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 Review by skullz5 
Posted: 5.8 years ago
member for 7.4 years, 2683 visits, last login: 100 days ago
 Clementon,Camden,NJ
 $55 per month (12 month contract)
 about 10 days
 Verizon
CLEC party: Verizon
 "Unlimited Dial Up Back-Up (for my kids) Connection, Spam Control"
 "Pricey"
 "A bit pricey, but does offer alot too"
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I have had comcast on and off for tree years, and this year I was finally able to get DSL, I tried a few and settled on my AOL. I have used AOL since 3.0 days and the new 9.0 rocks, the DSL is a bit pricey but I do have two computers and I do have unlimited dial up which the kids can use or I can use on my laptop. I know AOL is not for everyone and I admit that I have had problems with "AO HELL" before, but so far with the DSL it has not given me a problem. I will keep updates on my service.
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Review by cozzmo
Posted: 5.9 years ago
member for 6.2 years, 4 visits, last login: 5.8 years ago
Sterling,Loudoun,VA
$33 per month
about 7 days
Verizon
CLEC party: Verizon
"Extremly dependable, Love AOL's B.Band Content,"
"Need to have AOL running on all PC's that want to access the internet"
"Good service for the money."
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I think people that haven't experienced AOL BBand recently are being a little disingenuous.
I suspect a lot of the main complainants that taught their "Hate" for AOL are Techie wannabe's that are threatened by the fact that neophytes are able to use AOL to surf the web.
Like you have to be a Network dude to use the Internet anyway.
I have tried for 4 months to get Verizon DSL to work and for some reason they couldn't or wouldn't get my service up and running, (That is another long story).
AOL worked the day I hooked it up.
The Actiontech Modem is both USB or Ethernet capable, and connection uses a dynamic IP. (if I disconnect, reconnecting is instant and never a problem).
You do need to use one of the many routers that AOL recommends if you want multiple PC's.
I haven't had any trouble connecting to any odball services on strange ports etc.
If you are a newgroup junkie you may want to subscribe to an independant newgroup service for the large binaries.
It has been perfectly stable and I love the streaming content that comes with AOL. (Live concerts in central park, CNN-videos, NFL, NASCAR, music-videos, etc.)
The client does have to run on the PC and you are tunneled to AOL.
The service only uses as much ram as MS Word (not the resource hog that people say it is), and the Tunnel offers good protection from would be hackers, I finally turned off black Ice.
You do have to use the recommended routers to network your PC's.
very Old PC's with less than 128 megs are too slow to run 9.0 well.
My family regularly connects with 3 or more PCs simultaneously with no problem.
In the last couple of months AOL has cleaned up the Spam too.
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 Review by drake
UPDATED: 5.9 years ago
member for 7.4 years, 3545 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Brooklyn,Kings,NY
$54 per month
Verizon
"It's good for people who don't know about Broadband..."
"Stuck at 768/128 speeds because of Verizon Contract with AOL..Tech Support Sucks BADLY!"
"Go straight through your Telco Provider..."
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I had AOL High Speed DSL since January 2003 - July 2003 and the service is OK, But I prefer more speed. The installation was real easy! AOL Provided me with a ActionTec Home DSL Modem and works great and not to mention it matches my Dell PC. I am between 6,000 & 6,500 feet from the CO. and I receiving speeds at about 727 downstream and about 117 upstream, powered by Verizon Lines.
Overall The service is OK, I haven't recieved any connection problems at all, I just want more speed, I rate AOL High Speed DSL between 1-10, a seven.
UPDATE! December 28th, 2003
I am no longer with AOL DSL, I switched to Verizon DSL in July 2003 and now I'm with Verizon and Optimum Online Cable Service as of Dec 2003, I have the need for speed and reliable service and AOL is not the one for it....
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 Review by SKYHN
UPDATED: 5.9 years ago
member for 8.2 years, 3828 visits, last login: a few minutes ago
Atwater,Merced,CA
$43 per month (9 month contract)
about 16 days
SBC
CLEC party: BiznessOnline
"Fast Download, Good Pings, Free Modem"
"No PS2 Net Adapter Support, upload speed slow"
"No longer have Aol."
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Update: I did this review around my 9th month of Aol service. I got rid of Aol in September '02 after 12 months of service. The #1 reason I canceled is because they do not support, nor will they support the PS2 Network Adapter(found out by talking to them directly on the phone). The other part is I got tired of the Aol resource hog program. My current service(SBC) is cheaper, faster, more reliable and works with everything I have, I now have a home network consisting of 5 or 6 devices. I have left my review as it was when I was happy with the service(with a few minor changs). But I have lowered my rating of them.
