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Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd

Following up a story from May, linux2004 writes "for those who thought Netscape was dead after firing all their staff and spinning Mozilla off into a non-profit foundation, then think again. It was announced a while back that Netscape would continue releases of their browser suite and now the release date has been confirmed as August 3rd as a free download or by buying a CD. I don't think it'll take the attention away from Firefox but will be a decent upgrade for those using Netscape 7.1. The 7.2 release will be based on Mozilla 1.7 and will probably have the usual Netscape additions."

263 comments

  1. Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Maybe my stoopid admins will upgrade my machie from Netscape 4 to the new version...

    1. Re:Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean Netscape 4.75 isn't the latest thing?

      Quick, somebody get me my IT dept's number!

    2. Re:Good. by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

      I also use 4.7, and it works reasonably well. I do get warnings that "This site only supports browsers made after the dinosaurs died", but Slashdot still works.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    3. Re:Good. by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 1
      You mean Netscape 4.75 isn't the latest thing?
      Quick, somebody get me my IT dept's number!

      Our users complained about Netscape being outdated so the IT department deleted it and told everyone to use IE 6.0 now as the only supported browser. Be careful what you wish for...

    4. Re:Good. by werner75 · · Score: 1

      Well, i hate IE6 but its still *much* better that Netscape 4 regarding Web Standarts.

    5. Re:Good. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In it's day, I thought Netscape 4.07 was good.
      Now about Netscape 7.2:
      Are they going to offer a Linux version, or should I just stick with Firefox 0.8 and quit while I am ahead?
      Also, I tried to get a new tarball for the latest Firefox, and cannot find one, unless one wants to make your own from 32 MB of source. What gives? Do I just need to send in $4.95 to Mozilla for the CD?

    6. Re:Good. by yerfatma · · Score: 1

      Yeah. I can't stand IE and love Firefox, but I don't see "We gave up Netscape 4 and wound up with IE6" as a life lesson you could teach to the grandkids.

    7. Re:Good. by AKnightCowboy · · Score: 1
      Yeah. I can't stand IE and love Firefox, but I don't see "We gave up Netscape 4 and wound up with IE6" as a life lesson you could teach to the grandkids.

      Oh really? I don't remember my browser becoming infested with spyware and viruses using Netscape 4.7. How many browser helper objects have infested your IE installation and slowed it to a crawl? If you're careful not too many, but to the average user it's a nightmare until they discover adaware or spybot. ;-/

  2. Oh man! by Doomie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unbelievable:

    Netspace is not dead!
    Doom III is out!

    And both of them on the same day... Crazy... This must be some conspiracy against slashdot users :)

    --
    Doomie
    1. Re:Oh man! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Well, it could be worse. Duke Nukem Forever could be coming out today...

    2. Re:Oh man! by mrbarkeeper · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't worry man, Duke Nukem Forever is still scheduled to be released "when it's done". The end is nigh but not that close.

    3. Re:Oh man! by jav1231 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've been using Firefox. I can't possibly imagine why I'd want Netscape. I wonder what the percentage of users on Firefox/Mozilla vs. Netscape would be? I guess I just don't understand why they don't just move to the Mozilla name completely.

    4. Re:Oh man! by swv3752 · · Score: 1

      Occaisionally you will get that odd website that will not work with Moz because the admins code to only allow IE or Netscape.

      I imagine AOL wants to keep Netscape around for thier budget ISP.

      --
      Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life
    5. Re:Oh man! by mbottrell · · Score: 1

      I was under the 'Forever' referred to the development time for the product...

    6. Re:Oh man! by nova20 · · Score: 1
      I prefer mozilla as well... I like the fact that you can download *just the browser* and nothing else if you want to. I don't get a browser because it comes with news, mail, chat, and a goddamned isp. The only thing I have to "strip" out of mozilla are a few bookmarks I'll never use, but even so, those bookmarks are nicely kept in one folder so if I want I can delete them all at once.

      /nova20

    7. Re:Oh man! by nova20 · · Score: 1
      Occaisionally you will get that odd website that will not work with Moz because the admins code to only allow IE or Netscape.

      Dude, admins like that deserve to loose some of their user base.

      Besides, in some versions of FF you can change your browser's ID so it answers as netslave or internut exploder would.

      /nova20

    8. Re:Oh man! by mteichrob · · Score: 0

      Duke Nukem would be alright... But I'm still waiting for the next release of Ken's Labyrinth!!

      --
      Life is a journey. . . enjoy it!
    9. Re:Oh man! by swv3752 · · Score: 1

      When I am browsing websites or ordering online, yeah I probably will give the site a pass if it doesn't work in Moz. If I am trying to pay my bills online with my bank though... I will go ahead and fire up Netscape (and complain to the webmaster).

      --
      Just a Tuna in the Sea of Life
    10. Re:Oh man! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      netslave? internut exploder!?!

      roflomg...
      WE'RE ON TEH LOLLERCOASTER NOW!!!!!

    11. Re:Oh man! by jav1231 · · Score: 1

      Yeah. We have the "user-install" version of IE. 65MB! I'm sorry, but if you write a browser that's 65MB you're evil. Imagine the crap that's bound to be in that!!

    12. Re:Oh man! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Occaisionally you will get that odd website that will not work with Moz because the admins code to only allow IE or Netscape.

      and occasionally i will call up their business office and ask their sales manager what percentage of the market share he would like .... 100% he responds ... and i tell him that he needs to write his webpages for more than just IE because IE doesn't have 100% of the browser market.

    13. Re:Oh man! by XnR'rn · · Score: 1

      Hey, wasn't called "Forever" for nothing. They knew what they were doing when named it like that.

  3. August 3rd ... by Reez · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Isn't there some game coming out on the same day ? :)

  4. it's not the first time... by nuggetman · · Score: 1, Informative

    why does the post read like this is the first NS release ever since Mozilla was founded?

    --
    ...and that's all there is to it.
    1. Re:it's not the first time... by linuxci · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's the first release since the Mozilla *Foundation* was founded just over a year ago. It was formed July 15th, 2003 and Netscape 7.1 was released June 29th, at the time it was expected to be the last Netscape release.

    2. Re:it's not the first time... by HaloZero · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Too bad it wasn't.

      Netscape is a dead browser. It needs to be depreciated, and pushed out the door. It's always, always had lackluster support for CSS/DHTML, and it's JavaScript system, while I understand that Netscape concieved of JavaScript, the standard sadly enough became Microsoft's interpretation of it. Yes, that sucks, but when you have to write three different versions of a single script to support one page (not that JavaScript is irreplaceable, mind you), it's time to use the most common one. Given that, once we get rid of Netscape's backwards requirements, every browser should adopt a unified standard for JavaScript, so it all works. Seamlessly. It's NOT that hard to pull off. People just have to be willing to do that.

      --
      Informatus Technologicus
    3. Re:it's not the first time... by KarmaMB84 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Netscape 7.2 will be based on Mozilla 1.7, so your rants over Netscape are not applicable.

    4. Re:it's not the first time... by kundor · · Score: 1

      Uh, netscape and mozilla have been the same thing for a long time now. You're thinking of Netscape 4; in case you hadn't noticed it's up to 7.2.

  5. New Book? by BinaryWolf · · Score: 2

    I wonder if there will be a new addition to the Book of Mozilla. The Book of Mozilla, 8:3

  6. The best idea by jb.hl.com · · Score: 3, Interesting

    A better idea would probably be a Netscape branded Firefox. That would kick ass.

