I am considering Netzero as an ISP and dropping AOL. What say you ? Anyone have any suggestions, tips? Thanks-----Skip
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"Steel guitar is where it are"
AOL vs NetZero ??
Moderator: Wiz Feinberg
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Everett Cox
- Posts: 497
- Joined: 13 Jul 1999 12:01 am
- Location: Marengo, OH, USA (deceased)
Skip-- Glad you've asked the question. Perhaps you and I will each benefit from the responses.
As for moving away from AOL, your past postings give me the impression of a person with intelligence, imagination, and ability to use both. In order to maintain an identity, AOL *must* preserve a unique presentation of a tailored array of services. Many folks are well served by AOL so long as the content provided within the proprietary confines of that system meet their needs. What makes AOL *AOL*, though, may prove a hindrance for you.
NetZero as an alternative may -or may NOT- be a good choice. It is relatively cheap and offers national access (usually with local phone numbers), and includes the usual assortment of email and other add-on's.
My sister, pretty much a computer dummy, had bought an expensive PC and the store had set it up for her. She agreed when they suggested installing AOL and was happy for several months. Then, even she, wanted to get away from AOL and switched to NetZero. My sister actually downloaded and installed it on her own! Proud of her success, she didn't want to tell me of problems untill last Monday.
She was able to get on the Internet and email was working but other app's would not access either one. (Like trying to email from within a word processer or uploading a picture from within the scanner app.) I figured it was just a simple thing like not having the DialUpNetworking applet properly configured.
Found out --
NetZero uses its own PROPRIETARY dialer and does NOT create nor use a standard DUN applet/connection. The installation is designed for an 'always on' app loaded at start-up. It seems to configure the Windows system/Internet browser (but not completely)as if a LAN (LocalAreaNetwork) connection is in use, rather than DUN. It also configures OutLook Express or Eudora email clients to work (mostly) with this setup. That is, so long as NetZero is running BEFORE the browser or email client is invoked.
As soon as I booted her machine and saw the automatic ISP connection, I tooks steps to preclude it, explaining to my sister that she was more vulnerable to hackers and virus' by being logged on all the time. Seeing no standard DUN connection existed for NetZero, I created one and configured the browser and email to use it, and ensured the modem and dialing properties were OK.
And not a d--m thing worked! We could see the proper phone number dialed, could hear the connection made, and had submitted the correct user name/password. The logon was refused. The ONLY way was to use NZ's dialer.
OK, I created a shortcut for that program so that, at least, my sister could logon only when desired. But then found that neither the browser nor the email app could be loaded by clicking their shortcuts. Nor any other app which logged onto the net 'as needed'. Those functions use DUN and NetZero's dialer prevents it.
As of now, clicking the NZ shortcut brings up its dialer and the browser and email can be used. But that's all. Researching NZ's web site, I *did* find some setup info not contained in the software documentation that might solve the browser and email problem. But they are very 'quiet' on how to configure ANY third party app (which normally looks for a DUN connection) to auto-dial a connection to the NetZero ISP.
Without that functionality, NZ is severely limited - in my opinion. Perhaps I will learn more, or someone else will provide an answer. --Everett
As for moving away from AOL, your past postings give me the impression of a person with intelligence, imagination, and ability to use both. In order to maintain an identity, AOL *must* preserve a unique presentation of a tailored array of services. Many folks are well served by AOL so long as the content provided within the proprietary confines of that system meet their needs. What makes AOL *AOL*, though, may prove a hindrance for you.
NetZero as an alternative may -or may NOT- be a good choice. It is relatively cheap and offers national access (usually with local phone numbers), and includes the usual assortment of email and other add-on's.
My sister, pretty much a computer dummy, had bought an expensive PC and the store had set it up for her. She agreed when they suggested installing AOL and was happy for several months. Then, even she, wanted to get away from AOL and switched to NetZero. My sister actually downloaded and installed it on her own! Proud of her success, she didn't want to tell me of problems untill last Monday.
She was able to get on the Internet and email was working but other app's would not access either one. (Like trying to email from within a word processer or uploading a picture from within the scanner app.) I figured it was just a simple thing like not having the DialUpNetworking applet properly configured.
Found out --
NetZero uses its own PROPRIETARY dialer and does NOT create nor use a standard DUN applet/connection. The installation is designed for an 'always on' app loaded at start-up. It seems to configure the Windows system/Internet browser (but not completely)as if a LAN (LocalAreaNetwork) connection is in use, rather than DUN. It also configures OutLook Express or Eudora email clients to work (mostly) with this setup. That is, so long as NetZero is running BEFORE the browser or email client is invoked.
As soon as I booted her machine and saw the automatic ISP connection, I tooks steps to preclude it, explaining to my sister that she was more vulnerable to hackers and virus' by being logged on all the time. Seeing no standard DUN connection existed for NetZero, I created one and configured the browser and email to use it, and ensured the modem and dialing properties were OK.
