AOL Fixes your PC

[mairving]

I have seen AOL advertising this on with their new AOL 9.0. I guess that they have been breaking things for years, it is about time they do some fixing.

AOL® Computer Check-Up - Keep your computer running at its best with our diagnostic tool at no additional charge.

I see also that you can get an AOL $299 PC.

AOL 9.0 also has a new proprietary multimedia format as if there weren't enough of those around.

[morriswindgate]

AOL® Computer Check-Up > When you run it does it suggest that you uninstall AOL and reinstall TCP/IP to correct the problems?

Or

AOL® Computer Check-Up > When you run it the results screen comes up stating, "Yes, you are a sucker that knows nothing about Computers or the Internet. So just keep sending us your money and we will continue to keep you informed of outstanding retail offers from our advertisers. Speaking of which, Would you like to add 3inches to your ***** or is hair loss and baldness getting you down? Just click here for an All Natural Solution."
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[glc]

I've dealt with AOL's computer checkup. My advice is do NOT let it do the autofixes.

I do contract onsite support for AOL DSL. Before they will close out a trouble ticket, I have to certify that I've run it. Last time I actually ran it on a customer's machine and let it autofix, it took me an UNPAID hour to fix what it broke. It's really no more damaging than Norton System Works, Windows Washer, and similar "fixall" utilities when used indiscriminately.

[mbossman2]

not a bad little system right up to the point of having to spend an additoinal $287 for internet access plus $50 shipping

[tigstah]

i figured something was up when a 3 y.o. with plastic hammer hits on a mouse and fixes the pc.

[Byte 2.0]

I don't know what it is with many ISPs/NSPs but they think they have the greatest support software on the planet and force techs to use it.

They image that since it works in their perfect lab environments that it will work in the real world.

I work for a company that forces the use of their support software that at best tells you the server is down when you have no sync. Then people believe the problem is at the ISP/NSP instead of their unplugged phone line.

I have been in the same room with the developers and they disregard comments about problems with it, and say that if that is the case those people should have used it correctly.

They are so big headed they actually think they have made a product that bests anything on the market and that there is no way their product would cause a problem.

The last meeting I was in, was explaining the new verison 5 of a product that is over a month away, then after they had an image they learned that they have forgotted several important programs(that actually work) and said a month after release of 5, they will ship 5.1 to correct the missing programs.
They then told us about verion 6 that will be replacing 5.1

Tell me, what is wrong with that.

Some times you have to feel like these companies throw money at the worst ideas possible.

since they have a month, why don't they just finish the image for 6.0 and scatch the others as lab test discs.

[Blakhart]

People who use AmericaOffLine shouldn't have computers.

[Hi Ho]

AOL is desparate for customers. They are losing them like crazy. All of the promotions are annoying people rather than making them into customers.

[Markoman01027]

Originally posted by morriswindgate AOL® Computer Check-Up > When you run it does it suggest that you uninstall AOL and reinstall TCP/IP to correct the problems?

ROTFL!!!!

[Colonel Sanders]

Just when we were hoping AOL was dead they kick back with this...

On the plus side, since AOL bought nullsoft and thus winamp, maybe some good things can from AOL?

L J

[icallmedan]

AOL office...LOL!!!

[RayH]

Personally, I just wish I could say the worst thing about AOL was that it was just overpriced.

There are a lot of people who don't understand computers...and AOL makes sure they stay that way!

When AOL bought Time Warner, I thought AOL management was smart to dump that worthless stock into something that had some substance--the Time Warner library. I thought they pulled the huckster of the century. But no! They're running Time Warner into the ground also!

[Colonel Sanders]

AOL- when computer illiterate people make a service and sell it to hundreds of other PC ilieterate customers. Next step- have PC illiterate accountants use accounting software... Somehow there have ben enough PC illiterate customers looking for an easy way to see the internet to keep AOL alive.

Can AOL at least change their name so they don't make Americans look bad?

L J

[Sir. T. Kalthorn]

MSN is the best, AOL is for incompetant fools who do not know how to use the internet and is made by incompetant fools who have no idea about the internet. I would actually prefer to use Internet Explorer 4 than AOL 9; not only is their browser Crap - but why do people need to use it to be on the internet! I had AOL on free trial at AOL 8; and on a FREE TRIAL I COULD NOT PUT UP WITH THE LACK OF INTERNET FREEDOM FOR EVEN A WEEK! ON A FREE TRIAL I WENT BACK TO PAYING £14 A MONTH WITH NO 'FANCY BROWSER'! No Outlook, No Kazaa, No MSN, No Internet Games, No nothing! Its crap!

MSN however, wow, MSN 8 - although I admit its not worth paying for is great. Keep rolling Free 2 Month Trials! I don't know what MSN is like when its a service provider as they don't do that in the UK, but the browser is Puckerlicious. Hussar for Microsoft! If anyone knows how to use the internet its MSN, and therefore they should and do make the best browsers, from the beggining to the end.

[Sir. T. Kalthorn]

AOL® Computer Check-Up > When you run it does it suggest that you uninstall AOL and reinstall TCP/IP to correct the problems?

lol, I've been trying to get my sister to do that, but she doesn't listen, I'll have to tell her that!

[glc]

MSN is just as bad in my opinion - I have NO use for ANY service that requires installation of proprietary software and mandatory signup for a Passport account.

[Carpedebass]

Here! Here! GLC

[kstatefan40]

Originally posted by Hi Ho AOL is desparate for customers. They are losing them like crazy. All of the promotions are annoying people rather than making them into customers.

Yeah, they suckered my dad into a THREE YEAR CONTRACT, when he got our first internet capable PC. We switched to cox cable internet half way through and are paying $30/mo for the dialup, and $30/mo for the high speed 'net until march.

