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AOL: Love It or Hate IT? New: MS Love it or Hate IT?

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I am neutral, I dont like or hate AOL.

If AOL didn't exist, someone would invent it. There is a huge market for a service like AOL that caters to newbies and people who just don't have the time to learn more complicated applications.
 
hate it, because I have to be the one to tell people who are riddled with massive amounts of spyware/spam/viruses the reason they have sooo much is because thier kids are latched to AOL. amazingly everyone I've convinced to stop using AOL have had no other spyware/virus problems, and thier spam quantity drops tremendously.

that and they are one of the most sued companies in the world for privacy law violations.
 
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
M4H = Moron 4 Hire
Click to expand...

That's really funny. A n00b calling M4H a moron, then proceeding to praise AOL.

Why couldn't you have just swallowed your tounge when you were 2, like Darwin intended?

You suck.
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I am taking neutral ground on this issue and I have said good as well as bad things about them.
 
Originally posted by: grrl
Used it free for a month several years ago. I hated the layout. Plus, I always have trouble connecting to my sister's AOL address from Korea. No other ISP gives me grief but them, so AOL sux IMHO.
Click to expand...


Is your sister in the military?
 
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
Click to expand...

BINGO!!!
 
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
hate it, because I have to be the one to tell people who are riddled with massive amounts of spyware/spam/viruses the reason they have sooo much is because thier kids are latched to AOL. amazingly everyone I've convinced to stop using AOL have had no other spyware/virus problems, and thier spam quantity drops tremendously.

that and they are one of the most sued companies in the world for privacy law violations.
Click to expand...

I fail to see how AOL causes people to get more spyware than just using IE independently. Also, AOL's E-mail has been immune to the self replicating viruses.

I think the issue is, these people lack the knowledge needed to protect themselves period, and would have picked up all that no matter what they used. But their lack of knowledge meant they were more likely to use AOL.
 
too expensive. now if they offered a broadband service on their own, it might be worth it. but aol for broadband is utterly useless
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Over priced + poor service + buggy software=AOL sucks
Click to expand...

AOL's software is surprisingly stable. There has been a couple versions that have had problems. But for the most part, it's been fine.
 
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
Originally posted by: m4ch0dude


Ok, I actually have used it a little on my friend's computer, but still I didnt like it
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what didn't you like about it?
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Basically I didnt like their browser and all the extra crap they install, Now that I think about it, I actually remember installing it on my computer like 7 years ago when they were bombarding me with free trial offers, and then not being able to get online, and uninstalling it the same day later. But that was a while ago, and I didnt really try any of their new stuff.
 
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
Click to expand...

1) Their software is one glorified trojan with some attached functionality. The uninstall feature is a joke, and there are many brands of spyware/viruses that are easier to remove than AOL's software. It has also been connected to system instability and general system slowdown.

2) The entire layout is created to pander to people with no computer knowledge whatsoever. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they take advantage of their customer's ignorance to get away with sloppy installs and second-rate software.

3) The software has been known to conflict with other online services and software distributions from other dial-up ISPs, basically forcing them to use AOL's software.

4) Back when dial-up was the norm, their locations were constantly busy as they refused to expand accordingly.

5) They've had major violations of privacy. People have called in to their tech support with no more than a screen name and a couple other random pieces of info, and mumbled anything else asked for until the tech support person got fed up and just did whatever they wanted. Many have lost their screen names and accounts through such social engineering.

6) All these problems have existed for several years and have not been improving.

There are good reasons why AOL is disliked, particularly among the technically inclined.
 
One Piece of spyware that gets installed on almost every PC with AOL 8.0 and some 9.0 is wild tangent, but to my knowledge they have severed ties and stopped bundleing it with their software.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
Click to expand...

1) Their software is one glorified trojan with some attached functionality. The uninstall feature is a joke, and there are many brands of spyware/viruses that are easier to remove than AOL's software. It has also been connected to system instability and general system slowdown.

2) The entire layout is created to pander to people with no computer knowledge whatsoever. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they take advantage of their customer's ignorance to get away with sloppy installs and second-rate software.

