Using aim from a flash drive.

[Tophinator]

Im in college and dont have the internet at my apartment. I go the school library to get on the web and as you already know they dont allow things like AIM on school computers. I would like to be able to use AIM with out installing it on these comps(which it wont let me do). Could I just download AIM onto my flash drive(246mb) and run it from there or does it have to run off the program files and registry of the comp. TIA.

[flanzig1]

I don't think you can run a program from a thumb drive. AIM probably does need to access resources on the computer like registery, etc. How about doing dial-up at your apartment?

[Tophinator]

I could do that, dial up is only $10 a month these days. I saw that DSL is having a special for $15 a month for 12 months. I have a phoneline in my apartment, but I dont use it, I use my cell phone for phone calls. Do you need an activated phone line for DSL? Or do you just need a phone line?

[Force Flow]

AIM relies heavily on the registry.

However, if you go to AIM.com, you can log onto AIM with AIM express. The features are limited, but you can chat.

[glc]

If you want DSL, you need to at least have local service on the phoneline unless the DSL provider offers "dry" DSL. We've found that the cost of dry DSL can be higher than standard DSL and the local service - and is often higher than cable service.

The cheapest and easiest way to AIM chat is the AIM Express already mentioned. It should work at the library unless they block Java.

[Tophinator]

Ya they do block java. Well dial up doesnt require an active phone line does it? Just a phone line.....and I would have to get a modem then too.

[glc]

dial up doesnt require an active phone line does it?

Think about that for a minute.

You could get a USB kit to use your cell phone as a modem. You will still need a dialup account with somebody. Watch your minutes!

You could also get an AIM-enabled cell phone...........have fun typing messages on the keypad.

[Tophinator]

that would be great since I have free calling after 7:00 . But some how I think that does not permit to internet usage. I think I might call comcast tomarow and give them the old poor college kid sob story. Maybe I will get lucky and they can cut me a break.

[glc]

But some how I think that does not permit to internet usage.

Sure it does, if you use the cellphone as a modem to dial an ISP. The kits generally have a cable to connect between the cellphone and a USB port, and software (BVRP is common) - you dial up an ISP the same way as you would with a standard wired phone modem. I have a friend who uses his T-Mobile Motorola to do exactly that, he uses Juno at $9.95 a month. The speed isn't great, but it works. He bought the kit at a T-Mobile dealer.

[Tophinator]

thanks for the info glc. Ill have to look into that. I dont really care about speed a whole lot but for just 10 bucks a month its probably worth it.