18 replies to this topic

[Icey Defeat]

AOL will officially pull the plug on the Netscape Web browser next week, which raises the question: Netscape is still alive? The rise and fall of Netscape is a reminder of just how quickly technology changes – and a warning to approach battles against Microsoft cautiously. Netscape was founded in 1994, and quickly won customers by providing software that made it easy for people to navigate the Internet. Netscape went public a year later and saw its stock price nearly triple on its first day of trading. At one point, the company had an $8 billion market cap and 90% of the Web browser market. But soon it all went south. Microsoft introduced its Internet Explorer browser and began eating into Netscape’s market share. Microsoft later paid AOL, which bought Netscape in 2000, $750 million to settle antitrust charges.

By the late 1990s, the handwriting was on the wall, and for the last several years the company has been little more than a footnote. Today, Netscape has less than 1% of the browser market. At the end of December, AOL announced it would stop supporting Netscape on February 1, but ended up giving the browser a one-month stay of execution. This week, the diehards who still use Netscape’s browser received a notice telling them it was time to start using either the Firefox or Flock browsers — for some reason Netscape didn’t suggest switching to Explorer – officially marking the end of an era. I remember using Netscape back in the old days when noone cared about IE, but the times of glory are definitely over.

Percentage of people who care, 0.

[ToxicS]

I remember when netscape was popular, but firefox took over

[Hydrogen]

I didn't even know this was still around . About time?

[Chew]

It used to be my number one choice but yea I left it behind for Fire Fox.

[SupermanFTM]

Yeah.. poor netscape, it had a... decent life. Well, it was born well

[Blizzard]

Even though I never liked NS, its sad to see it go I used it in 3-5th grade at school.

[Sunset]

I knew it was still around my neighbours always use it... why I donno, the last time I used it was in grade school but then started using ie an firefox.

[Blizzard]

Oh man is this how firefox will die?

I bet my grandchildren are going to be like wtf is firefox?

[chalupabatman]

I never really liked NS. I tried it once but automatically moved on to FF. It was way more efficient

[Black Flame]

I used Netscape for maybe...2 months? Then I went back to IE, now I've discovered the wonders of FF.

But yeah, it was bound to happen.

[adonis]

I remember using it over 8 yrs ago. honestly I didn't even kjnow it was still around.

[Blizzard]

Never knew AOL owned it, always thought Net-Zero or w/e owned it.

[Grizzy]

I was forced to use NetScape.

IE was my standard, but I fux with FireFox now and forever.

AOL was a beast before I had a real connection.

[ShadowLink64]

I remember using Netscape Navigator too. Those were the days.

[Blizzard]

I remember using Netscape Navigator too. Those were the days.

I know what you mean.

It was like the start of it all!

Man.

[Shadiel]

Oh god.
I remember the days of Netscape. I used it for years before Firefox came out.
It's a real shame to see it go, but does this mean Microsoft will have to put Firefox on as the mandatory secondary browser? :0

[tastyphoxette]

I think I only remember using Netscape at school... MAYBE. I can't really remember it at all...


Uh, but... it's... sad to see it go...?

[Eeyore]

Never once used it . I actually read this topic to find out what it even was hehe. My younger years were always internet explorer and now I use Firefox, I got into it just before IE made it's 7.0 or whatever which essentially copied absolutely everything Firefox had, but I still don't like it as much.

[Axy]

I used to use netscape way back in the days of netscape navigator 4.0 They just kept bundling more software with every release, which is what made me switch to the evils of IE. Later, i discovered the joys of Firefox and loved it ever since.