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

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Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
6
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Originally posted by: InstincT
No personal experience... but from what I've seen, AOL ruins computers. No clue how it does it, but all the girls I know have AOL and all their computers are JACKED UP!


Just because they have AOL does not make it the reason why there computers are "JACKED UP" (IF you mean messed up). You can take a brand new computer from best buy or dell and install no other programs but AOL and not have any probelms. I do not think AOL is to blame here.
 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
0
Originally posted by: Googer
If you like or Hate AOL, Please Express and share you Love or Anger with AOL Here. If you do not like AOL Please Expain your reasoning for not liking them.

I keep it for the neverending mailbox. Something that can't be done with my broadband account. Having over 100mb worth of mail for one account, it's nice to have it automatically back up and tidy, too. And when away I can save the mail on AOL servers until I get back home (or being offline for longer than 7 days because of a hardware failure).

My HD as mail storage; save 100mb online per account; and can access it anywhere without worrying about inactivity (like Yahoo accounts), is perfect for me for access and safety. With AOL's new security login feature (RSA encryption of account passwords), it makes it impossible for crackers to crack in. No more compromises.

So to me it's worth having for it's mail services, and access to videos that would've needed paid access too (like CNN).
 

TechnoPro

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2003
1,727
0
76
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: InstincT
No personal experience... but from what I've seen, AOL ruins computers. No clue how it does it, but all the girls I know have AOL and all their computers are JACKED UP!


Just because they have AOL does not make it the reason why there computers are "JACKED UP" (IF you mean messed up). You can take a brand new computer from best buy or dell and install no other programs but AOL and not have any probelms. I do not think AOL is to blame here.

Agreed. User error is very often to blame for problematic operation. But I think people frequently look at AOL as a software that has greater potential to "screw things up" than other commonly installed software. Whether this labeling is accurate or not is a dead horse not worth beating.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
6
81
Originally posted by: cavemanmoron
any dialup suxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

cable internet is the way to go.


I hope you are not Ignorant, because AOL offers broadband as well as dial-up.
 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
I do hate it and I used it about a year ago for almost a month. They make you pay a lot for it - far too much - and they force you to use their crappy software to connect; I could not set it up with dial-up networking (maybe I'm dumb, but they make it deliberately hard/impossible).

Oh and their AOL 8 that I was using at the time was incredibly unreliable and buggy.
 

Wallydraigle

Banned
Nov 27, 2000
10,754
1
0
I voted neutral. Don't get me wrong, I hate AOL, but no more than I hate everything else, and not enough to get worked up over it.
 

snooker

Platinum Member
Apr 13, 2001
2,366
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76
AOL in my area is ok, if you like your connection to get dropped every 2 minutes.

Used AOL once, but never again.
 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
0
Originally posted by: Googer
I hope you are not Ignorant, because AOL offers broadband as well as dial-up.

Yep. And ironically fixes a problem with s-l-o-w LAN access too with it's install. Maybe AOL installed new drivers, but the default ones used in Windows XP SP2 can drag for almost 2 minutes at boot. With AOL installed there isn't anymore delay. :)

And having it offers one to have both dialup (backup in case broadband is down), and broadband.

AOL has improved a lot in 2 years, and competition is good, since now they're getting with the program to stop spam and cracking of accounts. Those who moved on and don't need content providing, still maintain AOL accounts for mail and some features that require $$ subscriptions for.

 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
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Originally posted by: Terumo
Yep. And ironically fixes a problem with s-l-o-w LAN access too with it's install. Maybe AOL installed new drivers, but the default ones used in Windows XP SP2 can drag for almost 2 minutes at boot. With AOL installed there isn't anymore delay. :)
Sounds like what happened to me when I didn't have DHCP service on the network and Windows was trying to grab IPs via DHCP... Setting the network configuration info manually fixed the problem temporarily, and enabling DHCP fixed the problem permanently. But I guess that those simple network setup options are probably beyond what most AOL users are capable of implementing, so AOL does it for them automatically. ;)
 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
0
Originally posted by: ProviaFan
Originally posted by: Terumo
Yep. And ironically fixes a problem with s-l-o-w LAN access too with it's install. Maybe AOL installed new drivers, but the default ones used in Windows XP SP2 can drag for almost 2 minutes at boot. With AOL installed there isn't anymore delay. :)
Sounds like what happened to me when I didn't have DHCP service on the network and Windows was trying to grab IPs via DHCP... Setting the network configuration info manually fixed the problem temporarily, and enabling DHCP fixed the problem permanently. But I guess that those simple network setup options are probably beyond what most AOL users are capable of implementing, so AOL does it for them automatically. ;)

Actually, the problem is with the default network driver with SP2, which causes the network hang. Bootvis clearly shows the lag. Once AOL is installed, the lag in no more. Had nothing to do with DHCP (one of the first network calls within 18 seconds).

