AOL broadband/internet explorer?

Question

This is a really simple question that I feel I should know the answer to but don't! I pay for AOL broadband and access the internet using wireless broadband. (I have one of those netgear modem thingies!) I have just got a new laptop and do not want to install the aol software. I have been accessing the internet by just clicking on internet explorer on my desktop. Will I have to pay more by doing this or will it still be covered by my standard aol subscription, which is for unlimited access? Many thanks.

Answer 1

AOL doesnt work without their crappy software. Get a better provider.

Answer 2

You don't have to install the AOL software anymore because the router frees you.  Also, you don't pay related to software used and on which and how many computers.  Use IE, Firefox, Opera, as you see fit.  Firefox and Opera will probably identify the wireless link to the router themselves, while IE may need you to run through the connection wizard.

After the facts, an opinion.  Firefox can be more secure than IE, but is not immune, and derives a lot of the perceived edge from extensions, such as No Script and AdBlock.  However, IE 7 and 8 (beta) are pretty tight and getting tighter (particularly on Vista), and in addition you can run the IEPRO add-on with both of them to achieve similar threat blocking.  I would like to see folks drift away a bit now from the self-perpetuating automatic statements:  "Firefox is more secure than IE", because it's become one of those things that just gets said over and over with no fresh takes on it, in the same way that people say that a Mac doesn't get viruses (and it does).  Use and promote care with all browsers and systems.  :-)

Answer 3

You can access the Internet using any browser from any computer linked to your AOL router for no extra charge.

I have three computers linked into a network using the netgear router and only one has AOL installed.

The only question I would have is why use Internet Explorer when Firefox is free, easier to use, and more secure?

Edit

Ian maybe IE is catching up with firefox, but we are comparing a browser developed by a company with lots of resources and employing thousands of staff, against one which is developed by people just for the h**l of it. Microsoft have spent the last three years trying to catch up with firefox's simple inovations (tabbed browsing for example)

Firefox is just so easy to use, where as IE is just clunky over blown and quite frankly an absolute menace.

Answer 4

you do not need to install aol onto the lappy and it will not cost any more than you are already paying, you are fine just using IE to access the internet. i am on aol as well and sometimes i just use ie and dont use aol software at all