About a month ago, a company called the Carphone Warehouse purchased AOL UK and started offering a free laptop on an advert here in the UK.  I went on-line and noticed that I could choose between a laptop and a Playstation 3.

Well I'm not working and don't have a Playstation 3, so I thought; what the hell.

two weeks later I have my playstation 3 and it works fine.  You don't get anything but composite to connect the TV and no optical sound cable.  I just happened to have a HDMI and Optical cable lying around and it does make a difference.  My TV is only 1080i  or 720p but I am happy with the picture.  It is as easy to see as my XBOX 360 and my PC running through my TV with Component and HDMI respectively.

It sits proudly next to my XBOX

It has a long way to go before I start using it more than my Dreamcast though

The service is meant to offer 8Mb download but I have been informed that it should be up and running next week.  At the moment it is only offering 1152Kbs.

I have also learnt that you do not need to use that crappy software that is supplied.

To setup the modem/router you need you screen name and password but you must remember to put @aol.com at the end.

for example:

my screen name is allenm925

and my password is: *********

in the username box I would put allenm925@aol.com and this is also you email address

with a router you need to use PPPOA; don't really know what it's for but that worked for me.

Outlook Express

you need to create a new account.  This can be found on the top line of tabs under tools and then accounts.

click on the add button on the right and pick mail; this will then run an email wizard.  once you have entered you new email address it will ask for incoming mail and outgoing mail addresses to connect to you you ISP.

Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP, or HTTP) server: box, type imap.aol.com

Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: box, type smtp.aol.com

then click the Next button.

Last but not least you need to type your username and password.  The user name is your full email address and you will need to add to @aol.com at the end of the username and the password is the same one you use to connect to the net.

Important note

I you are using a USB modem, you will need to put to the CD into the machine for it to find and install the drivers.  One thing though; the disc will start to install.  Just press alt, ctrl and del and stop it from running in the windows task manager under applications and then continue installing the USB drivers.

If I have missed anything; don't hesitate in contacting me and I will amend this small review.