MSN 9 Platinum Released

[Brian Rector]

Microsoft is focusing on broadband users with their new The Microsoft Network 9 Platinum, which is being priced at an additional $9.95 on top of what current subscribers are paying. However, the software is also for dial up users.

How I discovered this is simple: I downloaded the whole monster myself via the Internet. Last time I posted here, I downloaded and installed the monster that is known as AOL 9. Funny how the number 9 means bad things sometimes. Well.....that download was about 3-4 hours. I forget how long it took since it probably took some of my sanity with it. However, with MSN 9....way different story.

MSN 9 (aka MSN Platinum) is a huge file, meant to be downloaded for broadband users. You can also download it via 56k modem as I did, but....be prepared for a very very very very very long time waiting. The download took a total of 6 hours and 20 minutes. Its downloaded chunk by chunk just like Netscape 6 and 7's download installer did. You download a small 1.8 MB file and bit by bit is downloaded via Microsoft's servers at Redmond, Washington.

Now.......why should MSN Internet Access subscribers get the latest beta? Simple:

Pop Up Blocking and better security.

The interface looks just like MSN 8.5's, but its easier on the eyes. The mail program is so much better. The email doesnt take a long, long time to download like it did with MSN 8.5.

Personally, I recommend this upgrade for all who subscribe to MSN. You will need a minimum of 128 MB of RAM (especially with Windows 98).

There was a error message during the installation process, but I think it was because I was not a broadband user.

[sampatterson]

So where did you download it from? I couldn't find it on the MSN site.

[Brian Rector]

I downloaded it from the MSN Community website, but the link was taken down a day or two after I downloaded. It was stated that it was taken down for legality reasons. All I downloaded was an install file. After that, I was connected to Microsoft's servers in Redmond and the whole thing took too much time.

I tried out the beta for about a few weeks, but I will have to admit: it sucked like a Hoover vacuum cleaner. It was nice to look at, but it caused major hard drive clashing and it had major security holes in it. For example, all the email is downloaded to a specific temporary folder....even the junk mail is downloaded. Now....you may think this is nothing, but also....the attachments are downloaded too. This caused Norton AV 2004 to detect up to 50 viruses per night. Think of the fun you can have every evening wondering whether your PC will have more Swen worms. No fun indeed.

I downgraded back to MSN 8.5 and I am happy to state that I dont have any viruses, even though Im still getting those happy go lucky emails with those happy happy attachments.

One lesson I learned from all this: avoid betas....at all costs.