Aol Problems Using Mac Sys X

K

Kerstin

Registered
The following letter was sent to AOL Support and they never responded. Does anyone in this forum know of any fix?

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(Letter to AOL)
The following is an ongoing problem with Mac G4s and a G5 Running sys 10.3.2 through 10.4.3 when using AOL. Cable Modem is the data source.

Please allow me to note my working environment is based upon computers. I am very familiar with inner workings of the MAC systems/software and if need be, I can typically navigate as to make programs run faster (trashing prefs, etc.)

When running sys 9, AOL functions at lightening speed — great but that system is now software history for all MAC users (please do not mention running classic as an option for sys X).
I have installed MAC AOL software many times over the last 3 years -— from post office giveaways through downloading from your site as recent as a few days ago.
On System X, it takes many minutes for the e-mail to settle before allowing access as to open the text and a huge stall on other levels such as the address book!!!!!!! I have trashed the press and the speed increase is minimal leaving the major "wait" time in play in all modes.

Clearly, AOL is not interested in MAC users thinking a small market. If this is an emulation program for sys X, the latency is typically milliseconds, not many minutes!!!

Regarding using CLASSIC E-MAIL on the web, faster than sys X (but not as fast as sys 9) and other problems like copying text to WORD — unless copying a few lines at a time, it crashes WORD thinking it is an http file. Using CLASSIC is not acceptable.
So the bottom line is I shall discontinue service unless you have a software fix.

(End of letter to AOL)
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So the only way AOL is fast enough to use is to use http://classic.webmail.aol.com. There is a huge problem when trying to copy text to a word doc. If I select all-copy-paste to word, the paste ends up being a line one inch wide and cutting out text. If I just grab a few lines at a time and past, it is just fair but takes forever and I can never get the last line of text. SOMETIMES THIS WAY OF COPYING CRASHES WORD!!!

The problem is it is not just text - it is like a html file or something. Do you know of a way around this? If not, I gotta stop using AOL.

Thanks for any help you can give us!!!

All best,
K.
 
I use AOL for MacOS X. I access AOL through the company's website. I use the MacOS X versions of standalone AOL apps like AOL Pictures and AOL Radio. On occasion, I even use the standalone AOL email app. Quite frankly, I have had none of the problems that Kerstin described. To be honest, the direction that AOL is headed on Windows is not where I would like for it to go. AOL seems to be in a deathmatch with Microsoft to take control of the the platform. Perhaps, there is something wrong with Kerstin's connection or her system.
 
Thanks MisterMe, but there is no dial up modem connected - just cable modem that is lightning fast with all other apps like SAFARI. AOL CLASSIC WEB MAIL through SAFARI is fast but as mentioned has copying problems pasting text to WORD.

The bottom line is so strange that AOL is moving so slow it takes minutes just to open e-mail!
 
Kerstin, my cable modem is my perferred communication method at home. At work, I use my firm's Internet connection. I access AOL at home and work. I simply do not have the problems that you are experiencing. Your problems are related to your setup, not to AOL in general. Think about this logically. Copying and pasting should not magically go bad just because you are using AOL. If you are don't diagnose your problem, you cannot fix your problem.
 
Do you have the latest version of AOL for OSX - version 10.3.7?

Have you tried creating a new user on your Mac, and tried AOL when logged in as that user?

In my own experience, the present version of AOL for OSX is, by far, the most stable version of AOL that I have used (AOL user since 1996), and certainly no complaints about speed (although I use AOL for email only - the so-called browser that AOL provides is junk) through a cable modem.
I have had more problems with password lock-outs at the whim of AOL, than problems with the software itself.
Finally, when I use the word 'stable', it doesn't really apply to AOL software, as now it only crashes about once per week, and not every time I use it, like in some older versions.
 
Kerstin:
Welcome to MacOSX.com!

If you want to highlight text from Safari and paste it into Word, go to Word's Edit menu and click on Paste Special. Then select "unformatted text" and see if that works better.

Doug
 
MisterMe said:
Kerstin, my cable modem is my perferred communication method at home. At work, I use my firm's Internet connection. I access AOL at home and work. I simply do not have the problems that you are experiencing. Your problems are related to your setup, not to AOL in general. Think about this logically. Copying and pasting should not magically go bad just because you are using AOL. If you are don't diagnose your problem, you cannot fix your problem.
Click to expand...


Hi again MisterMe,
Please note I am a tech. Time for full details. Regarding copy and paste to WORD, the reference was not using the current MAC AOL software but using AOL Classic instead through Safari.

(AOL classic is a web-based way to receive e-mail, which is useable. The speed is not as fast as AOL on MAC sys 9.22 but fast enough to not be a time burner waiting for the program to load, etc.).

When copying and pasting to WORD using - select all -, the paste into WORD crops to an inch width and will freeze WORD most of the time. The pasted information includes every window like copying an html page.

When using the cursor to highlight the text as to copy and paste, if scrolling down (using the down arrow) below the visual text, back to the same problem if not careful and no matter what, no way to grab the last line of text.

I discovered a cheap fix, which is to - select all -, copy hit reply, and paste - now in text form allowing a copy and paste to WORD. Another time burner I want to avoid.

Regarding the current AOL program (and all others for sys X), I have investigated the setup many times with AOL techs and help prompts within the program.

Trashing prefs is standard with any program that runs slow but a time waster and the slight increased speed is not acceptable - as usual, clocking away for minutes as to settle to open e-mail.

I have revisited the setup many times following instructions. There is no landline cable connected - just cable modem and AIRPORT on another computer working with a router. The AOL software is seeing cable modem or it would not connect.

The bottom line is with both a G4 1.67 (laptop) and a G4 500, installing at least to upgrades of sys X now up to 10.4.4, using at least 6 versions of AOL software, opening e-mail takes many minutes to settle. The program never totally stabilizes.

Mac sys 9.22 with the same hardware runs at lighting speed. Yea, sys 9 is no longer practical.
 
oy. yeah -- i've had endless problems with AOL for mac.
i've had the prblem that's being discussed, but often, it seems fine.

my main issue is that AOL just randomly crashes about once a week. it's easily the worst functioning program on my computer. my fix is that i quit after doing anything that it might need to save -- like adding addresses, etc. or even adding mail to a send mail later queue

odd -- yeah, it worked better with system 9.
aol tried to help me with this crashing thingy, but their fixes are sooo simple and dumb. "re-install": yeah, thanks. did that. still sucks.

good luck. let's hoe they add patches to the next one...
 
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