Free Laptop with AOL now! (merged)

bargains83

gary38uk wrote: »

RUBBISH in 1 word.
who needs their software to access the internet, no one.
i am a pc engineer & come across many problems with aol.
pc's run so much better with less issues with the minimum amount of software.
first rule, if you don't really need it, don't install it.

Well without being personal you must be a RUBBISH pc engineer because you would know that you don't have to install the AOL software and haven't had to for at least the past 4 years to use them as an ISP. You set your router up with AOL's settings and no additional software is necessary on any PC unless you WANT to install it.

This is a very common misconception from people who like to snub AOL with absolutely no experience of them as an ISP and more than likely with PC's in general.

Some people do like the AOL Software, because you get a nice welcome screen giving access to your email, a built in IM service and touch button access to content at your fingertips. Most other ISPs go about integrating their services this by cluttering up internet explorer (or other web browser) with inch thick add on toolbars which actually spoil your internet experience. Which is actually far worse.

At least, even if you do install AOL's software, when you open up IE its nice and clean, No google toolbar or other tripe.

bargains83

gary38uk wrote: »

just now come from someone who has their FREE laptop.
had problem setting it up......the help line costs to use it!
laptop would not load vista, boot error & asks for vista disc.
and yes you don't get the disc.
so hes taking it back to pc world.
(sorry for using the swear word (pc world) woops! done it again)

This is for the Orange (advent) Laptop, not the AOL (dell) one. At least AOL are giving away a decent brand laptop and not a cheap one from the number one high street retailer for selling accidental damage insurance and invading your privacy.

ziffius

jmarko wrote: »

why do it that way round? and apart from anything else, aol and talktalk seem to be being run as separate companies at the mo.

Because Talk Talk have even LLU'ed my tiny exchange which serves only 4000 premises and the area only has a five digit telephone number. So I really can't see Carphone Warehouse paying for AOL to use BT's hardware when they have their own in an ever increasing number of exchanges. This is how they can afford to give away free Laptop and still make a profit.

I'm sure there is perfomance difference between BT's loop and Talk Talks. So I think you are wrong, AOL future perfomance should be judged on Talk Talk's performance rather than AOL's past performance.

While AOL and Talk Talk might be run as seperate companies at the moment, Carphone Warehouse hasn't been in control of AOL for long. Carphone Warehouse is a business, with the sole purpose of making money. With them owning 2 ISP's, i'm sure there are many opportunities for them to consolidate parts of these and save money, which I assume is one of the primary reasons they brought AOL.

If you sign up to this free laptop, you are in a contract for 2 years so you need to think 2 years in the future.

ziffius

bargains83 wrote: »

Well without being personal you must be a RUBBISH pc engineer because you would know that you don't have to install the AOL software and haven't had to for at least the past 4 years to use them as an ISP. You set your router up with AOL's settings and no additional software is necessary on any PC unless you WANT to install it.

This is a very common misconception from people who like to snub AOL with absolutely no experience of them as an ISP and more than likely with PC's in general.

Some people do like the AOL Software, because you get a nice welcome screen giving access to your email, a built in IM service and touch button access to content at your fingertips. Most other ISPs go about integrating their services this by cluttering up internet explorer (or other web browser) with inch thick add on toolbars which actually spoil your internet experience. Which is actually far worse.

At least, even if you do install AOL's software, when you open up IE its nice and clean, No google toolbar or other tripe.

If you actually read the post that you replied to, you will see that the poster is refering to other peoples PC's on which the owners themselves have installed the AOL software. When the poster says "if you don't really need it, don't install it" I'm pretty sure the poster knows that you don't have to install the AOL software to use it.

The poster simply claims the less 'bloatware' you have on your PC, they faster/ better it will run, which include the AOL software. Take your average new HP PC for example, it's full of bloatware that slows it down to no end.

You complain that other ISP's install lots of "tripe" and toolbars, surely you realise you don't need to install the software for any ISP to use their services, just like you can with AOL.

It's very offensive to call someone a "rubbish engineer", also suggesting they have no experience of PC's when you know nothing about them, maybe you should learn to read before you type. How on earth can you tell someone they are rubbish at their job with being personal?

With the TV adverts that AOL have had in last few years, it seems to me that AOL have been targeting those with little or no PC experience.

ziffius

bargains83 wrote: »

This is for the Orange (advent) Laptop, not the AOL (dell) one. At least AOL are giving away a decent brand laptop and not a cheap one from the number one high street retailer for selling accidental damage insurance and invading your privacy.

The orange offer is £300 off a laptop, so you can chose any brand of Laptop you like. You could even get that Sony laptop they have been advertising on TV.

As for Dell, they use they cheapest components going especially with motherboards and PSU's. Having had a couple of Dell's including a Dell TV, they can at times be a little shoddy.