    --
    By summer it was all gone...now shesmovedon. --
    1. Re:The best idea by nuggetman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      meh, netscape and kickass were words that went together in 1996

      now i think netscape, i think bloat

      mozilla is today what netscape was years ago, and when you add the netscape monicker, that just brings the image of quality downward

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    2. Re:The best idea by jrbush82 · · Score: 1

      I agree. The Mozilla project if I am not mistaken is funded by Netscape. With Firefox being big in the browser erra, why not put the money back into the Firefox project and continue improvements on it, rather than dumping money into another release of Netscape.

    3. Re:The best idea by PoprocksCk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I totally agree. But it shouldn't just contain Firefox. I think Netscape 8.0 should give you the option to install several components, just like always. I think it should have Netscape Navigator, based on Firefox 1.0, Netscape Mail based on Thunderbird, and Netscape Composer based on Nvu. I think they should scrap the AIM addition -- most people that use AIM use it already, and wouldn't be willing to switch to a half-baked Netscape-integrated version. Then again, maybe they could give the option to install regular AIM in the Netscape installer? Who knows, the possibilities are endless!

    4. Re:The best idea by linuxci · · Score: 3, Informative

      The Mozilla project if I am not mistaken is funded by Netscape.

      Well, since the formation of the Mozilla Foundation in July 2003 then Mozilla was totally independent of Netscape, they did get some cash off them and they still host some of mozilla.org's FTP mirrors (others are hosted at various volunteers) but now mozilla.org are not controlled by any way with Netscape. I'm sure they've done what they can to help Netscape with this release, but the Foundation are concentrating on standalone apps now rather than the Netscape style suite.

      If Netscape decides to make a Netscape 8.0 based on Firefox, great for them, but Firefox is now becoming a brand in its own right.

    5. Re:The best idea by endx7 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      A better idea would probably be a Netscape branded Firefox. That would kick ass.

      Naw, a better idea is just to use firefox in the first place. Then you don't have to worry about what netscape is doing. ;P

    6. Re:The best idea by golgotha007 · · Score: 1

      i have a feeling this new version of Netscape wasn't exactly planned, and thrown together at the last minute.

      It seems to me that AOL gave up on Netscape after the last release, just because MSIE had so much marketshare.

      Wait, what's this? A bunch of news reports advising people not to use MSIE anymore? I'm sure AOL saw this and decided to switch gears, and fast.

      We all know that the new Netscape is just basically Mozilla with a bunch of advertising type of stuff and AOL software bundled up, but people like my dad don't mind all that extra crap. They're used to seeing it all anyway because they don't know how to block ads or popups or spam.

      I like the idea that the people 'in the know' have a way to steer clear from all the marketing garbage, especially since these types of people spend more time in front of the computer anyway.

    7. Re:The best idea by pmsyyz · · Score: 1

      Netscape 8.0 Lite will rule you!

      --
      Phillip
    8. Re:The best idea by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      This is not a new as you may think. I know that I had been hearing about Netscape 7.2 for at least the last couple of months. Just before the whole "kick IE" glut of articles started to run.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
  7. It's A Sign Of The End Times! (n/t) by wiredog · · Score: 0

    Cat got your tongue? (something important seems to be missing from your comment ... like the body or the subject!) ,/i>

  8. August 3rd? by dykofone · · Score: 2, Funny
    I found a list of some of the new features:

    - First-person browser: Seventh installment in the ground-breaking NETSCAPE series

    - Enhanced storyline; winner of multiple awards for graphics,sound,and action

    - Spine-chilling, bloodcurdling, altogether unfriendly environment

    - Music by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails

    - One of the most highly anticipated titles of 2004

  9. take attention away from Firefox? by garcia · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Give me a break. Most uninformed people (which is the majority of people in this world) do not have a clue what Firefox is. These same people probably do know what Netscape is.

    Netscape might not be as advanced and bleeding edge as Firefox or Mozilla but at least it has the name recognition that the non-geeks require.

    1. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by linuxci · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Firefox is getting so much press now that I'm sure a lot more people know what it is compared to, say, even just a month ago.

      But it's still good that a browser with long time name recognition is still in the race and it gives people choice, and choice is good if it's standards compliant choice. Many web stats show that Mozilla is above it's Netscape branded cousin now in market share but I still know people who were happy with 7.1, these people preferred a suite and perhaps Netscape use their marketing dollars on this while Mozilla directs its marketing efforts towards the standalone Firefox and Thunderbird.

    2. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by finkployd · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm not sure how true that is anymore. After the recent IE debacles, just about every news source (printed, online, radio, tv) was talking about alternative browsers for a while. Firefox and Opera were always the two mentioned. I think more people have heard of it (although still probably never tried it) than you think.

      Finkployd

    3. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by seasunset · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I suppose that even Netscape its not a known brand (ie by average users). Most of current Internet users are either post-Netscape dominance or didn't care that much and don't remember.

      Summarizing: Netscape nowadays is almost as minoritary as Firefox for Joe user.

      [Writing this post on Mozilla 1.7 BTW]

    4. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by FooBarWidget · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Uhm no. Most people these days don't know what Netscape is. Those who do remember Netscape are those who have been using a computer for a while. However, when they heard "Netscape" they immediately think "buggy, bloated, slow", etc. The name Netscape will have no impact on most people, but will have a negative impact on most people who do know Netscape.

    5. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Firefox is getting so much press now that I'm sure a lot more people know what it is compared to, say, even just a month ago.

      While this is very true you forget that most people don't get their news from the online sources that we (those that actually care to stay up on the news and CE) do.

      I don't know a single person outside of my more computer literate friends that knows that IE has vulnerabilities or what Firefox is. In fact, a quick check through my webserver logs finds that the just about the only people using FireFox are those that are coming from slashdot URLs.

    6. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by garcia · · Score: 1

      However, when they heard "Netscape" they immediately think "buggy, bloated, slow", etc. The name Netscape will have no impact on most people, but will have a negative impact on most people who do know Netscape.

      No one that is an average user thinks about "buggy, bloated, and slow." Average people just don't care about that. They care about what is easy to use and doesn't require any thinking.

    7. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by FooBarWidget · · Score: 1

      In that case, Netscape has lost and will never win. MSIE in included in Windows - nothing can be easier than that.

    8. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thank you Captain Obvious. What point do you think he was trying to make?

    9. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by mwood · · Score: 1

      Yeah, everytime someone finds a new hole in IE these days, CNN has a story on it the next day.

    10. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by cuzality · · Score: 1

      There have been more and more stories in the mainstream press mentioning Firefox as a cure for what ails your computer:

      Salt Lake Tribune
      The Age
      Sierra Star (CA)
      Sun-Sentinel (FL)
      News-Press (FL)
      News-Leader (MO)
      The Scotsman (guys in skirts)
      etc...

    11. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by garcia · · Score: 1

      There sure has, and again, you are ignoring the fact that most people don't read news pertaining to Internet Explorer vunerabilities. I didn't ignore that it has received mainstream coverage. I am just more aware of the fact that most people don't give a shit about it.

    12. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by cuzality · · Score: 1

      most people don't give a shit about it

      People don't care about what browser they use or what it's vulnerabilities are -- you are correct.

      But they do care about making their computer work the way they want it too: fast, and without a lot of pop-ups. And the media knows this: media doesn't sell newspapers or attract viewers by saying, "Here's a new browser that's been introduced!" or "A new hole was discovered in IE!"

      They say, "Got spyware? Got pop-ups? Got problems with your computer? Check out Firefox!"

      And that's how Firefox will get new users. In addition to all the "Mom, I fixed your computer -- it might look a little different but it'll run a lot faster and better" kind of new users.

    13. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually I had given my family Mozilla to use and skinned it up as IE. I went home to do some updates before I started a new job and got questioned on what this firefox thing was and could i install it.

    14. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by zurab · · Score: 1

      I find this is true not only with users, but also with clueless web "developers" and web "masters".

