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Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy?
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To: Captain Jack who wrote (31097)4/18/2000 1:05:00 PM
From: PJ Strifas  Read Replies (3) of 42771
 
I have to disagree with you on AOL and their product - access is only one slice of what AOL provides. If access is the only criteria, people would be jumping ship in DROVES. I log on every day - no busy signals, no problems.

Besides, AOL does not sell ACCESS! It sells CONTENT. Big Difference here. You can argue this all you want but that statement is TRUTH (trust me, I know).

Also, AOL is the only online service which allows you to access their content without using their access service - price is only $9.95 per month - no one else does this to my knowledge. Last time I checked AOL didn't even own it's own data network (it was traded to MCIWorldCom for CompuServe in that blockbuster deal) so I would have to say, they are NOT in the access business.

[They used to be when it was necessary to offer the "path" to their content but not any more].

So, it's content that matters and in this arena, AOL has no real threat. It owns or controls the most popular online content or has brokered deals with everyone left standing. You can not tell me that you can honestly get the same exact experience outside of AOL without having to juggle 3 or 4 programs, settings et al.

If someone developed an integrated platform for community access (and community services on the back end), it would number AOL's days as the number 1 online company.

So while you are correct that AOL is a very good marketeer they also have a very solid product to back up their status.

This is my opinion of course and I don't expect us to agree at all :) I find people have a love/hate relationship with AOL.

Regards,
Peter J Strifas
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