AOL Domination
Umm….is that boo's and hiss's I can hear? Guess I mentioned AOL huh.
Recommend AOL or even speak of them and you always get a mixed reaction. I have been an AOL user twice in the last 2 years and this second time I have actually stuck with them.
Whether you like AOL or not according to a recent survey** they ranked as the number one Internet Service Provider in Customer Satisfaction, they also have a subscription base which is increasing all the time (30 million world-wide)
Although I am an AOL user this is an un-biased opinion, and in all honesty if my wife was not American and brought up using AOL I would never have went for a second subscription. But here are a few general bits of information and pointers if you are considering using AOL or are looking for a change.
--- So you have 70mb of disk space spare do you? ---
FACT: If you are even contemplating using AOL then you will need their software installing on your computer. Currently at version 6 (5 for Macintosh) the software will occupy around 70mb (ish) of your hard disk and provides access to the network of AOL (only) services as well as an integrated web browser.
Don’t let this put you off. I have installed the AOL software numerous times both on PC and Macintosh and it seems to be fairly painless.
Now once you install AOL please note it will alter certain features of other programs, for example MS Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. Your title bar will now have AOL on there in some form or another, and the spinning globe will become and AOL icon. There is no real workaround for this; it is all or nothing basically.
And I know there are going to be a whole host of people screaming from the rooftops how AOL is so awful because it installs this and does that, well you try any other ISP and they will be doing similar stuff to your software. Both NTL and BTInternet alter some of the software or settings of your machine.
--- Okay I have taken the plunge now where do I get the software ---
You can get your software from various sources. Try ASDA, WHSmiths, Petrol Stations, you name it you will probably find an AOL disc. With it comes complete instructions as well as codes for signing up to AOL.
Don’t want to look?, can’t find one?, then goto http://www.aol.co.uk where you can download the latest version of their software. It is a rather large file though so be prepared to wait if you’re on a standard dial-up modem.
Please note though, if you opt to download the software from AOL you WILL need to call their Customer Services Freephone number to obtain relevant codes for signing onto AOL.
--- Okay I have the software, got my codes now what?!? ---
Okay put in your AOL disc or run the setup.exe you downloaded from www.aol.co.uk and it will install all the various bits it needs to function correctly. Then after a required restart you can run the software. (okay that sounds far too easy and will take longer than 5 mins, but this is an overview not an instruction manual)
Initially you login as a Guest. Once it dials up and logs onto the AOL network you will be asked for various information. This is basic information, name address, contact information etc. You will also need you Credit/Debit Card details. Depending on the code you entered from the CD Cover your options for payment will be given to you.
Assuming you fill in all your information correctly it will register your details, give you some form confirmation and then you log off and then back on with your new AOL username and password.
--- So what’s it costing me then?!? ---
There are various plans available for you as an AOL user (three in fact) however I urge you all to disregard all and go for the AOL Flatrate Plan. This will cost you £14.99 a month for 24/7 Internet access as well as all the extra AOL Services with no telephone bill.
Flatrate Internet access is the norm right now, and non-of the other plans are worth paying for UNLESS you are a very light user.
In any case all the plans available to you are explained in detail online.
--- Well that’s great but I am not giving my Credit Card details to anyone, or I have not got one ---
This does not seem to be widely known but you DO NOT have to subscribe to AOL with a Credit/Debit Card. You can pay by Direct Debit.
To do this is simple. You WILL need a particular registration code, so discard the codes on the AOL CDRom you have they will not work.
Call AOL Customer Services on the freephone number provided, and inform them you would like to pay by Direct Debit. They will give you a code on the phone that you need during registration.
Now register with AOL as normal using the code given to you. You will not be asked for any payment details online, only you’re mailing address.
You will get immediate access to AOL (SEE NOTE BELOW) and a Direct Debit Mandate will be sent to you in the post which should be filled in and mailed off.
NOTE!
If you opt to sign-up to AOL through Direct Debit you are not entitled to your free trial of AOL you may have seen advertised everywhere. You will instead for the first month be given an AOL Localrate (0845) dial-up number which you use for your first month.
On receiving your completed Direct Debit Mandate after your first month you will be prompted online when you sign on that you can now change to the AOL Flatrate Plan.
