The Internet: "A Slow Road To Nowhere" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Fleet · 12-03-2010, 10:44 PM

I was looking through some old magazines (National Enquirer, Globe, etc) and came across this article. Somewhat out of date, I would say! And inaccurate, to say the least.

From the National Enquirer, dated Sept. 10, 1996...

Marvo301 · 12-03-2010, 11:21 PM

Oops! I wonder if the guy who wrote this article is related to the music producer who turned down the Beatles?

80sTrivia · 12-04-2010, 07:48 AM

I was surprised to find this guy's book is still in print and available @ amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Snake-...1463212&sr=1-1

Janice · 12-04-2010, 08:09 PM

That's a riot. I've read that, way back, many people said that "talkies" would never take over silent movies, lol. Many actors lost their jobs because their voices were weak or just didn't sound good on the big screen.

old grouch · 12-05-2010, 12:09 AM

If it's in the Enquirer, then it must be true.

Janice · 12-05-2010, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

If it's in the Enquirer, then it must be true.

This guy really did write the article, and 80sTrivia looked up his book on Amazon and it's there.

dakert · 12-05-2010, 01:16 AM

Anyone here sign up for AOL for 19.99 in early 1997? It took a month or 2 before we were even able to log on because the dial-up was so busy.

Fleet · 12-05-2010, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That's a riot. I've read that, way back, many people said that "talkies" would never take over silent movies, lol. Many actors lost their jobs because their voices were weak or just didn't sound good on the big screen.

And also when the claim was made that TV will never replace radio! Although, to its credit, radio has hung in there and I probably have radio on more than the TV.

Fleet · 12-05-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakert

Anyone here sign up for AOL for 19.99 in early 1997? It took a month or 2 before we were even able to log on because the dial-up was so busy.

I didn't have the Internet until Aug., 1998, but I do remember how slow dial-up was!

80sTrivia · 12-05-2010, 07:37 AM

I couldn't imagine using dial-up now... I wouldn't have the patience to wait a half hour for a picture to upload!!!

PZelda · 12-05-2010, 11:32 AM

I remember dialup, and it wasn't THAT bad.

Yes, you'd have to wait about 5 to 10 minutes for the full page to load. But not a single picture.

The school I went to in the mid-90s already had a fast-speed connection to the internet but now that I think of it, it was fast for its time - it wouldn't be considered fast now.

I actually miss the 90s for technology -- because it was so new, so exciting. You just couldn't stop exploring the wonderful wonders to be found online.

And I loved seeing the Netscape Navigator logo come up every time I launched Netscape.

And I loved the "N" logo in the corner when it was loading a page - shooting stars and the like would fly by the "N".

Oh, and the first email address I had... They didn't even have a website yet. I had to log onto a telnet server to access my emails. Now THAT'S seriously dating me.

Damn. Now I'm nostalgic...

Janice · 12-05-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakert

Anyone here sign up for AOL for 19.99 in early 1997? It took a month or 2 before we were even able to log on because the dial-up was so busy.

That would be me. I actually paid $24.99 for the longest time, then $19.00 to $14.99 to free. I can still hear that awful noise when logging on. What a difference with Comcast. I still use AOL for my e-mail.

AKA · 12-05-2010, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That would be me. I actually paid $24.99 for the longest time, then $19.00 to $14.99 to free. I can still hear that awful noise when logging on. What a difference with Comcast. I still use AOL for my e-mail.

When I worked for AOL from 2002-2004, the company actually believed that they weren't going to lose many customers by keeping the price of their dial-up service $23.90(!), when competitors like NetZero and Juno were popping up with $9.99 services. They believed that their "exclusive content" (keywords and such) was their selling point.

It was my job to try and talk customers out of canceling their accounts. It was horrible, but I was good at it and made a lot of money. Sometimes I only needed to throw two free months at the customer, and other times I needed to go into all-out sales-pitch mode.

I was a good salesman, but talking people into keeping a product they didn't need--that I didn't even believe in--made me very unhappy.

Fleet · 12-05-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

That would be me. I actually paid $24.99 for the longest time, then $19.00 to $14.99 to free. I can still hear that awful noise when logging on. What a difference with Comcast. I still use AOL for my e-mail.

I actually still have dial-up on one of my phone lines. Because I didn't want to change my email address and for a back up. It came in handy once. My cable high-speed internet was not connecting, I called Time Warner for service and the earliest appointment was 3 or 4 days away. So I started up my old computer (eMachines) and was on the internet using dial up. Much better than having to go to a library!

Fleet · 12-05-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA

When I worked for AOL from 2002-2004, the company actually believed that they weren't going to lose many customers by keeping the price of their dial-up service $23.90(!), when competitors like NetZero and Juno were popping up with $9.99 services. They believed that their "exclusive content" (keywords and such) was their selling point.

It was my job to try and talk customers out of canceling their accounts. It was horrible, but I was good at it and made a lot of money. Sometimes I only needed to throw two free months at the customer, and other times I needed to go into all-out sales-pitch mode.

I was a good salesman, but talking people into keeping a product they didn't need--that I didn't even believe in--made me very unhappy.

Yeah, I would feel guilty doing that, too.

12-03-2010, 10:44 PM	#1
Fleet Mansions, limousines & H-ween Forum Star Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: Northridge/Porter Ranch, California Posts: 15,625	The Internet: "A Slow Road To Nowhere" I was looking through some old magazines (National Enquirer, Globe, etc) and came across this article. Somewhat out of date, I would say! And inaccurate, to say the least. From the National Enquirer, dated Sept. 10, 1996... Attached Images
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12-03-2010, 11:21 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Oops! I wonder if the guy who wrote this article is related to the music producer who turned down the Beatles?
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12-04-2010, 07:48 AM	#3
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	I was surprised to find this guy's book is still in print and available @ amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Snake-...1463212&sr=1-1
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

12-05-2010, 11:32 AM	#11
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	I remember dialup, and it wasn't THAT bad. Yes, you'd have to wait about 5 to 10 minutes for the full page to load. But not a single picture. The school I went to in the mid-90s already had a fast-speed connection to the internet but now that I think of it, it was fast for its time - it wouldn't be considered fast now. I actually miss the 90s for technology -- because it was so new, so exciting. You just couldn't stop exploring the wonderful wonders to be found online. And I loved seeing the Netscape Navigator logo come up every time I launched Netscape. And I loved the "N" logo in the corner when it was loading a page - shooting stars and the like would fly by the "N". Oh, and the first email address I had... They didn't even have a website yet. I had to log onto a telnet server to access my emails. Now THAT'S seriously dating me. Damn. Now I'm nostalgic...
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch!

12-04-2010, 08:09 PM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That's a riot. I've read that, way back, many people said that "talkies" would never take over silent movies, lol. Many actors lost their jobs because their voices were weak or just didn't sound good on the big screen.

12-05-2010, 12:09 AM	#5
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	If it's in the Enquirer, then it must be true.

12-05-2010, 01:16 AM	#7
dakert Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Altoona PA Posts: 3,411	Anyone here sign up for AOL for 19.99 in early 1997? It took a month or 2 before we were even able to log on because the dial-up was so busy.

12-05-2010, 07:37 AM	#10
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	I couldn't imagine using dial-up now... I wouldn't have the patience to wait a half hour for a picture to upload!!!