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Chris, depends on what you're looking for. I've been on OOL since it was @Home several years ago. I'm also 'in the business' so I think I can speak with some objectivity.
If you just want a Big Fat Pipe to your house, OOL's the best. They maintain an internal ftp server you (as an OOL subscriber) can log into and download a null binary file to test your dl speed. I typically get 750 - 900 KB/S (yes, those are bytes, not bits. Of course what happens out on the Wild Internet may be another story. At least you can see that what OOL controls is working well).
Pluses:
-The aforementioned Fat Pipe.
-There is a YahooGroups email list for OOLers where you'll see regular participation by two of OOL's senior management as well as a couple OOL techs. Totally independant of OOL/CableVision and these guys participate on their own initiative.
-Email is fairly stable (for me) with occasional hiccups. I've never lost any mail altho other, less knowledgeable, users claim to have.
-They recently rolled out a WebMail interface allowing you do access email on the road.
-Recently rolled out BrightMail Spam filtering and Symantec antivirus (see below why that's also a minus). Over the last three days it caught 24 spam messages and missed 6. In it's five month period online it's only trapped two messages that were legit, and they were from vendors I'd requested info from.
-Customer service has dramatically improved (probably due to feedback on the YahooGroups email list).
Minuses:
-They've blocked ports 80 (inbound), 25 (inbound) and recently, port 445. If you don't know why that's significant, you needn't worry about it.
-They recently rolled out BrightMail spam filtering and Symantec Antivirus. They advertise the spam filtering as optional, when in fact, and has been well debated, it's not. As I said, I've had few problems with it but others use their own filtering and want to (rightly) maintain their own control. OOL doesn't give them that choice (altho they advertise they do).
-Their Usenet service is absolutely worthless. It's mind-boggling that they even keep the damned thing plugged in and half-heartedly maintain it. It's so useless it can only be a drain on resources. Plan on subscribing to a dedicated service if that's your interest.
Finally about the AOL question, as someone who's been around the 'net a couple times, I say lose it. The social stigma of AOLers aside, it's not the real internet. Let it go, you'll be a better person for it.
C.
posted by 130.199...
, Thu, 19 Jun 2003 11:45:22
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