Lynda

Of interest, perhaps, to AOL users.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
>
> To Aol 6 or Not to Aol 6 That Is The Question!
>
> Written by: Dan Daily
> http://dannysdailys.esmartguy.com/tips/dan17.html
>
> Hi Gang
>
> Well, so many of you are asking about Aol6 it's time to give you what I
know
> about it. In beta testing, we are sworn to secrecy. But now that it's
been
> released; I can comment on it, so here goes:
>
> I'm sorry to have to be the bearer of bad news, No one loves new software
> more than I. NO ONE!
>
> Problems, Problems, Problems
>
> The main problem I've found with AOL 6, is that it changes Windows files.
> Many people haven't had any problems with this, but many people have. (me
> included) If you're one of the unlucky ones, you're looking at a complete
> Windows install at least. At most; you're looking at a complete wipe of
your
> drive. So if you're not prepared to do this, don't download AOL6. I've
had
> to reinstall Windows three times so far. I really have to do a complete
> wipe. It has screwed up my system beyond repair. It can be that bad,
> REALLY! If you've already downloaded it, and are having no problems.
Don't
> worry about it. If Aol6 is gonna give you problems, it does it right
away.
>
> It's really a shame; I like Aol6 very much. Aol6 was just released too
soon.
>
> Email
>
> Aol6 has many email improvements, one of which is HTML email capabilities.
> The problem is, it can't send HTML. At least not yet. There are also
> problems with Aol5 email showing correctly on Aol6 screens. This problem
has
> been corrected for the most part, except that Aol6 email, still can't show
> background pictures. This has not been fixed.
>
> AOL Address Book
>
> AOL, in their quest for "AOL Anywhere," has put the address book on their
own
> servers. While the intention is to be able to get your address book
anytime
> anywhere. (even signed on as a guest) You can no longer backup your
address
> book on your computer. If the AOL servers screw up, (and I don't know
any
> that haven't) you lose your address book forever. There is no way to back
it
> up to your hard drive, other then copying and pasting the entire organize
> folder to your drive everyday. I won't even mention the privacy
implications
> of having your address book on someone else's server. Many people have
had
> their address books filled with double entries, or even tripled. While
> others have had their books cut in half. (like me) How can you fix it?
You
> have to manually enter, and delete all the problems. Additionally; your
> address book has a finite size now. They didn't have the glitches out of
it
> before it went public. No matter how much we screamed, they still don't
have
> a backup feature for the address book. Now I ask you, do you really want
me
> to put all your addresses for "Danny's Daily's" on that server, knowing if
it
> screws up, your names are toast? I thought not; until this is changed, I
> couldn't use it even if I wanted to. That goes for all you "List
Masters."
>
> Internet Explorer 5.5
>
> I am presently using 5.5, but only because AOL6 completely destroyed my
IE5,
> rendering it un-usable, un-fixable, un-uninstallable, and short of a
complete
> system wipe; it can't be installed again. 5.5 is OK, I don't really
notice
> any difference with it and 5.
>
> Buddy List
>
> The new buddy list screen is huge. It can't be resized without losing
> buttons. Some problems with it: When your buddy signs off; the buddy
list
> still keeps them on. This problem was not fixed before final release.
>
> AOL Speaks
>
> A clever program that lets you talk, and your computer types for you.
This
> will only be available on the CD. The problem is; after four hours of
> reading to it to teach it; it's only hitting about 60% accuracy. (you can
> type a whole lot of emails in four hours). And, it only works for AOL6.
If
> you want it to work for all your Windows aps, it's 100 bucks. So, in
> essence, it's useless.
>
> Internet Access
>
> It runs about the same, except you'll notice that all of a sudden, you
can't
> get on the Internet. You'll find yourself uninstalling, and reinstalling
> your Internet adapters often.
> This was not fixed before the release.
>
> Connect Speeds
>
> This is a real problem with AOL6. There is no way to know your connection
> speeds. The sign on screen doesn't show it, or even flash it by. At
worst;
> it connects at 28,800 on a modem. (which is normal for 6) That's it. At
> best; you don't know what your speed is! This was not fixed before the
> release.
>
> The Worst Part!!!
>
> You mean there's more??? Yes, there is: The most troublesome part of
AOL6;
> is that it can also screw up your AOL5. Again, only a system wipe will
fix
> these problems. Basically, Aol6 is still in beta, they shoved it out so
> Steve Case could introduce it at the Internet show this week.
>
> Conclusion
>
> This is the very first AOL client I can't recommend for download. I never
> thought I'd see the day I'd have to say this. The testing went so bad,
that
> almost all the experienced testers quit. This caused problems with always
> having an influx of new people, so the questions never went past first
week
> questions. I'm sure you noticed all the ads for testing. Usually, AOL
only
> advertises for testers one half an hour a year! That in itself should
tell
> you something. If you can't keep experienced testers, who specialize in
> crashes, you have a real problem.
>
> Aol6 will be a great program when it's finally finished. I really like
it;
> but not yet gang ... Stay tuned.
>
> If you already have it, please email me, and let me know how it's working
for
> you.
>
> When Aol gets wind of this column, which will be today; two dozen of you
> subscribe: I'll probably get thrown off the beta program anyway. But
what
> can I tell ya gang. You're my people. I PAY Aol; but I don't pay them to
> totally screw up my computer. I can only call it, the way I see it:
Where
> the chips fall, they fall...
>
> I hope this helps you on your road to computer sanity.