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BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

NetZero & The Browser Question

Hi there. I'm back again, confused about an entirely new issue.

NetZero offers Mac users "NetZero Platinum" for $9.95/mo.

{I've been paying You-Know-Who an unseemly $23.90/month for years because, in the beginning, no other ISP offered an access phone number around these here parts, and, more recently, because an e-mail address change sounds so complicated (is it? does one have to notify all the people one would rather avoid contacting just so those same people aren't insulted by having not been notified?).}

But back on topic:

Something I don't understand on the NetZero website's ( http://www.netzero.net/support/start/online-plat.html) simulation of the online registration process is that, at the bottom of the page, under Download Instructions, it addresses two types of customers: Internet Explorer users, and Netscape users.

I don't use either (do I even have either?) so what does that mean? What download instruction would I follow? And if I did have, say, IE, would I have to use it as my browser in order to use NetZero's service? If NetZero's so Mac-friendly that they name a product for it ("Platinum") why wouldn't they acknowledge Safari users in their instructions and steer us in the right direction? Not all of us are knowledgeable about things like browsers . . . but I just KNOW some of YOU are 🙂

I need you! If you don't respond, I will be forced to remain with current conglomerate ISP and will never be able to afford a Nano.

P.S. Whether you understand that browser stuff above or not, I'd be grateful to hear any ISP user reviews/recommendations. All I want in an ISP is less expensive dial-up access.

P.P.S. How do I make that http address above turn into a link? I looked into the discussion editor's Style section but must've missed it.

Posted on Sep 16, 2005 1:21 PM

28 replies

Sep 18, 2005 11:00 PM in response to BonnieB

Sleep tight

JJ

Sep 18, 2005 11:37 PM in response to BonnieB

I have used Netzero (free edition) on a PC. Free Netzero users can't download Mac version. I normally use broadband so I don't want to pay extra for Netzero. But, back to the point. I believe the Netzero dialer used the default browser set in the computer. I have not tried and can't comment on the Mac version.

BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

Sep 19, 2005 6:19 PM in response to Thomas Miller6

Thank you, Thomas. Maybe I'm just misunderstanding the download instructions on their website.....

rjohn123

Level 1

15 points

Sep 28, 2005 8:49 AM in response to BonnieB

Hi there Bonnie:

Since Safari uses part of Internet Explorer, use Internet Explorer. You can order and receive a free NetZero CD if you want.

However, before you download, let me tell you about a few problems with NetZero software. (I'm using NetZero now and am looking for another ISP).

There seems to be a compatibilty problem with there software and Mac X 10.4 (Tiger).

NetZero requires you to use there software to connect to the internet. They provide the phone numbers for dial up.

If you decide you want to upgrade to Mac X 10.4 (Tiger), NetZero will not work; and has many problems. (I had to download to Mac x 10.3.9 (Panther) to use.

So, I suggest you look into another ISP.

Richard

BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

Sep 28, 2005 11:58 AM in response to rjohn123

Hi, Richard.

Thanks for your message. In my search for an ISP, I came across a number of negative user reviews about NetZero, along the lines of 'it used to be great but now it's not.' Since I didn't particularly want to download IE anyway, I continued my quest for a dial-up service that had an local access number in my little mountain town.

Ugh. Eight million websites later, clutching a comparison chart I'd scribbled for myself (it's not easy keeping track of platform compatibilities, v92 line availabilities, user reviews, pricing structures, set-up v. no set-up fees, idle time limits, software v. no software, blah blah blah), I arrived at a junction of three: OneHop, FasterMac, and ISP.com.

I kinda liked OneHop.
http://onehop.com/news/index.php
They seemed smart, and had a funny, brutal sales approach (like "Here's what we do, we do it well, and if you got a problem with our rules, go away"). But even though they were Mac-compatible, their website, with its ton of interesting computer links and news stories, was just too
i non-Mac
for me (they really need to re-direct their formidable energies!).

FasterMac seemed an obvious choice.
http://fastermac.net/
It sure was cheap but there was no attempt at handholding on their site (which, sadly, I need), no in-depth information about anything, including their company; just the bare essentials. And when they charted Mac OS configurations, the latest version of OS X they featured was 10.3.x. Which was fine, I suppose, but hit me as a little slow on the uptake from a company catering exclusively to Mac users.

ISP.com had a website loaded with info, from their origins to their plans.
http://isp.com/
AND they were the only guys who actually mentioned
i Safari
, PLUS had actual step-by-step Mac screen shots of how to set up their service on OS X. (This is comforting when you're as inexperienced as I am.) Sure, the screen shots must've been of Panther or Jaguar because the icons didn't look like my Tiger, but still!! They were the most Mac-conscious, at least in their presentation, of any company, big or small, I ran across, including Apple's recommended EarthLink.

(And why does Apple recommend EarthLink, anyway?)

So I've gone with ISP.com. $8.95/month; no set up fee; no commitment; free tech support. I'd never configured isp service (always had AOL software) so I was very happy a couple of days ago when I signed up online, followed their set-up instructions and it worked. I connected! No problem so far with internet service; and I can
i receive
mail just fine but (heavy sigh) I cannot yet
i send
mail. (However, I can't send mail from the trial .Mac account that was configured automatically by Apple, either, so I think it's a problem at this end, not at ISP.com's.)

