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AOL

Now a web portal, it was once the leading ISP and a haven for newbies. It also developed AOL Instant Messenger.

Aol,hi-res-logo.png

  • Developer: Unknown
  • Release Date: 1983
  • Twitter: Unknown
  • Known For:
 

Summary

AOL is nowadays a standard web portal, and a regular broadband ISP. But it used to be so much moar. It was the fountain of newbies and the internet for the masses.

Origins

It was founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation. It later changed its name. In 1991 it released AOL for DOS, and in 1992 it released AOL for Windows. AOL established an internet market aimed towards Joe Everyman and Jane Everywoman. AOL had (then) exclusive content available under AOL keywords.

AOL was one of the first companies to introduce internet access for the masses (outside). In 1993 AOL introduced access to Usenet. Originally newbies joined en masse in Septembers (corresponding to when people enrolled in universities), acted like n00bs, got slapped across the face, stopped being lamers, and wizened up. Now with AOL, newbies joined at any time of the year, causing old timers on Usenet to speak of the "Eternal September."

AOL became known for its AOL disks, sent in the mail to prospective customers. Unlike many ISPs, which simply provided a telephone number for you to use with your dialup, AOL provided an entire software package for internet use. People who didn't want to use AOL proceeded to make the disks into fine coasters. Also because of AOL's dynamic IP addresses, users could join chatrooms, act like lamers, get banned under one IP, and rejoin under another. Chatroom moderators had to block all AOL ips, causing innocent parties to be blocked.

AOL got involved with a horrid merger involving Time Warner, and later asked for a divorce. Its AOL-exclusive content ended up not being so exclusive anymore, and AOL was slow to join the broadband party. As AOL scooped up Netscape, users jumped ship and joined other ISPs (AT&T, Verizon, etc.)

Current status

Down from its former glory.


Videos

1995 AOL Ad
1996 AOL Ad
1999 AOL Ad
AOL Ad
1997 AOL Commercial
2002 AOL 8.0 Ad
2003 AOL ad
1995 AOL Ad
David Cross AOL Ad
Watch the AOL Running Man dance around!
How the new AOL tries to advertise itself
What hicks do when they go on AOL
1995 AOL 2.5 Ad with the Packard Bell Navigator CD
1995 AOL Ad
British AOL ad
Another British AOL ad
2001 British AOL ad with Connie
A parody advertisement highlighting the noobs on AOL
AOL helps a girl do her homework, and wedgie her little brother
AOL 6.0 ad in 2000
AOL 8.0 ad
AOL WebMD commercial
AOL 7.0 ad in 2001
AOL 4.0 ad
AOL 9.0 Fisheye - with Jerry Stiller
UK Ad - "Some people think the internet is a bad thing. What do you think?"
And some people think it's a good thing...
Apparently AOL made it difficult for this guy to cancel his account
AOL 6.0 ad
You can use AOL disks for decorating stuff!
Customers had robust support when AOL became popular

Related Pages

AOHell
AOL Instant Messenger
AT&T
Earthlink
Eternal September
Sprint
Verizon

External Links


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