AOL Plans A Standalone Browser

Patik writes "America Online is creating its own standalone browser, aimed at employees who cannot install AOL software at their workstations. The browser will be based on Internet Explorer but will include other features such as tabbed browsing that displays a thumbnail of the page as you pass your cursor over it. The browser will also integrate AOL's media player and will be able to access AOL-only content."

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In other AOL news, $300 AOL computers are crap

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Meanwhile … Reason Flees in the Face of Greed At AOL
Common sense is a concept that has never held a lasting foothold in computing. Whether you jump back to the golden days and revisit Commodore's decision to solder over the unused memory traces in its PET computer, scrutinize the technical faults of the "multimedia" PC, attempt to mine the supposed merits of the sub-$1,000 computer, or just contemplate the realties of Steve Ballmer's call for a $100 PC, the idee fixe of computing appears to be the continual reinvention of the asinine.

Case in point: AOL's latest attempt at enticing new subscribers, the $299.99 Internet computer! Naturally, AOL doesn't build its own PCs. The one in question is sourced through Systemax Inc., a company whose products can often be found for sale on the Home Shopping Network and that has an impressive list of subsidiaries and divisions, including SystemaxPC, TigerDirect, Global Computer Supplies, and Infotel Distributing.

AOL's computer is not so impressive. It's a 2-GHz Celeron system with 256MB of memory, a 40GB hard drive, a Lexmark USB printer, and a 17-inch Philips monitor. Personally, Philips monitors have never impressed me. All ink jet printers are throw-aways. The lone Lexmark printer I've owned got the boot a lot quicker than any of the Epsons or HPs. Although Microsoft says Windows will work in 256MB, I've never met a PC with less than 512MB that Windows felt comfortable in. (Did I forget to mention that the graphics system is integrated? Some of that 256MB will be "borrowed" to power the graphics engine.) You'll be amused by how much capacity remains on your 40GB hard drive once Windows XP Home Edition has settled in. And a 2-GHz Celeron? I can't even go there without my fingers beginning to cramp, despite AOL's claim that, "The spectacular Systemax AOL PC runs on a blazing [sic] fast Intel Celeron 2.0-GHz CPU."

Re:Interesting

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Hmmm, I wouldn't consider the content of Slashdot, or the information as you refer to it, to be open-source. Slashcode is open-source, but I think you should read the copyright claim at the bottom of the page you're reading.

I'm not complaining about it, just letting you know.

Also, why were you posting AC?...was that a (shudder) dangerous comment?