AOL or MSN, which should I use?

[Deja Q]

My 3 year contract with MSN has finally expired. I've had problems with connectivity at times and I've never been able to use their newsgroup access.

I've been eyeballing AOL and kinda like it, though they're a bit pricier for 56k access, and if you want their service via cable or DSL it's even more. :eyes:

Thanks!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

1. Neither

Is there a way for you to get a local dialup service (Mine is called capitalnet). They are usually only about 15 bucks per month and you aren't exposed to all that AOL junkmail.

[kayell]

6. Agreed, NEITHER is the answer

I'm happy with www.ispwest.com, (highest rate is $14 month to month or as low as $10/month for a 2 year contract, and they'll give you a free trial for 15 days)

By the way, if you sign up with them use this link https://www.ispwest.com/signup/signup.asp?noregcode=ok&refid=35879
, and I'll get a free month of service. I wouldn't plug them though if I wasn't happy.

but there are plenty of good isps out there that perform better than AOL or MSN, don't bury you in spam, don't trash up your computer, and don't cost as much either.

[King Bush II]

2. well

AT&T has a very good dial up service. Im on cable now, but during the year or so i used it i had no problems. I think its under $20 a month too.

[Kellanved]

3. Scylla and Charybdis (n/t)

[FloridaPat]

4. Anyone else. Get a real internet connection. Nothing between

you and those web pages. I have earthlink and am happy. Roadrunner/Earthlink/Brighthouse - whatever - they're all the same person. Or like others suggested - a local place.

[tokenlib]

5. Neither..

Unless you really like all the extra aol or msn "garbage" that is. I much prefer a basic ISP where I simply use IE (or you could use Netscape I suppose)and Outlook Express.

[Nomad559]

8. AOL is Crap

Anything but AOL.

I never had any problems with MSN when I was on Dial-up.
But I did not like the MSN browser.

[indigo32]

7. I've got to echo the NEITHER vote

find someone local, AOL should pay their users, not the other way around.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

9. DSL or Cable Modem, if you can afford it

otherwise, there are cheaper and more dependable dial up than MSN or AOL.

Galaxy.net-a local internet provider around here-offers cheap service.

[ikojo]

10. I don't think you need the Internet with training wheels

AOL is good because they have access numbers across the country but it is not the Internet. I left AOL for Earthlink and have been satisfied.


Your mileage may vary however....

:-)

[Liberator_Rev]

11. Isn't Earthlink a more Liberal outfit?

I was much happier with them than AOL, and AOL, AT&T & MSN are all Conservative corps.

I figured that discontinuing the second line made DSL about the same price at least for the first year. I'll go back to Dial up rather than pay 50$ a month for DSL.

[Nomad559]

13. MSN Is not a conservative corporation

How can MSN be a conservative corporation If the owner Is a liberal.

http://archive.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/01/cov_29feature.html

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-01-12-gates_x.htm

MSNBC Is not 100% Microsoft, General Electric owns the other half of MSNBC
---------------------------------------------------------------------
We have a relationship with MSNBC where we do not provide any input into programming.

http://news.com.com/2010-1071_3-1024777.html

"It's MSNBC's decision to make," a Microsoft representative told me shortly before the network dumped Savage. "It's not a matter of (whether) we support him or agree or not. We have a relationship with MSNBC where we do not provide any input into programming. There's a very clear demarcation."

[cosmicdot]

25. prolly when Earthlink was partnered with Working Assets

... still don't know why they parted ways ... unless it was Working Assets progressive efforts ... Earthlink = Sprint

[mr blur]

12. AOL or MSN?

I'd say "Neither", too.
I use an I.S.P. (this may be more common in the UK where AOL certainly doesn't have such a hold and MSN doesn't have such a stranglehold) and don't have to put up with various bits of crap and what Microsoft thinks I should be looking at/doing. And an independent browser - Mozilla Firebird, which is faster, leaner and better than IE and has tabbed browsing (which is terrific) and can be downloaded from http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firebird/ (about 6MB)
Earlier in the year I had trouble getting mail to U.S. friends because AOL suddenly decided that my ISP was a source of spam mail (nonsense). I just hate the idea of anything I want to do going through someone else first - and I'm paranoid enough to believe that they keep an eye on where I'm going/what I'm interested in.

[billbuckhead]

14. If you download Firebird browser, you also need Thunderbird mail

Both these mozilla projects are easier to use and are often more standards compliant than Microcrap.

[newyawker99]

22. Hi mr blur!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mr blur]

27. Hi

Thank you, and "Hi" to all.

[Don_G]

15. Go With A Good Local ISP

You can always download ICQ, the IM versions of MSN and AOL or Trillian without paying their prices.

Best to keep your money in the local economy as much as possible.

[TrogL]

16. get a raw connection

any local ISP should be able to give you a decent feed for cheap.

AOL and MSN are for newbies who don't know any better.

[AquariDem]

17. MSN Has Got To Have The Worst Online "News" Ever.

Their "top story" is always something like, "This Month's 10 Hottest Celebrity Makeovers!" or "How To Plan the Perfect Wedding!" :puke:

[LuLu550]

18. Neither one!

AOL is a bunch of right wing pro-Bush nuts that rip you off when you try to stop using them. (see rant from a few weeks ago!) I heard Earthlink is associated with the Scientologists. You might be better off with Juno or a local internet provider.

[zekeson]

19. I've tried em all

I used to travel ALOT. I needed an internet connection that would give me access anywhere. I tried all the majors - EarthLink, MSN and AOL. I had large problems with both AOL and MSN. Earthlink to a lesser degree. What I found most frustrating is gettign busy signals. It was frustrating to have to change dial order every few weeks as new subscribers were added and numbers got over-utilized. AOL was the worst, and screws with your machine the most. MSN was great when I could work around their software and dial up like a local ISP. Earthlink usually worked where ever I landed.

Moral of the story, try to get on a local ISP - Avoid AOL like the plague and stay out of the way of MSN like you would a speeding truck.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. Another vote for NEITHER!

I have used AOL (training wheels for the Internet, as someone else said) and MSN, which I am going to ditch any day now, because its e-mail system is intolerably bad for someone whose livelihood depends on staying in close contact with clients in Japan.

I'm looking at local ISPs. I had very good luck with local ISPs in previous residences. The best thing about them is that when you have problems, you can talk to a real person who actually has the power to do something about your problems.

[retyred]

21. Better two cans and a string

than either of them.

Go local ISP or better yet, cable or DSL dial-up is for.......





Retyred IN FLA.
“Good Night Paul, Wherever You Are”

[Liberal Veteran]

23. Neither!!!!!!

MSN sucks and AOL is extremely proprietary and I have it on good authority that all AOL dial-up support is being outsourced to India.

[catmandu57]

24. Find a local ISP

You'll be much happier in the longrun aol is run by nazis. Just get the local yellow pages look under computers and there'll probably be plenty in your area, some which may have dsl, or cable.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

26. Cable modem...

It's a little more...but it's worth it..and if you're insisting on dial up, which sucks ass, I say go for Earthlink. SBC YAHOO (Prodigy) isn't too bad either, but then you're getting into the big conglomerate, corporations are evil stuff. AOL is the NAZIs of the internet...you can only see what they want you to see and I honestly have a feeling they're not going to be around much longer. This whole AOL for broadband bullshit is nuts. Why pay 40 bucks or more for broadband and then pay AOL for their browser? They say they can protect you, but I don't have AOL and I have a firewall, pop up blockers and anti spy ware, and I'm quit fine thank you. Anyway, off my soap box.
Duckie