A O HELL

AOL USERS:

The images you see while surfing with AOL's
default browser at the default settings have
been compressed TWICE, for AOL's comfort and
convenience (as opposed to your own).

The first compression occurred when they
were saved in a computer; every thinking
artist ever to make an image for the internet
has compressed the image to the smallest possible
file size using the best common means to make
that image download quickly and keep it looking good.

AOL takes a second shot at compressing these images,
which have usually already been pushed to the limit;
the result is often a smeary mess: just forget about
enjoying art on the world wide web until you've
taken one of the following precautions:

Solution A:
Get a better browser: they're FREE!
Go to www.browsers.com to hook up with Firefox,
Netscape or Internet Explorer, and when you've opened the
package you download off the Internet, you'll be
web-surfing faster, and seeing it all as it was
meant to be seen.

(Just start up your AOL,
minimise their browser,
and fire up your favourite.)

Solution B:
A very small adjustment will
correct your image problem;
(you still won't be going at top speed, but at least
you will be seeing things more clearly):

Just click on "My AOL",
then on "Preferences",
then on the "WWW" button.

Now you have a virtual folder image,
with tabs to choose from:
Click the "Web Graphics" tab,
and FINALLY
click to uncheck the box that says
"Use Compressed Graphics".

Now close down AOL,
and when you reopen it,
you will recieve all the benefits
of all the world's web-artists'
best intentions.

There! now don't you feel better? A little lighter?
More springy?

Note that in addition to learning one or two ways to
improve your experience, you've also learned that AOL
may act to your disadvantage, in its' own interest.
An ex-girlfriend found this out by switching to their long-distance
service in exchange for three free months of internet access;
when she called to ask why she had been billed for the second
month she found out that the three free months
weren't in a row!
REALLY!

I have since found a competitor at $10.50 per month... Nice.

PAINTINGS | HOME | SKETCHBOOK | LIFE