Dropping AOL... (1 Viewer)

[Anthony Moore]

Ive had AOL for about 7 or 8 years now. The only reason Ive kept it so long is because I like my email address and I dont want to tell everyone that ive changed it.

But I'm ready to move on. And I really dont know what my other options are. I would really like to stay away from yahoo and hotmail, but if theyre the bes then ill check'em out.

I really dont mind paying a small fee, but free would be nice.

Oh yah, I dont need internet access, I already have cable modem. All I need is somewhere I can get a mail account and use Outlook Express to check it.

thanks for any suggestions,

anthony

 

[Brian Mansure]

Anthony,
Try http://www.softhome.net/ or http://www.hotpop.com
Less well known than hotmail and yahoo but since most of those services don't let you access POP3 e-mail any longer these 2 services are a nice change IMO.
Good Luck,
Brian

 

[JasenP]

Oh yah, I dont need internet access, I already have cable modem.

Anthony,

Doesn't your ISP provide an e-mail account for you?

 

[Anthony Moore]

nope

 

[MikeAlletto]

nope

No? What kind of an ISP doesn't provide email???

 

[Anthony Moore]

well, if they did, they never told me about it.

Plus, I'd like to be able to check my mail when I'm not at my machine (like hotmail and yahoo).

Also, I dont think ill be with this provider for a really long time. And I really dont wanna switch emails again after I stop service.

 

[Malcolm R]

I have cable modem access. Five mailboxes are included with my basic service. And I can check them from anywhere in the world. I'd call your cable provider and get your address. It's highly unlikely they *don't* provide one.

Most all ISP's allow web access to your email, so it shouldn't matter who you end up with.

 

[Greg Rowe]

Anthony,

Have you ever thought about buying a domain for yourself? It is innexpesnive to have a hosting company provide you with email services.

I bought therowes.net (my last name is Rowe). I plan on keeping this domain until I die, and the domain can stay with me no matter what ISP I use to access the 'net.

I know of a company that could provide you with this service (there are a LOT of them) - PM or email me if you'd like a URL.

Greg

 

[Anthony Moore]

Most all ISP's allow web access to your email, so it shouldn't matter who you end up with.

but then I would have to change email addresses again (the only reason I stayed with AOL so long is to keep my @aol address)...so i'd like this one to not be temporary.

 

[Anthony Moore]

So Greg,

I can buy a domain and check my email from the net AND outlook express?

 

[Greg Rowe]

Yup! Just make sure your host has a webmail service - which is common now.

You should have access to your mail via IMAP and/or POP (IMAP or POP is what ouitlook express will use) and also webmail.

I use IMAP because all of my mail stays on the server. That way, no matter where I am I can access ALL of my email, including folders.

Greg

 

[Anthony Moore]

Greg,

thanks for the idea! where should I check this out? Where'd you buy yours? Any other sites I should look at?

thanks,

anthony

 

[MickeS]

Anthony, use Hotmail. Outlook Express is configured to work with Hotmail, that gives you both webmail and OE, and they're always synchronized. I've used it as my only e-mail address for 5 years now, and it works great.

/Mike

 

[Dave Poehlman]

Also, AOL is pretty insideous as far as making it difficult to set up a new ISP. They're like that bad ex-girlfriend that keeps calling you when you have your new date over.
Anyway I recommend AOLGONE.EXE to restore your dial up networking.

 

[Ryan Potts]

Whomever you decide to go with there is a free web based service that will let you check your account when you are away from your system. http://www.mail2web.com

 

[Bill Catherall]

If you are interested in having your own domain I really recommend using iPowerWeb.com. You can have up to 50 pop email addresses, 150 MB webspace, unlimited bandwidth, a CGI folder, and many other really nice features. They're also just $7.95/month (you have to pay for the full year upfront, and you're only billed once/year) and that includes the cost of registering your domain. If your page is for business they have a free marketing package to get your site listed on search engines.
I've been using them for about 5 months now and I'm very happy with them. They had great customer support when setting things up. When I had questions they responded quickly and the one problem I had was resolved quickly. I highly recommend them.
The only thing I've found that's "cheaper" is maintaining your own server (and even that is debatable).
Yahoo mail no longer offers a free POP service. You have to pay for it. But you could use their free email anyway (you just have to use their advertisement-heavy page to check your email). That way you always have an email address to fall back on in case you should need to change addresses. It's also nice when you are trying to register your domain and need to use an email address for the listing and want to be able to communicate with your host through email before everything gets setup. I would recommend Yahoo over Hotmail any day (although I think Yahoo is beginning to be just as despicable as Hotmail...I'm getting more spam than usual ever since they stopped offering free POP mail access).
(Edit: Oh and if anybody decides to go with iPowerWeb then send me an email or private message. They have a referral program where I can get one free year of hosting if I get 3 friends to sign up. So if you take my recommendation, it would be nice if I got the referral. You don't have to...but it would be nice. It's easy to do...I'll give you the info you need for the referral if you PM or email me. Thanks.)

 

[Zen Butler]

They're like that bad ex-girlfriend that keeps calling you when you have your new date over.

Isn't this the truth. Anthony you will only be a better man without AOL. I'll abstain from any in depth description of my profound hatred for AOL.

Bless

 

[Cam S]

God I hate AOL, it's the devil. I've never used it, and i'm keeping it that way.

 

[Greg Rowe]

Wow, 7.95 per month for all of that is a good deal. I don't understand how they can offer unlimited bandwidth though. What's to stop HTF from moving there are saturating their pipe?

If it's true (sounds too good though) that's a great bargain. For Anthony though his primary use will be email so bandwidth shouldn't affect him anyhow.

Greg

 

[Bill Catherall]

Wow, 7.95 per month for all of that is a good deal. I don't understand how they can offer unlimited bandwidth though. What's to stop HTF from moving there are saturating their pipe?
If it's true (sounds too good though) that's a great bargain.

It's true! I'm not sure how they handle the unlimited bandwidth issue, but that's what they advertise. So I'm sure they have the backbone to support it. Also, since they limit account size to 150 MB that probably goes a long way to preventing one site from completely dominating the bandwidth. It would be impossible for the HTF (or any similar site) to move to it with only 150 MB of space. My site isn't really a bandwidth hog and I don't get many hits, but I haven't noticed any slowdowns on the serving speed due to other sites.
And even if you only use it for email it's a great deal. But who couldn't use a little web space? Personally I'm sick of all the "free" web hosts. Many won't serve just graphics, and they fill your pages with advertising, or limit not just the file space, but how many actual pages you have. Ugh!