What has this world comed to

[big chopper]

AmericaOnline is so cool.

[skroo]

So the AOL thing is not a new idea.

No, it definitely isn't. Though it makes more sense having seen the first round of ads this weekend for the $9.95/month dialup service (before add-ons) that Netscape is offering - AOL's trying to do a 'value-add' to their service to attract new customers.

What I can't figure out is how they allowed this type of in-house competition to take place - if AOL's haemorraghing customers to outfits like PeoplePC, NetZero, and Earthlink, it seems odd that they'd openly allow one of their child companies to go head-to head with them. Then again, maybe this is just their way of keeping their existing customers who are looking to migrate in the family, so to speak.

[AlxRogan]

Then again, maybe this is just their way of keeping their existing customers who are looking to migrate in the family, so to speak.

This is the more likely scenario, I think. They don't want to compete at the same price point with the other ISP's, so they trot out their own low-cost ISP.
They definitely need to do something if they want to keep things going.
http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/02/tech...aol_cuts.reut/

[Samurai_Drifter]

*Holds up cross*
Back, AOL, you demon of the night!

I wonder if AOL pc's will suck as much as their internet...?

[Shiva]

I always hoped that once AOL got pushed out of the exclusive content market they'd die a quiet death. Unfortunately, they made too much money early on to just drop out of sight entirely.

That being said, I'm constantly amazed at the numbers that Gartner and some of the other soothsayers in the IT press continue to spout about the hold AOL has on the introductory ISP market. AOL continues to be the ISP of choice for first-time web users.

AOL continues to try and offer new features, but it's always stuff without any real teeth. AOL Broadband, AOLPC, and even their "free" feature give away (like their new virus protection push) always seem to come up a little short. The AOL brand just doesn't seem to have any legs. I think that's because AOL knows it can't market any of its products to tech-savvy users.

It goes to show what a recognizable name and deep pockets will get you. No separation in the market, but there's a sucker looking to connect to the web every minute.

[Floydr47]

[QUOTE=Shiva]I always hoped that once AOL got pushed out of the exclusive content market they'd die a quiet death. Unfortunately, they made too much money early on to just drop out of sight entirely.


"AOL continues to try and offer new features, but it's always stuff without any real teeth. AOL Broadband, AOLPC, and even their "free" feature give away (like their new virus protection push) always seem to come up a little short. The AOL brand just doesn't seem to have any legs. I think that's because AOL knows it can't market any of its products to tech-savvy users."



You said it all in a nutshell right there, Shiva. Tech-savvy users steer clear of AOL but Grandma and Grandpa getting their first computer to send /receive pics of the grandkids and do their on-line bills and banking eat AOL up like candy. AOL is n00b friendly and offers features that tech-retards don't have to understand. As much as I hate to say it, AOL is good for some people.

[dandroid]

Gotta Love the highlights -->

"System also includes Large Monitor and Color Printer"

Well that is just about anything they feel like giving you.

"Includes Micr0soft Windows XP and Technology from Intel"

WOW! Cause other PC's dont typically come with this!


sorry.. I had to at least say something on this topic.

[weirdo]

lol theres alot of fine print.

[Ridirich]

AOL knows it is dieing, and they are trying to keep their head above water. First it was the "AOL Guardian" which was mentioned earlier, but programs like NetNanny have given other users the same advantage. Then AOL got involved in various online games. Ultima Online, EverQuest...in fact EverQuest is currently hosted on AOL engines, which are rented by Sony Online. Basicly they will come up with whatever scheme they need to so that they can get their business back up. I mean, when a company lowers themself to add an installer of their internet to various demos and full version games they cannot be well off.

Personally...AOL is a bunch of spyware/adware no better than Gator.com or whatever they are calling themselves today. I had a friend who ran AdAware SE and he ran AOL(against my advice) He found 12 running processes that AOL had installed. Next thing you know AOL will attach itselves to our Hardware GUIDs, then there will be no getting rid of the dreaded AOL.

Maybe, they can invest in coasters and frisbees...those AOL cds are good for that.

[Ridirich]

I just looked at the specs for the computer AOL put out. Apparently now they are riding the backs of Systemax(or is that under AOL?).

The entire PC is a Systemax Intel Celeron PC. Basicly good enough for grandma to surf the web. They blow the stats way out of preportion too. I mean read this...

The spectacular Systemax AOL PC runs on a blazing fast Intel Celeron 2.0GHz CPU that carries with it 256MB of lightning-quick DDR main memory - upgradeable to a mind-boggling 2GB - a 40GB Ultra ATA 100 hard drive and so many extras that we could fill volumes of literature describing them.

Try to run UT2K4 on that, the majority of us gamers had a PC faster than described here back in '00.

What makes this AOL? I think they added their logo to Sun Office, and have the AOL packages for internet already installed(remember Packard Bell and Prodigy did the same thing when they had that Packard Bell Office)

[weirdo]

next they will have "the aol house" "comes with all the sh** from aol" "a lightning quick bowl of mollases"

no seriuosly aol is for noobs.

[skroo]

9876543210

[Floydr47]

next they will have "the aol house" "comes with all the sh** from aol" "a lightning quick bowl of mollases"

no seriuosly aol is for noobs.

The enterprise-wide online services such as security and hosted e-mail that AOL's Strategic Business Solutions unit is offering actually grew out of AOL's iPlanet partnership with that other Microsoft nemesis, Sun Microsystems


Tuesday's Wall Street Journal reported that AOL, looking for a strategy to address slowing growth among its consumer base of 34 million ISP subscribers, has quietly launched Internet-related services to the corporate market.

no, Seriously, that is one hell of a bunch of n00bs...

[astcell]

[Ridirich]

I am not concerned with the "newb" factor as much as the "Let's be slimy marketers and grope areas of your computer without your concent because we are the all powerful MegaCorp." factor.

Think about it. All newbie means is "someone who is new". Everyone at one point has to be new at something. To fix that issue here is a new idea. Teach two people and ask them to teach two people. If you do the math, the amount of people who finally understand will be much more than before. Perhaps at that point AOL will die.

Oh, some more laughs.

http://www.nomoreaolcds.co.uk/

Australia has one too. Perhaps we can do the same and tell AOL to take a hike. Rofl.