You might excuse me for thinking, upon seeing the headline that AOL had decided to release a new version of its Desktop software for the Mac, that I had been sucked into some sort of temporal vortex, and spat out into the year 1999. Like that show Journeyman, only, you know, less crappy and with more Macs.
Okay, so what’s in this fancy shmancy public beta? IM integration. Tabbed browser and IM windows. The ability to send email from multiple accounts, including .Mac, Gmail, Verizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz—What? What? I’m awake. Totally awake.
Are there people out there who still use AOL? I guess. On their Mac, though? You can do all of this pretty much out of the box, as long as you’ve got an ISP. AOL says that this is all part of “reaffirming its commitment to Mac users,” which kind of sounds like a threat to me. I mean, I might reaffirm my commitment to family, but that doesn’t mean I want creepy Uncle Algernon moving in with me. And to drill the point home, they’ve also launched a Mac Blog (everybody’s doing it! It must be—what are the kids saying now, is “hip” still in?). Unfortunately, it kind of reads like your average student being forced to write an essay for English class.
Let me ask you this: How much do you think we’d have to pay AOL just to leave our platform the hell alone?
[via Macworld]
Gimmie a break AOL. You're one of the reasons I stopped using the PC.
Krye, remember that AOL originated on the Mac.
Not that I am suggesting that AOL desktop is anything but worthless, but do remember that AOL was one of the first mega online stations for Mac users. They supported Mac users early and had a very large Mac community before the Internet washed over everything. Just a thought.
I downloaded this software just to try it out... I like doing that. However, after trying to sign in with my account information it kept telling me it could not use the type connection I had or that my account information was invalid... I did this back and forth... Just anything AOL has ever made for the Macintosh it SUCKS I have removed everything related to AOL from MackBook. AOL is DEAD and needs to give up... This is as bad as those who are still using MS-DOS.
AOL...Mac, not in my lifetime
Interesting bit of history but then, that's really all AOL should be....history!
I just don't see where AOL can regain market share in terms of having a presence on the desktop, the Internet and the web browser have become so easy to use there is no need for what AOL did in the early 90's.
I admit I tried this new AOL desktop on my MacBook. I really do not think its bad.
But, I cannot figure out who really needs it? After all it's web browser is Safari, iChat is all you need for IM. So, why clutter up your hard drive with it?
With AOL being free now. They have really elliminated the need for their software.
I have a AOL e mail address just for junk and newsletters. But, I see no need to load this software on your Mac to get your AOL mail.