should I use compuserve?

[JQ]

I bought a new computer and am still deciding whether to sign up with
compuserve and get their $400 rebate. But, I'm hesitant about locking-in
for 3 years.

- Can I configure outlook express to read my compuserve email?

- Can I use netscape or microsoft explorer to surf the net versus using
compuserve's browser window?

- Is it worth it to get the rebate or should I remain in the "free agency"
of ISP's and be able to switch whenever I want to?

Thanks!

[someone]

"JQ" <j...@q.net> wrote:

It all depends on what you need.

Look at the rebate as a loan; not as income. It's a loan that you will
be paying back for the next 3 years.

CS2000 does not offer a DUN connection. You can use outlook express,
netscape or MSIE, but you still have to start your connection from the
CS2000 software, before you can use these programs.

Will you ever want to get cable modem or dsl? If so, you won't be able
to choose Compuserve as your ISP thus making it necessary to continue to
pay your Compuserve "loan."

OTOH, do you travel a lot? I find CS2000 to be excellent, for national
and especially for international travel.

[vj...@biostrategist.com]

I find the major added-value of CompuServe to be the access to
databases which you do not get normally off the net. The billing is as-use
so I don't have to be a subscriber to each database. The internet has
obfuscated this valuable feature of CompuServe, but it has also sometimes
eliminated CompuServe's intermediary value in some cases.

- = -
Vasos-Peter John Panagiotopoulos II, Columbia'81+, Bio$trategist
BachMozart ReaganQuayle EvrytanoKastorian
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/vjp2/vasos.htm
vjp2@{MCIMail.Com|CSI.Com|Panix.Com|BioStrategist.Com} VP...@Columbia.Edu
---{Nothing herein constitutes advice. Everything fully disclaimed.}---
--{vjp2 was formerly on dorsai (1995-2000), delphi (1994) and bix (1989)}--
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[Iain Noble]

JQ <j...@q.net> wrote in message news:9hlg2q$bmk$1...@bob.news.rcn.net...

> I bought a new computer and am still deciding whether to sign up with
> compuserve and get their $400 rebate. But, I'm hesitant about locking-in
> for 3 years.
>
> - Can I configure outlook express to read my compuserve email?
>

Yes

http://www.forumscentral.com/email/imap.htm

> - Can I use netscape or microsoft explorer to surf the net versus using
> compuserve's browser window?
>

Yes.

> - Is it worth it to get the rebate or should I remain in the "free agency"
> of ISP's and be able to switch whenever I want to?

Your decision. Depends how much you value a $400 rebate?