LLampi
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posted on February 12, 2001 11:37:10 AM
Hey all! I have had it with AOL. I am now thinking of getting rid of it and going with my cable provider.
I have the high speed cable modem and I have AOL as my browser. For the last 3 days I have been bumped off OVER AND OVER again. I have been on the phone with AOL and they say that there is nothing more that they can do.
When I click on Internet Explorer as my browser everything works great - so I know it's AOL.
The only real thing that I am really worried about is changing my email address on ebay.
Will I loose all of my feedbacks? If so will that be a permanet loss?
Also - I have become so accustome to the nice built-ins with AOL such as the cyber protection for my kids, having my WBN and Payment Notifications set up in my signature preferances and so forth. AOL has so many wonderful built ins that is scary to think that I will have to do things the old fashion way - typing over and over. Not to mention keeping my kids safe from all of the crap on the net.
Any advice - especially to my questions regarding my feedbacks.
Thanks!
Lisa
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mzalez
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posted on February 12, 2001 12:23:09 PM
Hi Lisa,
Getting rid of AOL and going with my cable provider was the best thing I ever did on the Internet.
No longer do I get tons of porn spam, nasty IMs from unknown perverts, or get bumped off over and over (and I always got bumped off right at the worst moment!).
If you are worried about filtering for your kids, there are plenty of free filtering programs. Your new provider might even have it as one of their services.
When I changed my email and eBay ID, my old feedback came right along with it...I didn't have to start over again at 0 feedback.
Don't hesitate to run as fast as you can from AOL--you won't regret it!
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uaru
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posted on February 12, 2001 12:52:11 PM
AOL is big and they make it easy to start, but they can't compare to the service you'll get from a local ISP.
Look around find an ISP that services your area and that has been in business for a few years. My local ISP offers great service, minimum downtime (they were down for over 24 hours once because of a hurricane).
AOL is good to get started but that's it. Take off those training wheels and get a real ISP. 
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mballai
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posted on February 12, 2001 01:18:16 PM
Try Earthlink. I do not know if they have cable access, but they do have DSL.
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barbarake
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posted on February 12, 2001 05:06:09 PM
Switching from AOL to cable was wonderful. Super-fast connections and no bump-offs. The only reason I can see having AOL is if you're into the chat room scene.
One thing you might consider. You can still have AOL with your cable. I think the cost is $9.95/month for AOL when you're coming in through cable. I don't have it myself but you might want to consider it.
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Shoshanah
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posted on February 12, 2001 05:32:50 PM
Good for you I quit AOL 2 years ago and have not regretted it one bit
I use Mindspring..now Earthlink. I still use my modem connection, but they DO offer DSL. Using Internet Explorer is so much better!
As to your kids, I do not know what Anti Virus program you use, but I bought the Norton Internet Security which comes with the Anti Virus protection AND the Parental Control as well as the Ad Blocking window...
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
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gravid
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posted on February 12, 2001 06:56:46 PM
Why can people train a puppy but they can't teach their kids to obey without software?
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Meya
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posted on February 12, 2001 07:02:19 PM
Well Gravid, haven't you ever been pulled into a porn site by an honest mistake? My husband was, while we were watching from behind him as he searched for something. I was too, as was one of our sons.
My 8 year nephew innocently clicked through a link and ended up on a nasty site with those pop ups that kept going, each time you closed one, ten more came up.
No, we don't use guardian software, but we do keep track of the history files etc.
Didn't anyone ever tell you if you couldn't say anything nice, to not say anything at all?
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LLampi
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:18:07 PM
gravid,
True - but then again you can't be with your kids (or puppy) 24/7 and accidents can happen.
I would rather be safe than sorry. My son was surfing the net one night when he came across a cool add banner - he clicked on it and thought the site was lame. When he tryed to "x" out of it about a dozen porn sites popped up. He was shocked!
He went to get his dad for help - he didn't know how or why these icky sites would come up on the computer - by the way he was on Internet Explorer and not AOL at the time - his dad said "that's it kid - AOL or nothing at all when you are surfing the net."
