-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- -------- forwarded message -------- From: "Fred Langa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subj: [langalist] 10-Feb-00 LangaList <snip> Pull On Your Waders: Major BS Ahead! Reader "Phil S" says: Josh Quittner's column in Time (of the Time Warner/AOL merger) seems to imply that all those AOL meltdowns can be fixed with a simple button click. Hmmmmm. http://www.pathfinder.com/time/digital/yourtech/0,2936,38849,00.html Thanks, Phil, and "Hmmmm" indeed. As soon as I saw Quittner's article, my BS detector went off the scale. Columns like his make me embarrassed to be a computer journalist. Not only was Quittner's article incorrect on the face of it (you cannot correct the worst of the AOL problems with a single click---sometimes even a complete uninstall won't fix things!) it merely parrots AOL's official line, which is that users are causing the problem by choosing the wrong settings at install time. And that's total BS: Both in design and implementation, the AOL install software is simply a sorry piece of code. (See http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/02.htm and http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/03.htm ) But guess what? Quittner works for Time, which (as Phil pointed out) is now going to be owned by AOL. I invite you to draw your own conclusions. Ironically, CNN also is going to be owned by AOL (when the merger goes through), but the folks there have been thorough and fearless in covering the AOL5 debacle with a variety of broadcast and online stories. Most recently, they ran a piece describing how the... ...Eco Electronic Commerce Forum e.V., an association that mainly represents the interests of German Internet service providers, Thursday advised German consumers to 'inform themselves about the difficulties that can occur, and what they should do about them" before they install what it called the 'crash-prone" program.' ( See http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/07/aol.warning.idg/index.html ) And, despite Quittner's glib remarks about a one-click fix, I'm still getting a lot of mail like this: From: wundrSoul Sent Tuesday, February 08, 2000 1126 PM Subject AOL 5.woe Hello, Can someone ,anyone tell me where to turn? After installing AOL 5.w0e, my Toshiba lap top is useless.....I cannot access any portion of the web.. no outlook express, no Seti@home, no net explorer, no Netscape, nothing...and after following AOL Tech directions (numerous hours via phone) and uninstall/install , I now also have no AOL, no instant msng nothing..Now they refuse to even let me speak to a supervisor to register a formal complaint....was told no one would follow up on my complaint .....I quote the AOL supervisor " you can email Steve case if you want to. AOL will not acknowledge you" This is Horrific !!!!!!! My computer is useless....I can dial into and establish a connection with my ISP but nothing works...What can I do? Who do I call ? Do I need a lawyer? Disgusted AOL member soon to be x-member Quittner and Time ought to either do some research before offering tech solutions and commentary, or maybe (here's a radical thought) actually talk to end users. Or they could just take a look at what CNN is doing not only to get the full story on AOL software, but to get a clue about what responsible journalism looks like. Sheesh! Want to add your voice to the controversy? Click to the discussions via http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/03.htm <snip> . <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
