I need a new ISP, I am tired of AOL so who do I use?

[JT2]

Hi guys and gals, I need some help selecting a new internet provider. I have lots of problems with AOL which I have had for 2 years, but I like it's easy to use features since nobody at my house is a computer guru, we have to keep things simple. I know there are lots of providers out there, but I could sure use some suggestions since I really do need to switch to someone else. Also, I currently pay $23.90 per month for AOL dial up service and I don' really want to spend anymore than that if I don't have to, and I am not ready to spend the money to go to DSL yet. Thanks!

 

[Big-t-2538]

I went DSL about 3 months ago...and I would never go back. The only difference in cost would be the rate you pay for DSL. I only pay 29.99/mo. for access, but I'm guessing it is more expensive in your area. Everything was paid for by the local phone company, I just had to install it (which was a piece of cake). However, I don;t know if I'd be comfortable spending more than 30$ per month for DSL. I know both earthlink and At&t both offer service, and they do it for less than AOL (which I think blows anyway). Also, there is Juno, big zoo, and net zero (I think). IF I remember correctly, all three are around 10 bucks per month, but are considerably slow and have lots of pop-up ads.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Switch to MSN. I've also heard a lot of happy subscribers of earthlink - do that have that in your area?

 

[jonnythan]

NetZero.

$10/month, all the features of any other service.

Of course... I'd strongly recommend broadband. I'm not sure exactly what is available in your area.. but look to your local phone company for DSL or your local cable company for Cable.

Always on, no disconnections, obscenely fast... excellent stuff.

 

[MadReefer]

I have used ATT broadband internet since it was offered as ATT@HOME. Excite went belly up many months ago and ATTBI was put in it's place.
THis is a "high speed" ISP. Monthly is like 45 bucks or so. My Employer reimburses 40 bucks a month so we may use the connection to troubleshoot problems through the/our enterprise network.
AOL SUCKS.:upset: Used it for about three or four months in 1997 I think, never again.

Look strongly at DSL or Broadband internet...it's well worth it. Can you get to a Best Buy or a Circuit City? if so..i think they have a demo box with that connectivity.

Good luck and happy surfing!


Mad

 

[JT2]

I can get a few different DSL plans in my area but they are all 50 bucks or more a month, I am not sure about broadband though, I will definitley check it out.

 

[Tavi]

........Until I can talk the wife into something faster (not likely) :huh:


I have been very happy with my MSN service

 

[Dee]

I've had AOL for years and have never had any trouble, even back when everyone was trying for hours to get online. I now have their high speed cable service and again...have had no trouble at all.

I've tried several others over the years, usually because of the costs. But the cheaper ISP's were full of pop-up ads, inferior email service, or just plain a pain to use. I always came back to AOL.

Yes, it's more expensive than some others out there but for my area, it's about the same as I was paying for regular service plus a seperate phone line.

 

[chrispete]

Another thing to watch out for with the $10 per month ISP's is that they may charge large fees if you call in for tech support or to change the setup of your account. Just a pitfall to watch out for in the fine print.

 

[raxafarian]

if you travel alot with a laptop, try and find a provider that has local numbers wherever you might go.... I have a cable modem at home, but still have an Earthlink dialup. I use the dialup when I'm at work, or traveling... earthlink seems to have local numbers everywhere.

I'd stay away from AOL.... have you seen all the crap their software installs into your machine ? I haven't read their end user agreement lately..but it used to be pretty scary.

Earthlink is 21.95... you don't have to install anything...just throw away the disk they give you and setup a dialup network connection.