Netscape: bowed, but not broken

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What is AOHell doing?: It starts to make alot of sense. You forgot the recent announcement that they also sold the Netscape Application server to Red Hat. Granted most people go with a MS/IIS or LAMP solution these days, but it's still another piece shaved off and given to someone else. Now that I think of it, there was also that joint venture with SUN that was transfered completely to SUN just after the merger.

The IE based browser is really misinformation. While it has been reported as such, there is no way to create an "standalone" IE-based browser. MS has buried the code and integrated it deep into Windows. It has not been standalone since Win98 was released. If it was standalone, MS could never have gotten off so easy in the antitrust trial. If it was standalone, it would prove IE could be removed, and MS would be screwed in the all over the world. I would also be uninstalling IE in a heartbeat, as the integration of IE and OS negatively affects OS performance as seen by the reports CNET put out back in 98 showing that Win 95b without IE4 could outperform both 95b with IE4 and Win 98. but enough about Windows. The AOL branded IE browser is more just a facelift with enhancements, similar to what NetCaptor and others do. It will ultimately only be available for Windows, and will probably require you have IE6 already installed.

The separate community does make some sense, as this is one of AOL's strong points. I think they also still run Compuserve, which is a service very similar to AOL, and they have the Netscape-branded low-cost dialup ISP. Combine the ISP, browser, web portal, web mail, and any other Netscape-branded service, program, or feature into one package, and you have the new low-cost, cross-platform sibling to AOL's IE-based premium service. They'll probably add other AOL-aquired ventures, such as WinAmp and ICQ, for good measure, and because it keeps in the theme of non-AOL-branded products. It's actually and wonderfully devious plan, as it creates this low cost AOL alternative that still puts cash in the AOL coffers.

So I agree with you, Anton, and believe we will see a restructuring on Netscape as a new community, as everything they are doing is pointing to that.

Jarrett; Posted by: jheine Posted on: 10/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use