Best, easiest dial-up ISP...?

[MaxRat]

What is the best easiest less bloated dial-up ISP...??

Right now my grandpa uses AOL 9.0 and his patients is wearing thin with them....They are constently hiking the bill....the $9.99 unlimited is what he is supose to get but it's been more like $35.00+ per month....

It's time for a change.... I would like something that I don't have to install and get all that crap that come with it....he has been thinking People PC but I am not sure....Some say Earthlink...???

If I get something recomended is there a way just to get windows to dial-up without installing all kinds of goop... Thanks

[mairving]

Can he only get dialup not broadband?

Some broadband is pretty affordable.

[MaxRat]

No...

He had Verizon DSL...but they also play the price jacking game...He was on the 14.99 and he kept getting $43.65 bills...the same as me...

He is on a very fixed limited income....to bad I couldn't get a wireless and share my account....3miles away...

[flawedreality5]

Don't get Juno. It's cheap but the ads are terrible. And you need to install their browser/email combo program. And they disconnect you every 3 hours. I'd say look into Earthlink. I know they're the same company but maybe they have a better setup.

[glc]

Earthlink. Does not require proprietary software, just set up the builtin Windows dialer. They would LIKE you to install their software, but it is not required - and they do offer a lot of free enhancements and protection if you want it. No silly games - they do have a promotion (right now it's $9.95 a month for 6 months), but afterwards it's $21.95 a month or $239.40 a year plus local taxes. I had their dialup for years, and when DSL became available in my area, I took theirs instead of SBC's. I'm paying $39.95 a month plus tax for 1500/384 and am very happy with the service.

Juno is not affiliated with Earthlink - Juno is part of Netzero.

[flawedreality5]

Originally Posted by glc Juno is not affiliated with Earthlink - Juno is part of Netzero.

Ahhhh. That's the one I'm thinking about!

[MaxRat]

Thanks for the info....seems cheaper to get DSL....alot less headache...

[glc]

Originally Posted by MaxRat seems cheaper to get DSL....alot less headache...

It sure is. The only real reason to get dialup these days is if broadband is just not available in your location or if you can only afford $9.95 a month (and your calls to the POP are free). I don't think there's a $9.95 provider out there that doesn't require miserable software to be installed.

It seems to me that you can cut a better deal with Verizon for DSL if you contract a year at a time, possibly pay for a year up front, and/or bundle it with your phone service. I know that SBC here will throw in DSL for $15 a month if you buy a local and long distance phone package from them.

If he wants to keep his AOL e-mail address, he can do that for $4.95 a month (limited use account - 3 hours a month) and use www.aol.com through his browser for doing his e-mail. This does not count against the 3 hours. I've done this for customers - and uninstalled the AOL software so they don't forget and get in trouble for overages.

[juppy]

Originally Posted by glc The only real reason to get dialup these days is if broadband is just not available in your location or if you can only afford $9.95 a month (and your calls to the POP are free). I don't think there's a $9.95 provider out there that doesn't require miserable software to be installed.

You could always check with local providers too instead of the big nationwide ISPs. My local ISP is $12.95 a month and no add-on software.

As for the price, I found that problem yesterday. I was looking around the web to see if we have any local providers for the fixed microwave form of internet. Yes, we do, but the price bout made me fall out of my chair. I could afford the monthly fee of $19.99 but you have to buy the radio receiver/transmitter and that plus setup is $549! They have an "alternative" to lease the equipment in which the setup is only $99 but the monthly charge goes up to $34.95/month. My old slow piece o' crap dialup got to looking alot better after reading that.

[glc]

$34.95 a month for any broadband isn't that bad. I'm paying $39.95 plus tax. It can be especially attractive if you have a phone line solely for dialup - you can ditch it and save there.

[juppy]

Yeah, but with mine, I just use our regular phone line so it wouldn't exactly be "ditchable". I agree though, it wouldn't be much of a jump if I was able to get rid of the phone line charge as well as the monthly ISP cost.

[RayH]

Is SBC/Yahoo available for Grandpa? They have a $12.95 for one year special.

[glc]

I would assume not, Ray - that looks like Verizon territory.

[MaxRat]

Yes...
glc is right....everything here is verizon....land phone, wireless and internet...

we can get Comcast cable but it's outrageous...They are the best deal so far....unless you opt for dial up...

[doctorgonzo]

Originally Posted by glc I don't think there's a $9.95 provider out there that doesn't require miserable software to be installed.

They are out there, but they are generally local. There's one in this area called USFamily.net that is only $8.25 a month with no software. I had it before I got cable.