      Too often I have heard from a web "developer" I had to work with:

      - what program is this? Mo... what? Is that an IE skin? Netscape, really? Is that an old version? I thought they shut down, oh well...

      I contacted a webmaster of a popular public site not long ago, and a gist of the support he/she offered was:

      - Hi, I accessed your site and got this javascript error in my browser; I tried Firefox, Opera, and Konqueror - they all report the same error.
      - We only support IE and Netscape.
      - Netscape uses Gecko - the same engine as Firefox.
      - Sorry, we only support IE and Netscape!
      - OK, I tried with Netscape, I am getting the same error, as I told you.
      - Did you upgrade your Netscape? Upgrade and then tell me.
      - Yes, I installed Netscape 7.1 - the most recent version available.
      - OK, what was the problem again?
      - Whatever, forget it...

      I think "we support IE and Netscape" is a cliche that a lot of web sites and "developers" still actively use. I guess it's good for marketing and it also keeps Netscape brand name in front of site visitors once in a while.

    15. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      As long as Netscape is based on extra-stable Mozilla branches this will be the case.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    16. Re:take attention away from Firefox? by osssmkatz · · Score: 1

      Actually, my Mom found out. I am not close enough to maintain her computer on a regular basis. When the outbreak, I walked her through installation of Zonealarm Suite, which promised by process control to stop the first virus born from the vulnerability.

      It also had built-in antivirus.

      Later, she told me that her neighbor Beatrice had recieved an e-mail asserting that IE was not safe anymore.

      After walking her through installation of Mozilla Firefox, I told her that she could still use IE for Yahoo! Mail, and sites that didn't work in Mozilla Firefox. (Yahoo! Mail has a bunch of IE-only features. My mom said she didn't care abot those.)

      That seems an indication to me that people know, and are switching. It made me happy, and hopeful.

      Now I'm going to go download WebEyes, a great proprietary IE extension. There's nothing like it for Mozilla.

      http://www.webeyes.us

  10. Glad to hear it by bpowell423 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I use Netscape 7.1 right now, rather than Mozilla or Firefox because I have some online financial sites that recognize Netscape and IE, but refuse to work with Mozilla. I refuse to use IE whenever possible, so, I'm glad to hear that Netscape keeps marching on.

    1. Re:Glad to hear it by Xshare · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well being as how most of the programming/backend behind Netscape vs. Mozilla/FF is the same, wouldn't all you need is a UserAgent Switcher and then you wouldn't have ANY problems at all, and could still be using Mozilla/FF? I mean if the site works with Netscape it's bound to work with Mozilla, just not know it.

    2. Re:Glad to hear it by will_die · · Score: 5, Informative

      Had that problem with firefox then got user agent switcher and use that when I need to lie about my brower type.
      You can mess around with the message that is send, so for instance you can report that you are internet explorer running on a commodore-64.

    3. Re:Glad to hear it by Itsik · · Score: 1

      You can install the perftoolbar for Mozilla.
      Once you have that, you can change the User Agent ID to IE or Netscape or whatever your financial website wants to "see".

      That's all there is to it.

    4. Re:Glad to hear it by PaulJS · · Score: 2, Insightful

      User agent switching can be harmful, it messes with sites stats and therefore makes your favourite browser seem less popular.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    5. Re:Glad to hear it by fred_sanford · · Score: 1

      That's why you only use it when necessary. Due to a myriad of reasons, some sites code only for the most popular browser but their browser detect is rudimentary. By switching your user agent only when necessary, you can still get a majority of the gimped site to display.

    6. Re:Glad to hear it by bpowell423 · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the info. Maybe I'll try that.

    7. Re:Glad to hear it by lofoforabr · · Score: 1

      Why not use Firefox with the User Agent Switcher extension? It lets you give your browser whatever disguise you want.

    8. Re:Glad to hear it by hcdejong · · Score: 1
      Damn, just when I installed it so I could enter
      Thermonuclear War (WOPR; Cheyenne Mountain)
      or
      ChadGenerator (Difference Engine; Babbage Computing)
    9. Re:Glad to hear it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why not just do what you're doing so that you don't have to do any extra work?

    10. Re:Glad to hear it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But lying is unchristian!

    11. Re:Glad to hear it by tswann01 · · Score: 1

      ...I have some online financial sites that recognize Netscape and IE, but refuse to work with Mozilla... ...there's still some web sites I know that say they support Netscape and not Firefox... [from another thread]

      WHAT SITES?

      One way to get them to change is to have more people complain about them. When we don't say who they are, this can't happen! Come on now, please think.

    12. Re:Glad to hear it by mikeswi · · Score: 1

      The default option in that extension is to switch back to the real user agent as soon as the browser is closed and restarted. Even if someone forgot to switch back after visiting the obnoxious site trying to lock them out, it would switch on its own.

      That's also useful for that ridiculous Sun java bug that tries to tell you that you can't use the netscape java plug in with Internet Explorer if you leave the user agent set to MSIE. At one point Firefox was unable to load because of Sun's bug (which Sun refuses to fix).

  11. Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by nayigeta · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Otherwise, I do not see a reason to move away from Firefox.

    Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Thunderbird will support Netscape mail, being proprietory.

    --
    Sunset over the lake, cool mist over the bridge; A leave upon the ripples, the snow reflects its glow.
    1. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Considering the amount of spam you receive on Netscape mail and the fact that there are better alternatives, I say, "Who cares?"

    2. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by stoborrobots · · Score: 1

      When did netscape mail become proprietary? I seem to recall that Netscape Messenger used Unix mbox-format mailfolders... At least until 4.x when I was moving mail folders between the two on a regular basis...

      I stopped using Netscape/Mozilla for mail many moons ago, tho', and while I believe that Mozilla Mail still uses mbox files, I'm not sure about Netscape... Or Thunderbird, come to think of it...

    3. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by linuxci · · Score: 1

      When did netscape mail become proprietary? I seem to recall that Netscape Messenger used Unix mbox-format mailfolders...

      He means accessing Netscape webmail through the mail client. Netscape webmail is accessible like a normal mail account through Netscape 6 and above but it's not available through standard IMAP.

      You're right Netscape, Mozilla and Thunderbird store messages in the standard 'mbox' format

    4. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by RetroGeek · · Score: 1

      I would asy that nayigeta (792068) does for one...

      --

      - - - - - - - - - - -
      I am a programmer. I am paid to produce syntax not grammar. Deal with it.
    5. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by mjake · · Score: 2, Informative

      There are actually several nice things Netscape has that Mozilla doesn't:

      - support for the extended IMAP for accessing free netscape.net accounts (as you said)

      - support for syncing your address book with your netscape.net account address book (very handy to keep your address book on all your computers in sync)

      - on Linux Netscape 7.X has always shipped with extra fonts, which IMHO are very decent, and were better than any X fonts a few years back (unfortunately these fonts only seem to be available to Netscape itself)

      - Netscape ships with it's own spell checker, which was great when Mozilla didn't have one, now it is just somewhat better than the Mozilla spell checker

      - Netscape ships with some plugins like Flash included and preconfigured, which is nice if you are lazy like me or a newbie

      - if you think that a red dinosaur is dorky, the Netscape theme is a bit more tasteful

      - when Mozilla required uninstalling old versions, Netscape let you install over the old versions (maybe the install did the removal for you)

      - I am probably missing something with AIM, but I don't use it, and don't know if Mozilla can do it too

      For some reason I never see the address book syncing or extra fonts on Linux mentioned as Netscape assets, although to me they are quite valuable.

    6. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by jesterzog · · Score: 1

      Perhaps your experiences have differed, but I've managed to quite successfully import mail into Mozilla from Netscape 7. (I haven't specifically tried Thunderbird.)

