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Review by projectx 
UPDATED: 137 days ago
member for 5.5 years, 920 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Toronto,ON
 $37 per month (month by month)
 about 3 days
 Bell Canada
 "no caps, using bell lines, cheapish..."
 "support has gone to hell, speed is kinda slow compared to others..."
 "oh gawd, run... as fast as you can... to someone else... other then bell"
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well im getting close to advertised speeds on aol and for the price of 44.95 before tax. im actually going faster then all my friends who r on roger and bell sympatico, so it amazing. itstallation was easy, just plug some things in and ur done, software installs it self, takes a while but gets done. modem took bout 2 days to get to me, and my phone line was set up in a day, even though bell screwed up and put me in dslam (no dial tone for bout 5 hours). aol provides a dsl modem, network cable, usb cable, and anything else i need to get online. the modem they give their customer doubles as a hub, so i save myself money not having to by a new hub. the ips that aol gave me were dynamic ips, so it great, keeps me form being hacked, expecially when aol gave me a free firewall too (mcafee firewall express)
in canada, aol broadband is fast and reliable. espercially in my area, where aol is the 2nd fastest internet provider, if ur useing a diff meathode to connect to aol (in xp its internet connection wizard), its all round great, other then the little problems they have wit bell canada over the phone lines.
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UPDATE
well still going good, infact speed increased since last update, now im going 2.5mbits, which is close to the advertised 3mbits, but w/e i did hit 3mbits onces, but that was downloading bit for bit [the way linux dls]
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UPDATE 2
since the last update, which was a long time ago, everything has gone down the crapper, yes the speed increased to a measly 4mbps (which i have to fight with aol support for, apparently the max is 5, but my line is crap) the costs have gone down, a tiny bit, but when problem arise (real ones that need thier/bell's attention, takes days to complete, and apperently its not bell's fault (recently having problems with modem, and profile switching, aol submits support ticket to bell, almostly instantly bell calls me regarding my problem, while telling me that he forwarded the request for a new modem for me, but aol is always an answering machine for him, which is where the 3-5 business day delay comes in, at least thats what im assuming)
if my mother wasnt so dependent on her aol account, id switch to acanac.. wayyyy cheaper, better speeds (dont think my line could handle it though) and they have better methods of getting around bell's specialness. managing to slowly weed aol out of my mother system, so taht i can switch over, and not have to deal with aol any more... thier support is close to non existent now. only benefit, getting a US ip while in CANADA, which means i can watch all those US only content on websites.
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Review by Metatron2008
Posted: 1 year ago
member for 1.2 years, 540 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Stockbridge,Henry,GA
Contract price not specified.
AT&T
"It was THE way to use the internet when it began."
"Everything after."
"Dead service."
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I'm coming out of the closet, so to speak, about how good AOL used to be and I hope the mods keep this here.
I used AOL a LONG time ago. I remember signing onto AOL with a 486 100 mhz color laptop in 1997. My friends, and anyone using AOL, were the first ones to experience Instant Messenging, which at the time was integrated into AOL, not a seperate program.
For a long while, you never had to leave AOL. There were so many programs you could use, the chat rooms and newsgroups were excellent, people were actually NICE!
Yes, in 1997 people on the internet were nice!!
At the time, if you downloaded something on Internet Explorer, it downloaded on the page itself. if you closed the page, the download stopped. Another thing AOL had better, as you could download and then use another part of AOL.
But that was then. As the internet grew, AOL didn't. Stayed the same, even the price.
And the customer service became complete crap.
The service is now a sham. I stopped using it in 2002 and back then it had become a sham.
But I'll never forget what brought me to the internet.
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 Review by OldschoolDSL
UPDATED: 2.1 years ago
member for 3.7 years, 688 visits, last login: 154 days ago
Holyoke,Hampden,MA
Contract price not specified.
about 1 days
Verizon
"They do release their content to paying customer 1st"
"Everything you pay for, you can get free"
"AOL is not needed, unless you are 100% new to the internet"
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My review is on "The bring your own access plan".
America Online (AOL), currently own by Time Warner was the first widely known and recognized Internet service provides (ISP) in the country (USA) and although its still in the lead with the highest volume of home based users, it is quickly falling back as more user friendly and cheaper ISP's become more widely known and available. Currently America Online offers both Dial up Internet (directly through AOL) and Bring your own access, for people who already have Internet access, but may still wish to use AOL.
