Topic: AOL and Outlook Express

[Clive]

Does anyone know if you can use Outlook Express with AOL?  I think that AOL has its own e-mail software doesn't it?

[Whiskas]

I don't think so Clive. When I used it I just used the aol one or outlook

[Rodders]

In my opinion, AOL's tendency to regard all its users as 10-year old Americans, has resulted in its e-mail facilities being pretty basic.

Unless things have radically improved since I last used AOL in the first half of 2002, all you are able to do is view and compose your messages online, since users aren't trusted to be able to handle anything as relatively complex as Outlook Express.

I have seen a couple workarounds for OE alluded to, but have long since lost those URLs I'm afraid.

Like I said, it's good for kids.  

[Clive]

Thanks Whiskas.  Can you remember if you have to press "send and receive" or it it an automatic function?

[Clive]

I remember using it myself for a few months but I hated it too.  I didn't use the mail facility because I was only using it as a daytime ISP at 1p a minute when I only had off-peak unmetered access with BT.

[Whiskas]

Do you mean to access the email? to read you just click on the bit that says you have email and click on reply or for a new one select write at the left hand corner.

[Clive]

With OE you have to ask for your mail to be downloaded (at least that's how I set mine up).  Is it the same with AOL or does the mail arrive without you having to ask for it?

[Whiskas]

No it pops up everytime you log on

[Clive]

Thanks Whiskas, that's what I wanted to know.  

[Hitch]

Ya can use OE with AOL, but not for your AOL account

If you have a domain etc though then that will work providing AOL dont block the ports..which they have been know to do in there infinite wisdom.

There was a plugin a log time ago that enabled AOL mail to work like MSN mail in OE but i cant remeber where it is and i doubt it will work anymore anyway.

Anyway! whats AOL 8 like? I beta'd 7 and found it quite usefull upto the Gold version then they ballsed it up!

[Clive]

Thanks Hitch.  I think the version of AOL in question is 7 but I haven't actually seen it myself.

[Simon]

Clive, you can have OE do a Send / Receive on start up, then check for new mail every so many minutes, which works with every account configured through OE, but I'm sure you realised that.  Is AOL e-mail not POP3 then?

[Rodders]

Nope.   >

[Simon]

Is that because it's tied in with Netscape, and they have their own e-mail system?  

[Rodders]

No.  It's because it's purely web-based, Simon.