Maybe my experience is out of the ordinary, but that’s the way things go.
I’ve been on AOL since the PC Link days (1988 or so, IIRC); and have had Internet access since the late 70’s, (ARPANet…rah!) through a variety of means. A major portion of my time on AOL used to be for the purposes of Beta testing for GeoWorks, Inc. As they wrote the original AOL UI, this was a logical place for GeoWorks to conduct business.
I’m not online to chat. I’m online to get information and to maintain my web sites; maybe read these boards (among others) and access my e-mail accounts. I don’t have a problem doing that, no matter what ISP I use.
Interestingly enough, when I do run Win-Whatever, I use a number of different browsers for “surfing” (I hate that word!)–Netscape, IE 5.x 128b stand alone, WebSpyder, as well as a few others.
On the odd, and very infrequent, occasion I may lose my connection because of an overloaded node–maybe once in six months or so. All ISPs suffer from this, and it’s a traffic-related problem. (I had a problem with maintaining a connection a while back, but that was traced to a bad connection in the subscriber loop of my phone line. Switching cable pairs resolved the issue.) I never get “booted off” or “punted” perse anymore (read that as within the past 2 years or so).
Via AOL, limitations as to web access simply don’t exist–using either AOL’s integrated browser or one of the stand-alone browsers that I have on the computer–I go where I want to and I get the information I need. Objections in thei realm seem to be the complaints of those who need to be spoon-fed.
“Evil” AOL 5.0 hasn’t taken over my computer, nor has it impregnated my cat or any other such hype. It gets along well with my other ISP software and browsers, thnk you very much.
SPAM is going to be a problem anytime you make an e-mail addy available to the public. AOL has gotten an unfair rap in this respect, and they have actually been one of the most responsive ISPs in dealing with the problem. Most of the other ISPs have responded along the lines of: “We’re working on it, but it’s the Internet, what do you expect?” To a certain extent, I do agree with that line of reasoning.
I’ve found that I have been far more successful in dealing with the SPAM problem in my own unique and ruthless <VWG> fashion. The FTC is your friend!
As a result, I don’t get SPAMmed anymore–maybe something like 1 piece of UCE in the past 9 months, and that was on one of my website contact addys. I need to do something about that, it was a fun diversion on occasion.
Idiots? Sure, there are lots of them on the “Net” now, and I chaffed at the influx of same in the early 90’s–just as I chaffed at the commercialization of the Internet in 94. IMHO, the only folks that have a problem with AOL’s TOS are those same idiots who somehow get the idea that they “own” the service and that it’s subject to free speech. >DING!< Sorry folks, it’s AOL’s service and AOL’s rules. That’s life–deal.
As an aside, the nice thing about AOL (in the 9600 modem days) was that all of their local numbers auto-forwarded to 800 numbers–something that I haven’t looked into lately–and I had 12 - 800 numbers to choose from in accessing the Internet (not surcharged numbers, mind you, totally free dial-in numbers).
Today I have 4 local AOL numbers to choose from and fewer local numbers from other ISPs. Someday I’ll get around to checking up on the auto-forwarding situation, but there’s really no need to do so now, as I never get busy signals from AOL. I get them regularly from other ISPs.
Local ISPs are a risky proposition and I don’t use them, nor do I use the free access providers. Comparatively, their services suck–although your mileage may vary, keep in mind that it is a local provider issue. There are good ones and bad ones.
Having had opportunity to look at the computers of several individuals and corporations who note problems with dial-up access; I have found that, more often than not, access woes are actually caused by improperly configured hardware, software, or the selection of a blasted WinModem for interface hardware. A few keystrokes, or installing a good quality 3COM modem or NIC, takes care of the problems in most cases.
:::Banging head against desk:::
People! Do yourselves a humongous favor and don’t bother with WinModems!
What do I prefer for access? A T3 connection, with a T1 as a runner-up. Barring that, I see no difference between the National ISPs offering 56K modem access to the Internet.
Online Content Providers are a different matter entirely, and AOL has been slipping in that respect for quite some time.
I will grant you that AOL does pander to the least common demoninator of the ignorant computer user–the same way that Apple, Inc. does. Life goes on.
–Kalél
Common ¢ for all ages…
“Well, there was that thing with the Cheese-Wiz…but I’m feeling much better now!” – John Astin, Night Court
“If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.”