Optimized, but PriceyNew AOL needs lesson in economics ( old news - 11:57AM Sunday Aug 10 2003) tags: prices · businessWhile it sports a new shiny chrome exterior, critics charge that AOL needs to lower prices and upgrade connectivity options before their broadband dreams take wing. The new AOL 'Optimized' 9.0 client saw early release to existing AOL customers earlier this month, and was subsequently previewed by dozens of news sources. While the client itself gets more efficient and the broadband content slowly grows in volume, the changes AOL needs to address are much less cosmetic, suggests the Washington Post. "In the D.C. area, AOL's only high-speed offering is a $54-a-month, Verizon-run digital-subscriber-line service. The same basic connection, but with MSN software, is available directly from Verizon for $35 a month."
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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 | Re: Pricey Ripoff ripoff ripoff! What a rediculous price! Lower it to at least $40 | |
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ronpin
Imagine Reality
join:2002-12-06
Nirvana | 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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Delta 46
Premium
join:2003-03-08
USA
| AOL and its future: | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Pricey Sorry dude... its just not cool when you do it! | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: Pricey The pic is accurate... but it doesn't have the same pizazz that yours does LOL.
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Jewel got Britney-fied! There is hope for the world yet! | |
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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. | |
| | p51d007
Naa-P51d Mustang
join:2002-06-07
Springfield, MO
| Re: They better open their eyes I agree. AOL is a great service for someone who has never had a PC, but for experienced users, it's too much overhead.
When I bought a PC for my father 2 1/2 years ago, he knew nothing about them. So, I signed him up for AOL, and then in a year, we found him a good ISP for about 12/month.
He's doing great now. He can resize, crop and edit photos, enter info into his own database, make banners etc.
AOL has it's purpose, but in my opinion, unless they change their price structure, it's only going to be for those who know nothing about a computer, or those who get it free with their computer. | |
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Thasp6
The Thasps Are Everywhere.
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Your Mind.
|  You can't blame them.
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 | Re: You can't blame them. 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. | |
| | Taranis
join:2001-12-06
Mount Vernon, WA | 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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PCsavyy
@mindspring.com
 from:
Pcsavvy 
| 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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technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA
| 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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PCsavyy
@mindspring.com
from:
Pcsavvy
| Re: AOL 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'
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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. | |
| | | | | BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Everett, MA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
·Comcast Formerly ..
| Re: AOL im a very literate pc user and run half a data center.. i use aol for 3 reasons... family .. friends ... and sessions@aol... i love the live music aspect of it and find it to be well worth $10 a month so that i don't my email obliterated as it goes threw the spamgates aswell...
not every one is nieve and many have good reasons to use aol as a portal. by the way... i have yet to see aol actually send user data back and forth besides adverts.
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Need a web host try us at www.servercentral.net... message me directly and we can make you some killer deals. | |
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lotsofplstic
join:2003-04-02
Parsons, KS
| said by technick :
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.
You are so full of crap if you think Msn Passport reports anything back to Bill in Redmond.
I know people who have the copy of window installed on lots of computers and they use Msn passport on every system.
They have never had any problems with Microsoft.
I hate stupid people that so how stupid they are to the world.
I will never use Aol on any computer because the Aol installer messes up the tcp/ip stack if you uninstall Aol.
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Amd Athlon XP 2200+ mated to a FIC AU13 based on the nVidia nforce2 chipset 512MB of pc2700 DDR Geforce 3 mated to a Hansol 720A monitor 40GB IBM harddrive an Artec 52x CDRW Sony 16x DVD | |
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Mortis
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Clearlake, CA
clubs:
 ·AT&T Southwest
·Mediacom
| 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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Shipon
Roflcopter
Premium
join:2001-12-05
Anaheim, CA
| Re: AOL said by Mortis :
...I think for teens and non-experts (read -- the vast majority of computer users who have zero understanding of computing)...
You think all teens are like that? I consider myself pretty experienced with computers, yet I am only 15.
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OC Forum: They have overclocking, I have overblabbing.
Check my blog out: http://www.infinite-monkey.net | |
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Mortis
Premium
join:2001-12-07
Clearlake, CA
clubs:
·AT&T Southwest
·Mediacom
|  Re: AOL
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Crouching Sniper, Hidden Camper | |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, 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. | |
| | | | | Pcsavvy
join:2003-08-10 | Re: OUCH! | |
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drjim
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
clubs:
| I make it a point to *NEVER* call an AOL or new PC user stupid to their face, regardless of what I think of them. I spend LOTS of time trying to gently educate people. It's only when I get home, or I'm in a forum of other more sophisticated users, that I rant.
