Poopsmith
That's Mr. Smith To You.
join:2003-03-12
Boulder, CO
| Pricey
Before it was "optimized" it was still pricey. $23.95 is a joke for dial-up and a bunch of "cool" features hardly anyone uses. So now they jack up the price to $54. What's new in the Aol world?
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum. |
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mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY | Ripoff ripoff ripoff! What a rediculous price! Lower it to at least $40 |
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gigahurtz
Premium
join:2001-10-20
Palm Coast, FL
clubs: | They better open their eyes
If they plan to stay around, they better open their eyes. As i've stated before, they are good for the first time PCer, but they still need to check their prices because there are alot of other service providers that charge half the amount they do. |
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Thasp6
The Thasps Are Everywhere.
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Your Mind.
|  You can't blame them.
They're taking advantage of morons that can't use a computer. Wouldn't you? I think AOL gets a good laugh out of this everyday.
The bottom line is, people don't want to learn to use a computer. They don't care about cookies, popups, PPPoE and DCHP, they just want to go on, and be on, for a while, with no learning whatsoever. If they don't want to learn anything, what can I say, they'll get screwed over with overpriced internet and a slow ass computer. 
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Prayer has no place in Public School, Just like Facts have no place in Organized Religion
~~ Simpsons
Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake whole relationships.
~~Sharon Stone |
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Phoenix__1-no-login
@attbi.com | I think, AOL (the isp part) if they don't take new steps to keep users, such as lower their prices, will fold within the next 5 or 10 years. |
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Taranis
join:2001-12-06
Mount Vernon, WA | reply to Thasp6
That's absolutely right. People would rather shell out a few more $$ than use a little brain power. They deserve to get bent over. |
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JDawg26
@attbi.com
| AOL
I'm surprised people don't just use the byoa service for 10 a month and the $35 high speed through someone else, which is what I have done for years. I also use the aol small business interface, probably the best kept secret in the business world. Not only do I love the service but its a nice little tax writeoff on top of it. I really like 9.0 also, great improvements although I liked 8.0 plus alot also. . |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Long Beach, CA
clubs:
| OUCH!
My next-door neighbor is paying $28.95 a month for AOL dialup! When I told her she could have gotten SBC DSL for $29.95, she just went "Huh?, What's DSL? I have AOL, is that the same?".
I swear, they should make some people take a class before they even let them own a PC!
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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PCsavyy
@mindspring.com
 from:
Pcsavvy 
| reply to JDawg26
Re: AOL
You are obviously a moron for actually recommending AOL. Those idiots are making fools of people like you by ripping them off for a really shoddy internet. Verizon DSL for $34. Hell yeah. AOL sucks big time and all they have is spyware and crap on their service. As far as other morons like you who say they want AOL because of the IM- YOU CAN GET AIM free anyway. You DONT have to subscribe to AOL to get it. In any case Yahoo messenger and MSN messenger V.6 is wayyyyy better than AOL can every hope to be. |
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ronpin
Imagine Reality
join:2002-12-06
Nirvana | reply to mrchris
Re: Pricey
It's a 1990's OPM (other people's money) company. Times have changed -- lean and mean is the name of the game. 'so-long AOL. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| little things
These little things that they want to charge for makes me laugh. Keep hackers out for only $1.95/mo extra (tip: zone alarm free does that for uhmmm FREE). Keep viruses out of your email (get a clue: hotmail will scan for you too and thats also FREE) Of course thats a godsend if you get stuff mailed to your aol box from a warez/mp3 or movie aol chatroom.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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Slow Motion
join:2001-04-05
Timmonsville, SC |  AOL= LOL
AOL what a Joke,every time I hear that name I can't help but
LOL.......
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"If it was easy, everybody would" |
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technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA
| reply to PCsavyy
Re: AOL
I think you are missing the point of the post PCsavyy. It's not about who is smart, who isn't, some people don't know their ass from a hole in the ground, but is it their fault? I would personally say in some cases it is, and in other cases it's not. The previous post(er) was recommending aol for it's business interface. Was he recommending it for a primary service provider? He does have some knowledge.
You make a point that you do not have to subsribe to aol for chat, which is very true. When was the last time you used Yahoo or MSN? I cannot remember the last time that I have signed on to Yahoo or MSN and didn't recieved messages ranging from "Get a better bigger penis" to "XXX Passwords", even in the chat rooms you see "Lose 5 lbs in a week" hyperlinks. With Free services you will always have the bottom of the barrell users, being it's free, and if they did something ill they have this preconcieved notion that "what's the worst that can happen, if they cancel me, i'll recreate".
Sure AOL is not the best when it comes to these chat features, but aol is slightly better. TOS (terms of service) basically limits your freedom of speech, but at the same time keeps the idi0ts at bay. If you have 3 accounts canceled on you, you are gone, aol will no longer allow you to open a account with them.
So I think this validates that aol is slightly better than yahoo & msn. Also if you want to talk about spyware? MSN passport gathers information about legal/illegal software from your system, and how it reports back to Microsoft if you have a pirated version of Windows or not. I myself have never found any spyware in the America Online software, now I do find it kind of annoying how they prebundle real player. Real player is a bitch, it tries to take over all the file associates on your system, you have to constantly fight with it to keep things the same.
Now for the flame wars part, im sure you are going to write something to this extent "Blah blah blah, your a moron, blah blah blah idiot." Please save your less than intelligent response for someone that cares.
