Dumping AOL, but what ISP to go to?

[Marc]

I've finally got my father to agree to dump AOL and go to a different ISP. However, I'm unfamiliar with who the good ISP's are in the Milwaukee area. Is anyone familiar with the Milwaukee area ISP's or know how I can find this information for myself? I'm looking for a basic ISP that just provides a reliable internet connection at a reasonable price. I don't need any "content" or anything like that. Furthermore, the service would need to be compatible with using MS-Internet Explorer and MS-Outlook Express.

[Gintaras]

Earthlink
They charge I think $1/month less than AOHell.
No need to install any software, just to setup dial-up connection.

Don't know about your area #'s, but you can look up on their site.

[RayH]

I just got through a couple of months ago having free dialup service. I rode the wave from the start up of NetZero until American Express started charging. I got on to a discount service that had a free 90 day trial period that extended to eight or nine months. As soon as they charged me, I quit. Not because they wanted to charge me. But their service wasn't woth $9.95/mo.

I've not found discount ISPs any good; before or after the heyday of the freebies. But recently, I've found that AOL does provide a decent connection; at least in my service area of San Francisco. But I've sold out to MSN for $200! With the rebate their service is tolerable. But without, I'd go with AOL! I was only with AOL for a month during the trial period. The connection was good. As soon as I connected, I used Internet Explorer and my Hotmail. I never bothered with their content.

Tell your father to call AOL and tell him he's going to quit. They'll give him some free time just to keep him!

[Gintaras]

Here is some good reading: AOffL

[morriswindgate]

When I had dial-up this was a great service at a reasonable cost.

http://www.us.inter.net/

[mairving]

The major difference between Earthlink and AOL is that you don't have to install the software. Earthlink's support is actually worse than AOL. Forget dial-up anyway. I believe that cable service is available in your area from Time Warner.

[obyteme]

Just to let you know that things are not that bad. I live to far from CO for true high speed and there is no Cable company that services my area yet, but I was able to get IDSL at 144k for 49.95. Not bad and service was great, and then poof...no more company, the company goes under and is bought by Covad. Well Covad sends me a letter stating that they are going to continue to offer the IDSL but at 89.95 a month!!!! NOOOOOOOOOoooooooo...why has thou forsaken me. I have a home network with wireless connectivity throughout the house, I could set out on the back porch and surf damn you!!!! Now I am having to set up Dial on Demand and that is like watching paint dry. Oh the humanity of it all.

[obyteme]

Oh and I went with EarthLink, I hate the service but my connections are a lot better than I expected. Well worth the money.

[Marc]

Thanks everyone for your comments. My search is ended. I went to both a small PC repair shop and a CompUSA store in Milwaukee and got the same answer.....Milwaukee PC has a good dial-up service that is both cheap and reliable. They have over 18,000 subscribers in the area and charge only $11 a month if you sign up for a year.