3) The software has been known to conflict with other online services and software distributions from other dial-up ISPs, basically forcing them to use AOL's software.

4) Back when dial-up was the norm, their locations were constantly busy as they refused to expand accordingly.

5) They've had major violations of privacy. People have called in to their tech support with no more than a screen name and a couple other random pieces of info, and mumbled anything else asked for until the tech support person got fed up and just did whatever they wanted. Many have lost their screen names and accounts through such social engineering.

6) All these problems have existed for several years and have not been improving.

There are good reasons why AOL is disliked, particularly among the technically inclined.
Click to expand...

The amount of myths in your post is amazing.

1. AOL is very easy to uninstall. And like I said before, only a couple short lived versions were buggy and unstable. Back in 9x days ANY unstable program made the system unstable.

2. Of course, that is their core market. But your claims about their software is a bit much.

3. A simply "NO" click to prompts asking if you want AOL to be default ISP, E-mail and Web browser solves that. It's not a very complicated issue, and ALL ISP programs and all web browsers ask if you want them to be default. The default thing is a Windows thing.

4. AOL had a problem with busy signals for 4-5 months in 1997-98 when growth far outgrew expectations and everyone and their brother got a computer for Christmas and signed up for AOL.

5. I have never heard of this.

6. FUD
 
Originally posted by: Googer
One Piece of spyware that gets installed on almost every PC with AOL 8.0 and some 9.0 is wild tangent, but to my knowledge they have severed ties and stopped bundleing it with their software.
Click to expand...

Wild Tangent has never been installed on any computer I have with AOL on it.
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: Googer
One Piece of spyware that gets installed on almost every PC with AOL 8.0 and some 9.0 is wild tangent, but to my knowledge they have severed ties and stopped bundleing it with their software.
Click to expand...

Wild Tangent has never been installed on any computer I have with AOL on it.
Click to expand...


I have found it on almost every PC with version 8.0 installed on it. After Uninstalling Wild Tangent (WT) and AOL and then reinstalling AOL 8, WT comes back. Just search google, you will see what I am talking about.
Also the same guy who helped develop DirectX is behind Wild Tangent
 
One of my biggest gripes about AOL is their Email Program, while it has some very nice email composing features; It will automaticly delete any message older than 30 days and does not support POP3 or IMAP. GMAIL Rocks!
 
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
Click to expand...

1) Their software is one glorified trojan with some attached functionality. The uninstall feature is a joke, and there are many brands of spyware/viruses that are easier to remove than AOL's software. It has also been connected to system instability and general system slowdown.

2) The entire layout is created to pander to people with no computer knowledge whatsoever. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they take advantage of their customer's ignorance to get away with sloppy installs and second-rate software.

3) The software has been known to conflict with other online services and software distributions from other dial-up ISPs, basically forcing them to use AOL's software.

4) Back when dial-up was the norm, their locations were constantly busy as they refused to expand accordingly.

5) They've had major violations of privacy. People have called in to their tech support with no more than a screen name and a couple other random pieces of info, and mumbled anything else asked for until the tech support person got fed up and just did whatever they wanted. Many have lost their screen names and accounts through such social engineering.

6) All these problems have existed for several years and have not been improving.

There are good reasons why AOL is disliked, particularly among the technically inclined.
Click to expand...

The amount of myths in your post is amazing.

1. AOL is very easy to uninstall. And like I said before, only a couple short lived versions were buggy and unstable. Back in 9x days ANY unstable pregram made the system unstable.

2. Of course, that is their core market. But your claims about their software is a but much.

3. A simply "NO" click to prompts asking if you want AOL to be default ISP, E-mail and Web browser solves that. It's not a very complicated issue, and ALL ISP probrams and web browsers ask if you want them to be default. The default thing is a Windows thing.

4. AOL had a problem with busy signals for 4-5 months in 1997-98 when growth far outgrew expectations and everyone and their brother got a computer for Christmas and signed up for AOL.