      There's no explicit import-netscape-7-mail option on the Mozilla import menu which I found a little strange, but the mail formats are the same, or at least very similar. As long as you can locate the correct mail directory, it's a matter of updating the paths in your assorted prefs.js (or whatever other preferences files are lying around). It's slightly technical and ideally it really shouldn't be that complicated, but it's not impossible if you know how to look around your disk and edit a text file here and there.

      Failing that, there are several less direct ways that you could move mail between most formats. One that comes to mind might be to find an IMAP server to run locally that supports an open format, connect to it using Netscape and copy all of your existing mail to the IMAP folders. Then you can use whatever utility is appropriate to go from the open format behind the IMAP server to Mozilla.

      Personally I prefer to just do everything through my IMAP server, since it gives me a much wider choice of what mail client to use at any given time, and I can run a couple on different workstations without serious complications if I really want to.

    7. Re:Only reason is the Netscape mail extension by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe if you learned to spell "proprietary" http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=proprieta ry

  12. An open-source warning? by mccalli · · Score: 5, Interesting
    OK, I'm mostly pro-open source but this one is interesting. What happened here is that a company had a product, fired the staff developing that product, and then still released a new version utilising the continuing free labour of those who it had put out of a job.

    Bit of a cautionary tale perhaps?

    Cheers,
    Ian

    1. Re:An open-source warning? by ChrisWong · · Score: 2, Insightful
      What happened here is that a company had a product, fired the staff developing that product, and then still released a new version utilising the continuing free labour of those who it had put out of a job.

      It's called outsourcing.

    2. Re:An open-source warning? by finkployd · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, don't try to make money writing someone as general as a web browser. Like OSes, Word Processors, ftp clients, etc they are now commodities (unless you are Microsoft). Go find something someone actually needs and is willing to pay money for and write that.

      Finkployd

    3. Re:An open-source warning? by dmayle · · Score: 1

      It's better than a company that had a product, fired the staff developing that product, and left everyone hanging and slave to a product like Internet Explorer. I'd say that what they did was commendable, and it only took a couple of years to fix the pile of crap that was the original Netscape code...

    4. Re:An open-source warning? by JimDabell · · Score: 1

      Cautionary tale? Not at all. The developers know that their contributions may be used by companies. I see no difference to whether it's their ex-employer or other companies that do it. The developers aren't forced to continue contributing to Mozilla after AOL stops employing them to do that.

    5. Re:An open-source warning? by linuxci · · Score: 1

      They did lay off their workforce, and even if AOL tries to re-hire them I don't think anyone would take their job back.

      However, it looks like AOL have contracted some key foundation staff (see mention of the guidebook - he also wrote the Mozilla 1.7 Guidebook too) to help with this release, plus there's some ex-Netscape staff still working on other projects within AOL that could help out.

    6. Re:An open-source warning? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Open-source outsourcing - the best of both worlds.

    7. Re:An open-source warning? by _Sprocket_ · · Score: 4, Interesting


      OK, I'm mostly pro-open source but this one is interesting. What happened here is that a company had a product, fired the staff developing that product, and then still released a new version utilising the continuing free labour of those who it had put out of a job.


      That's an interesting point. However, you're cutting out a whole lot of Netscape history. By the time Netscape released an Open Source codebase, it was already a doomed company. Creating the Mozilla project was a final defiant action. AOL's purchase of Netscape was both added life and final blow to what we knew as Netscape. It was an indication of Netscape's position as well as a corporate shift that caused a mass exodus of Netscape talent. But at the same time, it did present some continued corporate sponsorship to the Mozilla project.

      The parent's timeline makes it sound like the decline of Netscape's employment started at, or was a direct result of the Open Source process. But this decline was already well underway. And it could even be argued that the Mozilla project maintained value in even a small number of Netscape jobs.

      There is one major issue that would be easy to overlook. If Netscape had remained proprietary, it would have simply faded away with so many other codebases wiped out by the dot-boom collapse. And as many of us know, a failed product is not a great source of employment in itself.
    8. Re:An open-source warning? by beforewisdom · · Score: 1

      I hate defending AOL, but their funds got the mozilla project started and those programmers involved with it in the first place.

    9. Re:An open-source warning? by Ari_Haviv · · Score: 1

      While Netscape did open up the codebase (AKA netscape 5), that code has nothing to do with what we have as mozilla today. Instead of putting out a release based on the old code, they spent many years rewriting everything. The rewriting also contributed to the decline of Netscape because of the time it took plus the misguided release of Netscape 6.

      --
      Join Team Mozilla #38050 Folding@home
    10. Re:An open-source warning? by T-Ranger · · Score: 1

      True. And to add to the story, what they released as OSS diddnt even compile. The was a bunch of necesary 3rd party code in it that was removed. And they (Netscap) / we (outside developers (but not me)) spent about a year trying to work with the old code before they/we gave up.

      But the question is not if the current Mozilla codebase contains any Netscape <=4.x code in it, but if the release fo the 4.x code spawned a community that is still active. And that is a resounding YES.

      The thing about glibc, gcc, the Linux kernel, etc, is that you can take a course, or read a book, on libc, compiler writing, Unix internals. In theory, any upper year CS undergrad should be able to contribute to those projects. But there is no manual on writing a web browser. It is hard because it is new. The Mozilla codebase is huge. Contributing to the project thus requires a steep learning curve, and implicitly, highly motivated coders. A lot of that motivation comes from "because it is Netscape" and now "because it is Mozilla", beyond just "its an OSS web browser".

    11. Re:An open-source warning? by fcassia_at_gmail · · Score: 1

      Ian, If you digged a little you'd have realized that AOL actually HIRED a few of the guys laid off to do NS 7.2, plus they hired other folks previously involved in Mozilla to create a native XUL version of the "Netscape Toolbar", previously only available as an ActiveX control for MSIE. But then it's easy to take a cheap shot at AOL... Fernando

  13. Is Netscape Sun? by grunt107 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is a rather odd pattern. Sun gives OOo as a free [no $ - N$ for the rest of this] alternative to Word and sells a slightly more advanced version called StarOffice...

    Now Netscape is doing basically the same thing. Add in the other Linux vendors that offer something N$ and another with a price tag and spinoff of the old business model (lower optioned item at cost/loss to hook 'em and high-profit items to upgrade them later) is created.

    The real question for the software world is if this is a viable model in the long run?

    In OSS, there are quite a few individuals that keep the N$ items going, but is there much incentive for the priced offerings (other than businesses for support/peace of mind)?

    It will be interesting to watch this trend unfold

    1. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by mcsmurf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And how many paid developers work on OOo hired by Sun? None, 12 or even more :)? See, from AOL (former Netscape) nobody is working on Mozilla anymore.

    2. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by azaroth42 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You mean like ID gave away the first levels of DOOM and then sold a more advanced version (ie with more levels)?

      This is hardly a new model.

      --Azaroth

    3. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by FoboldFKY · · Score: 1

      Perhaps, but id actually coded both the demo and the full version. I think the parent was referring to open sourcing a product, letting others polish it to a shine for you, then rebrand it.

      --
      We're geeks... We're the sorcerers of the modern-day world. --
    4. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by fozzmeister · · Score: 1

      Thing is Sun isn't necessarily just pusing for people to OOo -> StarOffice, its also interested in getting businesses to switch to OOo/StarOffice then moving over to JDS

    5. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by Patik · · Score: 1

      It used to be called shareware.

    6. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by Creepy · · Score: 1

      Not really the same -

      Netscape is still released freely while Star Office is released as commercial software. The only reason Star Office is commercial, though, is because there was a demand for both additional fonts (which are licensed at cost) and support. The only reason Netscape is free is because MS forced them to give up their shareware model by bundling a 'free' browser with Windows. Microsoft soaked the cost by creating a non-free upgrade to Windows 98 (98SE) and hiking the price by $20.

