If you do want a real IRC client, there are a few options.

mIRC will run in Windows.

X-Chat will run on both Linux and Windows.

mIRC does have a 30 day "trial", but the most it does to you after the trial period is up is make you wait 5 more seconds before you can proceed to connect.

X-Chat is completely free, however I find mIRC easier to navigate around and use.

There are a few others out there if you want something different, but these are probably the 2 most prominent ones.