Saturday, July 10, 2004

The AOL Stupidhighway

Copied from Lockergnome's Windows Newsletter

Okay, folks, I just don’t get it. Why don’t people understand that AOL sucks, pure and simple? It is understandable that the people who use this type of ISP may need a little bit of help when using the Internet. This I can stomach. However, I believe that anyone of average intelligence should be able to use any of the other browsers and e-mail clients out there with some level of competence. These people just need to take the time to learn how to use them.

All right, so I have managed to express to each of you that I really dislike AOL. Now the next logical step would be to explain why I think they are offering an inferior product.


They are way overpriced. Since they are also generating ad revenue from their browser skin that goes over Internet Explorer, the cost of using AOL should not be $23.90 a month for dialup access. This pricing is insane, period. No way on any astrological plane does it make sense to drop $24 per month on dialup access that offers no POP server access to e-mail.


Proprietary software. I dislike any ISP that forces users to use only their software in order to access the Web and e-mail. Granted, you can connect using their software, then minimize it, and open up another browser to surf the Web. Still, why should I have to go through all of that trouble? This is just unacceptable.


AOL 9 rarely works with Windows 98. While I am still trying to get a straight comment from AOL on this, Windows 98 and AOL do not seem to play well together. I have 2 clients out of 27 that have had any success with using the AOL 9 software when installing on Windows 98.


Everything goes through AOL. From what I have been told, when you make a connection to AOL you are not “truly” connected to the Internet. In reality, you are connected to their network in which gives you access to the Internet. So basically, you are paying $24 a month to access AOL content, not direct access to the Internet.


Upgrading is a pain. Every other week they seem to have a new and “improved version.” Let me tell you something: if they are serious about making a truly improved version of AOL, try offering up access to POP servers for e-mail access. Perhaps even give an option at the beginning of the install process to allow other browsers to be the default for Internet access. They could even just make AOL the start page from one of these other browsers. (This would make it a lot easier for newbies not knowing how to change this on their own)

I believe AOL was a fine company back in the ’90s when then were competing with Prodigy, but they have now resorted to targeting seniors and technologically challenged in some fleeting hope to keep their dieing business model alive. If AOL wants to redeem their reputation with technology buffs like myself, they had better wake up and start paying attention to what is truly best for their customers. Choice. the one utility that seems to be lacking in the infamous AOL toolbar. [Matt Hartley]