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AOL For Linux Leaks Out

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the covert-ops dept.

Thomas Charron writes: " CNet reports that http://www.techpages.com/ has leaked a *gasp* Linux AOL client. More info can be found here: http://new s.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-2520423.html. Note, this isn't the AIM messenger, but the whole hog of the AOL access software.." See our last story. Debian and AOL, two great pieces of software that go great together?

5 of 254 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Doesn't this make sense? by Vigilante+Moderator · · Score: 5

    I can just see it now...

    Steve Case: "We would prefer if you would call it AOL/Linux instead of just Linux because without AOL you really wouldn't have anything there at all.. just the kernel. Don't get me wrong, I respect that Linus Torvalds guy and all, but we feel that AOL should be part of the name to give credit where credit is due"

  2. Why they're doing this... by GeorgeH · · Score: 5

    I showed this to a couple of Cow Orkers and they did understand why this is such a huge deal. Most of the opinions I heard were basicly "Why would someone smart enough to use Linux use AOL?" Let me break it down:

    AOL is competing with Microsoft. Microsoft is yet again pushing MSN, which means that the two are in direct competition. One thing you don't want to do in business is give money to your competitors. AOL recognizes that Linux is a viable option, and are building a strategy around this.

    AOL is also working on a set top box (with Gateway IIRC). The TiVo proved that Linux works on the TV, and AOL can't wait to get to the people too dumb to click Start. Remember, newbies are AOL's bread and butter. If AOL can break into the WebTV market, they're going to soar.

    Now obviously they aren't going to set the user in front of a Login: prompt and expect the user to log in, type startx, and figure out how to start AOL and run pppd with a chatscript. They'll be using the Linux kernel, without most of the GNU tools that Linux users are used to. One of the things I could see them doing is distribute the AOL client with their own AOL distribution of Linux on those coasters^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H CDs that they give out to everyone in the US. Then you just boot from the CD-ROM and voila! Instant AOL.

    I'm just glad that a big company finally "gets it" about what you can do with a stable, open source operating system.
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  3. I wonder... by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 5

    Hmm. I wonder ... if you install AOL for Linux, does it 'accidentally' un-configure your eth0 and ppp0 interfaces, leaving only 'aol0' active?
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  4. Doesn't this make sense? by TheLocustNMI · · Score: 5
    If AOL is to ever make a net-appliance, what do you think they would have it run? They don't really hold that much of an alliance to Microsoft. So, i think the obvious choice for an OS in a net-appliance would be Linux.

    So, no, i don't think this is aimed at you or me, but perhaps the iOpener crowd.

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  5. Can you say sealed AOL appliance? by Hairy_Potter · · Score: 5

    Just port AOL to Linux, put it into a sealed network appliance with a few neat user apps like greeting card printing and a few games, and voila!

    Microsoft has lost a significant portion of their audience.

    AOL is planning to control the internet in the next 10 years.