AOL to buy Netscape ??? - Alpha Centauri Forums

  Alpha Centauri Forums
  Old Test Forums
  AOL to buy Netscape ???

profile | register | prefs | faq | search

Author Topic:   AOL to buy Netscape ???

DJ RRebel posted 11-23-98 10:32 AM ET
Just saw this on TV !!!
AOL might buy Netscape !!!
Sun Microsystems is going to stick their nose into it too !!!
Currently, I think Netscape has 50%
Microsoft IE has 50%, but 20% of that is with AOL !!!
That would put Netscape back at 60-70%
and IE back down to 30-40% !!!
Personally, I prefer IE because of the way it integrates into windows !!!
Actually, I wrote a little column about the whole issue a month ago or so !!!
Check it out .. it's at my web site !!!
listen.to/rebel
Just send me your feedback here !!!
This should give you all something to do while we wait for this darn forum to be fixed !!!
Imran Siddiqui posted 11-23-98 11:57 AM ET
Hmm, speaking of anti-trust laws, what about this, Mrs. Reno?
Imran Siddiqui
Patriot
Roland posted 11-23-98 12:08 PM ET
Anyone ganging up against MS can plead on self-defense!
IE was about as bogus as Netscape, just that EA ate up more space. But I admit, I'm still waiting for windows '98.
BTW, DJ, your site, your charts. I don't know a single one of those songs! The only band there I ever heard of is brooklyn bounce. Am I getting that old, or what ?
Kyle posted 11-23-98 03:00 PM ET
Imran Siddiqui: "Hmm, speaking of anti-trust laws, what about this, Mrs. Reno?"
My thoughts exactly. I use AOL, but them, Netscape, and Sun, will create a massive online monopoly.
Not to mention Netscape's monopoly on browsers over the past several years.
Imran Siddiqui posted 11-23-98 03:55 PM ET
Really, this is a monopoly. AOL has over 20 million customers, Netscape is the largest browser out there and Sun is getting in on the action. If you're going to prosecute Microsoft for anti-trust, why not this as well? On the other hand, you could let this be a dualopoly, and see what results. Microsoft v. AOL/Netscape/Sun, could be interesting. Oh, and Roland, Austria doesn't have Windows '98 yet? I'm running it and its pretty damn good if you ask me (of course I'm a Microsoft man, perish the thought).
Imran Siddiqui
Patriot
Spoe posted 11-23-98 04:17 PM ET
It's important to remember that a monopoly is not againt anti-trust law, just when said monopoly uses it's market position to compete unfairly. Microsoft wouldn't be in trouble now if there were no question about the legality of some of their strategies.
Yo_Yo_Yo_Hey posted 11-23-98 04:59 PM ET
Yea, I got Boardwalk!
Anyway, besides that, Cablevision is buying my beloved Yankees off of George Steinbrenner, for about $600 million. But of course, Steinbrenner stays in charge for a handsome sum. Sometimes I just hate capitalism....
Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general,
YYYH
Antiam posted 11-23-98 05:16 PM ET
Personnally I can't stand Active Desktop. Other than that IE is a better, at least more stable, browser. I'm holding out upgrading to 98 because I haven't been able to completely disable the Active Desktop. And on my lower end pc, p-133, I see a noticible slow down because of it. Not to mention the viewing folders as web pages is just silly. I think they're just trying to make it look a little different from Mac-OS. Anyone think there will be a Linux version of SMAC?
Antiam
Imran Siddiqui posted 11-23-98 05:23 PM ET
Antium, you disable the active desktop easy. Just go to display, and click on the web tab (I think that is what it is), then click disable active desktop. Btw, Active Desktop is disabled at first in Win '98, you have to activate it.
Imran Siddiqui
Patriot
NotLikeTea posted 11-23-98 08:25 PM ET
*sigh*
Microsoft (Pursuing Total World Domination for Over 20 Years)
or
America Online ("My friend said I should get AOL. 'Why?' I asked, 'I alreday _have_ a computer!'")
Which is the lesser of two evils?
Spoe posted 11-23-98 08:43 PM ET
Heh, there's a picture of a "Microsoft World Domination 99" cd floating around out there.
Corwin posted 11-23-98 08:53 PM ET
Windows 98 isn't more stable. Just when it crashes, it doesn't crashes completely. You only lose all microsoft related programs, and your whole taskbar is cleared. Therefore, it's a bit of improvement, although it crashes in this way much more often.
IE is not more stable, I have to use netscape to go to this forum, because IE often crashes and takes windows part of the way with it.
Roland posted 11-24-98 05:53 AM ET
Imran: "Oh, and Roland, Austria doesn't have Windows '98 yet? I'm running it and its pretty damn good if you ask me..."
LOL!!! Typical american stereotype! I meant I haven't got it yet. I'll get a new computer in the office in summer (hope, hope, I'm the next in line...), and then I'll get it automatically, so I don't bother with an upgrade now (or is it a downgrade ? You never know with evil billie...). For my PC at home, I've made it run fine with windows 95 (which is not an easy task! ), so I'll go to windows 98 when I have the time to get all the bugs out - the most annoying ones, at least...

