Okay, in no way, shape, or form will I ever recommend FreeAV again. I've already informed all of my FreeAV using pals to uninstall and run away. And it isn't because of the irritatingly juvenile "health meter", or the Windows Explorer-crashing MicroPortal, or even from the recently published help files on the website. But it is due to the very last question in their help file--

"Does AltaVista FreeAccess have parental control software available?"
"You may download an exclusive version of CYBERsitter, one of the most advanced Internet filtering products available. CYBERsitter is especially designed for use with AltaVista FreeAccess and users will receive $10 off the retail price when they download the application. Click on the following link to download CYBERsitter and learn more about its key features. "

Right there is more than enough of a reason not to use FreeAV. If you want to talk about freedom-stealing, politically motivated, completely wretched and underhanded software, take a look at CYBERsitter. That FreeAV has an exclusive agreement with Solid Oak Software is enough to make me see leprechauns juggling butcher knives dancing on the heads of every censored websites' webmasters/webmistresses.

FreeAV's connection speeds are comparable to NetZero's-- usually 31.2 on my 33.6kbps modem. It's also a relatively small download (<700K). Whatever.

In addition, FreeAV is still more prone to crashing poor old Windows 95 OSR2 than NetZero or even dotNow!. So what if they now offer e-mail? Big $%#!@!&> deal! The MicroPortal is still buggy, still freezes my system at least once an hour, prompting a reboot, and with the added insult of partnering with Solid Oak Software, well, FreeAV can just take their free internet access and stick it up somewhere painful. I certainly don't need to use their service. Neither does anyone else, either-- try checking out the "Internet Services" section at http://freebies.about.com/-- there are a number of free ISPs listed. Try out WorldSpy, NetZero, iFreedom, FreeWWWeb, or FreeInet-- any of these are viable options for free internet access.



Recommended: No