--- So is the FREE trial actually FREE!? ---
Well yes in my experience it is. When I first signed upto AOL around two years ago I was given so many hours free online, however at that time FlatRate Internet Access was not available. After the free trial I was charged per minute.
Currently you can get 90 hours online free of charge (must be used within the first month) and also with no cost in terms of the telephone line being used.
I have heard stories regarding the company debiting from your Credit Card even when the service has been cancelled before the Trial Expires, however I have not had this happen to me so could not confirm this happens.
In theory yes it is free, in that it will cost you nothing should you decide you don’t want to continue using them.
--- But is AOL actually worth bothering with!? ---
Personally I would recommend AOL to any Internet user. I have used both NTL and BTInternet and to be honest I was appalled by their offerings considering their STANDING in the Telecomms Industry.
A common big issue amongst the people considering using AOL is having to install the extra software. And the reason you require the software is because AOL does offer a lot more than most other ISP’s in terms or their own tailored content. It is one big network of worldwide information from chat rooms, competitions, message boards, banking, shopping, travel. You name it AOL more than likely have it on there in some form or another.
You do have an integrated browser with AOL that in some case lacks compatibility with some sites. If this is an issue you can still use Internet Explorer to browse the Internet. In fact you can still use any Internet Application through the AOL network. Just minimise AOL and use them as normal.
In fact if you have a family who are Internet active then you can have upto 7 accounts with AOL at no extra cost. Each one its own entity giving you access to the wealth of AOL service. And with a much-improved ability to set parental controls you can make sure younger children are using the Internet safely.
In technical terms it really does not differ too much from other ISP’s.
You get 24/7 freephone access, and there is no 'cut-off' period like most other Flatrate ISP's. The connection speeds vary, and in all honesty are usually slightly slower than with other ISP’s. And engaged tones on my end have been next to none at all.
Their web browser has some flaws, and you cannot retrieve your email or send email through third party software such as MS Outlook Express.
Customer services when required are very helpful, and it is free to sit on the phone and speak to someone about technical issues, or AOL in general.
If you are looking for another ISP, or just considering using AOL then I would urge you to go for it. You will get everything other ISP’s are offering, but with a lot extra too, and for what is a very affordable and competitive price.
AND if you have read this far, you deserve a medal! ;o)
** Survey: J.D. Power and Associates 2001 UK Residential Internet Service Provider Customer Satisfaction StudySM / Released July 17th 2001
--UPDATE:31/07/2001--
I would not normally update an opinion so soon, or at all in most cases, however a few people have made a few very valid comments for my opinion and some of those points warrant a mention.
I have mentioned this briefly in my original opinion above, but just to make it clear.
You will now be aware that to use AOL you *have* to use their software. And along with that comes the inability to do some things which are really the 'norm' with other ISP's.
Email for example. You are restricted to using AOL's software for receiving, sending your AOL email (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS YOUR AOL MAIL ONLY NOT NOT OTHER EXTERNAL ACCOUNTS). There is no way around this, you cannot use third party software such as Outlook Express to pick your AOL mail up, nor can you use your Hotmail account (for example) to pick up your AOL email either.
This is in most cases not really an issue, but some people do like using their own email client software. It is really down to personal preference.
On installing AOL's software it is a good thing to note that it also uses its own propritary dialer and TCI/IP drivers. So if you do decide to use another ISP alongside AOL it can sometimes be a tedious task getting your system to work with it, again this is purely system related in my opinion, I have used two other ISP's alongside AOL with no real issues.
Thanks to Dreamerz for those two major points.
Also their integrated browser does cause incompatibilities with some websites, I did mention it earlier. But you DO NOT have to use their integrated browser, you can continue using Internet Explorer/Netscape.
I have also ran out of medals! :) Thankyou to those who have rated and left valuable comments!
--UPDATE:30/08/2001--
Although you have to use AOL's proprietary software for sending and receiving your AOL email, you can STILL use other email services with people like www.another.com, www.hotmail.com.
You can also use your usual things like Instant Messengers (AIM, MSN), FTP Clients, IRC etc, etc.
Simply minimize your AOL software and continue as you would with other ISP's.
Reproduced with the permission of Dooyoo UK Ltd