What are the best free ISPs?

[midwestyankee]

I'm looking to set up an account with a free ISP, such as Net Zero for those occasions when I travel somewhere without any available Wi-Fi outlets.

I'm interested in knowing about your experiences with any of the free ISPs. I have already checked Net Zero's list of access numbers so I know I can get a local number in at least one location where I expect to need it. It's been a long time since I have used a 56K dial-up connection, so I anticipate some irritation at the connection speed. And I know that I will have to put up with some advertising in order to get the "free" service.

Can anyone report any problems that surprised you? Are there any of these services that are surprisingly good, or somehow better than the rest?

This inquiring yank wants to know.

 

[bobsgirl]

We've used Netzero for several years, and will probably keep using it until I can convince hub to move into the 21st century. The connections are pretty reliable, but we've had repeated problems with receiving e-mail in Outlook. But if you use Yahoo or something like that for mail, that's not a problem.

We pay 9.95 a month for internet. If you use Netzero free service, I think you are limited to a certain number of hours per week or month or whatever it is.

If you're used to DSL or cable, the connection speeds are going to make you want to tear your hair out. My son has DSL on his computer and he won't even use mine any more.

 

[midwestyankee]

We've used Netzero for several years, and will probably keep using it until I can convince hub to move into the 21st century. The connections are pretty reliable, but we've had repeated problems with receiving e-mail in Outlook. But if you use Yahoo or something like that for mail, that's not a problem.

We pay 9.95 a month for internet. If you use Netzero free service, I think you are limited to a certain number of hours per week or month or whatever it is.

If you're used to DSL or cable, the connection speeds are going to make you want to tear your hair out. My son has DSL on his computer and he won't even use mine any more.

Thanks, Bobsgirl. I have access to my email through the web, so the Outlook problem you described won't be an issue. And I keep my hair short so that I won't be able to tear it out - whether from the antics of our teenagers or a slow dial-up. I saw that NZ limits users of their free access plan to 10 hours per month, but I think that would be more than adequate for my needs. I just want to be able to get access when I am in remote areas such as the back woods of Maine where my family lives.

I gather that you're happy with the Net Zero service in general, then?

 

[TNRkitect2b]

I have set my mom up on NetZero as she lives too far out in the countryside for anything other than dial up. She has had no problems with it and it serves it's purpose as a cheap, no frills, basic net connection. She uses Outlook express with it and hasn't had any major issues. I recommend it for the uses you are looking at.

There are a few caveats though.

Netzero runs a little add while it is sogning on, a mini-tv add. It can be a nusiance, as it prolongs the sign on.

They also want you to install a new toolbar to your browser, I am not sure if you will want that, or what happens if you remove it.

I also believe the free version has a persistent banner ad on the screen as part of the programs interface. I don't quite remeber the specifics of it, as once we determined that she could hook up reliably, we quickly signed her up for the $9.95 / mo. unlimited dial up.

The NetZero high speed service at $14.95 / mo. I have had no experience with, though based on the ads and the claimed increases in speeds over a standard modem my guess is that they use a form of webcache on your computer to make those speeds.

If you can live with the above things, go for it.

 

[bobsgirl]

Thanks, Bobsgirl. I have access to my email through the web, so the Outlook problem you described won't be an issue. And I keep my hair short so that I won't be able to tear it out - whether from the antics of our teenagers or a slow dial-up. I saw that NZ limits users of their free access plan to 10 hours per month, but I think that would be more than adequate for my needs. I just want to be able to get access when I am in remote areas such as the back woods of Maine where my family lives.

I gather that you're happy with the Net Zero service in general, then?

Yep, NZ's fine. I have no major complaints. And the price is right--at least better than what AOL charges. If I wanted to pay $25+, I'd just go the extra step and get DSL.

Free NZ does have toolbar ads, and, at least when we used it, they took up a pretty big part of the screen.

 

[fgarvb1]

Good luck on that Quest!

This might help.

http://www.dailyedeals.com/free_internet/free_isp.htm

 

[midwestyankee]

Thanks. everyone for the help.

I think I'll give Net Zero a try. And Fgarvb1, the link you provided was very helpful. Thanks a lot.

mwy

 

[living2serve]

A word of caution about Netzero. When I first tried it at a friends house so I she could try the net and see if she liked it, it was fine. After about a week though, she recieved a message on her screen whenever she tried to log in that said, "due to high volume, your free hours are between 2 A.M. and 5 A.M. This lady has a 9 to 5 job and two kids, no needless to say, that was useless. Maybe if you are taking short trips, and use different info every time you opena new acoutn, you'll be O.K.

 

[midwestyankee]

A word of caution about Netzero. When I first tried it at a friends house so I she could try the net and see if she liked it, it was fine. After about a week though, she recieved a message on her screen whenever she tried to log in that said, "due to high volume, your free hours are between 2 A.M. and 5 A.M. This lady has a 9 to 5 job and two kids, no needless to say, that was useless. Maybe if you are taking short trips, and use different info every time you opena new acoutn, you'll be O.K.

Thanks for this note of caution. I had no idea this was a likelihood. I may have to rethink my plans as I will need to use this account for business purposes occasionally.

That said, maybe I ought to try one of the discounted ISPs instead.