AOL User ? Read This
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: TEXAS
AOL User ? Read This
Was looking for info in kit cars and came across a great description of what AOL does "for" or "to" its customers
http://www.cobracountry.com/aol.html
Excerpt:
Thought you should know
Doug
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Picked up Silver 2000 Lightning 2/28/00!!
1st run 13.9 sec 1/4 !! Best Run 13.025
Silver_2000@SVTLightnings.com
www.SVTLightnings.com
2000 Lightning, FMS 3.73 gears ( Expensive ), PSP 4 Way Chip, PSP Intake, Valentine 1, Snuglid, Bedrug, Lighted Ford Logos, Superchip R9, and 3m Panther Black nickel tint, Clear corners., Boston Acoustics 5x7s and Components, Alpine v12 5 channel Amp and JL Sub, Chrome SVT Rims and G Force R1a Autocross Tires, .
Link to my profile because the UBB doesnt support semicolons any more
http://www.cobracountry.com/aol.html
Excerpt:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">
Special Notice to sufferers (oops! surfers) of
AOL /America OnLine
July 2000
We're plagued almost every day by the aggravations caused by AOL's monkeyshines and hijinks. AOL "mirrors" our big websites (kitcar.com, cobracountry.com, mustangcountry.com and streetrodcountry.com) on their mainframe computers. This means that if you're reading this (or any other page on our sites), you're may not be on our website; depending in large part upon where you're physically located, you're probably on an AOL "copy" of our site.~~~~~
AOL does not advise its 15 million subscribers that AOL reprocesses and severely degrades the images that come in from Web sites, before AOL sends them on to its subscribers.
This saves AOL a vast amount of bandwidth, but deprives you of what you should be seeing on the Web sites you visit... AOL turns 24-bit JPEGs into 8-bit retrogressive GIFs (!!!!!) which AOL drastically compresses and ruins.
How you (as an AOL subscriber) can permanently turn this annoyance off: The steps and names are different in each version of the AOL browser, but based on this you should be able to work your way through:
Click "My AOL" or "Member Preferences"
Click "Set Up Now"
Click "Preference Guide"
Click "Set Up Now"
Click "The Web" or "AOL Internet Properties"
Click "Web Graphics"
Click to remove the check from "Use Compressed Graphics" .... (In some versions click to put a check by "Use Uncompressed Graphics")
Click "Save" or "Apply" """"
</font>
Special Notice to sufferers (oops! surfers) of
AOL /America OnLine
July 2000
We're plagued almost every day by the aggravations caused by AOL's monkeyshines and hijinks. AOL "mirrors" our big websites (kitcar.com, cobracountry.com, mustangcountry.com and streetrodcountry.com) on their mainframe computers. This means that if you're reading this (or any other page on our sites), you're may not be on our website; depending in large part upon where you're physically located, you're probably on an AOL "copy" of our site.~~~~~
AOL does not advise its 15 million subscribers that AOL reprocesses and severely degrades the images that come in from Web sites, before AOL sends them on to its subscribers.
This saves AOL a vast amount of bandwidth, but deprives you of what you should be seeing on the Web sites you visit... AOL turns 24-bit JPEGs into 8-bit retrogressive GIFs (!!!!!) which AOL drastically compresses and ruins.
How you (as an AOL subscriber) can permanently turn this annoyance off: The steps and names are different in each version of the AOL browser, but based on this you should be able to work your way through:
Click "My AOL" or "Member Preferences"
Click "Set Up Now"
Click "Preference Guide"
Click "Set Up Now"
Click "The Web" or "AOL Internet Properties"
Click "Web Graphics"
Click to remove the check from "Use Compressed Graphics" .... (In some versions click to put a check by "Use Uncompressed Graphics")
Click "Save" or "Apply" """"
</font>
Doug
------------------
Picked up Silver 2000 Lightning 2/28/00!!
1st run 13.9 sec 1/4 !! Best Run 13.025
Silver_2000@SVTLightnings.com
www.SVTLightnings.com
2000 Lightning, FMS 3.73 gears ( Expensive ), PSP 4 Way Chip, PSP Intake, Valentine 1, Snuglid, Bedrug, Lighted Ford Logos, Superchip R9, and 3m Panther Black nickel tint, Clear corners., Boston Acoustics 5x7s and Components, Alpine v12 5 channel Amp and JL Sub, Chrome SVT Rims and G Force R1a Autocross Tires, .
