NETSCAPE = FINI
AOL (You’ve Got No Subscribers) is moving to a ad based revenue model. With this new model there is really no money left to develop and innovate a browser. So, AOL, and the Netscape Corporation that it funds, is going to drop the development and support of Netscape. Full Story Here. You will still be able to download the current (and past) versions of Netscape, but no more improvements, patches or development will occur on it after Feb 1st, 2008. They are officially passing the torch of competing with Microsoft / IE to Mozilla / Firefox now. Of course Firefox has unofficially had that torch for several years now, but now it is official.
I have never been a IE (Internet Explorer) fan. I have always used non IE browsers the vast majority of the time. In the last month I have used IE less then 5 total times and that was to test the look of web sites. I use Firefox over 85% of the time and vast majority of the rest of the time I use Opera (I really like the widgets and the fact that it is FREE now, I am still getting use to the speeddial function and I am undecided on it overall). Oh yeah Safari does really sucks and with all of Mac’s recent security issues it is not looking to get better soon.
Moving on, I still use Netscape version 4.7.2 over 95% of the time when I use Netscape. Why Netscape 4.7.2, because of all the blootware and add on’s and trash that came with Netscape 5.0 - 7.0 and it was the last time I thought Netscape made a quick (i.e. non blotted) brower. Even with all the junk coming in the Netscape downloads with versions 5.0 -7.0 I still downloaded and used them occassionally. I felt Netscape versions 8.0 - 9.0 (based on Firefox 2.0) were solid moves to return to what made Netscape great, but I was already a Firefox devotee by then so I saw little reason to switch back for my daily use. Regardless of the state of the Netscape brower though, I have always kept a current version of Netscape to test with and occasionally use to stay familiar with when people talk to me about browsers.
The fact that Netscape currently has .6 (that is right 6/10 of one percent) of the web using it, means that my personal story shared above is probably the norm. It is unfortunate that my story is likely similar to the majority of web users use and abandonment of Netscape, as the web would never have been as good as it is and browsers would not have improved much as they have had there not been competition for Internet Explorer. Microsoft rarely innovates, and they typically duplicate. The have followed that same pattern when it comes to browser development.
Whether it is my daily browser or not, I hate to see Netscape fade into the history of computing like the C64, the TRS 80, The Atari 520ST, the Commodore Amiga, VisiCalc, Word Star , Eudora Mail, and numerous other products that laid the ground work for where we are today in computing. With that said though, I more then understand why AOL / The Netscape Corporation can not continue the development of a browser that is used by less then 3 in 500 web users and which generates no revenue for a company that is attempting to move to a revenue model based on ads.
I hadn’t heard the news about Netscape. I’m sorry to see Netscape go. I first started using it in 1994 as Mosaic and used it until transitioning to Mozilla 0.6 a few years ago. Your analysis was really enjoyable to read. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Milton Stanley — 1/1/2008 @ 10:53 am
I hate to see it go too, but it will always hold a special place in my computing memory.
Comment by Team Swap — 1/1/2008 @ 6:58 pm