DJ RRebel posted 11-24-98 10:42 AM ET
LOL .. I'm too afraid to install 98 over 95 !!!
I'm just going to wait for my new system in JAn or Feb !!!
What did you guys think of my IE vs Nets debate on my web site ???
BTW .. by top 10 is a little out of date !!!
(About 2 months or so)
I'll be linking MP3's to the site in the new year !!!
MikeH II posted 11-24-98 11:27 AM ET
I mentioned this before but in case you missed it:
To stop windows crashing when IE does go to Interner Options/Advanced and select browse as new process. Works like magic. Fixes a lot of the crashes too.
Spoe posted 11-24-98 04:22 PM ET
Dj RRebel:
re: Your Netscape/IE commentary
1) The problem the DOJ has with Microsoft's monopoly is not the monopoly per se. Merely having a monopoly does not violate any US law. However, under US antitrust law, a monopoly operates under more restrictions than a company w/o a monopoly in order to ensure fair competition to other companies with the monopoly.
2) From a purely tech support position, I run into _many_ fewer problems with Netscape. IE has a tendency to choke inexplicably[5] on downloading files through an SSL connection[6] from my company's web site. IE also has a bit of difficulty with Adobe Acrobat.
3) Dealing with plugins, I'd have to say the Netscape plugin model seems much simpler to me than IE's ActiveX controls. With the Adobe Acrobat Reader, to remove the plugin from IE 4.0 manually and set Acrobat up as a helper application is an 11 step process[1], involving much more arcane commands that the same process for Netscape 4.x at 7 steps[2]. The IE process also requires an additional 9 steps if you are using 3.x; for Netscape 3.x the total number of steps rises to IE 4.x's 11(however, these steps are still much easier to comprehend).
4) Yes. Both suck. Remeber one of the mantras of alt.sysadmin.recovery, "All software sucks.". Some just suck less than others. However, for the average user that won't play around in the settings(and probably hasn't ever seen the control panel(and sometimes the Start button), from my experience in tech support), either browser will work just fine[4].
[1] Adobe FaxYI document 731006[3]
[2] Adobe FaxYI document 731007[3]
[3] You can receive these by emailing [email protected] with the number of the document as the subject and no message body.
[4] My personal preference in Netscape, mainly because then I have a fairly consistent feel between Win95/8 and Linux. Aside from that, I like the "feel" of Netscape better. For example, I've never been much of a fan of smooth scrolling; I prefer jump scrolling. This goes back to the days when I used dumb terminal almost exclusively.
[5] This is _after_ we've disabled "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" in the advanced settings and check a few other things.
[6] Don't ask me why we do it this way. It's only horse racing information, and I'm not part of the decision-making process here.
Gord McLeod posted 11-24-98 06:59 PM ET
My take on things as a tech support person and web designer who needs to run both IE and Netscape in order to ensure compatability:
Both IE and Netscape are fine browsers that suffer from a number of problems. I personally find that IE works better for some uses, Netscape for others. In general I greatly prefer Netscape.
AOL & Netscape:
It's confirmed that AOL is buying Netscape. But I'm not overly concerned about this - yes, I'm not fond of AOL, but who really cares? Netscape has already released the source code to Communicator and Mozilla is coming along quite nicely. It won't be long before we don't have to use the Netscape version of Netscape anymore, so AOL really can't do any harm if all you're interested in is a good browser.
DJ RRebel posted 11-25-98 12:40 AM ET
Spoe ... thanks for your feedback ... and you are correct, both are terrible products ... in reality, most software is ... we just have to do like you say and choose the lessr of the evils availlable to us !!!
SMAC will be the savior ,,, SMAC will be the anti-software !!!
To close this thread, click here (moderator or admin only).