I chose Aol+ for 2 reasons: It was cheaper than the other DSL in my area(Pacbell) and I knew 4 people in my area already that had it and liked it. It took about 16 days for the modem to arrive from the time I ordered it. I received notification about 2 or 3 days before I got my modem that my line was ready. Installation was simple, put on the line conditioners, installed the modem software, installed Aol+ software and it was up and running. The modem I have is an Actiontec brand USB Modem.
Price has always been $43.85 a month, never gone up, never gone down. I did recently receive mail though, as well as all the other Aol+ Founding Members, that there will be a new tax, which is around $4 for west coast(Me) and $8 for east coast. Since I am a founding member, I receieve a $2 deduction on that tax. Eventually though they may raise all the people on the founding rates to the new rates, which is around $55 a month. If that happens, I may think about switching to Pacbell. Pacbell is a better connection and the original reason I didnt go with it was because of the price, but if I had a choice between the 2, I would pick pacbell, simply because there is no proxy and no program like the Aol+ Program, just a simple connect/disconnect system tray utility.
Speeds have been consistent at about 1250+/110, advertised speed is 1500/128. The only gripe I have with the speeds is the upload, but its plenty for online games(Havent played a game yet that needed more than 10k/s). Pings are great too, always around 100.
The Email is ok, aside from some spam. I sometimes have trouble sending to hotmail address's for some odd reason. I had trouble sending hotmail to Aol too when I used hotmail. Maybe they are ignoring each other. Aol also started some new anti-spam policies that blocked a lot of legit emails to me, I wasnt happy about that.
Tech support through email is not very good(usually they just say to call in), although I ususally get responses in a few hours or the next day, but on the phone its terrible. The one time I had to use it I was waiting on hold for a long time, but I ended up fixing the problem while on the phone(Firewall Related). Havent had to use it since though because I havent had any problems.
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Review by manicfreak
Posted: 5.9 years ago
member for 5.9 years, 0 visits, last login: 5.9 years ago
Durham,Durham,NC
$41 per month
about 1 days
"Gives me a discount for being on social security disability, usually waives my monthly fee when i'm broke, GREAT connection"
"NONE if you hate AOL then um...COMMIT SUICIDE!"
"AOL is the best, like BURN the rest!"
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I ordered AOL Cable for 54.95/month but I get my social security disability discount on this product (thank GOD!). If I don't have the money to pay for the service I'm allowed to keep it and they'll just basically pay for it for me....especially since I've been with them for 5 years. I've had AOL Cable about 3 times (had to cancel because credit card was stolen by brother) but everytime it just gets better. The Running Man really kicks butt! I'd honestly have to commit suicide if I didn't have this great service. I believe they give me the option for a static IP but it costs a little more (I'm not too sure). I've been thru thick and thin trying different ISPs and this is BY FAR the BEST! I wish it was illegal to harm AOL CDs then I'd be happy. One of the workers there is always helpful to me. I like the use of keywords. If someone trys to say there is no way for them to waive your fee then tell them to use a service award.....they WILL give these to young members (meaning you haven't been a member long) Anyways the point is AOL ROCKS! EarthLink is cool too but I had problems with their mail servers. MSN is for queers honestly I SWEAR that is the only people who ever talk to me on their when I had it.
GET AOL OR GO TO THE BAD PLACE!
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Review by fojo
Posted: 6 years ago
member for 6.9 years, 213 visits, last login: 146 days ago
Tucson,Pima,AZ
$50 per month (12 month contract)
about 6 days
Qwest
CLEC party: Qwest
"Cost, tech support"
"Service lately has been going out on Fri. night/Sat am"
"For range of users (10-55 yrs. old) has been relatively hassle-free"
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We're 13,000 feet from CO; speed on 640/256 service averages 530/200, and from what I've seen more speed at this distance (for DSL, anyway) would be a bunch more dollars. I don't want cable because it's hard enough to limit screen time for the kiddies as it is without vastly increasing temptation. Tech support has been good, overall - had to replace hard drive/reload OS/reload apps last week and the lady I talked to had me hooked up again in about four sentences. News selection is good - since I'm on a computer all day at work, thing I do most at home is catch up on what's happening in world. Actually, TOS warnings have been useful too in helping educate kids about what to do/not to do on Internet. Since reload, AOL has been somewhat glitchy, but so has just about everything else. If the service keeps going down on Friday nights I'll probably try something else - our year's up in December anyway.
