If you are in the right place and using the right access numbers I have found NetZero to be quite adequate. You can reduce the size of the ad banner, which most free ISPs require. The tech support page is user-friendly. I have used it several times to configure my browser for the e-mail account. The quality of the connection is pretty solid and it prompts you to click on one of the ads before booting you off.

My problem, however, was that the service at my old location was great and then suddenly and inexplicably went downhill. I went from having consistent uptime to getting booted off regularly or having no luck at all of dialing up. My new location is pretty good, but the service seems to be, overall, inconsistent. On top of this, NetZero recently announced that those that use the service for more than 40 hours a month will be billed. This doesn't impact me, but this means that it isn't a completely free service.

In comparison to the other free services, this is one of the better ones. It's too bad that altavista discontinued it's service, because I thought that one was the best of the freebies.




Recommended: Yes