Using AOL internet access

And cleaning up afterwards

[MatthewHSE]

I'm seriously considering purchasing my first notebook computer later this Fall, and would like to be able to go online with it while I'm travelling. I don't want to rack up huge long-distance charges at the hotels by dialing up to my local ISP, so I had thought of getting one of the "AOL Coasters" (conveniently located at your nearest Post Office) so I can dialup for free from just about anywhere.

But, I've heard that the AOL software can really goof up a computer. I don't want to take my brand-new laptop and ruin it by installing a bunch of junk. So, does anyone know if there's a way to use AOL, without messing up the computer? How can you clean up after it? And etc.

And, I'm going to go ahead and share my inexperience here by admitting that I've never used AOL before and never have seen (or known) anyone else using it. How do they afford to give away all this free access? Do you have to deal with a bunch of ads or something when connecting?

Thanks for any advice - I appreciate it!

Matthew

[restricted access]

Don't install AOL for any reason. AOL does not provide true ISP service, but rather offers a type of tunneling to its proxy servers, I don't remember the exact mechanism. It is highly invasive software, and it's expensive. Try earthlink instead if you need travelling connectivity. Earthlink has access in almost all major towns in the United states, it's not great, but it's a real ISP, offering a real connection to the WWW. It also has a 1-800 number for access in those places it doesn't cover. Cleaning up an AOL installation ranges from difficult to sometimes impossible.

---- the poster below is right, AOL has always worked better on the non NT windows, however if you research this more, you'll find that user experiences have varied wildly, from needing full reinstalls of the Operating System to a clean uninstall. Which still requires registry cleanup, it's not as clean as it appears.

[edited by: restricted_access at 1:41 pm (utc) on Oct. 8, 2004]

[jetboy_70]

I installed AOL 8 on a Windows 98SE partition solely for HTML/CSS email testing on AOL webmail. I had the same fear, but it uninstalled completely after I'd finished with it, and left my machine unharmed.

[sem4u]

I still have an AOL icon and bits of their software on my home PC after installing it. I don't know how to get rid of it either!

I only put it on as it was one of the few ISPs that would do an unlimited deal with NTL, after my previous ISP decided to shutdown their NTL unmetered service. Even when I had the software running I still couldn't dial up to register. Now I still have their stuff on my PC :(

[Lance]

You may have other options as well...

Many hotels now offer internet access for free, or cheaply, right from your room. There will be an ethernet port in your room. You just plug in and go.

Also, at lest a few of the larger DSL providers offer nationwide local dialup for while you travel as part of your regular DSL package. I have SBC DSL, and when ever I travel I just look up the local dial-in numbers before I hit the road. No extra charge.