I take offense at your assumption of things I don't do.
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. | |
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trebzon
join:2001-09-03
Grandville, MI | Re: OUCH! I can only reply to your statement. Take as much offense as you want but the fact remains the same. Be constructive regardless of the forum. Remember this is a public forum not private so you do NOT know who your audience trully is. | |
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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
LOL.......
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"If it was easy, everybody would" | |
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HotRodFoto
Premium
join:2003-04-19
Denver, CO
| Re: AIM Dead Aim is awesome.....I agree. U know....you can access basically ALL of AOL albeit chatrooms thru Netscape? LOL AIM is way more far featured than the built in piece of crapola that AOL gives you. It is good to see that people maybe finally waking up to a company that slams their customers with continuing charges even after they have cancelled. AOL is losing over a million customers a year, is it any wonder why? They say the RIAA is price gouging? AOL is this, by it's very deffinition! | |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| AOL.. I've been an AOL Member for 12 years. I have been on the BYOA for 2 years and pay $7.95 a month for AOL.
I think AOL is a fantastic service. However, if you are on their dialup service, it sucks. I get what I need, when I need and it's fast. It's easy to use and it's great. Am I a newbie to computers? Heck No. I've built/repaired over 400 computers in my life.. I know computers like I know how to breath.. and AOL is great. But it is pricey for those who use their cable/dsl service. I use Cable with AOL and it's great.. and Yes their business section is fantastic.
Am I stupid? Am I an idiot? If you say I am, I'm sorry you think that way. But AOL is a great service if you have high-speed internet access. | |
| | Taranis
join:2001-12-06
Mount Vernon, WA
| Re: AOL.. In response to Confused:
I guess the biggest question I have for someone as pc-savvy as you is this: What exactly does AOL offer you that you can't get elsewhere? A Business Section? I can think of many sites off the top of my head that have everything from up-to-date stock reports, to world financial reports, interviews, economic insights - whatever you may need.
It might've taken me longer to complile a list of favorite websites, or set up my e-mail accounts, or create a user/pw at some site for streaming content, but I save almost $100 a year (in headache medicine alone) by not going thru AOL. Is it worth the hassle? Heck yeah! And I bet I get the same information I need, when I need it, just as fast as you do. So.. ? Why pay when you don't have to?
I'm not trying to be insulting here, but as tech-savvy as you are (or claim to be), you should know better than to pay that much when you absolutely do not need to.
It is your world tho - I'm just livin' in it. | |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: AOL.. That's fine... allow me to explain:
1) I pay only $7.95/mo. for AOL - that's like 1 meal at McDonalds - I can live!
2) Not only do I enjoy getting the lastest news, but I enjoy the streaming video that AOL has for news. Other places, such as cnn.com, require you to pay a fee just to watch the "clips", well AOL doesnt display "clips", but the entire story.
3)The software is fast and gives me no problems. Of course, if you have an older PC or out dated PC, you will have problems.
4) I'm a PC Guru..hardcode Windows/Unix Guru.. but my parents aren't, and despite us having Cable (DSL in a week), it is easier for them to understand how to check/send mail through AOL.
5) I've been on it for 12 years, I've kept the same email address.. I met great people online who share the same interests as me (Computers) and yes, I could switch to AIM, but I wouldn't have the advantage of being able to enjoy their presence in a AOL Chatroom.
6) Yes - The spam is crazy and the Porn Instant Messages. But I've setup my BuddyList to only allow users that are on my BuddyList to IM Me. As for mail? Same thing.
7)It's faster for me to retrive information. Want the weather? Keyword: weather. Want the news? Keyword: news. Sure, you can open an Browser Window, type in wwww.weather.com, then type in your zip code and wait for it to load. Sure you can goto cnn.com and select "local" or "national" or "International". But the Minute I sign onto AOL, Boom!- My welcome Screen has it all - news (local,national), weather (local,national), sports (local,national), Business Tips and suggestions.
8)Despite what people may say, AOL does value you as a customer. And when I make a complaint about another member or an area of AOL that is causing me problems, not only do they fix it, but they give me a free month. Am I taking advantage? No. But who doesn't like a free month? I sure as well do.
