Net Zero? ISP Recommendations

Alice · 12-15-2002, 03:59 PM

I'm thinking about changing ISP's. I've been on AOL forever and I sometimes find them highly inconvenient. LOL.

I need a service that will allow me unlimited access, mutliple screen names, the ability to send/receive large files, easy compatibility with website servers, decent filters for the kids, access to AIM and an email program that isn't a PITA.

And about websites...who's good to host with these days that is going to give me easy access, lots of room and is easy to set up (that won't tax my brain, in other words!) for a decent price?

Suggestions?

Thanks!

Alice

Alice · 12-15-2002, 04:06 PM

Heh....just tried to send Net Zero's billing dept an email, asking questions regarding pricing (they are a little vague if you read the fine print.)

It came back to me as a mailer daemon.

Might need to cross that one off my list!

Minnreefer · 12-15-2002, 05:05 PM

I would highly recomend either Earthlink or ATT, I have used Earthlink before and was really happy, I have also read that Att is good.

Jon

Rick O · 12-15-2002, 05:28 PM

I'm surprised to hear that you're with AOL considering you're here most every day.

I've been with Mindspring/Earthlink for years and have been pleased with them. Don't know bout no filters though.

Alice · 12-15-2002, 08:40 PM

LOL Rick!

Actually, I haven't had nearly the problems here on the west coast as the people back east have experienced. I always used to wonder why Cath and Tom were still on AOL.

Cath has sinced changed to Earthlink; Tom's still cussin' at AOHell

ShirleyM · 12-15-2002, 10:44 PM

Hi Alice,

Do you have a local Internet Service Provider in your town or area? That would be my choice. Their tech support is usually more personal and available, they usually give you ample Website space and don't limit uploads/downloads/file size, etc.

You can set filters in Internet Explorer regardless who your service provider is.

I use Eudora email, paid version (there's an excellent freeware version, but I got the paid ver. w/a 100% rebate last year) I REALLY like Eudora because it doesn't automatically add everyone to your address book or send viruses on to everyone in your address book, as Gates' OE tends to do. I also run Norton AV 24/7. I've used Eudora at home since 1994.

Also, you can buy s/w that filters if you're worried about the kids.

About filtering...as a former tech support person for my school district....and former Dept. of CS at Purdue, K-12 Outreach - believe me, whatever you filter at home, the kids will find next door, at their schools (filters or not, they know the work-arounds), and so on.

You can always put a password on your bootup IF the kids disobey and you find they've been where they shouldn't have been. Then the computer can't even be turned on without you to put the pwd in for them. A couple weeks of that usually brings results, at least on the home front (or classroom front, in my case)

Just some thoughts...hth,
Shirley

tdwyatt · 12-17-2002, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alice
Cath has sinced changed to Earthlink; Tom's still cussin' at AOHell

heh, I keep aol as the email addy I prefer, although I like earthlink's startup, I will prolly keep the $9.95 version of aol for a while, too many contacts through aol...

asmith · 12-17-2002, 10:00 PM

If broadband is out of the question, then I would recommend Earthlink/Mindspring. Before I went with a cable modem, I was using a local service. They were bought out twice and I ended up with Mindspring. I never had any problems with them. The service was quite reliable. I never had to call for customer service, so I don't know what it is like, but I was happy with them (untill I experienced the speed of my cable modem

).

Andrew

ShirleyM · 12-17-2002, 10:10 PM

fwiw my local service is cable modem. My previous local service was dial-up, and when the other local service offered cable modem, switched. I've been happy with both.

Shirley

Alice · 12-18-2002, 12:08 AM

I appreciate the insight; thanks!

Alice

Darkfrog · 12-18-2002, 07:49 PM

I would avoid Netzero. I have the pay version at work since it is cheap, but you have to use their dialer and they have a little bar that stays on your desktop while connected. The bar isn't that intrusive, but I think the program is a resource hog and may have a memory leak. If I log onto the net more than 3 times without rebooting, my resources drop to less than 30% and I end up freezing or get a 'blue screen of death'.

Juno is the same, I believe one bought out the other.

check
here

Rick O · 12-18-2002, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Darkfrog
I would avoid Netzero. I have the pay version at work since it is cheap, but you have to use their dialer and they have a little bar that stays on your desktop while connected. The bar isn't that intrusive, but I think the program is a resource hog and may have a memory leak. If I log onto the net more than 3 times without rebooting, my resources drop to less than 30% and I end up freezing or get a 'blue screen of death'.

Juno is the same, I believe one bought out the other.

check
here

Hey Ron.

How do you find the source of speed degradation? I have to reboot every couple days or my system becomes painfully slow.

ShirleyM · 12-18-2002, 09:01 PM

Hi Rick,
I'm not Ron...but...

right click "my computer", left click "properties", then select the last tab, "Performance", and the second item is "system resources".
When I drop below 75% I reboot to flush out the cache memory and such.

hth,
Shirley

Rick O · 12-18-2002, 09:45 PM

I'm at 67% right after rebooting. But I'm running a few programs. Norton, Winpoet, Outlook Express, Explorer. Do I need to do anything to free up resources?

balakoth · 12-18-2002, 11:56 PM

No matter what program or top of the line company is programming the software you run, there will always be memory allocation leaks. Somewhere they might have forgotten to free up a tiny variable here or there and so on.

AFter 3 days of straight running without any real attempt at clearing the cache, virtual memory and various other things the OS uses, your system will slowly lose the available memory it can use.

Older Operating systems such as 95 or the dreaded WinME have seroius issues with their memory managment and if you run that OS.. Upgrade ASAP

Rick as far as your issue is concerned, how much RAM do you have in your system now? By the sound of what you run at startup your available system memory is probably around 64 megs? Or You are at 128 running windows XP. Just some guesses.

NetZero and Juno should be avoided in my opinion, NetZero started off as Free Internet service by selling your information to its customers.

Earthlink/Mindspring is in my opinion the best option to anyone who has access to it.

I know there is a Local ISP in Portland called Telecomm, that was recently bought out by Mindspring, yet still use their local co location and same tech support.