Re: AOL purchase of Netscape

[John Bryan <johnb@austin.rr.com>]

If it were me, I would maintain Netscape's Communicator and Navigator and
other such products as they are non-trivially represented in the commercial
enterprise space.  I know of at least one multi-national that has a deal with
Netscape for their browser and email clients, and has standardized on these
throughout the corporation.  Why pull the plug on that?

Another reason is that _when_ this antitrust trial is over with, and appropriate
corrective, and possibly punative, actions are mandated, then it might be
possible to make a more extensive use of these products given that AOL's
dependency on MS Billboard space, er, Desktop, is not so necessary.

My hope is that AOL will continue the efforts of the development of
Mozilla to the degree that it doesn't fade out of public mind and hard-drive
share below a line of no return.

They can't trumpet it too loudly now, as MS will (attempt to?) everage that to
their advantage in the antitrust proceedings.

"But then that's just my opinion, I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller

John B.  johnb@austin.rr.com

rlande@UBmail.ubalt.edu wrote:

> What makes us think that AOL will continue to support the Netscape
> browser?  The Netscape founders have a personal stake in supporting
> their "baby" even if there is a really good chance that Microsoft will
> squish it, and even if it will take many years to become profitable.
>
> For AOL, by contrast, it will look like an almost sure looser.  Why
> antagonize their partner, Microsoft, by aggressively pumping money into
> the browser, which they will then give away?  Why fight Microsoft  which
> is engaging in effective predatory behavior against the browser?  Why not
> direct those very smart and creative people to other projects, like
> portals, which are more likely to make money---
>
> Bob Lande