Link to my profile because the UBB doesnt support semicolons any more
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,233
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I'm not defending AOL, but rather defending a lot of people who are pretty much forced to use AOL.
AOL is one if the best national ISPs when it comes to traveling. AOL has more local access numbers than anybody else and if you're in a place that doesn't have one, you can use their 800 number for a surcharge.
For some others, AOL is the only ISP they can use without having to pay a toll.
For some, the AOL chatrooms are the reason why they keep their AOL accounts.
Anyway, don't knock all AOL users. Many of them don't have a choice.
AOL is one if the best national ISPs when it comes to traveling. AOL has more local access numbers than anybody else and if you're in a place that doesn't have one, you can use their 800 number for a surcharge.
For some others, AOL is the only ISP they can use without having to pay a toll.
For some, the AOL chatrooms are the reason why they keep their AOL accounts.
Anyway, don't knock all AOL users. Many of them don't have a choice.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati, Ohio
If they are using AOL they deserve whatever they get IMO. BTW, for all those using the "free" ISP's did you know you agreed to let them use=sell your CPU's processing time? They don't all do this, but at least one of the big "free" ISP's definately does.
Think I could throw in some more acronyms? LOL!
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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.
1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17
My Home Page
[This message has been edited by 2000 F150 4x4 (edited 05-19-2001).]
Think I could throw in some more acronyms? LOL!
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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.
1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17
My Home Page
[This message has been edited by 2000 F150 4x4 (edited 05-19-2001).]
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 692
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From: Michigan Rocks and then some too!!!
Not only that, but AOhell and others, sell your persoanl info as well as spy on your surfing habits and sell that info too.
*Did you know that NO software is required to dial in to the internet beyond your modem driver?
Yep you set your DUN settings, and wham, bam, your on! Any ISP that requires you to load their software to use is simply loading spy programs on to your PC, so stay away from them.
*Did you know that NO software is required to dial in to the internet beyond your modem driver?
Yep you set your DUN settings, and wham, bam, your on! Any ISP that requires you to load their software to use is simply loading spy programs on to your PC, so stay away from them.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Henry County, GA
I am defending AOL (and I haven't been an AOL user since '94). They are not an ISP, but an Online Service. They brought most novice users to the online world, then brought them the internet with ease. Yea, they are huge and they're customer service leaves something to be desired, but how many of your novice PC friends are on AOL? Probably most. Those friends care that they can surf the internet and get their emails. Not the technical BS on how it's done or why.
Now, as far as the choice: no, I disagree. There are choices out there for local calls (or no calls whatsoever). 2 way high speed satellite access is here for any (US) user anywhere. No phone required, just power.
So yea, AOL might compress graphics by default but it is for the benefit of the dialup user and I'm sure they don't really care (or understand) that the graphics are compressed. They care only that they can see the graphics.
I'm not sure what the point of this post was: slam AOL or a public service announcement to assist those who want the 24bit .jpg's.
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'99 Ford F-150 Lariat, 4WD, SCab, ORP, LS/3.73, Tow Pkg, 5.4L
* Superchip
* K&N FIPK GEN II
'99 Chrysler 300M, PHP, Sunroof, Premium Infinity Sound, 3.5L
* Borla Cat-Bak
* K&N Filtercharger
Atlanta Gamerz
F-150Online
300M Club
StarBand
Now, as far as the choice: no, I disagree. There are choices out there for local calls (or no calls whatsoever). 2 way high speed satellite access is here for any (US) user anywhere. No phone required, just power.
So yea, AOL might compress graphics by default but it is for the benefit of the dialup user and I'm sure they don't really care (or understand) that the graphics are compressed. They care only that they can see the graphics.
I'm not sure what the point of this post was: slam AOL or a public service announcement to assist those who want the 24bit .jpg's.
