Spiceworks Community Digest: Dial-up dial down
For many, the first step into the internet was the sound of a screeching modem and AOL CDs. AOL’s massive marketing campaign, and the nostalgia that comes with it, has sparked quite the discussion on our Spiceworks Community.
Aimero sparked the conversation by posting mind boggling stats, reminding the community what a powerhouse AOL once was, like:
- Over 1 billion CDs were produced and distributed.
- This equates to approximately 15 million kilograms of plastic.
- If you were to stack them, they would reach a height of over 1,200 kilometers (about 745 miles).
These CDs, that were once a nuisance, have left a culture impact like no other and the Spiceworks Community is taking a deep dive into the memories and realities of that era.
The Nostalgia of Dial Up
Many members of the Spiceworks Community shared fond memories of the dial-up era. Ode2joy shared a story of tiling the ceiling of their office with AOL CDs and outdated software discs. CharlesHTN shared a story of true IT ingenuity, running new CAT3 wiring just to get their 56k modem from 26k to a “whopping 44k or so.” The days of tying up the phone line for hours to get online were a shared experience, as was the unmistakable modem sound.
The Dark Side of AOL’s Marketing Blitz
Not everyone’s memories were fond. spiceuser-3akkc, who worked in tech support, remembers that the support department was “completely unprepared for the onslaught of support calls” when the CD campaign began. Other users pointed to the more questionable side of AOL’s business practices, like a reported protest where a group tried to collect one million unrequested CDs to dump on AOL’s front lawn.
Users Who Still Need AOL
The discussion also brought to light the serious reality that for some people, AOL dial-up was their only option for connectivity. TimJr noted, the people still using the service today “are the ones who can not GET faster speed internet,” making its sunset a difficult reality for them.
This conversation is a fun reminder of just how far technology has come and a great look back at the origins of our digital world. Not a member of the Spiceworks Community yet? Sign up for free to join thousands of other IT professionals who are helping each other navigate the complexities of the tech world, one modem screech at a time.
