Help: UK AOL Any good?

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 06:02 PM

I've been using Freeserve for ages, and I've no complaints. I rarely need to log on during 'schoolkid hour'...

Can't comment on AOL, I'm afraid. But someone has to pay for the thousands of CD's they keep pouring through my letterbox!!

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: wildlone
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 03:39 PM

I changed from bt surf time to aol, after I signed up with surf time I could not connect and had to use another isp at 1p a min.
with aol I get on at once 4 times out of 5, OK they will try to get you to buy somthing but only on your main user name I have three user names one for music, one for re-enactment and one for general.
dave

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: sheila
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:47 PM

I've been using Which? for more than 3 years (at just over GBP 7 per month). I used to subscribe to their magazine, but the GBP 7 includes online versions of all their journals.

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: GUEST,Jude
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 12:16 PM

I've had AOL sice christmas,as has been said gets a little busy and thus slower when when all the schoolkids come home. Had one minor tech problem with pages not wanting to load. rang their freefone holpline, was answered immediately and talked through (Janet and John style) button by button correcting the problem. In all it took about 10 mins, most of which was waiting for my system to shutdown and reboot after adjusting some settings. It's now working fine, except for my evr dissappearing cookie, but that has more to do with my son's activities.
jude

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 04:28 AM

They don't kick you off like they used to, kendall. I leave the computer permanently logged on, and never get terminated.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Llanfair
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 03:44 AM

I'm happy with AOL, although it seems a lot slower since installing the latest (6.0) software. I was having huge phone bills before.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 09:43 PM

My complaint was that I kept getting kicked off or unable to connect. (Had a wife like that once)

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 09:04 PM

I have been an AOL customer for years, both UK and American, and have no complaints. OK, they always try to sell you something every time you log on, but so what ?

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Orac
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:33 PM

Why don't you just try it.. it wont cost you anything.. I've had AOL for about 4 years now and (in my opinion) its the easiest to use of the several I've tried. It has a version of IE built in but with version 6 you can use external browsers anyway. It can get a bit busy these days now you have unlimited access on freefone numbers.

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: kendall
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:24 PM

I had AOL a while back. As far as I'm concerned, it is the most successful failure I've ever seen. It sucks.

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 08:17 PM

You do have to install their dreadful software, but I'm told that, with a bit of ingenuity, you can ignore most of it afterwards.  Haven't used it myself; I'm with Freeserve "Anytime" currently (£13 a month, no call charges) and experiencing no more problems than I've had with anybody else; as Vindelis says, just avoid the time when the schoolkids are all online.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: Zebedee
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 07:05 PM

Thanks for that Bill.

My worry is that I'll have to install AOL software which will, not to put too fine a point on it, 'fuck up' my current internet settings.

Ed

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: bill\sables
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:54 PM

I have got AOL £15 at month. I still use netscape for my emails but occasionally use aol email. I find that I have had no trouble getting on line at any time. They give you about 3 numbers including a local one (Yorkshire in my case) When one number is busy it automatically dials another. Before AOL I was paying about £200 phone bills every quarter for the internet, now it can only cost me £45 a quarter and they give you £30 if you introduce someone new so you only have to get 6 people a year to get free service. All in all I am very happy with the service.
Bill

Subject: RE: Help: UK AOL Any good?
From: vindelis
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 06:28 PM

I can't comment on AOL, ( I use Freeserve Off Peak - which is linked to BT Surftime). I have found that it can get rather busy around 6 - 7p.m. so just try and avoid that time slot, and it seems to be OK.

Subject: UK AOL Any good?
From: Zebedee
Date: 24 Apr 01 - 05:41 PM

Thanks for your time.

I've been using BT 'Surftime' as my ISP for a while now and have been happy with the service.

Recently I've been plagued with 'cannot connect' messages etc, so am thinking of changing.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with the £15 a month AOL service and if it's any good?

Is it possible to just use it as a dial-up without installing all the 'helpful' AOL nonsense?

Would be grateful for any advice.

Ed