5. I have never heard of this.

6. FUD
Click to expand...

I used AOL for a number of years, and everything I posted above I have verified myself first-hand. I have not used recent versions personally, so I'm not going to comment on those; it could be that some of these have been fixed. But ya' know what? I'm not going to install it again just to find out, particularly since I've heard enough complaints to believe they haven't been fixed. The "Choose your primary ISP" function was a complete joke the first few versions it was introduced, I tried it with my family's dial-up provider of the time and it still absolutely refused to connect properly. When it did connect, I would still lose my connection within minutes. After uninstalling AOL (this was on a Mac, when uninstalling thouroughly by hand was a simple process), it worked fine. Coincidence? I think not.

And just because you haven't "heard" about security violations doesn't mean they aren't there. Research it yourself.

Believe what you like. I've spoken my peace.
 
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: Amused
Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
Originally posted by: xospec1alk
I first got on AOL on version 2.5 it was not as bloated then as it is now. i think the bloat starting happening around version 4 or something. But i never had issues with speed, i was on a friggin 14.4 for crying out loud. Never got a busy signal with them. I never used the AOL browser, and only ventured into the chat rooms once in a while. I don't understand where all the hate is coming from...seems like its just cool to hate on aol.
Click to expand...

1) Their software is one glorified trojan with some attached functionality. The uninstall feature is a joke, and there are many brands of spyware/viruses that are easier to remove than AOL's software. It has also been connected to system instability and general system slowdown.

2) The entire layout is created to pander to people with no computer knowledge whatsoever. Now, that isn't necessarily a bad thing, but they take advantage of their customer's ignorance to get away with sloppy installs and second-rate software.

3) The software has been known to conflict with other online services and software distributions from other dial-up ISPs, basically forcing them to use AOL's software.

4) Back when dial-up was the norm, their locations were constantly busy as they refused to expand accordingly.

5) They've had major violations of privacy. People have called in to their tech support with no more than a screen name and a couple other random pieces of info, and mumbled anything else asked for until the tech support person got fed up and just did whatever they wanted. Many have lost their screen names and accounts through such social engineering.

6) All these problems have existed for several years and have not been improving.

There are good reasons why AOL is disliked, particularly among the technically inclined.
Click to expand...

The amount of myths in your post is amazing.

1. AOL is very easy to uninstall. And like I said before, only a couple short lived versions were buggy and unstable. Back in 9x days ANY unstable pregram made the system unstable.

2. Of course, that is their core market. But your claims about their software is a but much.

3. A simply "NO" click to prompts asking if you want AOL to be default ISP, E-mail and Web browser solves that. It's not a very complicated issue, and ALL ISP probrams and web browsers ask if you want them to be default. The default thing is a Windows thing.

4. AOL had a problem with busy signals for 4-5 months in 1997-98 when growth far outgrew expectations and everyone and their brother got a computer for Christmas and signed up for AOL.

5. I have never heard of this.

6. FUD
Click to expand...

I used AOL for a number of years, and everything I posted above I have verified myself first-hand. I have not used recent versions personally, so I'm not going to comment on those; it could be that some of these have been fixed. But ya' know what? I'm not going to install it again just to find out, particularly since I've heard enough complaints to believe they haven't been fixed. The "Choose your primary ISP" function was a complete joke the first few versions it was introduced, I tried it with my family's dial-up provider of the time and it still absolutely refused to connect properly. When it did connect, I would still lose my connection within minutes. After uninstalling AOL (this was on a Mac, when uninstalling thouroughly by hand was a simple process), it worked fine. Coincidence? I think not.

And just because you haven't "heard" about security violations doesn't mean they aren't there. Research it yourself.

Believe what you like. I've spoken my peace.
Click to expand...

I've had AOL on my systems since 2.0. I've suffered none of the problems you listed. BUT, I have had friends and family who claimed a couple of the problems you listed, and in EVERY SINGLE CASE, it was user error.

Again, the default Dial-up, web browser and E-mail program settings are WINDOWS settings. AOL just makes use of them... like every other ISP, Web browser and E-mail application.
 
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