Hop to:

Contact Us | Alpha Centauri Home

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Version 5.18
© Madrona Park, Inc., 1998.

Author	Topic: AOL to buy Netscape ???
DJ RRebel	posted 11-23-98 10:32 AM ET Just saw this on TV !!! AOL might buy Netscape !!! Sun Microsystems is going to stick their nose into it too !!! Currently, I think Netscape has 50% Microsoft IE has 50%, but 20% of that is with AOL !!! That would put Netscape back at 60-70% and IE back down to 30-40% !!! Personally, I prefer IE because of the way it integrates into windows !!! Actually, I wrote a little column about the whole issue a month ago or so !!! Check it out .. it's at my web site !!! listen.to/rebel Just send me your feedback here !!! This should give you all something to do while we wait for this darn forum to be fixed !!!
Imran Siddiqui	posted 11-23-98 11:57 AM ET Hmm, speaking of anti-trust laws, what about this, Mrs. Reno? Imran Siddiqui Patriot
Roland	posted 11-23-98 12:08 PM ET Anyone ganging up against MS can plead on self-defense! IE was about as bogus as Netscape, just that EA ate up more space. But I admit, I'm still waiting for windows '98. BTW, DJ, your site, your charts. I don't know a single one of those songs! The only band there I ever heard of is brooklyn bounce. Am I getting that old, or what ?
Kyle	posted 11-23-98 03:00 PM ET Imran Siddiqui: "Hmm, speaking of anti-trust laws, what about this, Mrs. Reno?" My thoughts exactly. I use AOL, but them, Netscape, and Sun, will create a massive online monopoly. Not to mention Netscape's monopoly on browsers over the past several years.
Imran Siddiqui	posted 11-23-98 03:55 PM ET Really, this is a monopoly. AOL has over 20 million customers, Netscape is the largest browser out there and Sun is getting in on the action. If you're going to prosecute Microsoft for anti-trust, why not this as well? On the other hand, you could let this be a dualopoly, and see what results. Microsoft v. AOL/Netscape/Sun, could be interesting. Oh, and Roland, Austria doesn't have Windows '98 yet? I'm running it and its pretty damn good if you ask me (of course I'm a Microsoft man, perish the thought). Imran Siddiqui Patriot
Spoe	posted 11-23-98 04:17 PM ET It's important to remember that a monopoly is not againt anti-trust law, just when said monopoly uses it's market position to compete unfairly. Microsoft wouldn't be in trouble now if there were no question about the legality of some of their strategies.
Yo_Yo_Yo_Hey	posted 11-23-98 04:59 PM ET Yea, I got Boardwalk! Anyway, besides that, Cablevision is buying my beloved Yankees off of George Steinbrenner, for about $600 million. But of course, Steinbrenner stays in charge for a handsome sum. Sometimes I just hate capitalism.... Your faithful & hell-bent NIMadier general, YYYH
Antiam	posted 11-23-98 05:16 PM ET Personnally I can't stand Active Desktop. Other than that IE is a better, at least more stable, browser. I'm holding out upgrading to 98 because I haven't been able to completely disable the Active Desktop. And on my lower end pc, p-133, I see a noticible slow down because of it. Not to mention the viewing folders as web pages is just silly. I think they're just trying to make it look a little different from Mac-OS. Anyone think there will be a Linux version of SMAC? Antiam
Imran Siddiqui	posted 11-23-98 05:23 PM ET Antium, you disable the active desktop easy. Just go to display, and click on the web tab (I think that is what it is), then click disable active desktop. Btw, Active Desktop is disabled at first in Win '98, you have to activate it. Imran Siddiqui Patriot
NotLikeTea	posted 11-23-98 08:25 PM ET sigh Microsoft (Pursuing Total World Domination for Over 20 Years) or America Online ("My friend said I should get AOL. 'Why?' I asked, 'I alreday _have_ a computer!'") Which is the lesser of two evils?
Spoe	posted 11-23-98 08:43 PM ET Heh, there's a picture of a "Microsoft World Domination 99" cd floating around out there.
Corwin	posted 11-23-98 08:53 PM ET Windows 98 isn't more stable. Just when it crashes, it doesn't crashes completely. You only lose all microsoft related programs, and your whole taskbar is cleared. Therefore, it's a bit of improvement, although it crashes in this way much more often. IE is not more stable, I have to use netscape to go to this forum, because IE often crashes and takes windows part of the way with it.
