Internet Explorer, is this what i can expect?

poppie123

OMG, is all i can say.:eek:

I am with AOL and use AOL's browser to surf the internet. I do have a few problems mainly drop outs and i know many people hate AOL and their browser.

I am seriously thinking of changing provider so today instead of using my AOL browser i have been using Internet Explorer (version 8) to surf the net.
Sometimes when i click on the IE icon on my desktop it opens up straight away no problems and i can surf the net and it's quite fast. Most of the time though when i click on it it loads and loads and loads. It just says connecting although it does eventually connect but it takes a good 2 or so minutes and then i find the pages run slower, so slow it's painful.

Is this normal? is this what i can expect from IE? I hope not.

AOL are c**p but at least i dont have any problems signing in and sufing the internet.I have now given up and gone back to signing in via AOL (much much faster)

Chris_Hinds

Your question is a bit like asking whether driving a Golf to work will make your trip round the M25 quicker than a Focus would. AOL's browser and IE are just the gateway (the car) to where you want to go. Your connection (the M25) controls how fast you will get there. It would not surprise me AOL require you to connect via their software if your internet connection is direct to your computer. If you're connected by wireless (or wired ethernet) then it's much harder to explain why it would go slow but from what info you've given it sounds like you connect directly from the PC.

I wouldn't use AOL as an ISP personally as I feel their product belongs to a bygone age when the internet had little rich content and AOL added value. Now it adds cost and doesn't necessarily have the performance to match.

Regards

Chris

Guys_Dad

I agree with Chris. I wouldn't use AOL (or Norton as a defender either!)

Before ditching AOL, try Google Chrome and see if it is any better. But lose AOL asap.

poppie123

Chris_Hinds wrote: »

Your question is a bit like asking whether driving a Golf to work will make your trip round the M25 quicker than a Focus would. AOL's browser and IE are just the gateway (the car) to where you want to go. Your connection (the M25) controls how fast you will get there. It would not surprise me AOL require you to connect via their software if your internet connection is direct to your computer. If you're connected by wireless (or wired ethernet) then it's much harder to explain why it would go slow but from what info you've given it sounds like you connect directly from the PC.

I wouldn't use AOL as an ISP personally as I feel their product belongs to a bygone age when the internet had little rich content and AOL added value. Now it adds cost and doesn't necessarily have the performance to match.

Regards

Chris

Yes i do connect directly from the pc. I just don't understand why somtimes IE opens straight away and i can surf fine and other times it takes an age.
I have never noticed it before and i have used IE in the past when i couldnt be bothered to sign into AOL.

It's definately time for a change of provider, its just a question of who to go with.

GunJack

try running IE without add-ons and see how you go. Shouldn't have ISP-related issues with a browser, in fact I was out to one last week with AOL, IE ran fine on it

poppie123

GunJack wrote: »

try running IE without add-ons and see how you go. Shouldn't have ISP-related issues with a browser, in fact I was out to one last week with AOL, IE ran fine on it

Sorry how do i do that? i don't know what add-ons even are :rotfl:

See and now IE seems to be working ok, i swear it's got a mind of its own. I really dont understand how one minute it takes an age to even load and yet another time i click on the IE icon and i am straight in.

can anyone explain it?????????????

poppie123

Right it must be an IE being slow issue.

I have just downloaded google chrome and all i can say is WOW :T It's like lightning. I think i will be using this now as my browser, especially when i have left AOL.

GunJack

even better than chrome, is the latest version of Opera, try it, it's as fast but more user-friendly and has better features than chrome

esuhl

Under Windows, AOL Explorer uses the Trident rendering engine - exactly the same as Internet Explorer, so there shouldn't be any real difference in performance (once the application is actually up and running, anyway).

Personally I prefer Firefox for it's logical user interface and wide range of add-ons, but Chrome is certainly quicker than either IE or FF.

closed

what are the connection settings under ie, tools, internet options, connections.

are you using a router, or an adsl usb modem?

(if you are using a router, the connection settings should be never dial a connection, and lan settings should all be blank)

debitcardmayhem

poppie123 wrote: »

Yes i do connect directly from the pc. I just don't understand why somtimes IE opens straight away and i can surf fine and other times it takes an age.
I have never noticed it before and i have used IE in the past when i couldnt be bothered to sign into AOL.

It's definately time for a change of provider, its just a question of who to go with.

No real need to change provider (honest guv , it's a fair cop) if you get good service ie speed etc and customer service (no you can't claim MSExpert is your customer service ) . Go to something like http://www.samknows.com/broadband/index.php put in your exchange see what is available on your exchange , look at their offers, ask back here for a totally(really) unbiased opinion.

Whilst thinking about this , ditch the AOL control you don't need it , look at Thunderbird for your email (yep it works with AOL too and its free) . Enjoy Chrome (or Opera or FireFox or even unbadged IE, except AOL will be too deep in there to easily use it as is).