AOL is Dead

[StoneGold]

Well, not really. I mean, they're still Time Warner. But as far as being an ISP, well, read the article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060802/ap_on_hi_te/aol_s_crumbling_walls;_ylt=AhnbIBLQQ4REZg_1x1n9vhC s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

[Brian Cronin]

That's funny, as just last week I was talking with a friend about how I thought that this was exactly what AOL SHOULD do.

Awesome that they agreed.

-Brian

[Donald M.]

I wonder what they mean when they say the $10 dial-up access plan will have fewer features than the $26 plan?

When I had AOL it had a lot of features, but all I ever used it for was to access the internet.

Unless the $10 plan restricts internet access or something who will seriously pay the $26 for features they can probably get for free elsewhere on the 'net?

I bet within a couple years the $26 plan disappears entirely.

[Grazzt]

We should probably drive a stake through AOL's heart, just to make sure it's really dead.

Then again, where does one find an ISPs heart?

[Sanagi]

So AOL has learned the lesson demonstrated by their competitors... In 1996...

[Brian Cronin]

So AOL has learned the lesson demonstrated by their competitors... In 1996...

But, as shown in the article, AOL didn't hit its high for subscribers until 2002!

It'd be foolhardy for them to embrace this strategy when they were making so much money with the subscriptions.

Now, when the subscriber total started SLIPPING, then they should have struck. And that was years ago.

-Brian

[howyadoin]

Did I read that right? People pay for AOL e-mail accounts?

[Brian Cronin]

I think it is mostly people who used AOL to go onto the internet, then stayed with them mainly for the continuity of the e-mails (when you have one e-mail account for 10 years, I guess you get attached to it).

As we all know, brand loyalty is pretty damn strong.

-Brian

[Spackling Compound]

OH joy!
I can't wait to call AOL and cancel now..and tell Abu...IN YO FACE!

[Rachel Grey]

We should probably drive a stake through AOL's heart, just to make sure it's really dead.

Then again, where does one find an ISPs heart?

A good question, indeed.

Maybe if we burn the whole thing to ashes that might be enough.

[Huh?]

I think the "services" they are talking about are the 5 minute updates that occur when you are trying to shut AOL down, and the total monopolization of your computer's resources to run a single program.

[Forefinger]

I think the "services" they are talking about are the 5 minute updates that occur when you are trying to shut AOL down, and the total monopolization of your computer's resources to run a single program.
Whenever I travel I take my laptop with me, and just so I'll have free internet service I take an AOL trial disk with me. I always get mad at it, and want to smash my computer. AOL is evil! Plus when I call to cancel it, they want to ask a million questions and try to convince me to keep the service. The last time I called I wasn't in the mood to take any shit so all I kept repeating was "I'm not interested in any AOL services, please cancel my account". It only took a couple of minutes that time. Anyway, I HATE AOL!!!

[Dreadstar]

Oh yeah, like I'm going to let AOL get it's hooks in me again. Even if it is free. Screw dat.


Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, take a basball bat to my AMD processor.

[Spackling Compound]

Whenever I travel I take my laptop with me, and just so I'll have free internet service I take an AOL trial disk with me. I always get mad at it, and want to smash my computer. AOL is evil! Plus when I call to cancel it, they want to ask a million questions and try to convince me to keep the service. The last time I called I wasn't in the mood to take any shit so all I kept repeating was "I'm not interested in any AOL services, please cancel my account". It only took a couple of minutes that time. Anyway, I HATE AOL!!!
Cool idea with the discs!

I still use AOL at home because I've saved all sorts of bookmarks and emails and just didn't want to drop it. Plus, I was...on dialup.
Now that I've gone cable at the house, AOL isn't really a priority. I told them to cancel and "Steve" at AOL (Afghanistan Online) was telling me that I should stay and what they offer and all the questions so I finally said, "Give me AOL free for a while and we'll see how we do." They did. 2 months and now I'm negotiating more time...until I transfer all the emails and downloaded information concerning cheat codes for Xbox games.

[Forefinger]

Cool idea with the discs!

