PCMech Forums - View Single Post

***glc*** · 06-22-2001, 02:13 PM

NetZero free is a pain in the butt. You get 40 hours a month free, and are constantly having ads, java applets, and idle disconnects shoved in your face. At least it's not like AOL where you pay a premium rate to get crap stuffed in your face.

If you want a hassle free Internet experience at a reasonable price, look at one of the national ISP's that use a standard dialup networking connection (NO proprietary software required) and will be in business for a while such as Earthlink. Their rates for unlimited use range from $17.95 to $21.95 a month depending on whether you take the Sprint 7 cents a minute long distance phone plan and whether you want 5 additional email addresses. Note that Mindspring and Earthlink are the same company. AT&T Worldnet is supposed to be very good, but they are getting a bit pricey unless you take limited hours and/or ad banners.

If you do not need access when traveling, check around locally for a good local provider - but they are becoming fewer and far between. The days of the "mom and pop" ISP are just about gone except in rural areas.

I bailed out of AOL back in 1995 and went with a local provider. The service was outstanding until last year when they got bought out by a 7 state regional provider. 4 months later, the regional provider was bought out by Corecomm (a low quality national) and service went down the terlet. I then went with Surfree (not free, but a decent national provider at $14.95 a month). Well - Surfree just got bought out by Inter.net - I still pay $14.95, but new subscribers pay $19.95 - and we shall see how the service is. So far so good - but if it goes sour, I'm off to Earthlink.

06-22-2001, 02:13 PM	#3
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,739	NetZero free is a pain in the butt. You get 40 hours a month free, and are constantly having ads, java applets, and idle disconnects shoved in your face. At least it's not like AOL where you pay a premium rate to get crap stuffed in your face. If you want a hassle free Internet experience at a reasonable price, look at one of the national ISP's that use a standard dialup networking connection (NO proprietary software required) and will be in business for a while such as Earthlink. Their rates for unlimited use range from $17.95 to $21.95 a month depending on whether you take the Sprint 7 cents a minute long distance phone plan and whether you want 5 additional email addresses. Note that Mindspring and Earthlink are the same company. AT&T Worldnet is supposed to be very good, but they are getting a bit pricey unless you take limited hours and/or ad banners. If you do not need access when traveling, check around locally for a good local provider - but they are becoming fewer and far between. The days of the "mom and pop" ISP are just about gone except in rural areas. I bailed out of AOL back in 1995 and went with a local provider. The service was outstanding until last year when they got bought out by a 7 state regional provider. 4 months later, the regional provider was bought out by Corecomm (a low quality national) and service went down the terlet. I then went with Surfree (not free, but a decent national provider at $14.95 a month). Well - Surfree just got bought out by Inter.net - I still pay $14.95, but new subscribers pay $19.95 - and we shall see how the service is. So far so good - but if it goes sour, I'm off to Earthlink.