| aol sucks Who would be stupid enough to pay 23.90 for AOL, plus the cost of a extra phone line. Well there is 29million idiots out there. Thats stupid AOL is making plenty of money already, now there going to stick everybody with a price hike. Who wants to pay 24.00 for spoonfed internet,crappy
56k speed, pop up ads etc. |
|
|
|
 ARPremium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | Don't forget that some people out there can't get DSL/cable/satellite so AOL is the only choice.
But you are right, why pay $24 for 56K service when I get much better for $50 and no pop-up distractions or anything. |
|
 dru
join:2000-09-14
Corona, CA | AOL and choice AOL is NOT the only choice. This is the second biggest myth, next to AOL is "the" internet, or the only dialup access available to the internet.
AOL is a proprietary dial-up service, with filtered/cached access to the internet. Their proprietary software packages up the internet and their own "services" of dubious value like shop at home and pop-up ads with an easy to use interface, but for the best performance, elimination of ads, and ability to use software of choice, there are far better choices.
There are plenty of national, regional, and local ISPs, almost all charge less than $23.90 or even $21.95. There are even remote areas where mom and pop ISPs offer service and no AOL local access exists, but local residents are conned into dialing long distance to connect to AOL.
Although not always easy to use, those who prefer or simply must have AOL access can always dial up into a local ISP, and use AOL's $9.95 option to connect via the customer's own ISP. Many who have done so have noticed this often provides better performance with AOL's own site than connecting directly via AOL's network or access lines, especially with broadband connections.
AOL has made a killing with slick ads that lead non-tech savvy consumers into thinking that AOL is so much easier to use or offers unique services, like chat rooms or instant messaging. It's actually all just empty hype and packaging. The truth is all these features are available via the internet, including access to AOL's chat rooms, and most other features are available without paying the $9.95 fees. About the only feature you have to pay for to get is an @aol.com email address.
--
Longest sentence in the English language: "I do." |
|
ARPremium,ExMod 2001-04
join:2000-09-21
Toronto, ON | I am sorry, I stand corrected. But never having used a dial-up ISP (had dial-up through UCD), I never really thought about how people dial-in onto the web. You are correct, there is so much more than AOL,maybe not as well publicized. |
|
Reviews:
 ·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to mysterio1
Re: aol sucks You have to understand that the reason why there's 29 million AOL subscribers is because aside from the simple fact that AOL was one of the first big name ISP's out there advertising their service, giving away free CD's to get you to sign up for them, their service also offers ease of use, parental control features, and all the fancy so called member benefits you get for signing up with them. Many non-technically inclined people are driven by perks like this, and won't mind paying the premium for it. They do offer an abundant supply of POP access numbers everywhere in the US, not something that a lot of ISP's could say they provide for the subscribers.
--
OMARNYC.COM - My place on the web - »www.omarnyc.com |
|
| reply to dru
Re: AOL and choice I would just get netzero for $9.95 with no ads and pay $9.95 for aol tcp/ip service and it's still cheaper than the crappy $24. No ads, better connections. AOL sucks! |
|
| reply to AR
Re: aol sucks there only choice????
wtf are you talking about aol is not the internet |
|
| reply to dru
Re: AOL and choice Go to www.thelist.com
there are thousands of dial-up ISPs out there. This is why I don't get why people(techies) constantly bash AOL. They aren't a monopoly. I used BigNet for a year. They are a mostly local ISP/Cellular phone retailer/dishNet retailer/small telco with more dial-up numbers in the Metro Detroit area than anybody(including AOL). I can count on one hand how many busy signals I had in 1 year. Even fewer disconnects. No ads, worked on Linux. Best this though was the price. I got a Detroit Lions season ticketholders special $150 for 2 years of unlimited dial-up. Even better, when I got their $49.95/month IDSL service(with the first 3 months being $30 each, and a totally free install after the Covad $199 rebate, plus I got an additional 10% off the whole year for prepaying it!) a year into it, they credited me the whole value of the rest of the time $75 to my prepayment of IDSL service.