AOL (America Online) may still have some purpose for those users who are 100% new to the Internet and it does make for a quick learning for those who maybe normally clueless to online life or computers in general. But long term it just is not practical. Party because there are many other cheaper ISP's who now offer the same things as AOL does, but for less and what they may lack, you can also get for free either else where or even through AOL.com itself, such as AIM (America Online Instant Messenger).
Also on a whole, AOL's software has been known to be very buggy and sometime has been known to cause more problems then it is worth having installed. But one can not use AOL, without having their software installed and if you have dial up with them, it must be open at all times to be connected. Which brings up AOL's level of technical support...
At this time I do not know if AOL out sources their tech support or not, but one things is for sure. Most of their tech staff do not seem to know much about the workings of a computer, let a lone their own software. Many times it seems that they are reading off of a pre-written script, which was made to answer general questions and even then, you maybe surprised to be left on hold for 30+ minutes, only to find out that the tech does not have the answer either, to solve the problem at hand. A more advanced user could call up support and begin to supply them with answers more filling then their own staff (believe me, I'd done it).
As a free service and AOL seems to be ever so adding to their free services, AOL has yet still somethings to offer. But as a paid membership, they are highly over priced and lacking support or need for the growing information age. I should add that I was lucky enough to keep the old price, while currently BYOA is now gone up in price, while their support remains the same and so does their level of services.
UPDATE - 08-08-2006 AOL High Speed is now FREE. However, they still want some kind of billing information on file to activate or re-activate an account. One can only hope that AOL does not bill people for their "free service". As a free service, AOL is not bad. It maybe not needed either for those who have grown past it, but it still can be used for the noob at heart.
UPDATE - 09-14-2006 AOL's free service, seems to charge you 1 cent ($0.01) for the monthly service. Which seems not so bad for what they normally would charge, but still not 100% free.
UPDATE - 09-17-2007 - AOL is still FREE and no longer charges 1 cent (0.01). They seem to have added more ads, but that is to be expected. At this time, there is no spyware. Don't use it much, but it still a little fun to play with and its free.
Followup comments:  
AOLOldTimer
@aol.com
| Free AOL I kept AOL because I use it to keep in touch with family. The service also still has the better e-mail with bigger allowances for files for things like pictures, etc. The service, with all of it's little extras, isn't bad. It just tried to stay overpriced too long. | |
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aol user
@aol.com
| aol software I have the 8mb Wireless Broadband Plan for £14.99 a month, which AOL offered for being such a long-term member. Roughly 7years, and previously I had 2mb at £19.99. The new upgrade is amazing.
Free router, even though I use my own Belkin one, easyyy set-up, no hitches, and never had to install AOL on my PC's to access the net. Also have 4 computers connected at once so that "you must have Gold at £29.99 to let additional computers use the connection at the same time" is a load of balls.
One of the best ISP's i've had in terms of a quality connection. Haven't had a disconnection problem for years!
I really recommend them if you know what you are doing when setting it up.
Their customer support is actually good if you are lucky enough to get through to someone with english skills high enough to not need to repeat your phone number 3 times. lol | |
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 Review by Rob A
UPDATED: 4.4 years ago
member for 4.8 years, 1737 visits, last login: 10 days ago
Pompton Plains,Morris,NJ
$9 per month (6 month contract)
about 1 days
"Still Thinking"
"Pretty Obvious (all of it)"
"Can't believe I ever used it. STAY FAR FAR AWAY!"
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I had AOL for dialup since I got my dell, only used it cause of the 6 months free. What a mistake I made! Prices jacked up to way past how much dialup should cost (over 23 bucks a month)! Anyway, then I got Verizon DSL which was great. But I didn't want to get rid of my email or screen name for AOL/AIM. So I kept AOL for Broadband for 9.95/month. I can't stand it. AOL gets you in with their free offers and then you can never get out. I am canceling immediately when my 6-month commitment is over! I already switched my email and screenname but its gonna take awhile for ppl to get used to it. God damn AOL! I thought even if you canceled you can atleast keep your screenname for aim, but they say no. Of Course.
