AOL's $100 Billion Mistake

Yahoo News ^ | January 31, 2003 | Keith Regan

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

When I first got a PC, I had dial-up for about two months. I immediately recognized the speed of the connection was not even in the same league as the speed of the most basic computer. I switched to cable which is three times the cost but is a million times more productive.

The tragedy is many dial-up users have no clue as to the true value of the Internet.

They own a Model T and see travel as an all-day trip on rutted dirt roads with constant breakdowns. Those with high-speed service are driving a Ferrari on the freeway.

If your time is worth anything at all, high-speed is worth its weight in gold.

[NewMexLurker]

I'm an old-timer with CompuServe, and have been very unhappy ever since we got bought by AOL. They sold us down the river, and even though it says CompuServe on most of the screens it's really AOL.

[SamAdams76]

You are right. Time is money. And that alone makes cable access far cheaper than dial-up.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Man sues AOL for Over Weight Problem Obtained While waiting to Sign-on AOL.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

[Petronski]

Great googly moogly!

[CyberAnt]

How about not giving away all those hours of FREE time on the internet ...??

I know personally, when I tried to get off AOL, they kept giving me 2-3 more months of free time. After a YEAR, I finally told them I didn't want any more.

[ApesForEvolution]

I started out on the 'Net (my first personal account for home anyway) with a company that advertised with 1-xxx-dump-aol. I did so because of all the people that told me their AOL horror stories, one after another. AOL hasn't done anything since then to endear me to them, so I could care less if they dry up and blow away...

[ApesForEvolution]

Oh, come on...I could have done fine without that before dinner.

[ApesForEvolution]

LOL!!

[ARCADIA]

I am just real happy I have finally managed to wean myself off AOL and onto DSL. It wasn't the data speed that bothered me it was the 30-50 crashes a day. These guys have been treating their customers like excrement for years.

$100B - for that kind of money I would expect to see the entire management team used for the artificial reef program in Florida. It takes real losers to piss off that much money.

[The Real Deal]

AOL's $100 Billion Mistake

The one word answer? LIBERALISM!

[The Real Deal]

If your time is worth anything at all, high-speed is worth its weight in gold.

I just love my DSL. It is worth every penny I pay for it.

[Jhoffa_]

AOL hasn't done anything since then to endear me to them, so I could care less if they dry up and blow away...

I think that represents the general consensus on AOL. Acceptable when they are the only game in town, but most definately not ready for any real competition.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

I was thinking this very same thing.LOL.