There are plenty of ISPs like this. This is a very competitive industry, not like cable or local phone service. |
|
 JYoungG L 2814
join:2000-06-13
Sherman Oaks, CA | reply to foster404
Re: aol sucks You know that and I know that but AOL doesn't want the unwashed masses to know that...... |
|
| sad but true :-( |
|
 gpbarth
join:2001-03-04
Fort Lauderdale, FL | reply to mysterio1
said by mysterio1:
Who would be stupid enough to pay 23.90 for AOL, plus the cost of a extra phone line. Well there is 29million idiots out there. Thats stupid AOL is making plenty of money already, now there going to stick everybody with a price hike. Who wants to pay 24.00 for spoonfed internet,crappy
56k speed, pop up ads etc.
Remember Prodigy? AOL is making money simply because there are so many people out there who don't know much more than how to push the Enter key on their keyboard. And as long as all those people keep paying AOL their price, AOL will keep laughing all the way to the bank. Do what I do - seek out those who use AOL, take them home, and show them how a REAL user surfs the Web. I have yet to show someone who then refused to leave A-h-OL-e.  And EarthLink actually gives me free service for doing it, too!
--
WARNING! Do not look directly into laser with remaining eye!
|
|
 perkeo
join:2001-03-19
Miami, FL | I got 1 year of AOL free with my computer. My 8 year old daughter was the only one using it. Now even she says that AOL is for morons and avoids it like the pest. I just can't imagine who would pay for that service. |
|
| Well you did. Nothing is truely free. That AOL service was somehow priced into your computer. |
|
 FLea973Premium
join:2001-02-27
Morristown, NJ | reply to 2farfromCO7
Re: AOL and choice said by 2farfromCO:
This is why I don't get why people(techies) constantly bash AOL. They aren't a monopoly.
Most techies I know don't bash AOL because they think it is a monopoly but because the service is a resource hog, buggy, busy signals, your email gets spammed constantly and when I was using it 3 years ago at busy times the WWW was unavailable because of too much traffic. Also most techies I know actually recommend AOL to newbies and to [non-techie]parents of younger children, because it is easier to get your feet wet / protect your kids and AOL customer support is better prepared to deal people whose understanding of a PC doesn't go beyond turning it on and double clicking than just a regular dial-up account is.
Sure AOL may have changed over the years, maybe its a great service now and what I mentioned is no longer valid - which leads me to probably one of the main reasons they still bash AOL - they left it years ago when it had those problems and are still emotionally scarred by the experience |
|
gpbarth
join:2001-03-04
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Three reasons why AOL is STILL not the way to go: 1) it is too expensive. When you can get a 56K connection with most ISPs for anywhere from $9.95 to $19.95 with a lot more flexibility, why pay AOL for less? 2) AOL does NOT offer unlimited time on-line. Try logging in and staying on for a week-end sometime. If AOL doesn't automatically disconnect you, you will be warned that you are on-line too long. I was once warned that I would either be dropped, or that I faced higher "commercial" rates. 3) You are paying for a service that continually flogs you with commercials, which you cannot escape. Not only are they charging you more than most other ISPs, but they're also making money from every ad they push in your face. It's like paying for a T-shirt with the clothing manufacturer's name on it. You not only pay big bucks for a Tommy Hilfiger shirt, but they also let you advertise for them for the privilege. Imagine paying Amazon for the privilege of shopping on their Web site.
Not to mention idiosyncrasies with their browser, problems with downloads, blocking what they deem you shouldn't access (not just the kiddies - AOL blocks other sites for everyone). You are paying premium rates so that you can be greeted with "You have mail!" when you log on.
I don't think AOL "sucks", I just don't think they're worth what they charge for what they do (and don't) provide. And if you decide to access them through DSL, you're really paying through the nose. Why haven't they added DSL to their services...after all, they are arguably one of the biggest ISPs in the world. I have yet to sit down and show someone the differences between AOL and EarthLink without converting someone. Not necessarily to EL, but away from AOL. When people see the freedom (and the cost savings) of choosing an alternate to AOL, they usually go for it. And that's not bashing AOL...it's simply the truth.