UPDATE
I have canceled AOL for good and successfully got a new email address and screenname. Thanks AOL for the hell you put me through. And to people still using AOL, STOP!! There is absolutely no reason to use it! All the stuff AOL offers can be found around the web for free without any bloatware or ads! Free yourself from AOHell!
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 Review by Nymostwanted
Posted: 4.4 years ago
member for 5.4 years, 1491 visits, last login: a few hours ago
New York,New York,NY
$49 per month (12 month contract)
about 14 days
Verizon
"Aol Feautures"
"Speeds"
"If you gotta have it, take it."
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Well, I placed an order on February 5th and got the modem and the line provisioned on the 10th. Comes out to be that they placed DSL on the wrong line. I called and they said that my line was going to be ready the 19th. So, here I am waiting. Everything is ''worse'' because I haven't even gotten a chance to use it. As soon as I am connected I'll update my information. Now I'm using dial-up which is pretty good.
Update-----------------
Today is the 19th and my isn't active!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I call and they say the 20th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a special time when verizon activates ur DSL line?????????
Update-------------------
Today is the 20th and I call and they say the 28th. I'll just have to wait. Strike 3 but in strike 4 AOL is out!
Update-------------------------
Today is the 24th and I got DSL. My speeds are between 650-800 down and 135 up according to DSL reports I am happy.
Update-------------------
My pings are between 52-58!!!!!!!!!
Update----------------------
Godddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Service
My connection was down for about 30 seconds
My family is happy with it
Update---------------------------------------
I know have had AOL DSL for like 2 months and it is so cool. My gf has AOL CABLE and she has 2.9 megabites according to DSL reports. I am planning to switching over to CABLE.
Update----------------------------------------------------------------------
AOL just got better with AOL 8.0 PLUS. Well, the features are great. I heard about a new welcome screen. I can't get it. For some reason. If u'll like to help me IM me at Obelisk21.
Update---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
AOL's new price for ppl that have AOL through Verizon lines is great. Now, I only pay 39.99 a month. That includes unlimited dial-up and unlimited DSL. Also, 9.0 is coming. Remember, AOL is getting better.
Update-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AOL DSL has been working smoothly the last few months. No connection drop-outs and it my DSL signal has been steady. I am capped at 768/128 and I get 752/135-6. AOL has beeen great!
Update---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
AOL 9.0 IS COMING! GREAT FEATURES! GREAT EVERYTHING!
Update---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
I have left AOL DSL, since a while back. Hopped on to Verizon Online DSL for 29.99/month for one year, with speeds up to 3.0/768. I usually get 2793/715. With AOL DSL I got 768/128 and payed more for it. The MSN software is great, but I dont use it that much. I prefer Firefox over all.
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 Review by Notorious
UPDATED: 4.6 years ago
member for 8.6 years, 2464 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Brooklyn,Kings,NY
$41 per month
about 30 days
Verizon
"none"
"none"
"none"
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Long time ago.
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Review by typenamehere
Posted: 4.6 years ago
member for 4.6 years, 13 visits, last login: 3.7 years ago
undisclosed location
Contract price not specified.
"Umm... it connects at it's own free will"
"Anything you can think of, except for the colour"
"Not recommended"
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I spent two years connecting with aol, and for ten years I've had to deal with slow and sometimes non-existant connections. I've finally had enough and switched to Sympatico. I would recommend it too people who like to look at e-mail, and play the waiting game.
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Review by spikymonkee
Posted: 4.6 years ago
member for 4.6 years, 0 visits, last login: 4.6 years ago
New York,New York,NY
$23 per month
"none"
"pushy sales, impossible cancellation, expensive"
"cancellation is almost next to impossible, what HELL."
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My mother recently made a mistake and signed up for AOL over broadband because she thought it would "make broadband faster" as it advertised on the website. It doesn't. We already get broadband from time warner cable.
We called AOL to cancel. This is when the trouble started.
On the phone, this overly friendly sales guy REFUSED, simply REFUSED to let my mother cancel. He keeps on insisting that since her free trial has barely started she should give it time to REALLY use the service. We said, no... we don't need it, please cancel it. 15 minutes we spent on the phone with this guy. He just refused to stop counting and recounting the amazing benefits of aol over broadband. He kept on saying... this will make your broadband FASTER. We asked how? He really didn't have an answer other than "It comes with free software!"