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Review by vastcat
Posted: 6.1 years ago
member for 6.1 years, 5 visits, last login: 6 years ago
Tucson,Pima,AZ
Contract price not specified.
about 26 days
Qwest
"Free trial offer and content"
"phone company was not co-operative in helping fix issue with telephone line"
"Content is great for expert and non-expert users, but getting good support is luck of the draw"
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It took three weeks for the line to be activated and the DSL modem package to arive. After the line was activated I consistantly had issues with the lines in the area. It turns out the whole phone system was hosed, nobody in the area could get a reliable DSL connection. This is more of a Quest issue, but since AOL was my ISP I was paying them to worry about that, not me. This problem went on for a full month...the entire extent of the free trial offer, so I didn't lose anything. But, I didn't get a free month trial for a WORKING DSL line. The largest benefit AOL has to offer me is 20 MB FTP space per screenname or 140MB of online storage space. I also like setting reminders using the aol calender which remind me of important events the day before. I have a wireless connection set up in my house. I use ebay a lot, and also do a lot of ordering and shipping online. The AOL wallet stores all my mailing information, and credit card information. I don't trust this feature on internet explorer in case somebody ever gets into my home network, plus the AOL wallet is available on every computer since it is stored online on their servers. This saves me so much time. My address book is also stored on their servers, so regardless of what computer I'm using I have access to it. I would suggest eliminating the middle man, don't sign up for AOL broadband, go directly through your phone company or cable company, and sign up for the AOL BYOA plan, which gives me unlimited access to those features, and 5 hours of dial-up if your DSL connection goes out or you travel. Currently I am using Cox.net on a wireless G network and using the AOL BYOA plan
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Review by southchatham0
Posted: 6.1 years ago
member for 6.1 years, 31 visits, last login: 4.2 years ago
South Chatham,Barnstable,MA
$54 per month
about 11 days
Verizon
"easy to set up and use"
"cost"
"everything worked great, but expensive"
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Free equiptment, 30 day free trial, and no contract. Provisioned at 768/128. In 3 weeks maintaining low 700k speeds. I was all set to go in about 11 days. Only flaw ( so far) is cost. I have seen some people with problems, but I have had no software or connection problems.
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 Review by hhkr
Posted: 6.1 years ago
member for 8 years, 1594 visits, last login: 16 days ago
Big Sur,Monterey,CA
$43 per month
"dl speed"
"ul speed"
"don't get it"
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AOL plus satellite. Cumbersome, difficult software to install. Constant ups and downs. Fair Access Policy limits downloads.
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Review by jonmarkp
Posted: 6.1 years ago
member for 6.2 years, 4 visits, last login: 6.1 years ago
Forest Grove,Washington,OR
$50 per month (month by month)
Verizon (ex GTE)
"Bill Hicks should be glad he died before experiencing AOL's support staff."
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Dear AOL Billing:
Why do you keep canceling my account, re-instating it, changing my
billing history, re-instating my account, granting me two months free
service for in apology for your billing errors, then canceling my account all over
again?
I have had the $9.95/mo Bring Your Own Access plan since June. I connect only via TCP/IP over DSL...I do not have a modem. I repeat...I do not have a modem. For some reason, in July, your software began recording DSL time as dial-up time. This is not fraud, no one has my passwords, this is an AOL internal billing error. Please,
for God's sake, FIX THE PROBLEM AND KEEP IT FIXED.
Please don't waste my time with any more of AOL's generic apologies and
utterly irrelevant canned FAQ answers. No, I will not discuss this over
the telephone; I want a written record. No, I can't go to Keyword: Billing because you have my account blocked. If you don't have the knowledge or authority
to fix this, pass it on to your supervisor--or to someone who can
understand where AOL's billing error is originating, and has the
authority to fix it. I mean it...don't waste my time if you can't fix
AOL's accounting error. All the informatin you need to verify my account is right here:
Jonmark Pierce
Master Screen Name: XXXXXXXXX
Last 4 digits of Social Security Number: XXXX
Last 4 digits of billing method: XXX
Tel. 503 XXX-XXXX
PS: I am sending a copy of all correspondence regarding AOL's billing
error to the widely-read DSLReports, so others can see the quality of
AOL's response. Stay tuned....
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