--
WARNING! Do not look directly into laser with remaining eye!
|
|
| reply to mysterio1
Re: aol sucks Those of you who think AOL will simply disappear, do the math: $2 a month times 30 million users (more, if you count Compuserve, and international, but let's just stick with the ~30 million AOL members out there now, for simplicity's sake). That's $60 million a month. Or, $720 million a year in additional revenue. Hmm, three quarters of a BILLION dollars a year in revenue is a lot of money. Ever wonder where all that cash is going? Trail of acquisitions tells the story - Netscape, Nullsoft (WinAMP), Time Warner. Heck, their consumer software might be lowest common denominator, but all their stuff isn't junk. I love Shoutcast. It's awesome stuff. And they bankroll a LOT of free goodies like that (think mapquest, think Spinner). Why not let the gomers paying $23.90 a month pay for me to get free MP3 streams? |
|
 Bobo$Silvio DanteMod 2001-02
join:2000-08-30
Holland, MI | There is only one word for this move: genius.
1. $1.95 x millions of subscribers = millions $$$$ extra per month
2. "$23.90 for 56k too much for you? Well, we might have a little broadband option for you here...let's see if we can't get you an upgrade." ... (mo money, mo money, mo money yo!)
3. Yes, there are plenty enough morons (or dumb'net addicts who couldn't use any other kind of service than AOL) to make this an enormously profitable decision
4. New subscribers will still get promos -- so they won't see $23.90 until later in their subscription -- meaning that their new subscriber rate won't be affected by this
5. Even new subscribers wary of the $23.90 down the line will be offered the AOL broadband option, and many will have it available and will take it
6. They haven't even mentioned broadband options beyond TW Cable modems: imagine what would happen if AOL rolls out a Sat or Wireless or even DSL Division to cover areas not served by TW Cable? That would be a realistic expectation of Phase 2 on this strat plan: acquisition and expansion; recover some losses first, then BAM! Snatch up a little upstart like Ricochet...AOL Wireless.
They will initially lose subscribers to companies like mine: local ISP's offering unlimited service at "old school" $19.95/month pricing. However, it's a slingshot effect: (no computer) to Dialup to BROADBAND -- we haven't even seen the vast majority of Americans online yet, and they are coming. For many of them, their first FIRST internet experience will be thru a broadband connection. The big slingshot snap is coming, and AOL is in a fantastic position to upsell their own people from the ridiculous $23.90 to $30-$50 highspeed access.
Man, talk about easy sales! These poor saps are ripe for the plucking. And finally, when enough have transitioned to the highspeed service, that's when the TW/broadband price increase will hit. I'll even make a prediction here: by Jan 2002 you will see that first TW price increase, as they will have enough subscribers from this initial move to warrant it.
Compare this business plan to the CLEC's (even the ones who aren't dead yet): AOL is Stephen Hawking here, Einstein, or that High School chick who invented that candy nailpolish. Genius I tell you. Pure genius.
--
First rule of fiber optics: you do not talk about fiber optics |
|
| reply to Network Guy
Re: aol sucks NOT said by MosDef112:
Many non-technically inclined people are driven by perks like this, and won't mind paying the premium for it.
That's really what it is all about. People (non COMPUTER technical people) just want to be able to use it. It's worth the price if that's what they get.
--
Bavarian Berthold |
|
| reply to JYoung
Re: aol sucks said by JYoung:
You know that and I know that but AOL doesn't want the unwashed masses to know that......
The "unwashed masses" aren't as unwashed as you think. Get out from behind the terminal please...........
--
Bavarian Berthold |
|
JYoungG L 2814
join:2000-06-13
Sherman Oaks, CA | Oh come on. How does AOL advertise themselves? "We are the Internet" for all intents and purposes. In spite of what it wants people to believe, AOL is not an ISP. It's an online service that has an Internet gateway. And the unwashed masses buy into it, the same ones that give high ratings to Jerry Springer and Temptation Island.
--
If you're wondering how he eats and breathes and other science facts, then repeat to yourself "it's just a show, I should really just relax" |
|