      All of this basically falls into value added software. It's not unlike RedHat or any other commercial Linux vendor. This model is starting to appear in other areas like games, too - there are a few Open Source 3D engines on sourceforge that allow for commercial development, often without releasing the source code (many are non-GPL).

    7. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by nvioli · · Score: 1

      i think this is a good thing. those of us that like up-to-date security and nightly builds and don't mind slightly more complicated installs can stick with the OSS linux/firefox model. Those that can't part with the idea of paying for software and like things dumbed down and easy can pay for something a little more standard and widely supported, but with essentially the same power and security because they're built from close forks. --

      --
      the corporate mind is pointing toward the capitalizing of ignorance
    8. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by pjpII · · Score: 1

      Or Apogee gave away the first episode of Pharoh's Tomb, and you had to buy the succeeding episodes- that was their primary business model for dozens of games- Commander Keen, Duke Nukem(the original, GOOD ones that weren't just a pimply teenager's wet dream), Spy Hunter. It was an industry wide practice- hardly specific to ID and Doom, which came at the tail end of the shareware years.

      So yes, even in the example cited, shareware is hardly a new model.

    9. Re:Is Netscape Sun? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So when are the new levels for OOo coming out?

  14. Firefox launch by levell · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm not sure whether it'll help or hinder the Firefox launch, I don't really think it'll have much effect either way. What might do though is agreeing to advertise it so if you're webmaster of a high traffic site or have a say in what goes into a dead-tree magazine click the link...

    --
    Struggling to find a day everyone can make? WhenShallWe.com
  15. Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by grasshoppa · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I know I don't. I am grateful to them for the mozilla project, don't get me wrong, but netscape is little more than an AOL whore.

    It's akin to MS taking the latest mozilla, turning it into IE.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
    1. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by Patik · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes. Most people have never heard of Mozilla but they have used Netscape. It's good that Netscape keeps making releases because it keeps the amount of gecko-based browsers up, which impacts how web designers develop their sites. Most people also don't care about corporate politics or whether a product is free or Free.

    2. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by mirko · · Score: 1

      I'd be curious to know how many of these will be downloaded within a week...

      --
      Trolling using another account since 2005.
    3. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's akin to MS taking the latest mozilla, turning it into IE.

      Man, if only that could happen.. my job as a webmaster would be so much easier.

    4. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

      Yup! At home, I use Mozilla, but my boss thinks Mozilla is some sort of cheese. His only choices are Netscape or IEEE (sic).

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    5. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      *Downloads* for previous Netscape 7 releases were quite high. However, not many of those who downloaded actually started using it.

    6. Re:Does anybody take them seriously anymore? by Cyno · · Score: 1

      Yep and recent polls show that most people still believe that Jesus is their personal savior.

      I wish Jesus could save me from all of them.

  16. Room for a Firefox alternative? by no+longer+myself · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I rather like the idea that Netscape is still around. Back in my "Internet Explorer" days, Netscape seemed almost a joke. IE did everything that NS did, and it was pre-installed!

    Now that the WWW is a scarier place, Mozilla is much more comforting to me than IE, but I miss some of the ease of IE when it came to the ability to play some of the "multimedia" out there.

    Netscape was just as effective as IE when it came to that sort of thing, and if they can bring the "full flavor" back to the internet without the nagging security holes in Internet Explorer then it might just be worth the second chance.

    1. Re:Room for a Firefox alternative? by Bedouin+X · · Score: 1

      IE (OE) never did *everything* that Netscape did. Roaming Profiles and LDAP Autocomplete immediately jump to mind as things that kept me using 4.x for WAAAY longer than I had any business. Unfortunately Mozilla is just getting the peices together for the former.

      --
      Dissolve... Resolve... Evolve...
    2. Re:Room for a Firefox alternative? by xlark · · Score: 1

      You must either not be very old, or be very new to computers. I remember when IE was a joke that was shunned, and Netscape 4 was new and shiny. It's rather scary to see people who fondly remember IE.

  17. Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by manavendra · · Score: 1

    Expect :

    Bigger, slower executable
    HTML rendering/validation differences from *all* previous versions
    More pain in developing webpages/sites, since there will be yet another browser in the market, and the yuppies in marketing and sales will scream their throats off for "compatibility" with it

    --
    http://efil.blogspot.com/
  18. Re:Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by MrRuslan · · Score: 1

    Dude... Relax it's just mozilla 1.7 with a difrent logo...

  19. ....for those who thought Netscape was dead by carnivore302 · · Score: 1

    I thought this was already confirmed by netcraft? :-)

    So who is this guy Elliott?

    --
    Please login to access my lawn
  20. aim by minus_273 · · Score: 1

    hmm is the official aim client that comes with NS on linux better than their stand alone one? does it run oscar or toc?

    --
    The war with islam is a war on the beast
    The war on terror is a war for peace
    1. Re:aim by linuxci · · Score: 1

      Based on 7.1 it used the Oscar protocol and also supported ICQ but not simultaneously (for some reason).

      Didn't really have any advantages over the standalone one, the only time it was useful was in the days before AOL had an official Linux client, because the Netscape one would work when they were blocking the unofficial clients,

    2. Re:aim by nova20 · · Score: 1
      is the official aim client that comes with NS on linux better than their stand alone one?

      First off, I think Netscape on a linux box is just *wrong*. It offers no extras over mozilla, and because of all the bloat it's a little more unstable.

      Second, I've used Gaim for quite a while and haven't turned back. I've tried aol's linux IM, but it really sux compared to Gaim... but I guess that's just one man's opinion.

      /nova20

  21. Re:Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's based off of Mozilla 1.7 and they have no staff so I wouldn't expect the rendering engine to be any different. The pictures on the buttons maybe...

  22. Re:Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by mcsmurf · · Score: 1

    "I don't think so": Just compare Mozilla 1.4 to Mozilla 1.7 and you know what you get (with some additions).

  23. Since it's basically Gecko... by Denyer · · Score: 3, Interesting
    ...this could be a damn good thing. The non-technical people in marketing and sales probably remember Netscape, so if anything a slight shift towards standards-compliant code which works in more browsers is likely.

    That's as long as Netscape don't introduce additional bugs into their branded version, of course.

    --
    Ph-nglui mglw'nafh Gates M'dna wgah'nagl fhtagn.
  24. What about the Ngage QD? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Today is Walmart's shipping date for those that pre-ordered the Ngage QD.

    I am getting tired of hearing all the love stories about them from those in Africa and Asia when I can't even buy one yet!

    SP ---- Puts on his anti-flaming suit.

  25. Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by hcdejong · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm all for choice in the browser market, but why bother fielding 3 browsers, all based on the same code? AFAI can see, the functionality of all three could be achieved with a basic browser plus plugins/extensions/installation options. What's the reasoning behind The Way Things Are?

    1. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by kryptkpr · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Mozilla - Bloated everything and the kitchen sink browser+mail+news..

      Netscape - Same as above, but full of AOL branding.. built-in AIM, and all of their other bullshit.

      FireFox - A lightweight, fast, extendable browser that's right for 98% of people who just watch to ditch IE.

      --
      DJ kRYPT's Free MP3s!
    2. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by PaulJS · · Score: 1

      Well in the pre-foundation days Netscape was the end-user version of Mozilla ("Mozilla is not for end users" is what people would hear if they wanted Mozilla support), but people were working on Phoenix (now Firefox) which was to be mozilla.org's end user browser.

      I can imagine the Mozilla suite of applications will no longer be as prominent on the mozilla.org website once the standalone apps (Firefox, Thunderbird) reach 1.0. Netscape my keep the suite alive.

