAILEY  Note: This new version may prompt you to re-register for $15 if you registered Snak more than 2 years ago.

Make sure you have a backup copy of your old version before upgrading if you do not wish to renew your license.

I'm not sure why a point release of mostly bug fixes would require a license renewal, but I guess I'll be permanently switching to the free Colloquy since the old Snak 5.0.4 has too many bugs that make it difficult to use regularly (like chat input fields that quit working completely).  
(Version 5.1)

SHAWNYQ  I've tried to stick by Snak, but it's shortcomings are becoming far too noticeable. I guess the only way to make me completely happy would be a total rewrite in Cocoa.

OS X is so pretty and Snak just doesn't do it justice at all. My complaints aren't just with the looks, but the total functionality as well. I want drag and drop DCC sending and new inventive features. What happen to "think different"? I'd like Address Book functionality that would allow me to whois a person and show their information. So on and so forth.

Sorry for my small rant.  
(Version 5.0.4)

ANONYMOUS  Excellent app. 5.0.3 finally supports SSL which will be very useful to me. The UI is straightforward and nicely done. No fluff.   
(Version 5.0.3)

ANONYMOUS  No SSL support still.... I love Snak, but its completely useless to me (and anyone else who only connects to secure servers) without SSL. Xchat it is then, until SSL is introduced.  
(Version 5.0.3)