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[EverydayBeast]

Millions of people still use dial up

NEW YORK (AP) — AOL's dial-up internet is finally taking its last bow.

Yes, while perhaps a dinosaur by today's digital standards, dial-up is still around. But AOL says it's officially pulling the plug for its service on Sept. 30.

"AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet," AOL wrote in a brief update on its support site — noting that dial-up and associated software "optimized for older operating systems" will soon be unavailable on AOL plans."

It was an honor to have experienced AOL and dial up on a gateway computer thick boy.

Anyone use AOL?

 

[yet_another_alt]

Millions of people still use dial up

I refuse to believe this. Aren't there programs that give free/discounted internet?

 

[T8SC]

FFS AOL, I just upgraded to a V.92, what am I supposed to do with this now?

 

[Sinozen]

How is dial up even usable at this point? It maxes out at 56 kbps a second. I'd rather be water boarded than put up with that torture.

 

[Dynomite]

I remember having dialup and takinga week to download a low quality fansub episode of dragonball z. Those were the days.

 

[Unknown?]

How is dial up even usable at this point? It maxes out at 56 kbps a second. I'd rather be water boarded than put up with that torture.

Just disable all images and 3rd party scripts.

 

[Dacvak]

 

[j0hnnix]

How will I be able to read Neogaf now.

 

[reinking]

Anyone use AOL?

I did have it at some point but I was a Prodigy guy. I think they were the first to have a local number in my area. So many found memories of early BBS and internet. (hell no I would not want to go back an live through it again. )

 

[ReBurn]

Just when I was ready to sign up

 

[Fake]

I used. Got my CD via email.

 

[dispensergoinup]

Compuserve, Prodigy, AOL, Netzero

what a rush.

 

[sono]

How will I be able to read Neogaf now.

Gotta go fast now

 

[MrA]

Compuserve, Prodigy, AOL, Netzero

what a rush.

Kmart had free internet called blue light, the ad bar used up like half the band with

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

I refuse to believe this. Aren't there programs that give free/discounted internet?

"In the US, as of 2023, an estimated 163,000 households still relied on dial-up internet for their primary internet connection. This represents a small fraction, slightly over 0.1 percent, of all household internet subscriptions in the country, according to The New York Times. While AOL is discontinuing its dial-up service, it was a significant provider for this niche market. "

world wide it is higher

 

[Pagusas]

I don't think anyone modern generation will ever understand how crazy a jump it was to go from dial up to DSL/Cable Modems back in the day. It's kinda like how crazy console gen jumps were back then, these days it's all just iterative small improvements, but back then the leaps were insane.

 

[bender]

Playing MechWarrior 3 on The Zone against Australians on dial-up will always make me say, "Fuck you and your lag shields, Clan Ghost Bear".

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Millions of people still use dial up

NEW YORK (AP) — AOL's dial-up internet is finally taking its last bow.

Yes, while perhaps a dinosaur by today's digital standards, dial-up is still around. But AOL says it's officially pulling the plug for its service on Sept. 30.

"AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet," AOL wrote in a brief update on its support site — noting that dial-up and associated software "optimized for older operating systems" will soon be unavailable on AOL plans."

It was an honor to have experienced AOL and dial up on a gateway computer thick boy.

Anyone use AOL?

Yeah. It was fun. I would say the last time I used it a lot was 2003. There was too much comedy roasting going on and I was at the forefront with a few dropping face splitting humor like MS drops employees from the payroll.

 

[El Muerto]

I legit worked with an old guy that used AOL dial up. This was about 5 years ago. He said it works just fine for him as he uses it for email, news, and weather.

I did get free dial up from AOL and Earthlink. I would create the free trial account, and make note of the phone number. Then go into control panel and created a dial up connection. Input all the info in and boom, free internet. Once earthlink caught on they terminated my account, called my house and talked to my mom lol.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Did anyone actually use that?

I only got to know about it when I was playing Command and Conquer Tiberian Sun.

I didn't even know it still existed, I thought it was 90s technology.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Millions of people still use dial up

It's not millions. Current estimates are the around ~250,000 people still use dial-up Internet

Most of those people live in extremely rural areas and could be served by Starlink. The ones who think Elon Musk is a Nazi can probably get by without the Internet at all lol

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

I did have it at some point but I was a Prodigy guy. I think they were the first to have a local number in my area. So many found memories of early BBS and internet. (hell no I would not want to go back an live through it again. )

C'mon you don't even want to play MadMaze again?

I still use my old Prodigy jumble of letters and numbers account name for a couple of things.

 

[The Pleasure]

I'd pay a monthly fee to have aol 1996-1999 content fully viewable. Gamewiz, Antagonist, chatrooms and keywords all usable again.

Quest 64 4 Life bitch.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I'd pay a monthly fee to have aol 1996-1999 content fully viewable..

 

[Trunx81]

A simple homepage now has the size of the first Doom game.
I never used AOL, didn't even knew that modems were still a thing. Maybe they should send out a fax to their users.

 

[Trilobit]

I played the modem sound to my sister's kids and they nearly died laughing. It really seems like a sick joke that we were forced to listen to the most horrible tune every time we wanted to look up something online.