WidowPC Gaming Computers - RIP Netscape
 December 28th, 2007 -- A day that will live in Internet history. Today, AOL announced that they will no longer support Netscape or it's continued development. They are letting current Netscape users know that they recommend Firefox (so do I). I'll tell you why I recommend it, later.
For now, let's remember Netscape. For those of you new to the Internet, Netscape used to BE the Internet. In mid 1995, Netscape accounted for over 80% of all browsers used. I remember visiting my local CompUSA (another RIP) and seeing multiple rows and versions of Netscape Navigator available for purchase. Purchase! Now imagine paying money for an Internet browser. It doesn't happen any more. In 1998, Netscape was sold to AOL for $4.2 billion. It was only a few months later that Microsoft's free Internet Explorer stole the majority of the browser market, with a steady majority of users viewing the world wide web through Internet Explorer by the end of 1998. From that point on, it was a downhill slide for Netscape.
As of AOL's announcement today, Netscape had less than 1%, Firefox (Netscape's heir to the original Netscape code and core following) controlled roughly 16%, and Internet Explorer controlled roughly 77% of browser usage on the Internet.
If you're reading this article using Internet Explorer, I'd like to encourage you to try Firefox. It's more secure, takes up less of your overall memory and is simply the Right Thing To Do.
Until next time, have a great holiday season and please take a few moments this New Year's Eve to remember the great innovators who brought us the graphically based world wide web -- the way we experience the Internet today.
Joshua out! =)
Founder, WidowPC
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