NetZero as opposed to AOL

[Thudpucker]

Who is using NetZero as an EMail/Websurfing account?

Has anybody switched from AOL to NetZero?

I've been with AOL for Ten Years, and now they are raising the Price, I'm thinking of going to NetZero.
I just didn't want to switch if NetZero is full of AD's like the "Blue light Special" was.

Does anybody know?
What else it out there?

THudpucker

[Great_One]

and AOL isn't full of Ads?

[glc]

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.

[reboot]

What glc said. ANYTHING is better than AOL, especially a local provider.
The service is well worth the few extra $, and sometimes they can be cheaper.

[Thudpucker]

Thanks GLC and REBOOT.
Switching is complex. The Phone costs are different with a change in Provider. My Wife has to be congratulated for getting us the best service at a low cost. I dont dare mess up her arrangment, so she makes the next step.

I was planning on paying for the unlimited time, that's what I have with AOL.
The Reason for switching was a little of the money, and a little of aggravation at AOL for not being better when they are so much bigger!

I think NetZero has a 'Special' going. They are quick to take advantage of AOL's goofey dcision to raise prices.
It's about $50 for the FIrst Six months, and $15 a month after that.

We take the PC on the Road with us so I have to make sure we have lots of access numbers. With AOL we only had an access number problem once, and that was in Canada.
There are still a lot of RV parks that dont have a way of getting a phone line to the RV spaces for one night.

Many Garcias!

[gerrygrit]

I've used AOL,Netzero,Juno,Worldspy(who merged with Juno)and a few
others to boot.
My first choice with DIAL-UP(am now on cable)would be JUNO.It
always connected and ran faster than NETZERO.
They should have a special going on at the moment also.
You can go to their website(juno.com) and download the software,make a new
acct. and should be able to use their free web access(with ads)
before subscribing for the pay service.I always liked the interface
better than netzero's also.
And it is my understanding that JUNO also just merged with someone
else which should broaden their dial up numbers.

[glc]

Juno just merged with Netzero. Juno is going to be strictly pay and Netzero will be free from what I hear. I still don't like ANY of the proprietary dialers, give me standard "DUN" any day. Worldspy was great - you could hack a standard DUN connection to work with it - voila - no dialer, no ads, and AT&T's excellent access network.

[gerrygrit]

Earlier today, it was announced that NetZero and Juno Online
Services have agreed to a strategic merger. Together we will
form a new company, United Online, Inc. This exciting merger
will bring together the two clear leaders in the free and value
priced Internet access markets to form the second largest
Internet access provider in the United States.

[Carl Price]

For anyone who has an American Express credit card, amex has an excellent FREE ISP. I don't have a credit card so I have went with BellSouth.net one of the baby bells. I get excellent service and it's only $14.95 per month billed on your phone bill. $19.95 per month for credit card. It uses the stand DUN (no proprietary dialup software)

[Davidoo1]

I agree with glc's earlier post. I have had Earthlink for some time now with no problems. They have access numbers everywhere I've traveled. I can get on using any old computer I can find in five minutes just using Dial Up Networking and internet explorer. They discount the rate if you get the Sprint thing, but if you happen to be insured with a company called USAA, you can get unlimited service for $13.95. No....I don't have any connection with Earthlink.

[gerrygrit]

I heard a report today that EARTHLINK has announced that their
rates for their services will be raised to $21.95 a month.
First AOL,now EARTHLINK,wonder who's next!

[Thudpucker]

Well, I went to the NetZero site. It's cluttered with information but written by Young folks. Not Easily Legible for Grandpa.
Lots of choices, but no way to Communicate with a Salesman.
You have to Click on Reply, Pick some Codes, and send.
The answer's to the coded questions didn't appear. Instead The Reply came back "I'lm confused"
He's confused? He ought to be sitting where I'm sitting!
I'guess I'm gonna stay with AOL. At least I can Navigate through thier site!!

[glc]

gerry: Its an increase, but it's not......

What they are doing is elevating the standard account to the level of the "Family Pack" (extra web space and email accounts) which was $2 a month extra all along.

Thud: You don't know what you are missing - once you use a standard DUN account with no proprietary software or ads you will NEVER go back.

[SARGE]

And the preacher said, "AMEN".

[morriswindgate]

AOL = Anterior Orifice Likeness
Try this service (they have # for LA)I had them when I was on Dial-up and they were outstanding. THey have their own software, but it is glitch free. You also get newsgroups. It's 16.25 a month.
http://www.us.inter.net/index.php

[glc]

Inter.net just bought out my ISP (Surfree). So far, so good - and you do not need to use their software, it's standard DUN-capable. It's also up to $19.95 a month unless you sign a contract.

[Thudpucker]

This whole thing is starting to look like a Collusion or a Price fixing scheme by the I-net Providers. It's gonna cost us $20 a month or better no matter which company we choose.

It's another thing as big as the US Gov. We'll never see the truth in print. I like the Net, but I wont miss it as much as I'll miss my $20 bucks.

That's probably another reason why these I-net providers stay away from Telephone calls. They dont want to hear us, just as long as we keep paying.

[LawyerRon]

Quote by Thud:
"This whole thing is starting to look like a Collusion or a Price fixing scheme by the I-net Providers. It's gonna cost us $20 a month or better no matter which company we choose."


Great minds think alike.

[glc]

Guys - just compare prices in other countries for unlimited Internet access......you will thank your lucky stars we only pay $20 a month. You may find it cheaper in other parts of the world (as a matter of fact, even free) but the local telco will charge you by the minute for the phone line. I pay a dime a call for a local call no matter how long I am on.

[Gintaras]

Originally posted by gerrygrit I heard a report today that EARTHLINK has announced that their rates for their services will be raised to $21.95 a month. First AOL,now EARTHLINK,wonder who's next!

That's because they both are # 1's as they claim.

The very same day I got e-mail from earthlink about raising their price, I started having problems that I had rarely before: I can connect at 49.9, 50.2 but get dead connection- no browsing, no check e-mail- just a white IE window.
Before I had problems like this a few times and it was for a few hours, but now same for 2-3 days/for a few hrs each day.
Called Earthlink. I don't even want to talk to their "tech support" because they don't have tech support. Last tech support prolly was when Xayd was there Last time I was on the phone with Eartlink "tech support", was a "advanced" Win2000 tech, who was talking about Win98- didn't last that phone conversation very long.
When I have prob that makes me frustrated, I call Earthlink customer service and DEMAND[I don't ask] a month free. 2 days ago I did just same. Let they try me to bill, I'll cancel earthlink, go to my bank and will ask for a few months of chargeback.