I would much rather put a cyber protection in place than have him get into those sites again. Although we have FORBID him to enter such sites if it happens again - he is 14 and a boy and I am not so sure he would get his father the next time. LOL!
My husband has been helping me get to know Internet Explorer and OutLook tonight. I think AOL is going to get the boot soon. We just need to put some of that cyber protection in place for the kids first. Then BYE BYE AOL!
As for my other question about loosing my feedback if I change my email address - so that I have this straight - I won't loose my feedback? I thought that if you changed anything with ebay you would have to start over.
Won't I get the "shades" next to my user name - which I am not changing by the way. I don't have my email address as my user name.
I would love more feedback here on that topic if I could.
Thanks!
Lisa
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taz8057
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:30:26 PM
I dropped AOL like a bad habit over 5 years ago. They were bad then, and they are bad now.
The only thing that keeps them alive is their name and advertising.
Why do so many people like AOL?
-Trey
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mcjane
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:39:31 PM
No you will not get shades if you don't change your user ID. I have changed my email address 4 times in the last 2 months & no shades. I had free access & kept trying new ones or had to change because it was no longer free. I am now on AOL. When you change youe email address eBay will send you an email with a code# you will then be asked to copy & paste an address in your browser & when you get there you enter the code & your address is changed instantly.
All very easy to do.
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LLampi
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:44:30 PM
Excellent! That is great news! I am so excited to rid myself of this hassel!
Thanks so much for the info.
Lisa
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mcjane
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:45:54 PM
I'm surprised that not many like AOL. I was on webtv for 2 years & just recently got a computer. So far I love AOL & have not found a reason not to like it. I have never been bumped off, but sure was with free access.
Can anyone give more reasons why they don't like AOL & isn't cable access expensive?
When I called my cable company (Comcast) they wanted well over 30.00 for their service.
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taz8057
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posted on February 12, 2001 08:56:36 PM
mcjane,
Do you connect to AOL via 56k modem? If so, paying $39.95 per month for a Cable modem is well worth the cost. It is 100% better than a 56k modem to me. I am always on with a cable modem. Dialing up with a modem also ties up the phone line.
-Trey
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rampaged
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posted on February 12, 2001 09:00:35 PM
I recently changed my user ID to my email address. I dodn't loose my feedback but it sure looks funny with:
[email protected] (1074) plus shades
Cluck on shades on eBay and here is what it says:
[b]Note: When the shades icon appears next to a User ID, it signifies that the user has changed his/her User ID within the last
30 days. The shades icon will disappear after the user has maintained the same User ID for a 30-day period[/b]
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mcjane
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posted on February 12, 2001 09:05:06 PM
Yes taz I have a 56k modem, whatever that is. I don't follow you, what is the difference to make it worth almost double. I don't see anything wrong with AOL & I know it's probably because I don't know any better. I have only had a computer since December 1st so a lot of what is said is Greek to me, for instance, what is DSL?
I sure need to be educated.
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taz8057
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posted on February 12, 2001 09:10:23 PM
mcjane,
Ok, I can tell you are very new at this.
Go to this address below: It explains everything that you need to know about Modems, Cable, DSL, T1, ect...
http://msn.zdnet.com/partners/msn/bandwidth/speedtest50.htm
Here are my results:
Your line speed:
1700 Kbps
208.3 K bytes/sec
Now, I want to see your line speed mcjane...
Now you can see why people pay more money for a Cable Modem or DSL.
-Trey
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mcjane
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posted on February 12, 2001 09:41:37 PM
Here is mine: Big difference.
38.1 Kbps
4.7 K bytes/sec
Does this mean you can move arount the internet faster than me?
What is bandwidth?
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taz8057
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posted on February 12, 2001 09:46:29 PM
mcjane,
I can surf on the net at about 44 times faster than you. That is a BIG difference.
Let's say you want to download a song or file that is about 5 mb in size. It would take forever to download that using a 56k modem like you have.
With my cable modem, I can download this in about a minute.
Trust me, if you go with cable, you will wonder why you ever dialed up to the internet.
