AOL And Windows 3.1 … Today …

Hello,

Back when I was using Dial up, I hated AOL because it ‘took over your computer’, lol. Fast forward till now, I still have my windows 3.1 machine and would like to surf the web, while on the road, with dial up. 486 dx2 66 16 mb ram decent machine for 3.1. Anyway, due to the obvious problems with all of the browswers, crashing mainly, I was thinking about AOL. I remember the last time I used it, the version of IE 4.0 in AOL 4.0 ran alot better than the standalone 4.0 ie browser as far as surfing and not crashing. Now this was almost 4 years ago, id imagine its even worse now… so i was wondering:

Can you still use aol 4.0 to dial in? what about 3.0? (16-bit versions)

(now people tell me im crazy but, im telling you the truth): When i bought an old 3.1 machine about 5 years ago, there was a version of aol 5.0. Now yes, the machine had win32s, and yes, it very well could have been a demo that is no longer supported/available, but many people tell me 4.0 is the latest version for 3.1. Is it possible that this ‘5/0’ was simply updated through those ‘closing time’ updates AOL forces upon you, and isnt available, or is there a 5.0 16-bit (or 32 bit supportive of win32s) laying around out there? Because every time i install off aol CD it wants to install 4.0. Just curious. I know someone else has seen this version (5 on 31) at some point back in the day.

And finally, is the browser in aol still a little bit better as far as rendering, partly due to the updates that aol offers when you connect? How about crashing?

Thanks,
Shamrock

Matthew R. Keegan
Computer Network Specialist +
Classic Computer Hobbyist
MKeegan1968@Gmail.com