One heads-up: ISP.com imposes a 15-minute idle time limit. I decided I could live with it right now, but it'd probably be a dealbreaker for lots of people.

Why am I writing so much about all this, anyway? Maybe because it might help just one person out there save a little time or hassle. Or
i maybe
because I'm deliberately postponing trying to figure out my Send Mail problem (another sigh). I was just
i sure
I'd filled in all those little set-up boxes correctly . . .

Trying to get everything running smoothly on my new Mini is the hardest job I'll ever love.

Thanks to all who contributed to "NetZero and The Browser Question." Do keep in touch. 🙂

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Sep 28, 2005 12:04 PM in response to rjohn123

Your search - "Safari uses part of Internet Explorer" - did not match any documents.

http://www.google.com

Would you care to validate this statement?

Oct 8, 2005 1:29 AM in response to BonnieB

Someone in this thread (oops, forgot to get the name) asked for a definitive answer regarding Safari and NetZero.

I can confirm that I have used Safari 1.3.1 exclusively to both sign up for NetZero (this past week) and to do my general browsing afterward, and have had no problems doing so.

Unfortunately, the NetZero web site is not very clear about this. (Their support area includes a matrix of supported browsers, and Safari isn't listed at all.)

Eric

BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

Oct 8, 2005 10:57 AM in response to Eric P. Smith

Eric!

Hi there. I'm the "someone in this thread" you referred to.

Thanks so much for responding. You must've been cruising old topics (I do) to come across this thread . . . or maybe you did a search for ISP stuff? No matter, I'm grateful you found it, because for all the many (and very appreciated) posts, the actual Title Question of the original post had never been answered. Leaving me feeling just a bit . . . unfinished.

Now I can get some much needed sleep.

Thanks 🙂

Oct 30, 2005 12:49 PM in response to BonnieB

Hi Bonnie, thanks for the ISP.com tip, I just switched to them from AT&T. Saving $13 a month may not sound like much, but it adds up!

Did you ever get the sending email problem figured out? I have the same problem right now, (I just signed up last night), and was wondering what if anything you found out.

BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

Nov 1, 2005 7:44 AM in response to Kid Muddy

Hey there, Kid Muddy.

You just made my day. This is probably the first time in my Discussions history that I was actually of use to a fellow poster. (I'm always on the asking side, not the answering.) Sorry I didn't read your post sooner; you're either really frustrated by now, or you've fixed it.

Anyway, yes, my problem got solved, but it took some Mac-loving wizards at the higher tech level of ISP.com a lot of phone time with me to do so. (If you care to, there's a somewhat related thread to peruse:

BonnieB, "TurBo or Not TurBo: That is the Question" #10, 11:41am Oct 8, 2005 CDT

After trying a bunch of stuff and still not being able to send mail, we finally plugged in an ALTERNATE OUTGOING MAIL SERVER name. (Their explanation was that Tiger must have a little problem with their standard server, but you don't use Tiger, so . . . hmmm.)

It scares me to give any "technical" advice, but assuming all your other configurations are like mine, maybe it'll be this simple for you:

Go to Mail/Preferences/Accounts/Account Information window. At the bottom where it says "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP):" you probably have "mail.isp.com", right? (That's what their set-up instructions told us to put there.) Click "server settings" under that. In the window that appears, type "mail.safepages.com" (without the quotes, of course) in the Outgoing Mail Server box. Click OK. Does the new outgoing server name now appear in the previous window?

Quit Mail. Reopen. Try sending me an email! (bonnie@isp.com)

If it doesn't work, either you have a different problem, or I haven't remembered to tell you something. (This latter possibility is quite likely; my head was spinning from all the things ISP and I tried before they found the solution.) If you like, we can explore further. Or, of course, you can get PROFESSIONAL assistance from the service reps at ISP.com. They are great.

If it DOES work, cool!

Let us know what happens, okay?

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Nov 2, 2005 11:54 AM in response to BonnieB

For outgoing mail errors, you may also need to adjust the authentication settings. By defaul I think mail assumes no authentication, but many ISPs need it.

Go to mail/preferences/account information and click on 'server settings' under outgoing mail server. The outgoing mail server name should be at the top, and underneath it, If where it says 'authentication' the drop down menu shows 'non' change that to 'password' and enter the ID and password you use to log into the ISP's service. Then click OK to make the settings changes.

This should resolve the majority of outgoing mail problems - assuming the mail server name is right of course!

BonnieB Author

Level 2

235 points

Nov 3, 2005 6:01 AM in response to AndyO

Hi AndyO!

Thanks so much for covering me on this!

I should report, though, that in this particular isp's case, the authentication is to remain "none" at least in my now-working configuration. One of the first troubleshooting things we did back when I couldn't send mail was to adjust that setting. But it ended up not being the issue...

Which, of course, doesn't mean it's not our friend Kid Muddy's issue.

i Kid, are you able to send mail yet?

AndyO

Level 6

17,064 points

Nov 3, 2005 7:11 AM in response to BonnieB

I should have added that in some instances, setting the outgoing mail authentication to 'none' resolves the problem if it has been set otherwise! Typically ISPs include what is required for this setting somewhere in the documentation, and some ISPs run two (or more) outgoing mail servers, one that requires authentication for most users, and one that doesn't for those with mail transmission problems.

It's more common for remote outgoing mail servers that are accessed via network or broadband services to require authentication as a way to help prevent spamming or spoofing.

NetZero & The Browser Question