AOL ending dial-up internet September 30.

[joeekaitis]

Pretty sure it won't be affecting anyone here but if it is, sound off!

Cheapest and most readily available alternative? Probably 5G home internet, especially if no one has any plans of bringing fiber to your street.

https://help.aol.com/articles/dial-up-internet-to-be-discontinued

 

[DADoES]

I worked for a dial-up ISP from 1998 to 2007 when the business shut down (I pulled the plugs) due to the owner's bad health which ended his intentions/plans for moving it up to some sort of broadband service. I've been on a cable service since then. There's some fiber optic in town but it hasn't yet reached the outskirts. I lost awareness of the industry status, figured dial-up was already long-gone. I imagine the only reason it still exists is areas of sparse/distant population that makes broadband platforms financially untenable for the profit-driven providers.

 

[wayupnorth]

AOL dial-up was my only way for me to reach the internet for years util the phone company started broadband. I did keep my old AOL e-mail though.

 

[phillymatt53]

Jeez!
I remember having a computer in the early 1991, with a 2400 baud modem and hearing that screaching noise booting up on the phone line.

Now? - a dual-core machine win10, and Fios fiber optic for phone and internet.

 

[joeekaitis]

My first setup: Commodore VIC-20 with the Super Expander cartridge (extra 5K RAM and a couple other enhancements) and VIC Modem running a cassette-loaded program called 44ZVIC (40 column display for the VIC-20).

CompuServe on 22 columns was a pain in the retina.

 

[phillymatt53]

My first setup: Commodore VIC-20 with the Super Expander cartridge (extra 5K RAM and a couple other enhancements) and VIC Modem running a cassette-loaded program called 44ZVIC (40 column display for the VIC-20).

CompuServe on 22 columns was a pain in the retina.

5K of ram!
Wow you were flying!
LOL!

 

[DADoES]

I had an Atari 800. Did the theater's bookkeeping on an Atari 800XL for several years until I got a PC there.

 

[qsd-dan]

One friend has an Atari 800XL and another friend had a Commodore VIC-20 back in the 80's. I didn't get a computer at home until 1992. Can't remember exactly what it was now but it had a 486DX2-66 processor. Used Commodore PET's in elementary school from 1984-1988 when they phased to Apple IIG's in 1988. Also used IIG's through middle school and Windows 3.1 and 95 in high school. The changes that occurred from the mid 80's through the mid 90's was mind blowing.

 

[circlew]

I had AOL dial up for the first few years I had a computer. More often than not, the numbers that were flat rate local calls were busy. Therefore, I had to use numbers that were local measured service, which I could run up a bill of several dollars each time. Then I got Time-Warner Cable, which worked OK until the neighbor kid got home from school, and started playing video games. That slowed everything down substantially. Finally got tired of having TW, and switched to Frontier DSL, which worked OK. When I moved back to this house from the hovel (rental house) after the major construction was done, I didn't have phone or cable lines installed. AltaFiber Cincinnati Bell has been installing a fiber optic system in this area the last year or so, and I plan to connect to that when it's complete.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well, don't forget that there was a need for a direct line for those battles over who's turn it was to need the line for the phone and who wanted to use the phone line for this new-found way to use their computer...

So much for waiting for its obsolescence, or least of all the Internet to have never been possible without just going ahead to using with its own dedicated line!



-- Dave

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I still have the same AOL email from 1999 when I got my first computer from Gateway but havent been on AOL's dial up since 2006 when I switched to AT&T/Yahoo! DSL that time.

 

[AnbroBR]

Here in NE Tennessee, we have fiber optic provided by our local electric utility and the service is very good. I remember the dial-up internet with the noisy modems.

I am currently using a refurbished "small form factor" Lenovo computer that used Windows 10 Professional for an operating system. But I understand that Microsoft is no longer going to be providing support for Win 10. I will use this computer for as long as I can, since it works perfectly and is a "business" computer rather than a home-type machine.

I do not own a "smart phone" and have no intention of purchasing one.

Brad

 

[phillymatt53]

I still have the same AOL email from 1999 when I got my first computer from Gateway but havent been on AOL's dial up since 2006 when I switched to AT&T/Yahoo! DSL that time.

Interesting screen name - Robbins @ Myers.
Not meaning to disrupt this thread, but I have a 1950's R@M 18" window "whole house" window fan that's awesome.
Like a jet turbine and Built to last!
And a 1937 Fitzgerald 10" art deco steamlined oscillating table fan.
Also built to last.

Ok guys, sorry, back to your regular program.

 

[phillymatt53]

Here in NE Tennessee, we have fiber optic provided by our local electric utility and the service is very good. I remember the dial-up internet with the noisy modems.

I am currently using a refurbished "small form factor" Lenovo computer that used Windows 10 Professional for an operating system. But I understand that Microsoft is no longer going to be providing support for Win 10. I will use this computer for as long as I can, since it works perfectly and is a "business" computer rather than a home-type machine.

I do not own a "smart phone" and have no intention of purchasing one.

Brad

You sound like me!
I ditched my cellphone, used mainly for business, after I retired.
And don't miss the damn thing one bit.
Just a landline phone now, it's all I need.
In fact, I have a renew'd sense of "freedom" that's like having a breath of fresh air.

 

[mattl]

I volunteered with my local freenet for about a decade. It was a low cost dial-up, and I helped a lot of little old ladies get and stay on line. I got to the point i could walk them through set up and problem solving from anywhere, no need for a computer screen, Went through a lot of modem iterations, 14.4, 28.8 and 56K. Met a lot of nice people over the years.

I went from dial-up to DSL, then cable. Today I'm zipping along on a 1.5G connection. something I didn't even dream of a few years ago.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Interesting screen name - Robbins @ Myers.
Not meaning to disrupt this thread, but I have a 1950's R@M 18" window "whole house" window fan that's awesome.
Like a jet turbine and Built to last!
And a 1937 Fitzgerald 10" art deco steamlined oscillating table fan.
Also built to last.

Ok guys, sorry, back to your regular program.

I probably should have chosen another one. Because I've since gotten rid of all but one of my R&M fans as well as GE for pre 1952 Emerson "G" series govt fans with the PSC motors. I love them. Really amazing and draw very little power. Got a slew of em. Plus a half dozen Gilbert Windstreamers that resemble Vornados.

 

[vacerator]

I honestly wasn't aware it still existed.

 

[phillymatt53]

I honestly wasn't aware it still existed.

With the invention of AOL, Windows like 3.11, and computers, I got my start to explore "The Internet" and it's plethora of information.
It came in quite helpful for my job as a Service Tech, sharing info on the products I worked on.
Tv's, Stereos, Vcr's, etc.
I've soaked up tons of service manuals and procedures, tips from other techs.
All saved on my computer, or on disks.
I've also joined paid Service Websites that were valuable tools in my work.
These were only offered to certified techs like me, I had to prove the business I worked at, my own certifications, and actually had to send that info by mail, with payment by company check, before they'd allow me to log on.
This kept out the common amateurs and hobby crowd.