The logic of AOL Keywords

[Warthog]

At the end of almost every commercial I see, under the web address, there is "AOL Keyword: xxxxxxx". WHY?? There are several reasons why this irratates me. Why can't they simply type in the web address? I don't get it. What is so hard about doing that?

The other thing is that, why is the "AOL Keyword" **** search engine so special? If for some idiotic reason, they can't type in the web address directly to the website, they could always use Yahoo or another search engine.

It's redundant to put what to freakin search for. I'm sure the average AOL user can figure out what to type in the "Search" box.

Example:
At the end of a commercial about HBO, they listed the following information:
www.hbo.com (http://www.hbo.com)
AOL Keyword: HBO DUHHHHHH!!!!!!

I think that there is a belief in the world that AOL actually has it's own portion of the web; they can't go anywhere else. They think that because they have their own little search engine, they are cut off from the rest of us. AOL emphasizes that in their commercials. Just watch them sometime. THAT is why companies put the "AOL Keyword: xxxxxx" at the end of their commercials. Businesses are being sucked into Case's evil ploy.


I feel better now.

Warthog

[nvksmt]

Don't forget, the average AOL user is so computer illiterate they believe this ****.

They think an email address has no @*.com because of AOL, and AOL isn't really teaching them about the internet, it's just keeping them in the dark little AOL corner of 'online services'. Of course, other peoples ignorance is where the money is, if everyone knew a lot about computers, the tech support people would go broke.. heh

[psyklone]

well i have to agree with you. but you have to keep in mind that the simplicity of AOL caters well to the very young and the very old ... probably the widest spanning demographic out there in regards to web access. people like being able to use technology without having to use their brains. go figure, but it seems to be true. and about this:


I think that there is a belief in the world that AOL actually has it's own portion of the web;
they can't go anywhere else. They think that because they have their own little search
engine, they are cut off from the rest of us.


actually that's more true than you may think. when you're on AOL, you're NOT on the internet. that's actually one of the biggest problems with AOL right now is that people can access AOL places fine, but they can't get to the web. tell me that's not messed up. and the best part is when their braintrust techs have you try like one or two things (i listened in on a call from a customer to AOL, 5 techs... same procedure) and then they tell you to "call microsoft because it's a problem with internet explorer" ... but they fail to mention that it's THEIR modified version of IE and microsoft can't support it fully ... they'll do what they can (and most of the time are able to fix it, because they actually try). that's just beautiful, man.

[yaroa]

I have a DSL line, therefore, I don't use AOL, except for some mail.
The other day I suggested canceling our AOL account and almost had a riot in my house (wife and daughter) http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif
The point that I am trying to make is that a lot of people use and like AOL. They must be up to 15 million users now, and growing.

[chipbgt]

I think they are way past 15 million now..I thought I heard they just hit 30 million or around that.

[Mntsnow]

Well here I go again...Defender of AOL http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Just FYI..AOL is a great Internet service provider. They provide more Internet connectivity than any other service provider in the WORLD. They have more POP's that any other ISP in the WORLD. They have "both worlds" Their own world AND the OPEN Internet. They do not prevent anyone from being able to access the "real" Internet. (although if people do not pay attention to how they install AOL they might think they have problems when others that dont use AOL try and use their systems as AOL will assign their service as the default browser if at the time of installation the installer doesn't choose the what YOU and I might consider the correct option.) Just FYI I still have an AOL account. I enjoy it for my kids as I can taylor their account priviledges such as TOTALLY blocking IM's, Pictures and Emails...Unless I choose for them to receive them. AOL provide EXCELLENTLY taylored content for my two children. They have EXCELLENT content that is directly targeted for my wife. (school teacher) (YES she can get the same type of stuff on the "real" net but she prefers AOL as she doesn't have to go "wading thru all of the dead links and porn" to get what she needed and wanted.) As to the AOL keywords...They are great for AOL users...Just by typing HBO or whatever you will get content that is directly designed for AOL by HBO... It's also a great money maker for AOL. as companies PAY HUGE money to have a keyword link at AOL...Direct access to over 23 MILLION accounts!

I could go on and on... but I'm tired of typing as I have been working all day here at work...Time to go and get the BBQ ready for the block party.

