R.I.P Mindspring... Killed by Earthlink
Written: Apr 04 '01 (Updated Apr 24 '01)
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Pros: Fast access, no busy signals, good tech support, don't have to use their software
Cons: Earthlink "merged" with Mindspring and promptly killed it!
The Bottom Line: Mindspring was great, Earthlink is not. I will miss you Mindspring!
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| cspu's Full Review: Mindspring |
In 1996 I was working at my very first job out of college as a systems analyst/network admin for a small city government agency. A couple of the "higher ups" wanted internet access so we got some modems and the only ISP with a local number... Mindspring.
I opened my Mindspring account in November of 1996 and have never closed it. I have watched the evolution of Mindspring from a local to regional to national ISP and I've had very good service. When they announced that they were to merge with Earthlink I didn't really think much about it UNTIL they said they were changing their name to Earthlink. That's when I started getting worried, it turns out that what I had feared was about to happen.
Mindspring
I called to sign up and received an instruction booklet, membership information sheet, and software. The software was simply a control panel that was intended to be a central starting point. I quickly learned that I could set up my own Dial Up Networking connection and access Mindspring with my browser instead of using the software. I was relatively new to networking at the time so I needed a little help with setup. The tech support hold time was very short and I got in touch with a real person right away. We had my system configured and running in no time. That is the only time I EVER had to contact them!
Connection times and speeds were very good (33.6 at the time) and I rarely, if ever, received busy signals in the early days. The dial-up number always worked and my connections were always reliable.
Mindspring WAS Internet access it should be. It was just a connection, not a desktop dictator that took control of your system and interferred with your online experience. I will miss it!
Earthlink
I believe it was in 1999 when Earthlink and Mindspring "merged". At first it seemed that my Internet service was not going to change much. It started with the little Earthlink logo on the Mindspring homepage. Then I began to get emails about how much my service would be improving... uh oh, that is a sure sign of BAD things to come. I am a firm believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", but I guess Earthlink subscribes to "It can always be better". Well, usually when you go messing with something that is working, you screw it up and Earthlink royally HOSED Mindspring!
The first real change I noticed was that www.mindspring.com was redirected to www.earthlink.net. The next thing was the account maintenance screens. At first, I couldn't access my account because Earthlink's servers didn't recognize my Mindspring user ID. I tried to call, but with 30+ minute hold times I decided that email was the best solution. Finally, they got it fixed. There are still some things that just don't work because they assume you are xxxx@earthlink.net instead of xxxx@mindspring.com.
The new Earthlink software is just AOL in a different skin. It is a resource hog that tries to take over your desktop, changing all sorts of settings and adding icons everywhere. Luckily, I can still access Earthlink via Dial Up Networking and I don't need their software... if they ever make it mandatory I will find a new ISP!
The next two items are what prompted me to A) write this review, and B)begin the search for a new ISP.
Exhibit 1 - SPAM!
I never had much of a problem with unsolicited email BEFORE the "merger". Since Earthlink has taken over I can expect no less than three unsolicited emails per day and I have had as many as 25. This may not sound like a big deal to some, but I used to get one or two a week. (I have a hotmail account that I give out on the web that I expect to be spammed) Since the merger, I get SPAMMED DAILY! Earthlink does continue to offer a product that Mindspring had, called Spaminator, but it either exist in name only or it just doesn't work. I hate SPAM! Earthlink = Spam ergo, I hate Earthlink!
Exhibit 2 - Busy Signals, Slow Connections, Disconnects
Maybe it is because of the growth of the Internet. I have no doubt that the increase in surfers is part of the problem. Where I do have a problem is that for ~3 years I had reliable, quick connections and then all of the sudden I don't. Earthlink seems to be pouring revenue into gaining new customers and not upgrading their systems to handle the load. God help anyone trying to connect from say 6pm to 10pm. It has gotten better in recent months, however I rarely get a connection that isn't mysteriously killed for some reason. Often I have to connect more than once to get a reliable connection at a speed that is tolerable.
Summary
I highly recommend Mindspring as an ISP! Mindspring does not exist anymore though, Earthlink killed it, I can't recommend an ISP murderer! Earthlink's software is just like AOL, their customer service is terrible. SPAM flows through their email servers, connection speeds are slow, and busy signals abound.
Earthlink should be on trial, I am a witness. EARTHLINK KILLED MINDSPRING!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 19.95mo
Version Number or Year: dial up networking
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Epinions.com ID:
cspu
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Location: The Island of Misfit Toys (Alabama)
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About Me:
Sarcastic car audio enthusiast, motorcycle rider, and hunter... and I make NO apologies for it!
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