9) Personal Enjoyment of the script kiddies. I love to sit back in an AOL Chatroom and laugh my butt off watching the script kiddies come in and think they know how to hack because they figured out what "ssh" or what an "ip" really means. It's, IMO, Hilarious.
10)AOL has really improved their services and software. However, not their dialup. Their new software, AOL 9.0 (which I DO NOT USE), is optimized for Broadband, but AOL 8.0 is too, which is what I use. It's hassle free to install and gives me no problems. And because I connect via tcp/ip, it's never slow or lagging. No WAOL Errors, No BSOD Errors, No problems. Just pure enjoyment.
Overall, the reason why I enjoy AOL is because everything is my finger tips compiled into a nice welcome email. I got my reminders yet for upcoming b-days, anniversaries, graduations... I got my news all in 1 nicely formatted page with steaming video. I got my stock quotes the minute I sign up, plus am Notified when a certain stock goes below xx.xx amount of dollars.
People are to quick to bash AOL because of it's history. AOL isn't what it was. With more than 32 Million Users, AOL is the #1 Internet Provider. MSN following behind it with almost 13-15 Million Users.
That's all folks. Feel free to ask questions!
said by Taranis :
In response to Confused:
I guess the biggest question I have for someone as pc-savvy as you is this: What exactly does AOL offer you that you can't get elsewhere? A Business Section? I can think of many sites off the top of my head that have everything from up-to-date stock reports, to world financial reports, interviews, economic insights - whatever you may need.
It might've taken me longer to complile a list of favorite websites, or set up my e-mail accounts, or create a user/pw at some site for streaming content, but I save almost $100 a year (in headache medicine alone) by not going thru AOL. Is it worth the hassle? Heck yeah! And I bet I get the same information I need, when I need it, just as fast as you do. So.. ? Why pay when you don't have to?
I'm not trying to be insulting here, but as tech-savvy as you are (or claim to be), you should know better than to pay that much when you absolutely do not need to.
It is your world tho - I'm just livin' in it.
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| | | | Pcsavvy
join:2003-08-10
| Re: AOL..
Have you seen yahoo? They have the exact same thing. In fact, AOL has tried to copy yahoo's model albeit unsuccessfully! When you sign in to yahoo messenger you get all your reminders, birthday included as well as your stock quotes and intimation of movement in the stock market. You can also customize the my.yahoo.com webpage with so much stuff its unbelievable. Why is it unbelievable? Cos its free unlike AO-HELL...
Its just frustrating that people dont know about these great services that are free out there and much better than that silly AOL. Oh and btw someone said that AOL had 35 million subscribers. NOPE... Now they only have 25 million as reported by the Wall Street Journal. They lost 1 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2004. And they will lose many more. Wait and watch. Just not worth being with AOL when DSL and cable cost a little more.
[text was edited by author 2003-08-11 07:56:01] | |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: AOL.. I didn't mean "email", I meant "Welcome screen".. my mistake.
I'm sorry, but despite how "Great" Yahoo! is, AOL is top notch.
"Its just frustrating that people dont know about these great services that are free out there and much better than silly AOL".
I am fully aware of what Yahoo! Offers, and MSN and ICQ and IRC and yada yada yada. Heck, if I had to get rid of AOL, I'd get AIM - it's free. You can call me ignorant, you can call me dumb, but the services I can get on AOL - I can't find anywhere else. Great that Yahoo! offers those services for free, but not like AOL.
I really don't understand why people classify AOL users as being "dumb", "ignornant", "retarded".. just because you don't use it and don't like it, doesn't mean everyone who uses AOL has an IQ of 0. I don't like Toyota's, but I don't say "people who drive Toyota's are dumb and ignornant - what a waste of money! They could get the same car for less if they went with a Honda!"
I assume you used AOL before? If so, when and what version?
said by Pcsavvy :
In response to confused "Overall, the reason why I enjoy AOL is because everything is my finger tips compiled into a nice welcome email. I got my reminders yet for upcoming b-days, anniversaries, graduations... I got my news all in 1 nicely formatted page with steaming video. I got my stock quotes the minute I sign up, plus am Notified when a certain stock goes below xx.xx amount of dollars."
Have you seen yahoo? They have the exact same thing. In fact, AOL has tried to copy yahoo's model albeit unsuccessfully! When you sign in to yahoo messenger you get all your reminders, birthday included as well as your stock quotes and intimation of movement in the stock market. You can also customize the my.yahoo.com webpage with so much stuff its unbelievable. Why is it unbelievable? Cos its free unlike AO-HELL...