------------------
'99 Ford F-150 Lariat, 4WD, SCab, ORP, LS/3.73, Tow Pkg, 5.4L* Superchip
* K&N FIPK GEN II
'99 Chrysler 300M, PHP, Sunroof, Premium Infinity Sound, 3.5L* Borla Cat-Bak
* K&N Filtercharger
Atlanta Gamerz
F-150Online
300M Club
StarBand
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 36
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From: Eugene, OR USA
I guess lots of folks like AOL - they sure have a ton of subscribers. But, I'm not one of them as I don't care for their Big Brother approach. Glad you pointed out some of their little tricks. I'd just as soon not see the Web through AOLs tinted glasses.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 434
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From: Houston, TX
Personally, I prefer not to have to wait forever for my pages to come up, just to see your trucks over and over and over again. I love my truck too, and it's a beauty, but I would not make you look at it with every post I make. Compressed graphics are quicker and the quality is quite good. We don't need pictures on our screen that are photo quality. We need fast access.
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 378
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From: Bradenton, Fl. USA
I had AOL on this computer three years ago. It crashed my computer, kicked out my good ISP, and drove me nuts. I still to this day can dig into my hard drive and find some undeletable AOL file floating around somewhere. AOL is good for old farts and 4year olds that want their e-mail but for online gamers, etc. AOL is by far the worst. They also have horribly annoying TV commercials "It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO easy"??? If any ISP were any easier it would be instinct.
I am harsh about it but it really pissed me off when AOL kicked out my other ISP. I called customer care and some lady told me I could not have both of them at the same time. This was three years ago and I am still not over it. Now I take all of those Gold "Try AOL free" discs I get in the mail and frisbee throw them as far and as hard as I can. It makes me feel better.
I am harsh about it but it really pissed me off when AOL kicked out my other ISP. I called customer care and some lady told me I could not have both of them at the same time. This was three years ago and I am still not over it. Now I take all of those Gold "Try AOL free" discs I get in the mail and frisbee throw them as far and as hard as I can. It makes me feel better.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,798
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From: TEXAS
The purpose of this post was to inform people. NOT to make anyone defensive. The AOL info above comes from the view point of a company who is attempting to sell Expensive Kit Cars on the Internet and they recieved LOTS of complaints on the quality of the pictures posted from AOL users.
As moderator of the Lightning forum I get questions in email whose only answer is AOL. If you rely on their ease of use, appreciate the compression and take advantage of the access numbers around the country that is tremendous. However if you have questions as to "Why" then I hoped to help with this post. ATT and Genuity are ISP's that have numbers all over the World.
I have lots of friends and Clients on AOL, some love it and some want more. Having the details about what AOL is and how it works helps them make an informed decision.
Doug
As moderator of the Lightning forum I get questions in email whose only answer is AOL. If you rely on their ease of use, appreciate the compression and take advantage of the access numbers around the country that is tremendous. However if you have questions as to "Why" then I hoped to help with this post. ATT and Genuity are ISP's that have numbers all over the World.
I have lots of friends and Clients on AOL, some love it and some want more. Having the details about what AOL is and how it works helps them make an informed decision.
Doug
Really Old "Member"
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 1,362
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From: Kennesaw, Ga. USA
Just found this thread.
Neat trick, Doug and it works well.
I am one of those lazy AOL users and also have dialup connection until June 5 when I get DSL.
For the times I need graphics to display well this is really great and the nice thing is I can switch back when I don't need the quality.
Load times seem to be about twice as long as the compressed mode but that's ok for now and should not be a problem when I get DSL.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Bill
Neat trick, Doug and it works well.
I am one of those lazy AOL users and also have dialup connection until June 5 when I get DSL.
For the times I need graphics to display well this is really great and the nice thing is I can switch back when I don't need the quality.
Load times seem to be about twice as long as the compressed mode but that's ok for now and should not be a problem when I get DSL.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Bill
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,929
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
There are several AOL users that have DSL and "bring their own access" for $10 a month ON TOP of thier ISP/DSL charges.
AOL messenger (buddy lists) is FREE !!!
What's more is they are hiking thier rates to $23.90 a month :O
AOL messenger (buddy lists) is FREE !!!
What's more is they are hiking thier rates to $23.90 a month :O