What the H*@$& is with AOL?

When AOL first started it quickly became the most popular Internet Service. AOL acts as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and as a community of users and services on the Internet. AOL initially provided access using dial-up telephone connections using an extensive world wide dial-up telephone network. This helped it become the premier Internet service for most home users. I got my AOL e-mail in Ghana on one of my many overseas trips. Access to dial-up AOL, the Internet, and AOL service was provided by using special AOL software. This software was sent freely to any and all prospective AOL customers. The AOL software installed cleanly on Windows PCs because unlike Windows programs, the AOL software did not entwine itself in Windows.

Much has changed from these AOL early days. The Tiffany Network which acquired AOL has declined dramatically in stature, Dan Rather has retired in disgrace for being caught broadcasting a false story, and high speed Internet access is in most U.S. PC households. PC users who relied on AOL for $24 per month dial-up unlimited Internet access are no longer sold on the AOL service. Today most AOL Internet users get unlimited high speed AOL for about $15 per month with 10 monthly dial-up hours. Several dial-up competitors of AOL offer unlimited dial-up access for merely $10 to $15 per month. Many provide their own free Internet connectivity software. Like the Tiffany Network AOL stature has declined.

To remain competitive AOL added features to their software and service including McAfee virus scanning as well as some additional popup blocking and Internet security features. At first blush this seems great. Why not give more service for the same price? However, the added features made AOL software grow in size and complexity. Just as we Americans (including myself) have put on a few extra pounds, so has the AOL software. So much so that it can no longer run in older PCs with slow CPUs and less than 128 MB (in reality 256 MB) of RAM. Worse yet, it now seems that AOL software now entwines itself into Windows. Many innocent PC users installing newer AOL software suddenly discover it performs poorly or not at all. Further, when they try to remove it and return to happier times using older AOL 7.0 and 8.0 versions, the new AOL software corrupts Windows and AOL.

As I vaguely recall, the free AOL/McAfee virus scanning software can be downloaded with earlier AOL Versions. The McAfee software is separate from the AOL software, and is dependent upon AOL. When McAfee virus definitions are renewed however, the McAfee antivirus software checks for a valid AOL account. This still sounds great, but McAfee antivirus software takes more PC power to run than other virus scanning software. Adding firewall and other features from AOL further degrades your PC’s performance.

For older PCs realize the best performance using Grisoft’s AVG virus scanning software, Lavasoft’s AdAware to remove spyware and Zone Lab’s Zone Alarm as a firewall. These programs are free for personal use, and can be downloaded off the Internet. AdAware must be manually updated and run to remove spyware. Its major drawback is that it does not automatically monitor the PC to catch new spyware. Also, when AdAware is run and scans a PC, it really slows down the PC.

Moving to AOL’s new Version 9.0 SE software is not the bargain it promises, unless you have a newer high performance PC. With older PCs it often causes more problems than providing better security and functionality.