3.0 Bites - Bring back 2.2!
Written: May 22 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: free, fun bugs
Cons: 3.0 doesn't work, slow to load in 2.2, bugs
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| rhorvick's Full Review: NetZero |
Perhaps it is just me ... maybe I'm to blame. But if a fellow with a degree in computer science and 15 years of experience with computers can't get 3.0 to work ... my guess is that the problem is with NetZero. It might be a problem that only exists on my machine - but the problem is still theirs (I'm certain of it ... it just can't be me!) ... and since I can't get email responses or find any assistance on their website I'm back to using their 2.2 product (which floats over your current window instead of docking - highly annoying - but there is a really nice bug in it that will make the zCast (or whatever they call it now) go away entirely and still let me surf as long as I want - not that I'd ever do that).
If I could connect with 3.0 I would find out if the bug still exists ... but I can't. I load it and enter my settings (just like in 2.2) then click on "connect" and wait. And wait ... and wait and wait. No dialing, no activity. Nothing. The button does go "up and down" so I know I'm not "missing it" - if I go to my DUN settings I can dial directly in (though NetZero will not complete a dialup connection without some proprietary negotiations by the tool so it doesn't "connect").
I can connect through my regular ISP, through work ... through local BBS's. The modem is fine. NetZero 2.2 works so its not a problem there. I've even tried non-local numbers.
The bottom line is that there are bugs in 3.0 and until they are resolved I will stick with 2.2 or perhaps switch to a different provider.
I like the idea and the ads they displayed were actually pretty well targeted to my profile...
Oh ... and what was that little bug which removes the zCast (isn't that the name) bar in 2.2 (someone please email and tell me if this happens in 3.0 as well):
1) Dial in and let the zCast bar show up on your screen
2) unplug your modem (do not disconnect first!) from the wall
3) Wait about 15 seconds (might take a minute or more sometimes) - the zCast bar goes away and a little window comes up saying "Your connection has been disconnected. Do you wish to reconnect?" - plug your phone back in and click on yes. You will dial back in, connect and be running again but the zCast bar will never come back up!
I found this out by accident when I needed to place a call and didn't bother to hang up first - and I never EVER use this to cheat NetZero, that would be unethical and in violation of my usage agreement.
And let's face it ... if everyone cheated the system the system would go under.
But its still a fun quirk.
So ... who can tell me about 3.0?
As is almost always the case in life - you get what you pay for.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
rhorvick
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Member: Robert Horvick
Location: Cary, NC
Reviews written: 47
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
Husband and Father of 4 living in North Carolina
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