The AOL laptop only has a celeron 540, given the choice I would prefer to pay the bit extra and get a Core 2 Duo processor.

bargains83

ziffius wrote: »

If you actually read the post that you replied to, you will see that the poster is refering to other peoples PC's on which the owners themselves have installed the AOL software. When the poster says "if you don't really need it, don't install it" I'm pretty sure the poster knows that you don't have to install the AOL software to use it.

The poster simply claims the less 'bloatware' you have on your PC, they faster/ better it will run, which include the AOL software. Take your average new HP PC for example, it's full of bloatware that slows it down to no end.

You complain that other ISP's install lots of "tripe" and toolbars, surely you realise you don't need to install the software for any ISP to use their services, just like you can with AOL.

It's very offensive to call someone a "rubbish engineer", also suggesting they have no experience of PC's when you know nothing about them, maybe you should learn to read before you type. How on earth can you tell someone they are rubbish at their job with being personal?

With the TV adverts that AOL have had in last few years, it seems to me that AOL have been targeting those with little or no PC experience.

He wasn't saying that though, he replied and quoted jmarko's post below:

i will never understand what people have got against aol. they make it sound like e7even! aol's not bad. it has it's moments but they get sorted. there are loads of us that use aol and are quite happy with it. don't listen to the doomsayers - just be realistic. grrrrr!

to which he replied:

RUBBISH in 1 word.
who needs their software to access the internet, no one.
i am a pc engineer & come across many problems with aol.
pc's run so much better with less issues with the minimum amount of software.
first rule, if you don't really need it, don't install it.

Basically he is saying AOL's ISP software is rubbish and its a stupid idea to have because its just extra software for the PC. From this, I got the impression he doesn't know that AOL no longer force you to use this software and was merely slating AOL based on a common misconception and not from an actual experience. Which makes commenting on something he doesn't know about out of order.

When he said "first rule, if you don't really need it, don't install it". I genuinely believe he was reffering to installing software on a PC in general, I.E don't install a graphics package if you aren't going to use it as unnecessarily installed software on your PC will slow it down.

AOL's software is very useful to PC novices and is nice for people who are new to the internet, if you are experienced then obviously you won't want it installed. I only have it on the one machine, purely for convenience.

My comments about other ISP's toolbars were founded, you get installation disks with Tiscali, Orange, both of which i've installed on other peoples machines and they customise internet explorer and bloat it up. This is no better than the AOL software, and in many cases worse!.

The choice is yours whether you want a seperate custom internet browser (AOL) or your Internet Explorer all customised as standard (Tiscali, Orange, etc) or you don't install either.

This is what is annoying though, this thread is in the bargains section, yet people are posting in this thread stating AOL are this and AOL are that and haven't even used them as an ISP. So why make unfounded comments?.

bargains83

ziffius wrote: »

The orange offer is £300 off a laptop, so you can chose any brand of Laptop you like. You could even get that Sony laptop they have been advertising on TV.

As for Dell, they use they cheapest components going especially with motherboards and PSU's. Having had a couple of Dell's including a Dell TV, they can at times be a little shoddy.

The AOL laptop only has a celeron 540, given the choice I would prefer to pay the bit extra and get a Core 2 Duo processor.

I wasn't aware the offer was for money off ANY laptop, that could be a better offer then in terms of value as you could pretty much get any sort of spec you wanted. Though I think most people will just go for a base £300 model as these offers are obviously marketed to people after a freebie.

The only real problem is the store which is supplying the laptop.

I have a Dell inspiron 1501 laptop and a 19" Dell Flat Panel and have had no problems with either, other people do seem to rate Dell highly. Maybe you have just been unlucky with your Dell products?.

wolvesinwales

I am on AOL but rarely use their software, i had loads of hassle 6 months ago when setting up a wireless network and was actually told by an AOL phone person to never accept an upgrade from them !
Regarding DELL i have had over 50 items from them in the last 4 years and only had 2 problems (DVD drives) and both were quickly sorted.

smartie1976

I'm not sure exactly what this means, but from someone in the know...

What they're not advertising is that the copyright for the AOL client is going within months, and they're not renewing it, which is why the contract is so long.

higgers07

Hello All

Just thought I'd ask if anyone knows about any other 'freebies' for signing up to a broadband deal.

I'm with Virgin and Pay £17.99 p month for 8mbs. The AOL deal would mean an increase of £2 p month but I'd also get a free laptop. I've been wanting a laptop for a while but don't have the spare cash. So for me, a little increase in my current bill and a move to AOL would get me a free laptop.

I emailed Virgin to ask them if they had any plans to follow AOL's lead and give free laptops away. I've had no probs with Virgin and would stay with them if they were going to follow their lead, but got absolutley no where. their response was that they have no plans to do so and then told me what the current prices are. Not that I'm after a discount or anything (just a free laptop)!!

If nothing changes and no other players come into the game - in enticing customers with pretty good free gifts - I'll move to AOL in September.

I read this week in WebUser that another Broadband supplier is giving away a free laptop (in addition to orange & AOL), but i can't remember the name of them. I didn't recognise the name so can't say how 'reliable' they are/will be. So things seems to be changing all the time.

Regards