Is AOL/AIM Really This Bad?

I'm thinking you're thinking along the right lines. Appart from anything whatsoever to do with AO-Hell, AIM client applications are notorious vectors for yuckware infestation, perhaps second only to P2P apps. Making the rounds of AIM-lessness right now are a variety of Rootkits, along with a few very-difficult-to-detect-defeat-and-remove otherwise conventional virii and trojans.

Getting rid of these infections, reversing their effects, and excising AOL from your machine often is an exceedingly irritating, tedious project.

AO-Hell, I love it!

Yea CJ, AIM is the pits. As if the Rootkits aren't bad enough, there is that irritating slowdown. As handy as the might seem, I won't load these messaging programs anymore.

Argh. I removed AOL and it is still slow.

Any suggestions/

I just tried a different wireless connection and it is working much better.

Gotta talk to that admin... not! Wireless by walking around....

AOL as such has been good for me but that AIM stuff has slaughtered a few systems of people I know.

Absolutely. AIM is pretty bad.