AOL Dialer for Linux 57
jesuscash writes "Linspire today announced the availability of Internet dialer software that provides direct access to the Internet for desktop Linux users via AOL's dial-up ISP service."
The first Rotarian was the first man to call John the Baptist "Jack." -- H.L. Mencken
Hoooooray! (Score:5, Funny)
At last! AOL and Linux!
A match made in heaven (Score:3, Funny)
Re:A match made in heaven (Score:1)
Re:A match made in heaven (Score:2)
And guess what... if you do your homework you find out they don't make them themselves, a company in Taiwan does, and they sell these things into the U.S. under three brand names. eMachines is just one of them... the cheapest.
Linspire only? (Score:3, Funny)
Question: is this available for non-Linspire machines?
The code link [linspire.com] on the Linspire page seems broken - the correct one is here [linspire.com]
Re:Linspire only? (Score:2)
Oh, gods! The horror
If you do dialup through AOHELL, you deserve exactly what you're going to get
Hopefully AOL shouldn't have any problems (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Hopefully AOL shouldn't have any problems (Score:2)
Since they've now blocked all referers that are NOT linspire.com. Heh.
Re:Hopefully AOL shouldn't have any problems (Score:2)
Can't wait for the commercial (Score:5, Funny)
Steve Case: "You've got Linux in my AOL!"
I don't believe it. (Score:5, Funny)
So THAT's what they were talking about (Score:2, Funny)
Penggy (Score:5, Interesting)
The same thing that was debated years ago when penggy was announced on /. will most likely be argued here:
Why would linux users want to connect to AOL?
Although, marketing this software through linspire makes a lot more sense considering their more simplistic market.
Re:Penggy (Score:1)
The obvious answer is they're dumb, or being forced to or something. But there are alot of AOL users, and if they have the option to switch to Linux, then cool, good for them. Just because you don't use AOL and don't like it doesn't mean other people don't.
Ew I sounded pro-AOL there :
Re:Penggy (Score:1)
will someone please ask the correct question now!
why would anyone want to connect to AOL?
Re:Penggy (Score:3, Informative)
Most Linux users wouldn't. However, there are many AOL users that would like to be able to use Linux (or _I_ would like them to be abe to use Linux) and not have their entire AOL experience changed. While Penggy is a great idea, it does _not_ replace the AOL software, and for many people, AOL _is_ the internet. They have no idea wtf an antivirus is or that windows update even exists. They run Win9x on a 233, beefed up with some RAM, that their grandkid gave to
This WILL NEVER be supported (Score:1)
AOL will never support Linux. Or at least, not until the market share breaks 10%, and probably not even then.
If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2)
You're smart enough to not need the hand-holding that AOL provides.
Honestly, who is going to use this? If you want to setup a Linux desktop for your grandma, fine. But set her up with a local dialup provider. After all, she's not going to call their tech support, she's going to call you.
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2)
Uh, No (Score:2)
Re:Uh, No (Score:1)
Re:Uh, No (Score:2)
I had AOL for a year as a backup for my broadband connection, and didn't pay a cent.
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2, Funny)
your soul. there's a clause about it somewhere in the middle of the eula...
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2)
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:1)
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:3, Interesting)
1. Use a web interface for purchasing/downloading/updating software.
2. Use Zero Install for software installs, running them off the internet(a local server from the distro, or the developer's) and cache the download for 'offline'/faster loading use.
3. The culmination of all things automated, best hardware autorecognition, X/Sound/Video auto configured.
4. Hide the entire filesystem except for
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:1)
however, a custom distro like that on one configuration of hardware would be all right to try, you wouldn't have to auto detect, it would be pre-configured.
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2)
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:2)
Re:If you're smart enough to use Linux (Score:1)
A little redundant? (Score:2, Informative)
I would have thought that we linuxers had understood how to connect to the net through dialup by now...
Still, it's nice(?!) to see them take it seriously enough to release software for linux, even if it's been done [freshmeat.net] several [kde.org] times [maruhn.com] before...
Re:A little redundant? (Score:2, Informative)
Except that AOL doesn't use a regular PPP connection. They use their own proprietary dialup protocol, instead.
I agree. (Score:1)
too late... (Score:4, Interesting)
In the end, the worms and other nasties of ms-windows life finally gave him the final push over to Linux... and that was the end of his AOL account... it was a painfull break for him, but in the long run he's had no regrets and he can still chat with his friends via Gaim, but as far as he's concerned, the lack of official support from AOL for Linux has cost them an account
Re:This is good but i think its also redundent. (Score:1)
Re:This is good but i think its also redundent. (Score:1)
Not dialup..
Re:This is good but i think its also redundent. (Score:1)
Re:This is good but i think its also redundent. (Score:1)
1. install modem
2. create dialup connection using the device
3. dial vpi/vci number
4. use username in form of e-mail address
5. Connect
wow the hacking skillz involved are amazing to say the least, this method has worked for well over a year
Finally... (Score:3, Funny)
What's the news here ? (Score:3, Informative)
I'm not sure what's so revolutionary with this program (the two links in the press release end up in a 404, so I can't check if it has something new), but an AOL dialer for Linux already exists [apinc.org]. In fact, they've even been threatened by (and lost their old domain name to) AOL. As far as I know, their software still works today. Wouldn't this be another publicity stunt by Mr. Robertson and Lin(dows|d-ws|spire) ?
Old news (Score:3, Funny)
Hmmm (Score:1)
Duck! (Score:1)
A network engineer sits at his workstation late one night in a datacenter.
*finishes typing*
"There. That should do it. Now all the members of AOL have access to the Internet."
Is it just me? (Score:2)
But they had problems with their name that was clearly to rip off windows. They promised full compatibility with windows apps, but that never mounted to much that crossover and I guess wine can't do. Their software distribution is a pay for free
Re:Is it just me? (Score:1)
First thing I did with it was install Mandrake over it.
Wow (Score:1)
The difference is marketing (Score:2)