A question for those of you who pay for an ISP for your home. Who are you using and what do you like/dislike about them ? (Ok, that was 2 questions.)
I’d like to get some input from you fine folks ‘cause I’m considering making a change. I’ve about had it with the ‘illegal operation, program will be shut down’ message. I bet you can guess who I’m using.
I would also like any input from anyone using a cable modem service, such as Road Runner. Is it worth the extra cash ?
I use RoadRunner. It’s great. Very fast (even more so than at the dorms at school when I was there), and I’ve been very impressed with customer service.
On the matter of illegal operations, I highly doubt that switching isps will change that, unless you’re using some ISP which makes you use special software. GASP… you’re not using AOL are you? If so, drop it. for anything. tin cans and string do better. Homing pigeons with TCP/IP packets tied to their legs (there’s actually an RFC for that)…
I can’t see how your ISP would change anything. Of course, I’m no expert, but I believe that would be your browser that is causing you problems. I switched to a cable ISP earlier this year, and I still get the same illegal shut down things, which are browser problems.
By the way, cable is great!
Love my cable service at home. ATT @ home service. Super fast and very little down time.
Connect through a T-1 at my office. The cable is much faster.
I’m using Speakeasy DSL right now. Been with them since Monday (that’s when the Covad - oh yeah, Speakeasy’s basically a distributor for Covad - guy brought me my modem), but it hasn’t stayed up for very long, staying down for all of last night and most of the night before. Anyone got some DSL viagara?
Oh, the reason I went with them, BTW, is because they have a deal on EBWorld for free installation, free equipment, first, second and twelfth months free with one year signup. $40/month for the remaining months.
I can’t stand that illegal operation bullshit, but I
doubt it’s your ISP. I get that annoying message regularly,
and it’s always when I have Netscape open. While I’m
basically forced to use Microsloth products, I refuse
to allow my PC to be monopolized, so I use Netscape. I am
almost certain that Windows fucks with Netscape and causes
these errors. If your problem is similar, then it’s
definitely not the isp.
If you’re using AOL, well, maybe you should try the
homing pigeons with tcp/ip packets 
I switched to cable when it became available in my area a
few months ago. Cable rocks. When I was on a dialup, mp3s
were a pipe dream. I can now download an average mp3 in
about a minute or two, while streaming audio and surfing at
the same time. If you can get it, the extra 10 or 20 bucks
a month is well worth it if you’re online a lot.
See what you’re missing: http://computingcentral.com/topics/bandwidth/howfast.asp
I use EarthLink, and a small local ISP. (My sister uses the local ISP more than I do.)
The thing I like about EarthLink is that it is easy to configure through Dial-Up Networking. You DON’T need any special set-up software. Sometimes that can mess up your system. A person can talk you though the configuration over the phone. (EarthLink support are great at this.) Once you learn how it is done (and it’s not that hard) you can re-configure your ISP connection an any Windows 9x computer, any time you want. (It’s even easier to do on a Mac!)
I don’t know why you are getting illegal errors, but I had an experience with ATT Worldnet’s software, where I had errors. Once I uninstalled ATT, no more problems. Your browser or some other component of Windows may be causing the problem, but it could be your ISP’s set-up software, if you had to install special software from your current ISP.
Oh, and I completely agree with the previous assement of AOL. It caused several of my computers to crash, and it’s other problems are too vast to go into here. AOL is complete CRAP CRAP CRAP! If you have AOL, GET RID OF IT!
I use Freei.Net. It doesn’t cost one cent. I’ve used several pay services including AT&T and AOL and Freei beats them all. Oh, it’s not as fast as DSL or Road Runner, but if your talking 56k isp, why pay for what you can get free?
I don’t have to click on the ads either, and if you know what your doing you can eliminate them. Try it!
I used UH’s crappy dial-up service for three years before I signed up with EarthLink. Unlimited hours for $20 a month, which is perfect for me, a poor college grad who spends every free moment online.
I tried Freei.Net also. I found it extremely unstable and quirky. Its ad banner took up screen real estate (iMac monitors are only 15"), and I often got disconnected. I considered $20 a good price to not have to deal with all that.
Aha, I was interested by Dire Wolf’s remarks, re illegal operation, close down. I have had a LOT of that from Netscape, which I favour over Explorer for the same reasons as Dire Wolf. Because I am very new to the Internet, I always have to wonder if it is my fault, or my computer’s fault, tho’ I am damn sure it isn’t really. So that theory about Windows messing up Netscape has a lot of attraction - is this a widely held view?
Of course, I have no concrete evidence, HOWEVER…
Exhibit A:
There are some sites (like those with a lot of java scripting) that consistently give me illegal operation errors when using Netscape. When I fire up Internet Exploder and go to the same sites, I never get an error.
