A browser lesson learned from Microsoft

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More than just there and just as good.: MS did more than just put IE 3.0 there.

1) It was offered free when the full netscape product was for sale. Any free Netscape was not the complete package.

2) It came pre-installed and set as the default, not just available to be installed if you wish from a CD-ROM. (Although, with 3.0 the option of uninstalling was there or of doing a custom install if you purchased the retail version of Windows).

3) It was featured and marketed with the product, suggesting to the non-technical comsumer that it was THE way of browsing the Internet.

4) It always set itself back as the default browser by default behavior if anyone used it.

5) FrontPage and FrontPage Express both catered solely for the IE browser.

6) MS altered their version of Java without informing people of the alterations thus forcing the appearance of "broken Netscape" browser.

7) Had a bug in Windows95 that made Netscape 3.x crash and refused to fix it for a long time. Netscape created the patch and only then did MS supply a fix.

8) Offered a free upgrade to IE 4.x which not only changed the app but changed Windows, integrating IE 4.x with the OS and made it un-uninstallable. All new Windows then came with this option. A court order made then offer a new 4.x version that allowed you to chose not to integrate IE with the OS and allowed an uninstall. Too bad for those who already upgraded.

9) All new Windows past this point came with IE 5.x integrated and uninstallable.

10) MS had agreements with most OEMs (as Taz pointed out) that prohibited the bundling of other browsers pre-installed or anything that altered the MS Windows OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) from certain dictated requirements including certain browser, wallpaper and other system branding.

11) MS offered web developers incentives to do IE optimized coding including free development software to those who complied. I know this. I was one whom my friends called a fool for saying no.

MS killed the Netscape dominance by unfair marketing practices. Netscape won their lawsuit but a day late and a dollar short. IE was never superior in doing things Netscape did. It was only superior in doing things that can only be done with IE on Windows. Not OS/2, not Mac OS, not SunOS, SCOUnix, AIX, Solaris, VMS, BSD or anyother OS available to most college students even if you did have IE for that particular platform.

To the best of my knowledge, IE was only available for Mac and Windows. All our SunOS, AIX, SCOUnix and BSD boxes back then ran either Netscape or Lynx.; Posted by: The King's Servant Posted on: 08/30/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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What about ActiveX? alterego_z | 08/30/04

Yes, ActiveX included... John Carroll

| 08/30/04

Just Complain Martin Marvinski | 08/30/04

Naming of names Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/30/04

Care to explain? Nullifidian | 08/30/04

You are, of course, incorrect when you state... escoles@... | 08/31/04

Wasn't always the case Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

I agree CobraA1 | 08/30/04

not your best article john, what about Accessability hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

RE: What about ActiveX? bmonster | 08/31/04

RE CobraA1 | 08/31/04

Marketing 101 StorageGuru | 08/30/04

Finally ParadigmOdyssey | 08/30/04

Although I agree with you Arrg | 08/30/04

Reply John Carroll

| 08/30/04

It's all a matter of opinion Taz_z | 08/30/04

100% Correct! nikoli | 08/30/04

Very perceptive Taz_z | 08/30/04

"Winning"...LOL! Jomo_z | 08/30/04

except my experience is that IE breaks more than Mozilla hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

But hardly any site "requires" IE escoles@... | 08/31/04

You're arguing that the tail wags the dog. Torgam | 08/31/04

I'l have to agree with that... el1jones | 08/30/04

True, Programmers Don't Care nikoli | 08/30/04

Well I have a copy of Netscape 2.x computer_man | 08/30/04

Browzers rooster2004 | 08/30/04

IE 4.0 Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

How To Remove Internet Explorer poocow666 | 08/30/04

I just did it Roger Ramjet | 08/30/04

Oh I know it's not impossible Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

Does Windows Update work? d_jedi | 08/30/04

Yes poocow666 | 08/30/04

Why would you do it? computer_man | 08/30/04

Nonsense. escoles@... | 08/31/04

IE 4.0 market share John Carroll

| 08/30/04

Perhaps you misunderstood me Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