[kstatefan40]

Originally posted by Sir. T. Kalthorn MSN is the best

I find it funny you consider a M$ product "the best".

[Sir. T. Kalthorn]

Why is that funny, lol, I just love Microsoft, MSN, Intel, nVidia, Lexmark, PCs and Belkin - whats wrong with having deepbuilt unwavering opinions!?

[kstatefan40]

people are all entitled to their opinions, i was just giving mine.

[hobey19]

yeah, i have spent the last two hours working on someone's computer that doesn't know anything about computers, and man was she confused. heck, i was confused just listening to her. msn, imho, sucks. she is on dial up and is getting 80-some emails (all of which are junk) twice in a two-hour period. granted, there is filtering, but the advanced filtering is a pain in the arse to do. i mean, all i did was filter out emails containing 'Paris' in the subject and that cut her down to about 20 emails. this partnership with hotmail is what makes it the worst, cuz you get all that hotmail spam. she is so frustrated that she has this new computer but her internet is so slow. so i was trying to convince her that cable would be good (she is loaded, so it was not that big a deal, but she decided to go with sbc cuz its cheaper, i won't be installing sbc's stuff, which is the worst). so hopefully when she gets that, i can finally teach her how internet and email is supposed to work - sans msn and sbc software

sorry for the rant
craig

[RayH]

MSN was alright when they gave me $200 for a digital camera. So I paid them back over two years. It's OK. Now I'm on cheapskate! I"m waiting for cable internet in SF!

[pam123]

Originally posted by glc MSN is just as bad in my opinion - I have NO use for ANY service that requires installation of proprietary software and mandatory signup for a Passport account.

Also Passport has proved to be a security sinkhole.

[Hi Ho]

I find it funny you consider a M$ product "the best".

I think there are several Microsoft products that are better than anytything else. The Sidewinder Force Feedback joystick and steering wheel are the best joysticks I have ever used, I prefer Windows XP to any other operating system, I also love Hotmail. There are other MS products that I prefer such as the Multimedia and Natural keyboards and the Intellimouse. Age of Empires and Rise of Nations are the two best strategy games ever made in my opinion.

[Sir. T. Kalthorn]

See, thats what microsoft really want and need - not money, they have enough of that, not markets corners although that is integeral to what Microsoft do and are - its total and unblinding loyalty to buy a Microsoft Item over something else simply because its been made by Microsoft. If i'm going to be clobbered round the head and there's nothing I can do about it then i'd prefer it with a Styrofoam Microsoft Mallet, than an AMD or Macintosh Balloon Mallet - to be plonked with honour.

That is what makes Microsoft Great - not the money not the power not indeed the marvelous goods they make. It is the loyalty of the masses that makes Microsoft truely great; the need for no adverts or anything to do with that - word of mouth and loyalty do it for them.

This is why I love them

[hobey19]

its not so much that there is loyalty by any means, its that people have been cornered into using microsoft products, and the monolpoly keeps getting bigger, so that people depend on microsoft. if everyone had been given an option from day one as to what os they would like, there may have been a significant enough amount of people going a non-windows route. but instead, no option is/was given, so people become more and more dependent on MS, but at the same time, the noose grows tighter. i use microsoft, only because i have not taken the time to sit down and learn linux. i can honestly say that the little bit of work i have done with rh9 has made me think twice about future upgrades with MS.

craig

[Sir. T. Kalthorn]

This is exactly it! No body has been forced into a noose by Microsoft; People walked into a Noose which even Microsoft could not have dreamed of at the beggining, People did have a choice: 'do we use Apple as we always have, or use this new fangled Windows 3?' and we all know what they said, 'Windows'. Then Microsoft upgrades its Flagship a huge leap from the 3.11 basis to 95. People go mad over the new style and wonderousness of this 'Start' Menu. They walk further in and start tying the noose; then everything is based around Windows. Apple sinks into Hardcore Mac Nerddom; only LInux really stays to fight but even that is sunk to a Hardcore groups of Penguin Nerds and Network people. Windows 98 comes onto the Street; Internet Explorer battles hard against Netscape (yet another thing I despise) and wins by a long shot - this is yet again sunk to Netscape Nerddom like my foolish ignorant friend.

Windows NT continues to corner the Network OS Market but has yet to start into the Servers. Then Windows 98 turns into Windows Me; not everybody goes mad but its a new and good stability before the next jump. Windows 2000 comes out; everybody likes it and it is a great success. Little does everybody know but a lerking tiger awaits to not only make even more nooses; but scoop everybody from the other two and stick them all in the same noose tightening it further.

And Finally, Windows XP comes out; Microsoft's Flagship now makes every other Ship in the Navies of the World look like pin pricks. Windows XP Home corners Me users, Windows XP Pro corners Networks, Windows XP Media Edition for the Power Users at Home with Pro who love TV, and general TV freaks monopolises a new market, and Windows XP Tablet Edition monopolises a brand new market. To add to that Windows create the Windows XP Smartphone, and even more.

People who don't like but use Microsoft nonetheless have not been cajouled into it, but have hung themselves. You say you don't like it - you non-believers - but the Power of Windows still takes you all. Longhorn will finish what XP started; and Blackcomb I'm sure will start a new chain of events.

and I use an edited Quote from someone I've seen somewhere before on here: 'Better to purchase a Windows version simply because it is and be thought a fool, than to get a free evaluation edition of Mac OSX and remove all doubt'

[HAL9000]

Originally posted by Sir. T. Kalthorn ............... People walked into a Noose which even Microsoft could not have dreamed of at the beggining,

I'd argue that statement... right outside MS doors...a little statement that goes something to the effect of;

Microsoft products on every PC in every home.

[glc]

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