Dumping AOL
 

Hi I have decided to dump aol. Is anyone using MSN ? How do they like
it ? Can I use Thunderbird monzilla with it ? Will i able to still get
this news group ? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed

I agree with what the others have said. Dump AOL and avoid MSN. Here is a
short essay that gives a few reasons:
http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/bit101602.html

I'm sure that if you tell us your general location, someone on here can
recommend a good local ISP.

"Ed" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hi I have decided to dump aol. Is anyone using MSN ? How do they like
it ? Can I use Thunderbird monzilla with it ? Will i able to still get
this news group ? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed

You can still access this group through AOL by logging into Boatbanter.com

It is set up pretty well and easily accessed. Even if you drop AOL you can still access thru other venues.

Like Harry said - if that was Harry this time. Mindspring (Earthlink, really)
is great. Just call customer service during the day or you get someone in India
or the Philippines. They try hard but it is difficult to communicate and they
are obviously reading from a script.

Cable people seem to have good luck, too. Cox and Comcast have served my
friends well.

Good luck!
Dan



Harry Krause wrote:
Ed wrote:

Hi I have decided to dump aol. Is anyone using MSN ? How do they like
it ? Can I use Thunderbird monzilla with it ? Will i able to still get
this news group ? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ed


I suggest you go for a straight, unembellished ISP, like Earthlink, MSN
is full of AOL-like crapola.

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:05:51 -0800, "Snafu"
wrote:

I agree with what the others have said. Dump AOL and avoid MSN. Here is a
short essay that gives a few reasons:
http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/bit101602.html

I'm sure that if you tell us your general location, someone on here can
recommend a good local ISP.

Interesting. I read the entire article and not once did he say
anything about why a local ISP is better than AOL. He mentioned a
nimber of things AOL does and stated that local ISPs do the same
thing, but he didn't mention anything that a local ISp does that AOL
doesn't (except now AOL doesn't provide a news server). So what is
"bad" about AOL? Seriously - I am not a techie and I always read that
AOL is bad but never any specifics. I read that it is the internet on
training wheels but never read why it is "less" than "real" internet.
I read that it is AOHell. but not why. It can't be the conmnection as
I never get disconnected. It can't be how hard it is to set up as
there is no set up required. 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).

Thanks

Dave Hall

Dave,
AOL is the internet running thru AOL's browser. You get better performance
and more options if you just connect directly to the internet using IE,
Netscape or Firefox.


"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:05:51 -0800, "Snafu"
wrote:

I agree with what the others have said. Dump AOL and avoid MSN. Here is
a
short essay that gives a few reasons:
http://aroundcny.com/technofile/texts/bit101602.html

I'm sure that if you tell us your general location, someone on here can
recommend a good local ISP.

Interesting. I read the entire article and not once did he say
anything about why a local ISP is better than AOL. He mentioned a
nimber of things AOL does and stated that local ISPs do the same
thing, but he didn't mention anything that a local ISp does that AOL
doesn't (except now AOL doesn't provide a news server). So what is
"bad" about AOL? Seriously - I am not a techie and I always read that
AOL is bad but never any specifics. I read that it is the internet on
training wheels but never read why it is "less" than "real" internet.
I read that it is AOHell. but not why. It can't be the conmnection as
I never get disconnected. It can't be how hard it is to set up as
there is no set up required. 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).

Thanks

Dave Hall

With aol, you get a lot of disconnections, when you call tech support
you get someone from another country and trying to understand them is
something else, you are limited to what you can use with aol,ie other
software, and the most important is the cost of aol for the lack of
service one gets.

Ed

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.

On 22 Feb 2005 07:01:05 -0800, "Ed" wrote:

With aol, you get a lot of disconnections, when you call tech support
you get someone from another country and trying to understand them is
something else, you are limited to what you can use with aol,ie other
software, and the most important is the cost of aol for the lack of
service one gets.

Ed

I have not had a disconnect from AOL (actually Compuserve, AOL ugly
step-sister) in well over a year. In the 7 years that I have had AOL
or Compuserve I have never felt the need to call tech support so I
don't know if they are responsive or not. I am not being a smart-ass,
but what other software do you need to use? Until recently having to
set up newsreaders I have not had to use other software with
Compuserve. Now that I have, it seemed to me that Agent and Outlook
Express worked as they should. I agree that I can find a local ISP for
less than the $21 I am paying for Compuserve - I just don't see the
service issues.

Dave Hall

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

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. ;-)