Being there John Carroll

| 08/30/04

Were they both "just there"? Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

Comment on JavaScript Fred Fredrickson | 09/02/04

Preferential treatment Taz_z | 08/30/04

When IE 3.0 was there ... computer_man | 08/30/04

My bad Taz_z | 08/30/04

That sounds correct. computer_man | 08/30/04

More than just there and just as good. The King's Servant | 08/30/04

Other IE "advantages" FrankNStein | 08/31/04

I believe IE 5 was integrated JoeMama_z | 08/30/04

Netscape and IE richhayes | 08/31/04

Features JustMe99_z | 08/30/04

Dominance... Jomo_z | 08/30/04

Agree andypiesse@... | 09/09/04

MG and Triumph Roger Ramjet | 08/30/04

Why standards John Carroll

| 08/30/04

W3C is not a standards body, ISO is! B.O.F.H. | 08/30/04

How long did I wait for IE compatability The King's Servant | 08/30/04

Also, IIS doen not support PNG by default. The King's Servant | 08/30/04

Totally Agree with this point of view BXLE | 08/30/04

IE Security Improved Jaschink | 08/30/04

BFD Taz_z | 08/30/04

False nikoli | 08/30/04

False yourself Taz_z | 08/30/04

It just occurred to me Taz_z | 08/30/04

Actually AbsolutelyNot | 08/31/04

Hey John, is THIS the religion we should drop?? Jeff Spicoli | 08/30/04

Wow!!! That is sooo revealing about Carroll ... el1jones | 08/30/04

Carrol is back! Trollslayers have a job again! TrollSlayer | 09/01/04

Note To Microsoft: QUIT SUCKING SO MUCH! itanalyst | 08/30/04

...and support PNG files. Jomo_z | 08/30/04

Two "religions" oppose IE Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

Nice Try (NOT!) Roger Ramjet | 08/30/04

Reply John Carroll

| 08/30/04

The "more secure by fewer numbers" theory doesn't always fly Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

Found it! Roger Ramjet | 08/30/04

Less Likely to get Hacked? poocow666 | 08/30/04

mm security Iain_Peters | 08/30/04

Microsoft a disproportionate target Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

RE: Microsoft.. Iain_Peters | 08/31/04

Des Moines death SC-man | 08/30/04

Here's your links . . . respond please DJGibbon | 09/14/04

Yes, I know. And you've got the NBM religion. Linux_Developer | 08/30/04

In advocacy, there's "religion", "supporter", "reasonable" Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

IE just as likely to have increased it's share??? hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

95% and holding Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

looking like a free browser that IE is based on is not "looking like IE" hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

And we all fondly remember Mosaic Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

Not sure where 3schools obtained its numbers... Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

Choosing on features and spending bits escoles@... | 08/31/04

Simple facts Anton Philidor | 08/31/04

Yes, and how did MS get that 96%... ILLEGALLY! Xunil_Sierutuf | 08/30/04

If this is true . . . CobraA1 | 08/30/04

An example. CobraA1 | 08/30/04

Anti trust , IE and UNIX Roger Ramjet | 08/30/04

Goes for OS and hardware as well FilledOut | 08/30/04

IE Standards Compliant? Sort of... blueice_z | 08/30/04

Hear hear! Yen_z | 08/30/04

Firefox & ActiveX tero_t_vaananen@... | 08/30/04

Thanks for the link. Yen_z | 08/30/04

I think you're blowiing some hot air toadlife | 09/06/04

If you bother to look for it.... tero_t_vaananen@... | 09/07/04

I did bother and I'm still looking toadlife | 09/07/04

*WHAT* IE-only sites? Yagotta B. Kidding | 08/30/04

Try Microsoft... Patrick Jones | 08/30/04

Yep got the same thing. computer_man | 08/30/04

I haven't had problems with any of those sites Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

I had a problem posting ads on amazon using IE so used opera hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

