5 Reasons People Keep AOL Dial-Up

I was recently at my grandparents condo and was asked to spend a few minuets to evaluate their computer situation. They actually have two homes, and therefore two different desktop set-ups, and the one in Florida is really struggling. Simply put, that machine is a dinosaur from 1998 and is in desperate need of of replacement.

But the one thing that puzzled me the most was their AOL dial-up service. Personally, it would be impossible for me to function without high-speed internet as school, work, and this online endeavor are bandwidth hogs and speed is critical to success. Regardless, this situation got me thinking about why individuals continue to use dial-up service even though they know it’s a terrible internet option. Without further ado, let’s see why AOL dial-up is still in existence.

1. Tradition:
   There are traditionalists in all fields, groups, and categories that are hesitant to change and try something new. From old video games to politics, old collections to daily routines, some people like the structure of what they have always had or done. I know from experience it can be hard to give up these habits. For some, the internet isn’t a big deal and they don’t feel its necessary to change what they’ve used for ten years.
2. Lost Contacts:
   It’s inevitable. Anytime you change your email address or phone number, you are bound to loose contact with someone. Even if you update all your contacts with your new information, you are bound to forget someone. By canceling AOL, you loose both your long time email address and your screen-name with your well built buddy list. Sometimes, a less competitive service is worth keeping your friends.
3. Virus Protection:
   An actual advantage of the slow speed comes in the form of a less conducive virus environment. Even though you can still infect your machine, malware needs to be downloaded too and if you catch the issue early enough, you can quickly disconnect and your machine should still be fine because the damage couldn’t be downloaded in time.
4. Portability
   One thing I didn’t consider until speaking with my Grandma is ease of use. All you need is a modem and any phone line to connect to AOL. Whether you are at a neighbors house or halfway around the world, you can connect to the internet with your AOL credentials just as if you were home.
5. Cost:
   One of the biggest reasons to remain with dial-up, cost. Speaking to users, they pay around $19 total for all the dial-up they can use. Not a bad deal with competent broadband prices starting in the mid $40/month range.

What is your internet connection speed and could you live with dial-up service in 2010?