Hmmmm…makes me think that the folks in Redmond don’t like :eek: competition. I know there was a lot of legal bullshit a few years ago between Microsoft and Netscape alluding to the same thing.
Exhibit B:
We use these crappy Citrix Winframe terminals where I work. (Basically everyone has just a monitor, kb and mouse and are all connected to one central server.) The central server runs Windows NT, but we decided to use Netscape as the browser, and coincidentally, it locks up all the time. On another Winframe system, Explorer is used without problems.
I personally just don’t like Explorer. I don’t like the fact that many Microsoft products will “hijack” settings that you may have from similar software products from other vendors. Products should not install themselves as a default, or change your settings, or anything, without at least asking you first. And it’s not just Microsoft…fer instance, Real Player does the same thing, but I digress…sorry! 
So Celyn, what problems do you encounter?
Same here, when I found out my Mindspring subscription was nearly up I DLd Freei to mess around with for a couple months and I haven’t had any problems with it. I especially like how there wasn’t any hassle to sign up (I’ve heard about some “free” services that charge your credit card to sign up and then refund it, huh? I assume that’s to prove you’re over 18 or something, but why would that matter in this instance?)
I also like the way you can get access numbers before you log on. This is invaluable to me when I’m traveling with my laptop. With Mindspring I was forced to try to remember to look up access numbers while I was still in my own area code, then change my dial-up settings for each new place. HASSLE! Freei lets you pick a new number every time you log on if you want.
I also like that funny baby Bob who talks with a grownup’s voice. Haha! That funny funny Bob!
I have AOL and I’m looking into PeoplePC, which offers a free computer and Internet service for $24.95 a month. My computer is being held together with band aids and bailing wire.
I get cut off every day from AOL, usually at night, sometimes within seconds of getting on line. Complaints do no good. I can get cut off for inactivity without the inactivity icon popping up. My last download of AOL upgrade (5.0), screwed up my browser so when trying to get to some areas I get some stupid error sign that causes me to hit alt-F4 to keep going. AOL sent me something like 50 pages of potential correction suggestions that made my eyes hurt. Removing AOL, scandisking the computer, removing junk and defragmenting, then reloading a fresh version of AOL did nothing.
I like all of the AOL cool stuff, but tired of getting screwed in the pocket and system.
I use a free ISP, Global Freeway, and have nothing but praise for the service. Besides the 90min per session limit, there are no other drawbacks for me.
I use pacbell for ISP they now have DSL available seriously considering. Used AOL but it doesn’t like yahoo messenger , oh but did like the access local numbers feature on AOL also can’t use AOL and hook up my cell phone to lap top. I think AOL not friendly what do you think?
didn’t there used to be a spell check thingy on here before?? where did it go?
I’ve tried a few other ISP’s but continue to come back to NetZero. Yeah, it does have the annoying banner, which only bothers me when it flashes from time to time. Something went kaflooie with it, and my oldest son is the one who put it on my PC and he is already in Virgina back at college.
So, AOL came in handy to get ME back online to download NetZero again!! I’m Suchhhhhh a user!!
Used Systec at first, but when I discovered that LI calls are billed per minute (oops), I switched to Mindspring, then to Earthlink, which has plenty of NYC local numbers. Also use Freelane (1stup) sometimes. To stop some ads from loading on the viewboard of your free ISP, use Internet Junkbuster®. Note: some ads are gifs from the site advertised as opposed to a Doubleclick bandwidth stuffer, so you can’t really stop those.
I use Telocity DSL and I really like it. There was no charge for the modem, customer service is 24/7 and always helpful, and there was no commitment (some places require 2 or 3 year commtments and will get you with a cancelation fee if you leave early). I also like that they will give me a static IP address so that I can host my own pages. It does go down from time, but never for very long.
Verizon (Bell Atlantic) DSL.
I needed the high transmission rate as I send a lot of graphics back and forth in my work. A little expensive ($39.95/month, plus $100 up front for equipment) but it’s been highly reliable so far. Cable modem is avilable in my area, but haven’t tried it.
For dialup service, have used ATT Worldnet and Earthlink and found them both excellent.
Like many others, I hate AOL.
Ya, TheNerd pegged me on the very first response to the OP. I’m a (shudder) AOL’er. It has been a convenient service, as many of my family members and IRL friends are on it, and I do use it to IM with them. My problem with AOL is the very frequent ‘Illegal Opp’ errors, especially when using this board.
I’ve run the gamut of fixes, unload AOL, scan and clean, and reinstall, and I still get the same nonsense.
It is frustrating to say the least.
Thanks all for your input. I did try FreeI but it didn’t seem to agree with this antique (3 yr old) computer. All the pop ups made it stall, big time. I’m thinking I’d like to go with the Road Runner, but me, being the cheep bastaid I am, will struggle with upgrading the PC, then get the service.
Maybe I should start a support group, ‘Those co-dependant on AOL’. Damn, that’s sad……