| AOL 9.0 Optimized |
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Editors' rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best
The good: Abundant multimedia offerings; excellent audio and video quality; includes new antivirus, spam filtering, and firewall options; sophisticated new e-mail interface. The bad: Same old cluttered look; confusing and overwhelming navigation; firewall isn't built in. |
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 Click here for screenshot. |
Review summary |  |
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If you use AOL, you'll love this upgrade, and serious Web content junkies should give it a go; but MSN remains easier to use.
By Molly Wood, July 31, 2003
AOL is a company on the ropes, swinging wildly in hopes of a knockout. Happily, the new AOL 9.0 Optimized connects. New subscription plans let you pay a relatively small monthly fee to get a ton of content you can't get anywhere else: streaming video, subscription-only Web sites, and sneak previews. AOL also offers more security and privacy, new antivirus scanning, stronger spam filters, and a sophisticated new e-mail interface. Unfortunately, AOL's interface remains a too-cute, resource-hogging mess of windows, menus, screens, and toolbar icons. We still find MSN easier to use, but current AOL users and serious Web content junkies will enjoy this upgrade. We recommend the $14.95-per-month, all-you-can-stream AOL for Broadband package over the too-expensive dial-up options.
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Quick facts
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| Software requirements and specs: | |
| Platform | Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, Mac OS X or better |
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| Processor | Pentium 166, Macintosh G3 or better |
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| RAM | 128MB |
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| Disk space | Up to 208MB |
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| Display requirements | VGA, SVGA or better display, with 640x480, 256 colors or better screen (optimized for 800x600) |
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| CD-ROM required | N/A |
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| Downloadable full version | Yes |
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| Release date | 7/31/2003 |