Enjoy...

ps. If there is any points you want me to directly respond to that I have not basically covered I will be happy to http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

AOL Service Subscriber Growth
Quarter Ending Subscribers Increase
16-Jun-00** 23,000,000 800,000
31-Mar-00 22,200,000 1,700,000
31-Dec-99 20,500,000 1,800,000


Mgordon, I now have DSL service so I let my family piggyback on my broadband connection and they pay the BYOA rate (9.95 month)

[This message has been edited by Mntsnow (edited 07-03-2000).]

[mgordon99]

Most AOL keywords are links to proprietary AOL content, not web site addresses.

http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Mntsnow: I assume you subscribe to AOL with the "bring your own access" ($9.95) plan? Or are you a full-blown $21.95/month person?



[This message has been edited by mgordon99 (edited 07-03-2000).]

[BFlurie]

Whoa, Warthog -- down, down, man. I'm an AOL user. So what? It's just a vehicle to get on the Net. I've never had any trouble connecting. Modem speed is better than with MSN. A simple freeware prog intercepts any "inactive" prompts. They have every kind of MB imaginable (and more). You get 2 megs free storage space for each screen name. Free personal websites. As soon as I get a Cable modem, I'll dump 'em & use another ISP. Bottom line is, what's it matter?

[GroundZero3]

Warthog im with you i say if your with aol i think you need to find a new provider. i lived with AOL for about 2 years and got about 3 accounts deleted for no apparent reason. and it to expensive for the service and its not even worth it. the day that i unistalled AOL from the comp is when i lefted hell. Aol would be such a great ips if they did not give out so many free hours to everyone and there mom.
My 2 cents
JaYsin

[jad1097]

@home deleted my account last month! I lost all my web pages because I had just done a reformat and did not have them backed up on cd!

AOL is fine for some. I know I sure the hell don't like em but that is just my opinion.

[wtp]

AOL doesn't teach us **** about the internet. I say, AOL = America's Online Losers.

wtp

[Mntsnow]

WTP...Obviously you have not looked into some of the forums that AOL has...They have some excellent tutorials on how to surf the net more effectively.

I guess I'm one of the Losers in your eyes http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

Enjoy

[nvksmt]

I have a few problems with AOL, and they are TRUE.

-It connects slow for a lot of people, including me. It goes through proxy servers (unless you get the "browserless" AOL for NT/2000, which doesn't) and the proxies are slow
-I've heard of busy signal problems, which I've never had
-It charges $21.95, way too much.. sure BYOA is $9.95, and I'd say if you're into chatting and easy emailing, it's worth it.
-It tries to kill ALL other ISPs on your computer. There seriously were numerous builds (mainly the newer builds of AOL 5.0) that required a COMPLETE re-install of dial up networking and LAN networking to have ANYTHING but AOL access the net
-Their browser (excluding the "browserless" version for NT/2000, btw, even if you use Win98, pick that version up!) SUCKS.. seriously it messes up IE a lot..
-One word: SPAM Also, their blocking (keyword:Mail Controls) sucks. You can only block specific domains or people, or block the whole internet (notice they say Internet mail and AOL mail - TWO DIFFERENT THINGS) or block everyone BUT some people, but they don't offer any FILTERS.. like look for certain words, etc.. like outlook. No POP3 access (for that much they can't provide POP3 access?)
-Ever been in some of those chat rooms? Although there's a ton, most have a lot of garbage.
-It has TOO MANY FRIGGIN ADS! Not only do they charge $21.95 per month, they shove more ads down your throat than most FREE ISPs. Yeah, there is a way to turn 'em off, (keyword:Prefrences) but, most people don't know that.


Now, I do agree AOL has it's purposes.
1. Teaching the mentally handicapped to use the net (sorry couldn't resist)

really, it's good for kids with it's parental controls, most IE controlling stuff just sucks. I know someone who was typing a report for biology, and a child prog was on his computer, and he couldn't write "atomic bomb" in MSWord or it set off an alarm. LOL.

Also, it is good for older people who don't want or need to learn anything about computers.

But my point is, I get the same amount of email addresses, which can use outlook, i get 50-100 times the download speed (in all seriousness), I get IMs (through ICQ, AIM, MSN.. etc.), i get chatting (IRC, other online websites, AIM chat..), I get all their crappy content only it's better (heard of the internet?), I get a good browser of my choice (and yes I know you can use an external browser with AOL.. most people don't tho), and I get it for $8 more per month.