I could dig around and find a zillion ways to fix it, but if there's a KISS fix, I'll go for it. Just drag AOL onto a new disk. Click it, and it'll reinstall the network drivers to the new HD. Piece of cake. :)

Guess you'd prefer to stay in OT and brag about wasting a weekend trying to be geek, instead. :)
 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
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Originally posted by: Terumo
Actually, the problem is with the default network driver with SP2, which causes the network hang. Bootvis clearly shows the lag. Once AOL is installed, the lag in no more. Had nothing to do with DHCP (one of the first network calls within 18 seconds).
Hmm, I have not experienced that, but in all cases I've been working with XP systems that had SP1 and were upgraded to SP2. A fresh install could be different...
I could dig around and find a zillion ways to fix it, but if there's a KISS fix, I'll go for it. Just drag AOL onto a new disk. Click it, and it'll reinstall the network drivers to the new HD. Piece of cake. :)
Whatever works for you, go for it. :)
Guess you'd prefer to stay in OT and brag about wasting a weekend trying to be geek, instead. :)
Wow, that was quite necessary. :roll:
 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
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Originally posted by: ProviaFan
Hmm, I have not experienced that, but in all cases I've been working with XP systems that had SP1 and were upgraded to SP2. A fresh install could be different...

I only do fresh installs, and with a slipstream disk to make it even more easy. Next time it'll be scripted to be automatic. :) Yeah, ProviaFan, I can code too. :)

Whatever works for you, go for it. :)

Thanks. :)

Wow, that was quite necessary. :roll:

Yeah, about as unnecessary as this....

If you go looking for trouble what will you find?

Provia, I don't know your beef but if you want to climb a pole, be weary of vaseline. ;)
 

Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
0
0
AOL is not for the tech savvy, and was never meant to be...

My parents use AOL (they will never learn anything else, they don't want to). I build their computers, and AOL doesn't screw anything up. I have taught them not to use the crappy AOL internal browser though.

I think people that say AOL screws up the computer, should be the ones using AOL. They obviously don't know what they are doing.


 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
0
Originally posted by: Amaroque
AOL is not for the tech savvy, and was never meant to be...

I'd have to disagree Amaroque. My tech relative has 20 years in the computer business (not as a Best Buy installer), and no one I know is more tech savvy as him (he's a certified electrician and Mensa candidate), but he still has AOL. Has had it before AOL had 500,000 subscribers. His reasoning is: almost every business computer he services has AOL installed, and he needs to be proficient in it's use and installation (especially what to keep and what to prune).

So even techs that are uber savvy have a need to use and have AOL. Average Jane and Joe will use it for surfing, but techs can't be so picky -- they have to know the programs that's installed on their client's computers and keep up with them.
 

Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
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Originally posted by: Terumo
Originally posted by: Amaroque
AOL is not for the tech savvy, and was never meant to be...

I'd have to disagree Amaroque. My tech relative has 20 years in the computer business (not as a Best Buy installer), and no one I know is more tech savvy as him (he's a certified electrician and Mensa candidate), but he still has AOL. Has had it before AOL had 500,000 subscribers. His reasoning is: almost every business computer he services has AOL installed, and he needs to be proficient in it's use and installation (especially what to keep and what to prune).

So even techs that are uber savvy have a need to use and have AOL. Average Jane and Joe will use it for surfing, but techs can't be so picky -- they have to know the programs that's installed on their client's computers and keep up with them.



I suppose what I meant is that AOL is marketed for how easy it is to use. It's not marketed to the tech savvy.
So easy to use, no wonder it's number one.

As far as most business computers having AOL installed, I'd have to disagree. Most businesses that I know of prohibit the installation of AOL on company property.

I'm not saying AOL sucks, like the 733t h4x0rs here... (however the 13 yo's spell it).

Anyway, I don't really have an opinion about AOL one way or the other.

What I think is silly is Anandtech's stance on AOL...

3. If you receive a message saying your E-Mail address is banned, you can contact the forum moderator to question why. Below is a list of E-mail services that were banned due to abuse, and will not be re-activated upon user request.