-Trey
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mcjane
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posted on February 12, 2001 10:03:43 PM
Thats unbelievable. I had no idea. I can download a song from napster in 1/2 hour, maybe more ! but mostly get "transfer error"
Now I'm interested. Thanks for showing me the way, I had no idea there was such a difference & what a difference.
Thanks Trey.
Jane
PS
When I first got this computer I posted here how much I hated it & was thinking of going back to webtv. Someone (wish I could remember who because I would like to thank them)told me they used to have webtv & switched to a computer & when they got used it realized how much time they wasted with webtv. So, I stuck with it because of that post & am I ever glad I did. The posts from you remind me of that same experience only a different subject. So thanks again Trey.
[ edited by mcjane on Feb 12, 2001 10:14 PM ]
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taz8057
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posted on February 12, 2001 10:10:14 PM
I am glad that I could help.
-Trey
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Meya
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posted on February 13, 2001 05:06:54 AM
Remember to consider your entire cost to connect as well. If you have a second phone line, plus your Interent Provider, you are probably paying about the same as you would for cable access.
We paid $23 a month for the second phone line, and $18 per month for our dial up ISP. We actually save $1 per month going with cable and cancelling the second phone line.
We used AOL way back when we first got on the internet. I would never use them again. I don't like their email, there is way too much eye candy etc. also. Just give me a browser and a fast connection please.
You do need a firewall when using cable or DSL. There are software firewalls and hardware firewalls, depending on your needs. If you only have one computer connected, the risk isn't as high since you don't have File and Printer sharing enabled, but your system is still connected all the time so hackers could gain access. Those with home networks must be even more cautious because of certain settings on their systems to make their network function properly.
Test your computers security and read about Firewalls and protection here:
https://grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2
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Shoshanah
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posted on February 13, 2001 09:18:42 AM
Something else to think about: If you are not ready to or do not care to get CABLE or DSL, and find that you also do not want to pay for an extra phone line, you can guscribe to Voice Mail. I do, and I retrieve my messages each time I get off line. Well worth the 7.95 monthly charge.
Also, you mentioned switching to Outlook Express, for Emails: You might consider changing a setting for more virus protection; also many users prefer receiving their mail PLAIN, so:
Open your Outlook Express mail program.. Look at the TOP BAR for the word TOOLS, then scroll down to the last word: OPTIONS and click on it. When OPTIONS is open, you will see several TABS, each with a different name. Find SEND, and look DOWN on the LEFT of that window, for a world globe with an envelope icon: next to that icon will be two choices: HTML or plain Text...You might want to click in the button next to PLAIN TEXT.
********
Gosh Shosh!
About Me
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toyamy
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posted on February 13, 2001 10:12:37 AM
Better yet.. use Eudora, free as either the "Light" version or ad-supported (the ad is really small, doesn't bother me as much as I thought). It doesn't have nearly the virus problems that Outlook does.
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tomwiii
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posted on February 14, 2001 06:44:42 AM
ON cable:
here are my numbers:
3709.1 / 454.5
NEVER again with a 56modem!
OR AO smell!
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taz8057
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posted on February 15, 2001 02:10:43 AM
tomwiii,
Right on! I would like to see what other AW users are connected on!
Post your speed here!
-Trey
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chococake
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posted on February 15, 2001 09:09:11 AM
I have AOL, and haven't had any problems lately. I have learned the only time I get kicked off is between 6 and 8 in the evening. I think they have it set that way because of heavy traffic at that time. So, now I don't try and post auctions or load pictures at that time.
I don't care about speed, I'm not going anywhere. It's like having a fast sports car. I wouldn't be able to go 120 miles an hour so why have it?
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Meya
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posted on February 15, 2001 10:43:26 AM
Here's my Speed test today using Road Runner Cable.
605.5 kilobits / sec
75.7 kilobytes / sec
That is actually not so hot for cable, but RR has been upgrading and working on servers in my area over the past month. When the speeds stay constant, that is almost more important than spikes in speed.
We were using BroadBand Wizard to tweak our settings, and it did seem to increase our numbers somewhat, but it didn't play well with our Cable Router so we had to adjust how much help it gives us.
[ edited by Meya on Feb 15, 2001 10:44 AM ]
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