I could get all that except only 2 times the bandwith for how much? FREE.. hmm thats $22 less per month.

Hell, if you have to have AOL for the kids or wife, or whatever, get a **** free ISP, then get BYOA, it's $9.99 a month and you get all the AOL *****.


AOL is made for internet beginners, anyone knows that. And if you're like me, it's what gets you started, and it's not long before you realize it sucks and you change. Then you get the fat bandwith pipe.

AOL has it's place, as do other ISPs. It's geared for a certain audience.


Besides, this is capitalism at work here... other peoples ignorance is where the money is...

[Warthog]

Aha! A supporter for The Cause - nvksmt. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

That's the situation that I think of when I hear AOL (I'm serious).

Warthog

[Gomer]

All I have ever known is AOL and free ISP's, so maybe I don't have much to add. But, it has never given me grief. I get good connections, 5+ K/s downloads with 56k, and I am very seldom disconnected. Never had a problem with upgrading from 4. to 5. Busy signals aren't an issue either. As far as AOL content goes I don't really touch it. All I really use is the mail. I am not picking up the tab for it so what more can I ask for.

[jl123]

Well i had aol for about 2 and a half years until yesterday when my mom cancelled it. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif But i have to say that I really never went to the aol content. I would minimize aol and use Internet Explorer. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif AOL isn't all that bad. It's a great tool for people that like things simple and right at their point and click. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif For children i think it's great because you can control what they are able to do. And it's fun for them because all of the colorful buttons and windows. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif My mom never put any controls on me because she trusted me. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif I know what places not to go. It's just a matter of responsibility. But i have to add that life without aol isn't that bad either. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Once again i still know where not to go on the net.

AOL is a little expensive compared to some local isps that charge 17.95. But i guress there is a price to pay for the little world we call aol. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

~Joel(jl123)

[jman01pa]

Hey now.

AOL has is purposes. Where is it said that an ISP (AOL or other) has to teach us to use the net? Thats not there problem. It is for novices and simplistic people. Not everyone is a power user or cares about speed. Most that use it are die hard fans. I am not a user and dont personally care for it but to each his own.

J http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[narayan]

I use CompuServe, and I am tired of busy signals, not being able to choose my start-page, sometimes slow connections, and the huge toolbar on top of the screen. I realize that I can run IE, but it is slow that way. One thing that I do like, and I am consoled by this fact, but nearly all e-mail virii do not affect me.

[bhess]

My problem with AOL is the "other" people who use it. I get asked questions about something at work and can't help them if they have AOL. It is just too different. Also if you email them a file or something they can't open it or email back wondering what all of the jibberish was that I sent them.

[Warthog]

yeah or they can't figure out how to change the option in "Preferences" to simply accept the attachement...

Warthog

[Mntsnow]

Well why dont you become well rounded and well versed Tech's? By learning how to help those with AOL instead of bashing them. By helping those people I bet you'll put some money in your pockets while your at it http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[nvksmt]

HERES SOMETHING AOL NEEDS TO DO. Make their email outlook compatible.

by the way, what i mean is, it needs to accept files/pictures from people using outlook and not turn them into .MIM files.

[This message has been edited by nvksmt (edited 07-04-2000).]

[nvksmt]

Well they could affect me, but I say the best way to avoid virii is to learn. the only virus ive EVER had is the CIH, and i have no antivirus. I got rid of CIH too, and I only got it cause my friend sent me a file which did do what it was supposed to do and gave no indication of a virus, but had CIH in it (cause he was infected). when he found out he had it i ran kill_Cih and disinfected my files.

The thing is, once you learn what to look for in viruses, you don't get em. Plus, a lot of the gay little script viruses don't function properly under Win2k.

I use outlook, and im still clean!

I tried compuserve once, and couldnt figure out what the hell the point was. I couldnt even find out how to connect to the internet or anything. But i was like 9 at the time and was using it by taking my dads CC and charging it to him. lol.


Everyone using an online service that is tired of it really should at least try one of the free services!

[mireland]

if someone could explain the logic of AOHELL..err AOL than I'd appreciate it...http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/weirdcute.gif

[MJCfromCT]

:rolleyes:

I was 14 years old when this thread started. :D

[porsch1909]

Another old thread come from nowhere.....why???

[mireland]

Originally posted by porsch1909
Another old thread come from nowhere.....why???


boredom...)-|