The weather isn't as nice.
Portals are particularly eager to show that they're becoming more sophisticated.
Adjusting a portal's look and content ''can be like tinkering with a winning formula,'' he adds. With AOL version 6.0, ''You'll also see some big improvements in e-mail, instant messaging, ease of use and shopping,'' says Jonathan Sacks, senior vice president. AOL had 24 million paid subscribers in July and reached 62.5 million unique visitors domestically. Microsoft this month combined its portal and Internet browser into MSN Explorer in a bid to boost the site's base of 3 million customers. It also is tied to Microsoft's Hotmail service for e-mail, MSN Messenger for instant messaging and Windows Media Player.