Ok, so we’ve got a new web browser out. A few years ago, everyone would’ve been jonesin’ for the Netscape but now they’re really a non-entity. The once mighty browser pales in comparison to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) and even the much smaller Firefox by Mozilla.
The new Netscape browser gimmick is being able to switch between Firefox and IE inside the Netscape browser. They say you get the best benefits of both in one package. Why should I care? Firefox is free and has hit the 50 million-download mark. Microsoft comes loaded onto PCs already. Why would I need to another link to my desktop. Even though the download is free, I still need to be sold on the product because there’s tons of free garbage on the net.
“The browser is like a hybrid car that combines the usability of Internet Explorer with the security of Firefox,” said Andrew Weinstein, a spokesman for America Online/Netscape.
IE control the lion’s share of the market at 86.63%, like Microsoft does with most of the things Bill Gates sticks his fingers into. Firefox is running solid at 8.69% although nowhere near the IE mark. Netscape has 1% of the market. Wow. Can I understate it further? wow. When Microsoft started packing IE into its Windows package, they began sealing the coffin of Netscape. This isn’t Netscape’s fault mind you. Microsoft got lucky when an inept federal judge couldn’t keep his mouth shut and Microsoft didn’t get cracked open.
Then AOL buys them and now AOL has a deal with Microsoft for using IE. Netscape really serves no purpose. The best thing AOL could do is end it. Heck, I used the old Netscape and I won’t go near it. As I said before, really what IS the point?
John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