      Choice is good, whether someone prefers Netscape or Firefox it's a win for Gecko marketshare and that combined with others modern browsers (Opera, khtml, etc) will encourage people to build to the standards.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    3. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by hcdejong · · Score: 1

      So create an installer where "the kitchen sink" is a number of installation options. ISTR old Netscape versions that had this.
      As it is now, there are some weird differences, with Firefox missing some options that Mozilla has (e.g. "loop animations once") which make me use Mozilla even though I don't need the kitchen sink. IANAP (=Programmer), but the current situation could easily lead to duplicated effort.

    4. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by mldl · · Score: 1

      No-one is fielding all 3 browsers.

      Netscape has nothing to do with mozilla now but the code is there for them to do whatever they want with. Even you could release your very own Gecko browser.

      There's plenty of other browsers - such as Epiphany, Galeon and K-Meleon - which use the exact same Gecko code but have their own ideas about UI and native widget integration.

      What would be so bad about Microsoft taking Gecko code and making it into an IE version? People don't seem to look past the slyness of it but imagine that we could all use the technologies we've dreamed about on the intarweb. It would instantly update realistically available web technology 5 years.

      So if Netscape want to lubricate the grip of IE on its majority then we should be grateful, the same goes for a DoomBrowser based on Gecko or even a SlashDotBrowser. The more the merrier.

    5. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One angle to see it is retail, OEM, and wholesale. Netscape has less user base since most-informed uses Moz or Fire, like Nader taking away Gore's votes.

      Well, this is made under open source- competitiveness a non-issue...

    6. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by muckdog · · Score: 1

      What suite? I still keep Mozilla around because I like its html editor. I creates fairly clean html compaired to say Word, Frontpage or even star offices html editor. It the only thing I'd miss. Chatzilla is nice and all but there are plenty of other good IRC clients.

    7. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by MindStalker · · Score: 1

      the mozilla net installer has this. While it does include some unnessesary code, just installing the browser isn't all that large. Mozilla I believe is still planning on truly integrating firefox and thunderbird and whatnot, so that having them all installed seperatly will interact just like the monolithic mozilla. When this integration is complete, expect to see a single installer like the one you are asking for.

    8. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by Derek+Pomery · · Score: 1

      Mozilla. The Gecko core plus a bunch of XML and Javascript that just happens to do a lot of useful stuff that is web related.
      Firefox. The same Gecko core, not much more increase in speed, with a heck of a lot less XUL.

      The thing people don't seem to grasp is Mozilla has erased the barrier between web page, browser and application far more effectively and more safely than IE.
      Microsoft is trying play catchup with XAML, but at the moment there is already something out there for those who want to, oh, create a web app in PHP.

      The point is, the trump card of Microsoft is the ability to provide mail/news (Outlook), web browsing (IE) and file system (Explorer) all with the same hooks. Mozilla offers this and more.
      For those who want to be able to have Javascript debugging, DOM editing, chat, mail, news, encryption and more, Mozilla is a great technology demo for Gecko.

      For those whom choice confuses and scares, they ship Fire* with the *same* bloody core, not much difference in speed, but a nice restrained set of options.

      Frankly, those obsessing about an extra 4 or 5 megabytes of XML on top of the Gecko core need to accept that we aren't exactly using 2400 baud modems anymore.

      --
      -- perl -e'print pack"H*","6e656d6f406d38792e6f7267"' /. ate my old sig. Bastards.
    9. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by evilviper · · Score: 1
      Mozilla - Bloated everything and the kitchen sink browser+mail+news..
      [...]
      FireFox - A lightweight, fast, extendable browser

      I can't understand how people can say Mozilla is bloated, and Firefox is lightweight. It's got to be the power of suggestion.

      The two browsers have only TRIVIAL differences in their memory size, response time, and CPU performance. Why does Mozilla get such a bad name, when it's just as fast, and actually more stable?
      --
      Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
    10. Re:Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox by fcassia_at_gmail · · Score: 1

      Mozilla = an integrated browser, email client, and address book, plus the ability to edit HTML occasionally when you need to. Firefox = a dumbed down Mozilla for retards. Netscape 7.2 = everything Mozilla 1.7 is, with the essential plug-ins included, a good theme as the default (Modern instead of Classic), plus a very lightweight AIM and ICQ client (coded in XUL like the rest of the UI) in the sidebar tab. Guess what? I like it. Want a skinny dumb browser? get opera. Or why not Lynx? I guess you think that leaving users running Firefox and MS-Lookout! as their e-mail client is a wise combo. BTW: add up the download/install sizes of Firefox, and thunderbird and you get roughly the same app size as Mozilla. Some thing de-integration is cool. I think the opposite.

  26. This is good news by PaulJS · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is brilliant news there's still some web sites I know that say they support Netscape and not Firefox, if this can get the Netscape marketshare up until Firefox becomes a household name (and it's on its way - there's a lot of marketing planned around the 1.0 release) then it'll encourage webmasters to fix their bugs.

    Also it means there's a recent secure browser that people can switch to from IE if the pre-1.0 version number puts people off Firefox (I know the Mozilla suite is 1.7 but they never really did aim that one at end users and doesn't have the new extension management stuff Firefox will have).

    If you look at the copyright notice in the Netscape Store article linked to in the story you'll also notice that the store is run by MozSource which is the retail arm of the Mozilla Foundation.

    --

    --
    Beer is best!

    1. Re:This is good news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      'If you look at the copyright notice in the Netscape Store article linked to in the story you'll also notice that the store is run by MozSource which is the retail arm of the Mozilla Foundation.'

      Not true. MozSource is a trading name for E-Flo, an completely independent company. E-Flo have been contracted to run the Netscape Store for donkey's years. Soon after the Mozilla Foundation was created, it quickly made a deal with E-Flo to run its store.

      See http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=3 552 and http://www.mozillazine.org/talkback.html?article=3 833 for more details.
  27. Mozilla was paid by AOL. by nlinecomputers · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As I understand this Mozilla was paid by AOL to set this up for them. Not that this changed any of the procedures to create Netscape. Ever since Mozilla was founded they have crated Mozilla first and then rebranded and added the custom Netscape code on top after they rolled out Mozilla. One of the reasons the 1.7 codebase was locked is because Netscape was based on it. All the past locked branches have been timed with Netscape launches. Ex: Moz1.4 = NS7.1

    --
    Slashdot, home of supporters of free software, free music, and free speech.Except for Moderators that disagree with you.
  28. More like "AOL 10.0 Firefox" by tepples · · Score: 1

    If Netscape decides to make a Netscape 8.0 based on Firefox, great for them

    Let's see... Warner Bros. Pictures released Firefox the movie. WB parent Time Warner also owns America Online, which once funded the foundation that develops Firefox the web UA. Put $n and $n together, and it's entirely possible that AOL could work gecko into version 10 of the AOL client and use clips from the movie to promote AOL 10.0.

  29. bloated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    netscape is bloated and useless now that mozilla is out. firefox is picking up a huge amount of support and it's the best browser on the net.

    1. Re:bloated by PaulJS · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, firefox is the best for most people, but it still may not suit everyone. There's reasons some people may install netscape:

      - They've always used it, happy with it and don't want to change even though there's obvious benefits (the same sorta people who still use IE) - at least Netcape is standards compliant.
      - Some people prefer the suite to standalone apps, Netscape builds on Mozilla by adding common plugins which make it easier for the normal user.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    2. Re:bloated by WuphonsReach · · Score: 1

      netscape is bloated and useless now that mozilla is out. firefox is picking up a huge amount of support and it's the best browser on the net.

      I've used both Firefox and Mozilla. As to which is better depends on your usage patterns. (I do wish Mozilla would take after Firefox more... there are some differences between the two that there shouldn't be.)