[text was edited by author 2003-08-10 17:05:21] |
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Delta 46
Premium
join:2003-03-08
USA
| reply to Poopsmith
Re: Pricey
AOL and its future: |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Sorry dude... its just not cool when you do it! |
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mjohnson5577
Premium
join:2003-08-02
Denver, CO | reply to Thasp6
Re: You can't blame them.
Exactly. |
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Mortis
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Clearlake, CA
clubs:
 ·AT&T Southwest
 ·Mediacom
| reply to JDawg26
Re: AOL
said by JDawg26:
I'm surprised people don't just use the byoa service for 10 a month and the $35 high speed through someone else, which is what I have done for years.
BYOA is $15 a month nowadays I think. Hell, I wouldn't even be that interested in thier 'content' if it was free.... Anything that AOL has or does can be simulated in other free ways. I think for teens and non-experts (read -- the vast majority of computer users who have zero understanding of computing), their we-do-it-for-you sales pitch sounds attractive. I have a aunt who steadfastly refuses to give up MSN, who is basically just as bad as AOL. They pay for a second line for dial-up, even when DSL is available. $20 for the line, plus $23 for MSN is $43 a month, $516 annually. I pay $35/mon, $420 annually for 128/1500 DSL. I don't think savings is enough to make people who are really entrenched or internet phobic to change. AOL Broadban costs $648/yr. They pay $228 a year more than me....what 'content' could I purchase for $228.....DVDs, CDs, dinner out, etc, etc , etc
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Crouching Sniper, Hidden Camper |
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PCsavyy
@mindspring.com
from:
Pcsavvy
| reply to technick
The reason i flared up is coz I am SICK and TIREd of people like him and to some extent like you, who are so Naive and think that the internet begins and ends with AOL. AOL is the crappiest software there is and anyone with an iota of knowledge about the internet will say so. As far as the chat aspect is concerned, its obvious that you are talking about some other MSN or Yahoo- the ones i have are highly superior to AOL and do not include any such pop up advertisements. I have yet to get any pop up selling 'Penis enlargements' as you so eloquently put it or some other crap. AOL chat is insipid and extremely heavy on system resources. The chat is very basic and lacks the extremely superior emoticons and Imvironments that yahoo and msn provides. Maybe you should revisit yahoo and msn, download those, test them out and then put up your comments.
As far as taking over your system= ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You are actually saying AOL does not? AOL puts it stupid icons everywhere and makes it the default for all your needs. Highly irritating. You have to use their shitty browser with 'great content' to surf- content, which you can easily find on the the net via CNET or DOWNLOAD.com or google if you are even slightly tech savvy. As far as illegal software goes, MSN NEVER reports back to microsoft. Else all my classmates in biz school would be behind bars. I dont know where you get this information. Even if you install an illegal copy of microsoft software, the software always asks u if u want to send in the information to microsoft. You have the option to say no.
The bottom line is that AOL attracts users who are just not tech savvy- either too scared to switch to a frills free service where one can actually SURF the net or people who are too lazy to configure their browsers and Email. Virus protection? Jeez yahoo and msn both has in-built virus software.
A very valid point was made by 'Mortis the wise'
Quote
BYOA is $15 a month nowadays I think. Hell, I wouldn't even be that interested in thier 'content' if it was free.... Anything that AOL has or does can be simulated in other free ways. I think for teens and non-experts (read -- the vast majority of computer users who have zero understanding of computing), their we-do-it-for-you sales pitch sounds attractive.
Unquote
I totally agree with you Mortis on this. Why the hell would anyone pay $15 OVER AND ABOVE the DSL/ Cable service? To use AOL's content? Jesus, what is wrong with these people? NOTHING in AOL is worth paying even a dollar a month extra. Whatever they have is extremely passe content that can be found EASILY on the net. But then of course u need to know how to surf.
Ok, now that i have vented my pent-up frustrations on these PC ignoramuses, I need a drink.  And to all those who dislike AOL, please support a good cause. Go to
www.nomoreaolcds.com
and send in your crappy AOL cds to them. They are planning something quite funny once they have 1 million such CDs. |
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Rothan Tik
Premium
join:2000-11-07
Danvers, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| AIM
I'm going to have to defend AIM because it is a decent (albeit simplistic) chat client. As for all the little annoying "extras" that AOL adds to AIM, all can easily be disabled with a nifty little download called "DeadAIM". That in itself makes AIM 300% better than just the straight version. Tabbed chat, stock quote bar and advertisement bars removed, AIM Today window supression. Yes I know DeadAIM now has a small fee attached to downloading it, but I got it when it was free  BTW I also run ICQ which is another fine chatting program.
[text was edited by author 2003-08-10 18:21:58] |
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trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI
·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to drjim
Re: OUCH!
You don't get people to change by calling them stupid. You educate them and try to understand why they don't want change. If you call me a moron and stupid for using something you have put my back up against the wall and I will fight for it just to save some dignity.
Try to remember we are talking about a technology that has only had wide distribution in the last ten years and has only become a household item in the last 5.
Horses and cars coexisted for many years on our roads and byways and you still see the horses in Amish country.
Give it a rest and be constructive in educating people. I am not saying any of you are wrong and that AOL is not a horrible deal. The fact is that many people don't care as long as it is easy not fast. If you do email only and go to keyword "disney". Does it really matter how fast it is? And if you make $80,000 a year but your hobby is golf and you only have a PC because your son made you why not pay 25 dollars extra a month for the "idiots guide" version of the internet.
My two cents. |
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