Oh, AOL, how do I hate thee-let me count the ways!!
-it fills my screen with junk that I don’t want (“buddy lists”, adds for stupid products that I don’t want!
-every few months, it sends me UNWANTED software upgrades, that cause my system to crash!!-I DON’T WANT THIS SHIT!!
-they raised the montly fee-so they can send me MORE UPGRADES!
-just this morning, they sent me some more unwanted software-my system crashed while I was trying to make a stock trade-this cost me more than $2300.00
If I had my hands on the CEO of this shit outfit, I’d strangle him!!
If you don’t like AOL, get a different ISP.
What amazes me about the whole AOL thing is that for almost two years (Or however long AOL has been around), I’d always assumed it was a free service. Don’t ask me why, I just did. Maybe I associate “shitty” with “free”.
Anyrate, with that mindset in hand, I’d often think to myself when reading these complaints, “Well, you got what you paid for, didn’t you.”
Then, rather belatedly, I was told that people actually pay for this ‘service’. I was stunned.
What’s more, not only did people not get a reduced rate for dealing with this horseshit, but what they paid was oftentimes the same, if not more, than what I pay for a standalone ISP.
Amazing.
Buddy1-
Do yourself a favor. Calls up your local telecom, or whoever it is in your area handles that (There should be a number of providers in large markets) and switch your ISP.
There’s absolutely no reason you should be putting up with that crap.
I did AOL tech support for a year.
There was an attitude among the techs there that all of our customers were suckers, and too damned dumb to go out and get real internet service.
The upgrades you’re getting that crash your system? They know in advance how buggy they are. Send 'em out and patch them later; let the techs deal with the irate calls.
AOL is a ripoff that can be avoided by simply learning more about the internet, and the programs available for use on it. If you can’t put the effort into learning enough about this incredible tool, this new means of communications that’s changing the way humanity sees itself, then you deserve AOL.
So what else is new?
The thing that amazes me most is when people on AOL upgrade to something like DSL or Cable internet, then pay a reduced AOL fee and access AOL over that high-speed connection.
Oh well, I guess it’s worth it to them because everything is in one place… chat,email,web browsing. It’s good for people that can’t handle using separate programs for each.
AOL is perfect for n00b llamas who are fascinated by those wonderful pop-ups and the mesmerizing colorful buttons they can click on to “go places.”
Can anyone recommend a good Cable internet service provider that is as easy as AOL,is equal in price,and can be used to chat with people in AOL. I’m capable of using the internet,but the rest of my family isn’t.
Dad: Can’t master the art of double clicking. Hates paying too much.
Mom: Hopeless
Sister: Must talk to her “P3EpS”
Me: As long as I get a fast internet connection,I’m happy.
I live in South Amboy,New Jersey and cable is availible. I hear optimum online is good,any comments? I download AOL instant messager will that be able to work with AOL buddylists? And it has to be less than $24 a month.
And if you havent guessed, I have AOL.
Oops! It should say “If download AOL instant messager”
AOL kicked me off three times just now when I tried to open Straight Dope. I feel your pain. 
Well you can check CNET’s Internet Services. You can type in a zip code or an area code and it will list the various ISPs available to you.
I dunno about getting DSL/cable at dialup prices, though. That bandwith is gonna cost ya, methinks.
[Edited by Alphagene on 08-29-2001 at 05:36 PM]
MIKE_P, AOL Instant Messenger DOES work with AOL buddylists. It also works with CompuServe buddylists, FTR.
Mike P.: My brother lives in Freehold and just got optimum online and says it’s great. I think he had to buy the modem unless he agreed to a 2 year contract though.
Yeah,I hear the modem is about $100. Do you know how much it costs him?
Alphagene: It depends how much more,I dont think he will mind paying around $30 if the service is good.
And another question: Does the modem connect to your tv cable line,or does another one have to be installed?
Mike: Here is a link to the optimum online prciing page.
This weeks Captain Obvious award goes to:
<drum roll, please>
Buddy1!
Buddy1 has shared with us this shocking news: AOL sucks like a two dollar hooker behind a laundromat across from a McDonald’s on 69 cent cheeseburger day.
AOL sucks, eh? Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious as fuck.
AOL, not only a resource hog, also hogs bandwidth with all it’s windows and portals and chimes and dings and it’s own patented brand of suck they call a proprietary version of TCP/IP, and the fact that they use different servers than everyone else, not to mention shitty support, prices that are way too high, and -huh? wasn’t there one more?- oh yeah… they’re not even an ISP.
I know, smartguy, I know. But they’re an OSP.
Instead of signing up for AOL, why not just get yourself into prison and pay everyone to rape your ass repeatedly?
Why would anyone but a complete idiot pay someone to fuck them over? Fuck them over, on a monthly basis, that is.
This is why I am convinced:
“America Online: So easy to use, no wonder the only people who use it are the 26 Million 'net retards out there!”
We use Juno. It’s $9.95 a month and it works fine for us. There is a free version of it as well, but you have tons of problems getting connected. Most computers come with Microsoft Explorer already, or you can download a different browser (I like Netscape, in case you care). And I have AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and was able to use my old AOL screenname (yes, we had AOL once, and hated it).
However, Juno only allows one email address. And you have to connect to your email separately than to the web. But we just use web-based email anyway, so we only check the Juno address once a month or so.
I know very little about computers and even less about the internet, and I manage to find my way around without needing AO-Hell.
With hopes that I don’t send you over the edge, Lexicon, how is AOL not an ISP?
This is a legitimate question, not a taunt.
I thought any entity that provides, independent of others, internet access, is an ISP?
Aw, you won’t send me over the edge. I’ll be happy to answer your question!
Before I get into that, though, I do need to say that I’m just messing around with buddy1, and there are no hard feelings or anything… I was just ribbin’ ya.
Anyway, CNote, you know me, and you should know that I have a penchant for hyperbole. I have a propensity to rant and rave and just blather on about stuff. I don’t really mean anything by it, usually.
Anyway, AOL is not an ISP, because technically, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) says “Here’s your connection, have fun, do what thou wilt (within the terms of service).”
With an ISP, you have to open your own browser window, you have to manage your own e-mail (with an e-mail manager like Outlook Express, or some such), you have to download and install your messaging software on your own, and find things on your own with search engines and so on.
With an Online Service Provider (OSP), they tangle all that shit together for you in one big hairy bandwidth-sucking, resource-hogging clusterfuck and call it “Convenient, easy, intuitive, user-friendly” and so on.
I mean, really, the difference is very subtle and not that big of a deal, but since you asked, there you go. I mean, if you were to refer AOL as an ISP, no one could tell you you’re wrong, unless you wanted to be really technical. It’s just another insult tossed AOL’s way by people who work in the industry and who know the difference. It’s a geek thing, I guess.
Anyway, you remember me, don’t you? It’s not been that long has it? I’m still in your Book of Cool, right? I’m sooo concerned with other’s opinions of me, if I thought you didn’t remember me, I don’t think I could bear it.
Snoogans.
This weeks Gary Condit award for parsing goes to:
<drum roll, please>
Lexicon!
Just giving you shit, lex. Welcome back, by the way.
I was under the impression the acronym ISP had become a catch-all for anything that connected you to the internet.
Now I know.