Roland	posted 11-24-98 05:53 AM ET Imran: "Oh, and Roland, Austria doesn't have Windows '98 yet? I'm running it and its pretty damn good if you ask me..." LOL!!! Typical american stereotype! I meant I haven't got it yet. I'll get a new computer in the office in summer (hope, hope, I'm the next in line...), and then I'll get it automatically, so I don't bother with an upgrade now (or is it a downgrade ? You never know with evil billie...). For my PC at home, I've made it run fine with windows 95 (which is not an easy task! ), so I'll go to windows 98 when I have the time to get all the bugs out - the most annoying ones, at least...
DJ RRebel	posted 11-24-98 10:42 AM ET LOL .. I'm too afraid to install 98 over 95 !!! I'm just going to wait for my new system in JAn or Feb !!! What did you guys think of my IE vs Nets debate on my web site ??? BTW .. by top 10 is a little out of date !!! (About 2 months or so) I'll be linking MP3's to the site in the new year !!!
MikeH II	posted 11-24-98 11:27 AM ET I mentioned this before but in case you missed it: To stop windows crashing when IE does go to Interner Options/Advanced and select browse as new process. Works like magic. Fixes a lot of the crashes too.
Spoe	posted 11-24-98 04:22 PM ET Dj RRebel: re: Your Netscape/IE commentary 1) The problem the DOJ has with Microsoft's monopoly is not the monopoly per se. Merely having a monopoly does not violate any US law. However, under US antitrust law, a monopoly operates under more restrictions than a company w/o a monopoly in order to ensure fair competition to other companies with the monopoly. 2) From a purely tech support position, I run into _many_ fewer problems with Netscape. IE has a tendency to choke inexplicably[5] on downloading files through an SSL connection[6] from my company's web site. IE also has a bit of difficulty with Adobe Acrobat. 3) Dealing with plugins, I'd have to say the Netscape plugin model seems much simpler to me than IE's ActiveX controls. With the Adobe Acrobat Reader, to remove the plugin from IE 4.0 manually and set Acrobat up as a helper application is an 11 step process[1], involving much more arcane commands that the same process for Netscape 4.x at 7 steps[2]. The IE process also requires an additional 9 steps if you are using 3.x; for Netscape 3.x the total number of steps rises to IE 4.x's 11(however, these steps are still much easier to comprehend). 4) Yes. Both suck. Remeber one of the mantras of alt.sysadmin.recovery, "All software sucks.". Some just suck less than others. However, for the average user that won't play around in the settings(and probably hasn't ever seen the control panel(and sometimes the Start button), from my experience in tech support), either browser will work just fine[4]. [1] Adobe FaxYI document 731006[3] [2] Adobe FaxYI document 731007[3] [3] You can receive these by emailing [email protected] with the number of the document as the subject and no message body. [4] My personal preference in Netscape, mainly because then I have a fairly consistent feel between Win95/8 and Linux. Aside from that, I like the "feel" of Netscape better. For example, I've never been much of a fan of smooth scrolling; I prefer jump scrolling. This goes back to the days when I used dumb terminal almost exclusively. [5] This is _after_ we've disabled "Do not save encrypted pages to disk" in the advanced settings and check a few other things. [6] Don't ask me why we do it this way. It's only horse racing information, and I'm not part of the decision-making process here.
Gord McLeod	posted 11-24-98 06:59 PM ET My take on things as a tech support person and web designer who needs to run both IE and Netscape in order to ensure compatability: Both IE and Netscape are fine browsers that suffer from a number of problems. I personally find that IE works better for some uses, Netscape for others. In general I greatly prefer Netscape. AOL & Netscape: It's confirmed that AOL is buying Netscape. But I'm not overly concerned about this - yes, I'm not fond of AOL, but who really cares? Netscape has already released the source code to Communicator and Mozilla is coming along quite nicely. It won't be long before we don't have to use the Netscape version of Netscape anymore, so AOL really can't do any harm if all you're interested in is a good browser.
DJ RRebel	posted 11-25-98 12:40 AM ET Spoe ... thanks for your feedback ... and you are correct, both are terrible products ... in reality, most software is ... we just have to do like you say and choose the lessr of the evils availlable to us !!! SMAC will be the savior ,,, SMAC will be the anti-software !!!