America Online (AOL)

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*Note: The trends of version 7.0 and up are suggesting that garbage is being produced. Feel free to test as these submissions will make Wine better; however, keep in mind that you most likely won't get past the installation menu unless you're using AOL 4.0*

The America Online client is the principal user interface to the AOL online service , providing content and user experience unavailable to non-members.

One of the oldest surviving national online service providers, hailed by many as the first mass-market electronic community by way of its predecessor, Quantum Link. Oft-maligned, AOL is a world unto itself. Newer versions provide web access via its integrated Internet Explorer web browser.

Newer versions of the AOL client also display impressively diverse compatibility issues under Wine, most notably an almost universal failure to work.

Newer versions will fail to install, and of those that do, some will fail to sign on. Members wishing to access AOL-exclusive content via the AOL client interface may find AOL 4.0 best-suited to the task, as this is the only client that has yielded a successful user experience under Linux during current tests.

Ultimately however, these tests may be moot, as AOL beta programs are shifting more strongly towards web-based member empowerment, eliminating the need for the AOL client for access to some functionality. To wit, Linux users without an AOL client may access their account through various features of AOL.com. This incudes https://bill.aol.com, and memberdirectory.aol.com. Please submit new Keywords you find useful.

For the adventurous, Keyword: RANDOM remains a clientcentric feature, and rightly so. If you are a new member, give it a whirl. You never know what you might find : ) At one time, the keyword would offer content restricted to normal members, but this feature has long ago been redacted.

While the AOL web site offers only the newest version of the software, intrepid browsers will find many legacy clients, including 4.0, at http://ftp.aol.com/. You may also locate various AOL files at http://www.oldversion.com/  and http://koin.org/files/aol.aim/aol/ . If you happen to test these various addons of the AOL client, feel free to submit them under this category with the appropriate version number associated with your test.

Client-by-client failure information will be added as time permits. If you have information about a client other than 4.0 that does work, please add it herein.

*IF* you want to use America Online for Internet access under Linux, the AOL client is not the optimum solution for you. Linspire users may wish to review http://www.linspire.com/AOLdialer, other users may find http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/LinuxTutorialAOL.html to be of service. Neither of these solutions has been tested by the maintainer; feedback is welcome, and should be directed to a test report under this page. I will review feedback as WineHQ will send me an email, but this type of information will not be published under the tests section.

Lastly [for now] -- you rare and endangered Linux-using AOL users out there: Check out http://beta.aol.com; your feedback on developing clients and features will help make support for AOL under Wine that much better. This includes AIM clients, in their appropriate app heading. Apps intended for AOL uses [they're marked] should be submitted here. Nobody wants obscure headings for programs a couple dozen people use. If you link to Beta apps, *please* link to the disclaimer page first.

Thank you for your interest, your contributions, and for using America Online. Your future interest in making Wine and AOL better for all users is invaluable.

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