You know, there's a reason AOL is losing 2 million customers a year and Google is gaining ground in just about everything. Think about the lightness of the Google interface as opposed to AOL. Google is just there, helpful when you need it. It doesn't assert itself, install ads, or other programs. AOL, on the other hand is a disaster, with flashing messages, ads everywhere, new installed taskbar icons, memory resident startup items and on and on.

The new version of the AOL Instant Messenger called Triton, shows that they still are looking for a clue.

The promotional onslaught begins when you run Triton's installer. In addition to putting a copy of AIM on your computer, this setup routine will also add a new Web browser, AOL Explorer, and Plaxo address book-sharing software -- and unless you choose otherwise, it will also add an AOL toolbar to your copy of Internet Explorer, then change IE's home page to AOL.com. You'll also get a small anti-spyware utility in the bargain.

Whoa. Who asked for all that? It's no wonder Google thought the time was ripe for its own instant messenger: Google talk