Proprietary dial-up ISPs

[Otter Mii-kun]

http://i.imgur.com/d9pKrOJ.png
Back in the days when dial-up was the most widely used method for going on the Internet (with broadband services such as DSL, cable, and fiber being very scarce and unavailable in most areas), there were a variety of competing ISPs. Some of these, including America Online (AOL), NetZero/Juno, and PeoplePC, required that their customers use the provider's proprietary software packages to dial a connection, oftentimes limiting them to using Windows for going online.

What is you experience with 'proprietary' Internet Service Providers? Do you like the idea of being forced to use a proprietary software package provided by the ISP to connect to the Internet?

In March 2002, I first got Internet access at home, through NetZero, to which we were referred to by a neighbor. I soon found the provider's toolbar to be redundant, and tried to dial a connection using Windows' Dial-Up Networking feature by itself, only to get the infamous Error 691 (Username/Password invalid). It was at that time that I found out that NetZero requires its customers to use their proprietary software to connect to their service (http://help.netzero.net/support/errors/ez18-nz-dun.html). After three years, I switched to another dial-up provider, one that did not require proprietary software and could be used with any operating system or device capable of dial-up Internet connections.

Even before getting Internet at home, I had some experience with AOL at an aunt's place. There, I opened up Internet Explorer, only to find out it couldn't open any web sites, which meant I had to use AOL's proprietary browser. I didn't really think all the bells and whistles and extra buttons were necessary.

To sum it up, I never liked the idea of having to use a provider's specific software package limited to Windows to connect to the Internet.

[Neo Emolga]

I've used AOL and I despised it, but at the time, it was really only one of the few options in dial-up internet. Back then, I didn't go online unless I really wanted to, and I didn't close the browser window unless I was totally done taking care of everything, because when you signed off, you were looking at having to sign in again, which took 5-10 minutes sometimes. Not to mention AOL was slow, only connected like half of the time, and it felt very clunky and crappy.

I've used OptimumOnline, which isn't bad. And I'm currently using Verizon (only switched because it ended up being cheaper than Optimum), which seems to be alright. I can't really complain about slowness or dropped connections.

I'm not crazy about proprietary software, because you never know what spyware and data-mining junk they have in there. I understand why it's sometimes necessary, but loading it up with spyware is a pretty bad betrayal to your customers who want nothing to do with that stuff.

[Noblejanobii]

I don't remember much of the dialup age but I remember more than most of my friends since my friends can't seem to recall a time when the Internet screeched in bloody agony as I tried to connect with my little Webkinz. That connection sound still gives me the chills. So, I don't really remember what we used, to be honest. I was too young at the time. I just remember the sound of computer screams and being really frustrated that I couldn't move the computer to a more comfortable place because the phone cord didn't reach.