Its just frustrating that people dont know about these great services that are free out there and much better than that silly AOL. Oh and btw someone said that AOL had 35 million subscribers. NOPE... Now they only have 25 million as reported by the Wall Street Journal. They lost 1 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2004. And they will lose many more. Wait and watch. Just not worth being with AOL when DSL and cable cost a little more.
[text was edited by author 2003-08-11 07:56:01]
[text was edited by author 2003-08-11 08:10:50]
[text was edited by author 2003-08-11 08:12:36] | |
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epsilon9090
Lost Is Amazing
Premium
join:2002-07-29
Rochester, MI | Well It's nicve when you have a company discount that lowers DSL or Cable costs to 30 bucks a month forever and whatever the company's highest speed package is. | |
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insomniac84
join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN
| Aol already knows economics They obviously know how to ruin a company economically because they are doing a great job at it. They raised the price so high that now instead of paying 10-25 more for dsl now its 5-15 more. They made it much more worth it for dsl or cable. Then there own advertisements for their broadband service further ruins them because then the customer starts to look into broadband and when they see there local company has it 10-20 cheaper than what AOL has they drop the aol. AOL was mistaken to think that most of there customers couldn't live without their extra services. Most of the people who don't know what they are doing doesn't know how to use all the chat stuff and the email. So they don't need aol. Then when they get high speed they say, "WOW! This is more faster than AOL!" AOL will then never get that customer back. | |
| 
WildGod
God Is Dead
Premium
join:2002-01-30
NYC
| Not everyone is PC savy There are plenty of people I know who dont want to be bothered learning every little aspect of the internet. They are on AOL and are happy. Why bash them?
Not everyone lives and breathes PC. For some people I would recommend AOL since its easy to use and has gotten a lot better. I use the BYOA plan. I got a cple months free after calling to cancel their DSL since OOL finally became available by me. They have made great improvements in spam filtering (even custom word lists now), popup blocker works flawlessly and the content is pretty good.
Trust me, AOL will always have a niche. Newbies, people who just dont want to take time to learn the ins and outs of the internet will find it useful and not too mention people who have had AOL forever and feel an attachment to it. Doesnt mean they are idiots. BTW BYOA is 9.95 a month.
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TOOL-"I will find a center in you. I will chew it up and leave, I will work to elevate you just enough to bring you down"-Sober
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"UGLY AMERICAN" & PROUD OF IT
[text was edited by author 2003-08-10 20:55:31] | |
| | | Taranis
join:2001-12-06
Mount Vernon, WA
| Re: AOL IS DOOMED!!! Ahh.. if only it were that easy. You and I both know better tho, don't we?
There are plenty of people out there who absolutely refuse to learn any more than they have to about how to use a PC or get online. Show them a "disk is full" error message on the screen and it's instant "deer in the headlights". They just refuse to read the words in front of their faces! Might as well get blood from a turnip.
Some will get a little tech-savy, and move on, but there'll be others to take their place. Like cattle going to slaughter.
Unfortunately Mr. Mom & Pop Homemaker will get the broadband and pay the price because a) they can afford it, and b) because they want it to work and that's as far into it as they wanna get.
You're idea that everyone will move on, however unfortunate, just isn't true. | |
| Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA
·Comcast
·Aristotle Internet
| I don't care for AOL Don't care much for AOL, never had it, but had to 'fix' it many times for those users that have it and YES, It's invasive on any system. Neither {I have learned }do I care much for rampant discrediting of any ISP, related to the NET, Why?:
Because entry level plle have to have somewhere to start and they don't always have a 'Guru' around to tell them the pro's, con's ~Disadvantages & advantages of the "Right" provider. More to the point the 'Guru's' are not very tolerant of the average user, who do not know any better (usually it's a 'Guru' and their own incompetence in the subject "professed" at hand).
I do, though on the other hand feel that a lot of users could do with a "Drivers License" before heading into the fray of the NET, most newbies make very little effort to actually learn what they are doing~using; I have seen users who have cruised the NET for the better part of two-three years that don't have a clue about what they do or, what they should not to do! Not to say, that a strong opinion can't be expressed!
Here's an example:
Etiqette~How to reply to an online response, in part this means some modicom of self-control is required and a deliberate effort (for some) to avoid the 'Foul stench' of bad language and a curbing of extreme emotional content. Those plle that don't, are then placed in the "SLOT" of a newbie, perhaps not on selecting an ISP; but on how an individual presents themselves online. Some plle make mistakes, in a particular post; but an on going foul mouth within a post ~ Has no excuse whatsoever!!