      I used to use Firefox+Thunderbird. But since I always have both of those applications open, when the latest version of Mozilla came out I switched back to using Mozilla's suite.

      --
      Wolde you bothe eate your cake, and have your cake?
  30. Having seen 7.1 by mwood · · Score: 1

    I'd say any Mozilla after about 1.0 would be an upgrade for Netscape, as it would remove a bunch of advertising and other junk I'd be happier without.

    We offer NS 6 on our stations here in addition to the unremovable IE. Next time the images are updated, I'm going to lobby hard to replace it with Firefox current.current no matter what, and never look back.

    Honestly. Netscape threw in their hand...why are they still at the table?

    1. Re:Having seen 7.1 by PaulJS · · Score: 1

      Netscape 6.0 was terrible for advertising, it even had an extra toolbar at the bottom of the screen (below the statusbar) for the sole purpose of pushing links to you.

      6.1 removed this awful toolbar, there was still a lot of links and stuff in bookmarks, etc but all that's easily removed.

      That trend continued so 7.1 was not full of advertising. If you want a browser that's full of advertising then try Opera (free edition) has a banner ad + loads of bookmark links.

      Saying that, Opera (paid version) is my 2nd favourite browser, if it weren't for Firefox I'd be using it all the time (I bought it prior to Firefox becoming popular)

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    2. Re:Having seen 7.1 by Jim_Hawkins · · Score: 1

      Honestly. Netscape threw in their hand...why are they still at the table?

      'cause the beer is good?

  31. Netscape additions by cuzality · · Score: 3, Funny

    will probably have the usual Netscape additions
    Yeah! And not only AIM, but Viewpoint Media Player, and Winamp, and "FREE AOL!" icons for my desktop and my Start Menu...

    I can't wait.
    1. Re:Netscape additions by garcia · · Score: 1

      But wait, it asks you if you want to install all those things! Just uncheck them. Oh wait, it installs them all over the place regardless of what you click.

    2. Re:Netscape additions by DrCash · · Score: 2, Interesting
      That's what I like about Mozilla's Firefox, which I've been using for about a month now (previously using Opera, but Firefox I have found is far superior). With Firefox, you download a really light, simple browser. Then, if you want additional functionality, go to their extensions page and simply add-in what you want to add. With Netscape, they give you all this stuff you don't need - email app, netscape composer, etc. Although the Winamp and AIM apps are useful, and I do use that - just not Netscape's versions - I prefer to download those separately, so they're not connected to my browser. Still, Netscape's far better than - *gag* *choke* - Internet Explor^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H ...

    3. Re:Netscape additions by Bahamuto · · Score: 1

      I think firefox is over all better but, I still you opera more. The reason is when I click on a link to bring up a new window opera gives me a new tab, and firefox give me a new window. Is there any way for firefox to make a new tab instead of a new window?

    4. Re:Netscape additions by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 1

      Just click the link with your middle mouse button and it'll open in a background tab.

    5. Re:Netscape additions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I only have ONE mouse button you insensitive clod!

    6. Re:Netscape additions by PedanticSpellingTrol · · Score: 1

      and it probably cost you six times as much as my basic logitech scroll, but I"m sure it's a very nice piece of gimpy hardware.

    7. Re:Netscape additions by cammoblammo · · Score: 1

      Last night I found an extension that does this in the Moz repository. I haven't tried it out yet, but here's hoping!

      --

      Cogito, ergo sig.

    8. Re:Netscape additions by fcassia_at_gmail · · Score: 1

      Irony aside, it seems both of your main complaints are gone (Viewpoint and Winamp). Despite your hatred towards AOL, at least Netscape 7.2 offers the stability of Mozilla 1.7, and gives users a good end-user experience, since all the required plugins are already bundled (Flash, Java), and the default theme is modern, instead of the ancient, ugly-looking "Classic" that for some reason is the default in Moz 1.7. Plus, the Netscape toolbar (that can remember your recent searches, show you a count of pop-ups blocked and more) has been ported to a native mozilla XUL xpi. (The NS toolbar has been until now an ActiveX control for MSIE, now both browsers are at parity with a NS Toolbar with the same functions). But then you must be part of the Firefox Jihad. I like an integrated browser and e-mail client, thanks very much.

    9. Re:Netscape additions by rikkards · · Score: 1

      For me with Opera, I like to have three tabs open when I start the browser but have not figured out how to do it in Firefox otherwise I do like Firefox and could see replacing Opera with it. Any guidance?

      P.s they are Slashdot, Bluesnews and Fark

    10. Re:Netscape additions by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bookmark all sites that you want to have open upon browser start in one folder. Then go to Tools | Options | General, press Use Bookmark, and select the folder where you've saved all your startup sites. Don't forget to press OK twice.

    11. Re:Netscape additions by rikkards · · Score: 1
      Bookmark all sites that you want to have open upon browser start in one folder. Then go to Tools | Options | General, press Use Bookmark, and select the folder where you've saved all your startup sites. Don't forget to press OK twice


      Awesome! I think I will start using Firefox instead (I still like Opera but Firefox seems a bit quicker) Thanks for the help!

  32. Messing with sites' stats and with admins' heads by tepples · · Score: 1

    User agent switching can be harmful, it messes with sites stats and therefore makes your favourite browser seem less popular.

    Not if you report Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.66; Linux NT 5.0) Has Been Replaced With Firefox . This will show up in stats as the browser of the beast running on a nonexistent OS, prompting admins to go in and check the UA string more carefully.

  33. Speaking of funding by mwood · · Score: 1

    If I buy a Mozilla CD, does all the money get eaten by production and administrative costs and shipping, or does the Foundation actually get some money to spend on development? I haven't been able to find anything at the Mozilla site which says yea or nay on this.

    I'll probably send a small gift either way, but it would be nice to know.

    1. Re:Speaking of funding by linuxci · · Score: 1

      The best way to support the foundation is to just make a donation, you can do that from the Mozilla Store, it only makes sense to buy the CD if you actually want the CD.

    2. Re:Speaking of funding by mwood · · Score: 1

      I'm on the far end of a 56kb/s dialup. I want the CD. I'd just get an additional warm feeling if I knew that some of the money would support further development. If it doesn't, fine; I'd just like to know, one way or the other.

  34. Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by green+pizza · · Score: 1

    Who and where is this Netscape build being made? Is it someone at Sun?

    I would like to see versions of Netscape 7.2 for both Tru64 and SGI IRIX, but I doubt it will happen. If I knew who to contact, I would at least try to argue my case.

    Mozilla is generally fine, but there are still those who want "their netscape".

    Perhaps I should just change Mozilla to the modern theme and use the Netcape throbber, they'd never know the difference!

    1. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by PaulJS · · Score: 1

      "Perhaps I should just change Mozilla to the modern theme and use the Netcape throbber, they'd never know the difference!"

      Mozilla suite (not Firefox) comes with the modern theme (just classic is the default). Change it in the preferences.

      You can download the Windows/Linux version of Netscape or buy the CD and find copies of the throbber files. Then you can use them with Mozilla, there's a lot of info on how to do this, just search google for it.

      Bonus points for anyone who can post a link to such articles.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    2. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by LuSiDe · · Score: 1

      Netscape support (4.x versions) was recently dropped by SGI. I have not perceived any indications SGI is gonna support the 7.x versions.

      Instead SGI supports Mozilla. You can download Mozilla from them (freeware.sgi.com) and its distributed on the apps CD's (#4) of later IRIX 6.5 versions. Mozilla Firefox for IRIX is also freely available at freeware.sgi.com.

