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Staying Connected With Free Internet Service
Carey Holzman
Contributing Writer
2003-06-26
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
Question: Carey, I bought a computer through PeoplePC, so I get their service included for 3 years. I have been having trouble staying connected through them and so am currently trying a free trial AOL disc. I don't even know where your site came from that showed up on my computer all of a sudden and I don't know if I will ever be able to find you again. I was downloading music from WinMX and at the same time checking something on eBay and still got disconnected.
It seems that I cannot stay connected for more than 4 hours at a time and will get disconnected even when I am actively using the net.
I found that the AOL disc keeps me connected for as long as I want to be on line. PeoplePC had told me to try this and try that and nothing seems to make a difference - I still get disconnected. Trying to control this computer with 2 servers is driving me crazy and I am really having a hard time trying to make sure that I am getting messages and sometimes am not to sure which server I am using.
Do you know the answer to staying with PeoplePC, since I have the service free for the next three years and see no sense in paying AOL? What can I do or make PeoplePC do so that I will stay on line and get disconnected only when I want to disconnected? Really would appreciate an answer. Thanks and hope you can help.
- Jim
Carey's Response: It amazes me that people seem to believe and expect a certain quality of service from something they are getting for FREE.
The simple answer is the computer industry is ‘you get what you pay for.'
I wish the world worked differently, but these businesses are in business to not only make money, but to make TONS of money. No business can make TONS of money giving away their product. No business can afford to provide a service, market and advertise that service, pay for employees to run that service and even provide technical support to countless ‘customers' of a ‘free' product.
It's a business model that simply doesn't work.
My advice is to cancel PeoplePC and be glad you aren't paying anything for it.
I'm sorry I cannot provide you with an acceptable answer, but I also get upset as a technician to fix ‘free' products for customers when the manufacturer won't even do it. I mean, if the manufacturer thinks they can stay in business by giving away their product and not providing support for it, that's their decision. I don't run my business that way.
Thanks for writing,
Carey
About the Author:
Carey Holzman owns and operates Discount Computer Repair (602-527-9723) in Phoenix, Arizona, where he offers repairs, upgrades, custom built PCs and network wiring at highly competitive pricing. His networking tips have appeared in David Strom's book, The Home Networking Survival Guide (McGraw/Hill), and his own book on PC maintenance is currently available at local book stores, amazon.com or directly through him. His free informative web site can be found at http://www.careyholzman.com. Donate $30 to help maintain his site and you'll get a free autographed copy of his book. Carey can be reached directly at carey@careyholzman.com.
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