And not a d--m thing worked! We could see the proper phone number dialed, could hear the connection made, and had submitted the correct user name/password. The logon was refused. The ONLY way was to use NZ's dialer.
OK, I created a shortcut for that program so that, at least, my sister could logon only when desired. But then found that neither the browser nor the email app could be loaded by clicking their shortcuts. Nor any other app which logged onto the net 'as needed'. Those functions use DUN and NetZero's dialer prevents it.
As of now, clicking the NZ shortcut brings up its dialer and the browser and email can be used. But that's all. Researching NZ's web site, I *did* find some setup info not contained in the software documentation that might solve the browser and email problem. But they are very 'quiet' on how to configure ANY third party app (which normally looks for a DUN connection) to auto-dial a connection to the NetZero ISP.
Without that functionality, NZ is severely limited - in my opinion. Perhaps I will learn more, or someone else will provide an answer. --Everett
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erik
- Posts: 2018
- Joined: 7 Mar 2000 1:01 am
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Mark Ardito
- Posts: 899
- Joined: 9 Aug 1999 12:01 am
- Location: Chicago, IL, USA
OK, here is my take on the "dial-up" situation.
The cost of a DSL line in Chicago is around $30-$40/month. Depends on how many bells and whistles you want with your service. Now, take your "Dial-Up" account cost (maybe $25/month?) then you need a phone line, and it makes a local call EVERY time you dial up, so add that up....aren't the two costs just about the same?
I know, you say "Mark...I don't have DSL in my area!" OK, check with your local Cable TV providor, they can more than likely set you up on a Cabel Modem line. Same thing as DSL pretty much.
I really see these Dial-up ISP's charging WAY too much money for something so slow and so easy to provide. I would highly recommend a DSL or Cable line, but if you must use a Dial-Up ISP than try and use a reputable company...something like Earthlink or Covad or Mindspring or SBC....something like that.
Mark
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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com
The cost of a DSL line in Chicago is around $30-$40/month. Depends on how many bells and whistles you want with your service. Now, take your "Dial-Up" account cost (maybe $25/month?) then you need a phone line, and it makes a local call EVERY time you dial up, so add that up....aren't the two costs just about the same?
I know, you say "Mark...I don't have DSL in my area!" OK, check with your local Cable TV providor, they can more than likely set you up on a Cabel Modem line. Same thing as DSL pretty much.
I really see these Dial-up ISP's charging WAY too much money for something so slow and so easy to provide. I would highly recommend a DSL or Cable line, but if you must use a Dial-Up ISP than try and use a reputable company...something like Earthlink or Covad or Mindspring or SBC....something like that.
Mark
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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com
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Tony LaCroix
- Posts: 218
- Joined: 21 Apr 2003 12:01 am
- Location: Austin, Texas, USA
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Skip Cole
- Posts: 2474
- Joined: 5 Jun 1999 12:01 am
- Location: North Mississippi
Everett,Erik, Mark, and Tony,
Thanks very much for the info concerning the NetZero/AOL inquiry. From your input, i've decided to pass on NZ and stay with AOL until i can look into some of the recomended ISP's from your posts. I was peviously on with Gateway.net until AOL swallowed them and transferred all GW accounts to AOL if requested, which i did because the fee would be the same, $19.95 @ month. At first AOL was nice with all the email address'and other things they offer customers, but, i'm really getting tired of the pop-ups and getting bumped off in the middle of a surffing session. As you can see, i'm very clumsey with computer operation and my knowledge is limited to email and locating steel guitar sites. Thanks again to all of you, best wishes and God bless.-----Skip C.
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"Steel guitar is where it are"
Thanks very much for the info concerning the NetZero/AOL inquiry. From your input, i've decided to pass on NZ and stay with AOL until i can look into some of the recomended ISP's from your posts. I was peviously on with Gateway.net until AOL swallowed them and transferred all GW accounts to AOL if requested, which i did because the fee would be the same, $19.95 @ month. At first AOL was nice with all the email address'and other things they offer customers, but, i'm really getting tired of the pop-ups and getting bumped off in the middle of a surffing session. As you can see, i'm very clumsey with computer operation and my knowledge is limited to email and locating steel guitar sites. Thanks again to all of you, best wishes and God bless.-----Skip C.
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"Steel guitar is where it are"
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Bill Ford
- Posts: 3862
- Joined: 13 Dec 1999 1:01 am
- Location: Graniteville SC Aiken
Skip,
Try the free NZ and check it out. I had it and was very pleased til my system picked up a virus and I upgraded to Win XP,at which time they had problems with it on XP,I think they have the probs ironed out now tho.I intend to try the free version and if it works ok switch back.
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Bill Ford
Try the free NZ and check it out. I had it and was very pleased til my system picked up a virus and I upgraded to Win XP,at which time they had problems with it on XP,I think they have the probs ironed out now tho.I intend to try the free version and if it works ok switch back.
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Bill Ford