From Leo's mailbag:
> From: A Computer User
> Sent: February 18, 2006
> To: Ask Leo!
> Subject: Can I Install just Parts of AOL?
>
> Leo,
> --------------
> I've been searching -- so far w/o success . . .
>
> I, like many, am sick'n tired of all the crap that AOL puts
> on their CDs!
>
> Is there anyway at all to load only the "basics"? I don't
> want all the junk! I've consider someone else, but have been
> using AOL for 10+ years and was satisfied UNTIL, over the
> past 2-3+ years, they started loading everything but the
> kitchen sink. (Plus I have a lot of folks using my emails --
> would hate to have to change all them around.)
>
> I tried just inserting the CD and opening it to see if I
> could pick 'n choose like other software. But as soon as I
> close the drawer, it spins up and starts installing stuff to
> the desktop before I can get it stopped! I've deketed that
> stuff, but extremely annoying!
>
> I've tried various search phrases like: partial AOL install,
> but so far no luck. My apologies if I've missed your reply
> somewhere. Thanks!
I'm not an AOL expert (I've successfully avoided them so far :-),
however I do have a theory...
AOL's claim to fame, as it were, is its ease of use. One of the
ways you make things easier to use, and less error prone, is to
remove choices. That way people who might not understand what
they are choosing, or not choosing, don't have an opportunity
to get it wrong.
The down side, as you're experiencing, is that people such as
yourself who are more up to speed want choices. Choices that
you may not have.
Add to that the software that everyone, including AOL, seems
to want to bundle on our machines, and it gets frustrating.
All that is a long winded way to say that I don't think there's
an answer, short of uninstalling what you don't want, or moving
to a provider that gives you more control.
Thanks for asking,
Leo
Article 1082
| Category:
Internet