I said, we don't need the anti spam/virus/crap software. It didn't matter, he just kept on going. In the end my mother caved in and let him offer her an extra month of free trial and finally got off the phone.
So of course with busy lives, neither of us remembered this horrible little subscription until months later when she checked her credit bills and noticed she has been charged for 2 months.
We called them back tonight at 2am to REALLY cancel this time. A man answered with an indian accent, he took down our information and transferred us to another lady also with an indian accent. Except this time we can hardly understand what she was saying. We gave her our info again and explained our situation and asked her to credit our card back since she can clearly tell we did not use the account at all from her records.
She said that out of her goodwill, she will credit only one month back. I replied that was unfair because we tried very hard to cancel the first time and wasn't successful, that's why we were charged for 2 months now. She kept on talking faster and faster until the only words I can understand is "good will" and "one month".
I asked for her manager. She said "It's a waste of time because we all have equal power". I was mildly shocked to hear her tell me that it's a waste of time to speak with someone else. I insisted on speaking with the manager. Finally a man gets on the phone with nearly perfect English. I asked him if he knew the background information, he just said "no problem we will credit your two months back, now I will forward you to cancellation.". 30 minutes later, I finally got the refund.
But the saga continues. Apparently the cancellation department in India is just as ruthless as the cancellation department in the states. After asking for our account information for the nth time, she asked me why I wanted to cancel. I said, I just dont want or need it so please just cancel it. She said, do you see the aol icon on your desktop? we have many, many amazing features! I told her I have already deleted all the trace of aol program so please just cancel our account. She sounded shocked, she went on and started reading off the other "amazing" features aol has.
At this point, I flat out told her that understand all the features and it's a much of useless crap that we do not need, please, please for god's sake just cancel my account.
After 45 minutes rom the start of our call, we finally got our cancellation number. Take my advice, if you value your time or money, DO NOT sign up with AOL. They take advange of those with a weak will and prey on those with a lack of technical understanding. In other words, they are just EVIL.
** update:
I just read some other reviews and realized the "aol over broadband" service is supposed to be only $9.95 not the $23.90 they charged us. I guess we were being charged for a whole dial up service! My mother said she remembered telling the guy she HAD broadband. This means he signed her up for aol broadband even when she didn't need it. Did I mention they are truly EVIL?
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Review by hrickpa
Posted: 4.7 years ago
member for 8.4 years, 1039 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Reading,Berks,PA
$19 per month
about 10 days
Verizon
"somewhat stable"
"slow speeds 768/128 and nolonger providing services in ceirtan areas"
"expensive"
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i signed up for aol for broadband in the year 2000 the price for dsl was an extra $19.95 when it first came out had some problems went through 3 diffrent modems the first was a speed stream 4060 then a westell modem then a broadxent 8012u
i had a major problem with the dsl that wasn't aol's fault in 2001.
it was down once for a whole week in 2003 due to a hurracane
the price went up to $31.05 plus $2.65 in taxes
the total was around $58.00
the last month of aol dsl was in june of 2004
they are nolonger supplying there branded dsl no more
i switched to covad dsl 3.0/384 that is 39.95
and paying for byoc 9.95 for 6 months
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 Review by F14b0mbk4t
Posted: 4.9 years ago
member for 5 years, 201 visits, last login: 4.6 years ago
San Francisco,San Francisco,CA
$55 per month
"Ease of use with email"
"Everything, expensive, crappy speeds, useless features"
"Stay away!"
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AOL broadband is absolutely horrible! Constant 200MS+ to local game servers. They don't even tell you the speed they are going to give you, for all I know, they could be giving you dial-up speeds at the cost of broadband. The order & installation process was super easy though, I don't remember the modem but all I know it's AOL exclusive. The AOL software is full of useless features. They charge you $23 to use their software and a seperate fee to use their broadband connection. What a rip-off, stay away from AOL broadband at all cost! The only thing I enjoyed was their email program. AO-HELL! Luckly, I got to cancel the service before the one month free trial was up. Thank God!
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America Online
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