I still use AOL at home because I've saved all sorts of bookmarks and emails and just didn't want to drop it. Plus, I was...on dialup.
Now that I've gone cable at the house, AOL isn't really a priority. I told them to cancel and "Steve" at AOL (Afghanistan Online) was telling me that I should stay and what they offer and all the questions so I finally said, "Give me AOL free for a while and we'll see how we do." They did. 2 months and now I'm negotiating more time...until I transfer all the emails and downloaded information concerning cheat codes for Xbox games.
I can understand not switching services due to not wanting to give up all your links and stuff. I'm still using a bank that I used several years ago, and they don't have a branch in my town, because I don't want to redo all my online billpay stuff.

[Spackling Compound]

I can understand not switching services due to not wanting to give up all your links and stuff. I'm still using a bank that I used several years ago, and they don't have a branch in my town, because I don't want to redo all my online billpay stuff.
...me too.
I'm sort of a lazy ass like that.
Instead of changing all the online accounts I keep this one account active at the old bank.
It's not like I don't have the time to go in to all the online cigar shops, clothing shops, comic book shops, ebay, paypal and Russianloveslaves.com...err...charitable organizations...and change my info.
Just don't wanna.

[Forefinger]

...me too.
I'm sort of a lazy ass like that.
Instead of changing all the online accounts I keep this one account active at the old bank.
It's not like I don't have the time to go in to all the online cigar shops, clothing shops, comic book shops, ebay, paypal and Russianloveslaves.com...err...charitable organizations...and change my info.
Just don't wanna.
My bank has several branch offices in the city that's close to where I live, but only an ATM machine in my area. It's worth a bit more driving time for me, just not to have to undo and redo all my billpay stuff. Also, I'd have to remember new passwords and shit......I guess I'd be tempted to stick with AOL too, but I still hate it and it totally kills my computer's speed whenever I have the software on it.

[StoneGold]

The corpse continues to rot: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060803/ap_on_hi_te/aol_layoffs;_ylt=AmvdWtU.Mb27FuZlsGmpR0sjtBAF;_ylu =X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[hoffmandu]

Reading something like that is like reading that Stalin died........meh, fuck 'em.

[Chiasm]

I used to have AOL only because dialup was all that was available around here. Once broadband moved in I dumped AOL in a hurry. It took me fifteen minutes to cancel my account because the dumb ass tech guy kept trying to convince to keep AOL as a backup, to use as a browser with my broadband, and for a million other assanine reasons.

The only cool thing about AOL was the ability to modify the "you've got mail" voices into something funny or cool from a movie. Beyond that it sucked.

[Forefinger]

The corpse continues to rot: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060803/ap_on_hi_te/aol_layoffs;_ylt=AmvdWtU.Mb27FuZlsGmpR0sjtBAF;_ylu =X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
I heard this yesterday on the radio. As someone that's going to lose their job in a couple of months, I can really feel for the five THOUSAND people that are going to lose their jobs. Damn. Just, damn.

[Forefinger]

I used to have AOL only because dialup was all that was available around here. Once broadband moved in I dumped AOL in a hurry. It took me fifteen minutes to cancel my account because the dumb ass tech guy kept trying to convince to keep AOL as a backup, to use as a browser with my broadband, and for a million other assanine reasons.

The only cool thing about AOL was the ability to modify the "you've got mail" voices into something funny or cool from a movie. Beyond that it sucked.
I always wanted to get the "You got mail mothafucka" thing when I get e-mail like the guy in Eurotrip had.

[Drew Van T.]

The corpse continues to rot

If it is dead, can we throw it into the same ditch where those zillions of signup CDs lie?

[Spackling Compound]

I used to have AOL only because dialup was all that was available around here. Once broadband moved in I dumped AOL in a hurry. It took me fifteen minutes to cancel my account because the dumb ass tech guy kept trying to convince to keep AOL as a backup, to use as a browser with my broadband, and for a million other assanine reasons.

The only cool thing about AOL was the ability to modify the "you've got mail" voices into something funny or cool from a movie. Beyond that it sucked.

I called AOL last night to tell them I am cancelling. I got an American!
No fighting. No urging me to continue. No voice of disappointment.

I gave 'em a shot.
So, really, keeping AOL software on my computer makes the thing run slower? Really?