I used Firefox 0.9.3 with User Agent Switcher 0.4 Michael Kelly | 08/30/04

Interesting... Patrick Jones | 08/30/04

Simple Taz_z | 08/30/04

Well said, (Mmm! Brains in jars!) KOS-MOS | 08/30/04

Lacking? Gimme a Firefox example. CobraA1 | 08/30/04

How about... KOS-MOS | 08/30/04

Boy, you sure told him Taz_z | 08/30/04

Good lord... KOS-MOS | 08/31/04

Did you try this plug-in? Linux User 147560 | 08/30/04

Thanks, but... KOS-MOS | 08/31/04

Yes, it has Japanese support CobraA1 | 08/31/04

Nice, but... KOS-MOS | 08/31/04

You even tried it? CobraA1 | 08/31/04

but 15% of users HAVE switched hipparchus2000 | 08/30/04

I think it's great... KOS-MOS | 08/30/04

Choice Joe Blow_z | 09/07/04

False Dichotomy hipparchus2000 | 09/07/04

A big THANK YOU! bmgoodman | 08/30/04

It's not about "religion", it's about my webpage not working CobraA1 | 08/30/04

report bad pages Joe Blow_z | 09/07/04

Couple of points Maxxcooldude | 08/30/04

If IE would not have extra features - ? Vily Clay | 08/30/04

Do the IE-specific features really matter? John L. Ries | 08/30/04

A note to MS: Drop the non standard stuff that is not needed or insecure. DonnieBoy | 08/30/04

A bit elitest? bony tryan | 08/30/04

Even MSFT uses Firefox chemist109 | 08/30/04

He's not a reporter John L. Ries | 08/30/04

hitting the hammer on the head jimk_z | 08/30/04

That's "hitting the nail on the head". Anton Philidor | 08/30/04

JOURNALISTS WRITE WITHOUT KNOWING THE FACTS - THE "STANDARDS RELIGION" worbd@... | 08/31/04

Its Outlook Express susancragin@... | 08/31/04

But John, there *is* no compatability problem escoles@... | 08/31/04

yep Joe Blow_z | 09/07/04

This article is... msdead | 08/31/04

good point! sa_z | 08/31/04

good point! sa_z | 09/01/04

Revisionist history? Bill F. | 08/31/04

Tabs and Security are my reasons George Jay | 08/31/04

Carrol loves spreading M$ fud. sa_z | 08/31/04

Example: idounix | 08/31/04

Netscape forever nuke071@... | 09/01/04

Comments John Carroll

| 09/01/04

Comments John Carroll

| 09/01/04

Sorry but I'm just not seeing the same incompatibilities you are Michael Kelly | 09/01/04

It is easier to use numbers from 3 years ago! B.O.F.H. | 09/02/04

Browser Market Share John Carroll

| 09/03/04

a couple years ago John V Sanders | 09/03/04

John, of course you don't V Sanders | 09/02/04

Re: Comments John L. Ries | 09/04/04

Missing the point Roger Ramjet | 09/07/04

Er... pardon? jonpearse | 09/10/04

Mozilla Firefox is great V Sanders | 09/02/04

MS IE religion V Sanders | 09/03/04

yeah hehe Joe Blow_z | 09/07/04

Opposed your Religion ? pj-xmesh | 09/04/04

Freedom of CHOICE Joe Blow_z | 09/07/04

My browser lesson learned from Microsoft is... mlindl | 09/08/04

not really.. bugmenotznet | 09/10/04

Market Share IT Scion | 09/09/04

I hope you don't really believe that compunaut | 09/09/04

Standards compunaut | 09/09/04

Yeah right... bugmenotznet | 09/10/04

BTW... bugmenotznet | 09/10/04

How about we dont... (standards, and why they matter) jonpearse | 09/10/04

Oh, and... jonpearse | 09/10/04

Laughable orange@... | 09/10/04

All boils down to everybody making their own choices FilledOut | 09/12/04

Market Share? tomadams | 09/20/04

Missing the Point? CornedBee | 10/11/04

Failure to see all implications M.Fridholm | 10/18/04

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