AOL
Bigfoot
Excite
Gotoworld
Hotmail
Nightmail
Whitehouse
Yahoo
All domains operated by portofevil.com, aka evilemail.com

4. In addition to the above, all of AOL's system is banned from the forums; this includes their IP addresses. This means that even if you sign up with a different E-mail address, you will not be able to post if you connect to the internet using their service.

 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
6
81
Here is why AoL is banned from Forums.anandtech.com It is the reply I recieved from the Moderator. And no it is not because they suck...

AOL is banned from AnandTech Forums as BOTH an email address and as an ISP. This means you cannot register an AOL email address, and regardless of your registered email address, you cannot post on our forums while you are logged onto AOL.

This action was necessary because, awhile back, we came under constant attack from a very nasty troll who used AOL as his base. His idea of fun was to challenge the moderators to see how far he could go in vandalizing our forums. When he was banned, he would just register again under another name and continue his activities and then brag about it on other forums.

.....The sad result is that, if you wish to post on AnandTech, it will have to be with another email provider AND from another, hopefully more responsible ISP.

I hope that resolves everything.

Mod
 

grrl

Diamond Member
Jun 21, 2001
6,204
1
0
Originally posted by: Googer
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.


Is your sister in the military?

No, I'm in Korea teaching, she's in the US.
 

BriGy86

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2004
4,537
1
91
i believe that if you know even a little bit about computers you wont be using AOL as your ISP

so i think AnAndtech made a good choice (although i can't post while im at work cause my boss has AOL there)

AOL is a cluster F*ck filled with pointless adds and banners

also, it seems to be the service of choice for the stupidest people on the net
 

Terumo

Banned
Jan 23, 2005
575
0
0
Originally posted by: BriGy86
also, it seems to be the service of choice for the stupidest people on the net

Everyone was and are stupid on the net, even those who are l33t types.

AOL as an ISP is usually the first ISP for new users and it serves it's purpose. Everyone has to learn how to run a computer and learn about the 'net life, and throwing them into a den of wolves at first isn't appropriate when all of us came online with training wheels too.

When I finished high school, computers were just getting into a few math labs (like 3 for the entire school of 2000 students). So there's many generations of folks who never grew up with them and need extra help. It's unlike the 15 year-olds now who should be proficient in computing by the time they graduate to choose whatever ISP they want. Auntie and grandma will need AOL and Earthlink, just like these l33t types needed diapers too.

 

J Heartless Slick

Golden Member
Nov 11, 1999
1,330
0
0
I used it 11-12 years ago. It was not the real internet back then. It was expensive. And the system did not have the capacity to provide service to all its customers so it was prone to kicking people off during peak times.

It was one of the first ISP that approached having a mainstream audience.

Some people try to establish status by putting AOL users down but that is their personal problem..
 

ProviaFan

Lifer
Mar 17, 2001
14,993
1
0
A random word of [not really wisdom]: Whenever I've had to troubleshoot AOL "problems," it's usually because Jim or Jane-bob Dumbpants have gotten themselves into a fix with spyware - and that would happen with any ISP. Unlike other ISPs, AOL must make it hard to screw up the network settings, because I've seen that happen with dumb users on any other ISP, but not on AOL. Still, if you make something idiotproof, nature will build a better idiot. ;)
 

Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
0
0
Terumo: I agree 100%

Originally posted by: Amaroque
My parents use AOL (they will never learn anything else, they don't want to). I have taught them not to use the crappy AOL internal browser though.

Googer: That is completely assinine to ban Americas largest ISP because of one troll. :confused: I could do the same thing with any given ISP. That Anandtech Moderator's reply is totally unacceptable.
 

g8wayrebel

Senior member
Nov 15, 2004
694
0
0
AOL blows. I have to deal with it on several friends and/or family members computers. It takes ten minutes to get it loaded and dispense with all the AOL popup sh!t bfore you can navigate. It is too expensive for the services offered. It gives people a false sense of security by saying it provides the necessary protections for Av, Firewall and spyware blocking when the services suck compared to many frre apps. You have to load apps to do the jobs it can't on top of the ones they "issue" for the same purpose. I have read that AOL and it's customers are responsible for as high as 40% of all virus ,trojan , and malware propogation in the country. I am not saying it's true, but it's still been said. To top it all off, you can't join a large number of groups or forums if you have AOL.