AOL Free Laptop vs Bad Reputation

Obi.

Thanks so much for all the feed back - it looks like we're going for the deal after all.

Basically it's for the same reasons as I've already said; some good reports, some bad (like any company these days). But the promise of a laptop worth >£200* which effectively provides the broadband free for a year or so is too good to ignore.

If they offered laptops I'd suggest eclipse, I was with them for some time and after the shambles that was Tiscali (how they're still in buiness I'll never know) I give eclipse 5/5.

Lastly, I've checked and some friends of mine are on this deal through carphone warehouse and they're (to be brutally honest) complete techno newbies... and they've not had a single problem in the last 6 months or so.

Thanks again, you all rock!

* Note on the laptop price: I've seen it said somewhere that it's worth over £400 but I'm fairly techno-savvie and reckon you could get it nearly new or even new for £300 or less.

raptorman

I have been with AOL for 4-5 years now
and in that time haven't had any problems
worth talking about.

The only thing would be the AOL software
which tends to slow the PC down when I
play Battlefield2, but I shut the software
down before playing so no problems.

Nelski

Hi Obi

I have recently helped my parents (both 76 and never had any computer experience) get up and running thanks to the aol free laptop deal. After a bit of blip getting the router on line everything has been easy. The aol indian call centre takes a lot of stick but in this particular case they were great and a lot more patient with my dad than i was:D

I am on aol myself and have had a few problems down the line but there again I have been with them since the 17th century so not too surprised really.

Overall from a totally non techie point of view I think aol is a good starting point and when you balance the free lappy with the monthly cost is seems to be a fairly good deal too

toejumper

been with aol for a few years now not had much of a problen with them, can run a bit slow some times but isn`t all broadband like that at some point.

Caden_2

raptorman wrote: »

The only thing would be the AOL software
which tends to slow the PC down when I
play Battlefield2, but I shut the software
down before playing so no problems.

AOL's been fine for me too, there was a sticky patch back in March when they changed me over to the Carphone Warehouse servers but thats now been resolved and my connection is quicker than ever.

I don't use the AOL software at all, never have done, I use Outlook for email and Google for my homepage, all is well

Obi.

Thanks all... looks like I might even give AOL/cpwh a call when the Sky deal ends!

nickmack

Obi. wrote: »

In all honesty I expect they're very middle-of-the-road when it comes to broadband providors: All well and good until something goes wrong then an absolute nightmare to deal with - what is the matter with customer service in this country, eh?!

I'd say that was probably a fair assessment. I've had problems with customers using AOL on the cheaper packages with using VPN and some traffic shaping, but it sounds unlikely to affect you.

If you only use Broadband casually, it wouldn't be too much of a problem if the service was not that fast. Remember, if it's poor speed and customer service is difficult, you are tied in for two years, so consider if this is a big problem.

I wouldn't say the HP laptop is decent, I'd say it's 'OK'. From my calculation you'd be paying £465 over 2 years including the 3 months cashback and the delivery charge for the laptop.

Considering you can get Broadband for less than a tenner and the laptop is worth about £250, I think at best this deal means you pay monthly for an OK laptop.

Obi.

nickmack wrote: »

I wouldn't say the HP laptop is decent, I'd say it's 'OK'. From my calculation you'd be paying £465 over 2 years including the 3 months cashback and the delivery charge for the laptop.

Considering you can get Broadband for less than a tenner and the laptop is worth about £250, I think at best this deal means you pay monthly for an OK laptop.

Agreed. By 'decent' I meant fit for purpose, my parents will not be using it for games and whilst it would be handy for my dad to run autocad he can do that at work on his £3000 PC there!

As a general rule I won't spend my money on laptops, purely because they are generally lower specced than the same cost PC (desktop/tower) and a bish to upgrade/maintain.

Given my parents intended usage the laptop is fit for purpose, i.e. 'decent' or 'ok', whichever takes ur fancy! .

And yes, as you say, about £450 over the 2 years, take out the £250 for the laptop and you're left with about £8 per month. So assuming worst case on the laptop price you're still getting the broad band well under a tenner per month... Provided you don't get the "insurance" at £8.99 a month which seems an utter rip off to me... manufacturer's standard warranty of 12 months should be more than ample and I'm sure a good case could be made beyond that in the case of any component faults. Household contents cover (accidental) could even cover accidents for less. Lunacy can be the only explanation for anyone falling for that one!

bgec

Hi guys I am thinking of signing up to AOLs FREE! Laptop offer £9.99 per month for the first 3 months then 19.99 after 24month contract please help it sounds ok to me but i worry i am being blinded by the cheap laptop
Thanks Ben

Ypaymore

Do you really want to splash out nearly £450 for broadband and a less then average lap top over the next 2 years.