The easiest way to blow a cause is to suffer the above {%S}Etiqette breach, it invalidates your cause....immediately and entirely!
There are many, many plle who still don't understand what PC even means, so help someone out ~Then post, Hey -Guess what, I helped someone LEARN something!
Cheers
--
The Rig:OS Win2k Pro. Chenming Case with a 420w PS. 2.66g/533fsb Intel CPU @ 3.34g CoolerMaster IHC-H71 piped air. 512meg Twinmos PC3700~466 DDR @ 2.7v ATI 9500 Pro Atlantis (128meg). Seagate 40g 7200rpm @8.5msec | |
| 
BrooklynZoo
For Everthing Else, There's Mastercard
join:2001-04-01
Atlanta, GA
|  Can AOL just go belly up already?
Ok, I am done ranting and raving stark mad!
--
"If the door won't open, lookout because I am coming back to take the hinges off!" - Les Brown, Motivational Speaker | |
| | 
reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL
| Re: Can AOL just go belly up already? said by BrooklynZoo :
I never despised an ISP (I am surprised I am using ISP and AOL in the same sentence!) company as much as I despise AOL. It is getting to the point that hearing or seeing AOL brings painful thoughts to mind. AOL go to Hell. AOL go to Hell. AOL go to Hell.
Ok, I am done ranting and raving stark mad!
Then don't use it. | |
| | |
BrooklynZoo
For Everthing Else, There's Mastercard
join:2001-04-01
Atlanta, GA | Re: Can AOL just go belly up already? I don't! No need for AOHell pain in my life. | |
| Berfurd
join:2001-04-21
North Liberty, IA | Steven Case and P.T. Barnum Need I say more? | |
| dewman99
join:2000-12-28
Palm Harbor, FL | You got to be kidding LOL AOL Optimized thats a joke right. What did they do add more Junk, like more chat rooms or auto voice navigation for the (AOL for Dummies)users.
What a Joke. | |
| SandManT1
join:2003-08-11
Lynnwood, WA
|  I got AOL and it bites
--
Sand†Man | |
| |
OUFootballbaby
@aol.com
| Re: I got AOL and it bites I have only one thing to say... I have had AOL for over 3 years now and I upgraded to AOL BROADBAND about a year ago... biggest mistake, but they lost our billing information and now we pay nothing. This has happened twice!! I'm only 17 and I know how damn pathetic AOL is, just goes to show you AOL will never survive... Can't wait for them to find out their mistake and start charging us again so we can get a better reason to leave this, "free" ISP. It's the only way my mom will close the account...
Just to let you know, "17 year old" aol didn't lose your billing info, they never do. it's all electronic. i used to work for aol and if you call them you'll find that your mom's credit is totally screwed. she probably owes $500 or some moron got on your account and gave alternate billing info. that's one thing aol does not forget to do is bill | |
| | 
Token4
Trip Hop
Premium
join:2002-07-13
Naperville, IL
| said by SandManT1 :
Can't wait for them to find out their mistake and start charging us again so we can get a better reason to leave this, "free" ISP. It's the only way my mom will close the account...
Yeah... you'd better get that resolved or just cancel AOL. You're going to end up having to pay that whole thing if you don't. Like the post above they don't forget.
--
"You know, if you find a person that you've never seen before getting in a crop-duster that doesn't belong to you, report it." -George W. Bush | |
| SandManT1
join:2003-08-11
Lynnwood, WA | A Question.
--
Sand†Man | |
| mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Which is why...
Which is why they are losing a million customers every 3 months.
Fewer and fewer people are computer illiterate. Kids are using them in schools, parents are finally sitting down and learning, etc. AOL's client base is falling FAST. People are sick and tired of paying $29 a month for dial up, and brodband companies are offering tiered services and aiming at AOL's customers. VOL is offering $35 1500/128 service and even $30 if you have their long distance plan.
AOL's email software blocks too many legit emails. I was just reading a thread on another board about having problems sending to AOL users - from a national ISP.
If AOL continues to charge twice as much for broadband, they will fail. Pricing their dial up $2 below broadband is a joke. People are beginning to realize that. | |
| | 
warriors
It's A Great Time Out
join:2001-06-05
Alviso, CA | Re: Which is why... Have you all checked out the AOL voicemail? While I am at work, I can get my home voicemails in my email. Pretty cool feature. | |
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