Most ISP know have install disk that do all the work for you. You like AOL
so stay with them, but everyone who has left AOL is very pleased with a real
ISP.


"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:01:45 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 08:54:35 -0500, Dave Hall wrote:
If my experience in
setting up a newsreader (Agent on news.individual.net) is any
indication
of setting up other stuff on "real" internet, then screw that. I have
never used a local ISP and really would like to know why I would want to
switch (other than getting DSL or cable).

Honestly, I'm only being slightly wise-ass here, but if you found setting
up Agent to be difficult, you might want to consider staying with AOL.
By the way, if you haven't heard yet, individual.net is going to be a pay
service. 10 euros per year, I believe.


I wouldn't say it was brain surgery or anything, but it took some
setting up. I kinda use the internet like a car. I really don't expect
to have to spend a half hour setting up a new car before being able to
take a trip. I expect to get in, make sure there is gas and go for a
drive. If I really get into it I might set the radio controls. I
understand that I have to set up things like the mirrors and the
seats, but I don't expect to have to understand how the engine works
in order to go to the store. I don't see why these things can't ask a
few straight-forward questions and then set themselves up. I don't
need to know what a POP server is. what my server's 47 digit address
is, what port is open, etc. any more than I should have to know how my
fuel injection is calibrated, what the firing sequence of my spark
plugs is or what rear end gearing I have. To many of us these things
are simply tools. A means to an end - not an end unto themselves. To
others there is joy in the set-up and being able to fiddle with it.
Just like the guy down the street that is constantly futzing with his
car.

As to individual.net, yeah I knew as soon as I signed on they would
descide to start charging :)

Dave Hall

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:09:53 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

One of the reasons I dumped AT&T Wireless after being a good customer
for at least seven years was that it "offshored" its customer support to
India.

You should try Earthlink.

They "offshored" to another planet in a different solar system.

Later,

Tom

On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 16:50:45 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 10:09:53 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~


One of the reasons I dumped AT&T Wireless after being a good customer
for at least seven years was that it "offshored" its customer support to
India.

You should try Earthlink.

They "offshored" to another planet in a different solar system.

Ahh. I'm an EL customer, but I have never called its customer service
department.

Heh - just wait until they, in the middle of the night and without
warning, set up a new sign in system for anti-spam measures then try
to help you figure out why your email isn't working which will require
graduate level translators and won't help because they don't
understand why either.

Oh yes - you will pay - you will pay for that mistake.

I gave up on Earthlink - for 3 bucks more, I can get my own web page
with unlimited email accounts and web pages of my own for anything I
want - cost me $110 per year.

Later,

Tom

That "crapola" is why AOL must be dumped more than 3 miles out. ;-)