      If you insist, you can get 3rd party builds which have newer / other features than SGI's builds. See for example http://www.nekochan.net for some builds. You could also build Mozilla or Mozilla Firefox yourself if you'd like to do so. http://oss.sgi.com has various tips and hints for this process. Also see the Nekochan build options and the forums for advice.

      --
      WE DON'T NEED NO BLOG CONTROL.
    3. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How do you change the throbber?

    4. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by green+pizza · · Score: 1

      Netscape support (4.x versions) was recently dropped by SGI. I have not perceived any indications SGI is gonna support the 7.x versions. Instead SGI supports Mozilla.

      I would imagine this was a move by Netscape, not SGI. Did they ever actually "support" Netscape? I think it was just a bundled freebie until Netscape pulled the plug on several of its unix versions.

      The machines we use have an older version of IRIX, which has SGI's compile of Mozilla 1.0.something that you speak of. Sadly, I haven't seen newer versions of Mozilla on SGI's website for download nor have I seen newer versions of IRIX Netscape on the netscape site for download either. I will try SGI's version of FireFox as you suggested. I can't find Mozilla on www.nekochan.net.

    5. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by mcsmurf · · Score: 1

      Maybe Mozdev Group made the releases, look at their website, there are two hints for that: "June 14th, 2004 -- Mozdev Group, engages Netscape" and "Last Updated: netscape July 23rd 2004 12:21:14 EDT -0400" So maybe those people make the Netscape 7.2 releases, since i wouldnt know who else could do that (since almost noone from Netscape is left at AOL anymore).

    6. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by mcsmurf · · Score: 1

      Read this/a>

    7. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by DrCash · · Score: 1
      I would like to see versions of Netscape 7.2 for both Tru64 and SGI IRIX, but I doubt it will happen. If I knew who to contact, I would at least try to argue my case.

      Forget that! SGI already has Mozilla, which isn't Firefox, but it's still better than Netscape 4.7,...

      I'm just hoping that they'll port Doom 3 over to SGI IRIX 64,... that would just kick major ass!! It will run great on my new SGI Tezro!! Who knows, they've already got a port of Doom 2 on the SGI, so anything's possible,...

    8. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by LuSiDe · · Score: 1

      Did they ever actually "support" Netscape?

      Depending on how you define "supported", yes. SGI also contributes to Mozilla btw, but i think mostly for portability reasons.

      The machines we use have an older version of IRIX, which has SGI's compile of Mozilla 1.0.something that you speak of.

      Which version? You should consider upgrading because a lot of FLOSS (including Mozilla) is ported to IRIX 6.5. Not to older versions anymore although there are several websites dedicated to this. Freeware.sgi.com still hosts various FLOSS for older IRIX versions (5.3 and 6.2) check out the FAQ over there, you'll have to dig a lil.

      Sadly, I haven't seen newer versions of Mozilla on SGI's website for download nor have I seen newer versions of IRIX Netscape on the netscape site for download either.

      Netscape 4.8 is available on SGI.com. It is however unsupported. What that means in this context is described in the "Dear valued customer" letters. Check for example the IRIX 6.5.24 release notes. I would describe it as: "Run at your own risk, we don't care if it works or doesn't (anymore)."

      I will try SGI's version of FireFox as you suggested.

      It is version 0.6 and named Firebird, though.

      I can't find Mozilla on www.nekochan.net.

      Click on "software downloads", then "contrib". There are various contributors over there. Check for example the Foetz builds. Or check their forums and search for "Mozilla" or "Firefox". Various other 3rd party builds exist on the Internet but these are 3rd party binaries; it is up to you to trust these.

      PS: I'm not prof or something nor affiliated with SGI. Just a casual IRIX hobbyist.

      --
      WE DON'T NEED NO BLOG CONTROL.
    9. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Who and where is this Netscape build being made? Is it someone at Sun?"

      Sun doesn't have responsibility for the Netscape browser -- never has. When AOL bought Netscape, they kept the browser and the portal site; most of the backend stuff went to Sun (i.e, the "Alliance" / "iPlanet" / "Sun ONE" bits).

      The only significant Sun / Netscape browser connection is that Sun shipped the browser with Solaris, and did do a lot of fit-and-finish work to improve the quality and functionality of the Solaris version.

      In fact, Sun is actively shifting from Netscape to Mozilla. The next Solaris 9 update will include Mozilla, as will Solaris 10. Java Desktop System has always included Mozilla, not Netscape.

    10. Re:Who'sleft at Netscape? Who's compiling? by LuSiDe · · Score: 1

      PS: also see http://forums.nekochan.net/viewtopic.php?t=2983

      --
      WE DON'T NEED NO BLOG CONTROL.
  35. No big deal by Jahf · · Score: 1

    ISPs (which is what Netscape is now ... sad as that is) have been rebranding browsers for nearly a decade now. While "Netscape" meant something through the 4.0 generation, the 6.0 and 7.0 series has done nothing but rebrand Mozilla. With the firing of their Mozilla developers they remove the last bit of respect I had for the name "Netscape". Now they are just a rebranded Mozilla.

    I still have reverence for what Netscape was and did, but today they are no more like that entity than SCO is like the old SCO.

    --
    It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
    1. Re:No big deal by PaulJS · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well for one I'd be happy if they sent Netscape 7.2 on CD to all their ISP subscribers, this would help increase Gecko marketshare.

      If Gecko gets a significant share of the market (in whatever form - Netscape, Firefox, Camino, etc) then it might make Netscape's parent company decide to finally switch their ISP for muppets (AOL) over to a Gecko based browser too - particularly with all the IE security holes.

      That would make me happy.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    2. Re:No big deal by Jahf · · Score: 1

      I agree completely.

      Don't they do this already? I don't know anyone who is a Netscape subsriber, so I hadn't heard either way but I had always -assumed- they made sure that Netscape subscribers had a copy of Netscape the browser.

      Of course, if I were an ISP today (and not worried about the Netscape/Mozilla legacy) I would probably take any Gecko tech I was using and tell it to emulate IE6 headers so that I didn't get calls about the browser being rejected. I'm not an ISP, so I dislike this process for the reasons you outline, but I can understand why they would. Hopefully Netscape the ISP won't but I could see it.

      --
      It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
    3. Re:No big deal by PaulJS · · Score: 1

      Not as far as I know. All that the netscape ISP software does is set up the dial up connection. You continue to use your default browser - whatever that is.

      --

      --
      Beer is best!

    4. Re:No big deal by thumperward · · Score: 1

      Not unless they changed it recently. I still have a Netscape Online disk I grabbed eighteen months ago or so and the dialler's some proprietary Netscape thing. While I'm sure it can be done, the CD tries its hardest to ensure you're using Netscape.

      - Chris

  36. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

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  39. New Department? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shouldn't it be from the "Why-don't-you-die-already?" department or "I'm-not-quite-dead-yet" department.

  40. Useless by GarfBond · · Score: 1

    This is probably a useless release to most /. readers, as we already know about Mozilla Seamonkey (aka everything but the kitchen sink) and then Firefox and Thunderbird, all of which are more regularly updated and less AOL-whoring.

    What this release is REALLY good for is for those mothers, grandmothers, and other uninterested people who know what Netscape is but can't be bothered to try this 'other' lizard. Arguably this market is small, as you can slip Mozilla right by them pretty easily anyway, but I'm sure someone has a use for it somewhere. If these users stick with Netscape 7.1, they're going to continue to be vulnerable to all those little security issues that have been discovered in Mozilla since then, and miss out on all the speed and new features released since then.

    I for one won't use Netscape 7.x, as I already changed to a different AIM client (the integrated usage was a neat idea, but doesn't really work as everyone lies about their email address to AIM anyway) and use Firefox and Thunderbird anyway.

    1. Re:Useless by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 2, Informative

      It's not useless to me. I use Mozilla at home, but at work, I'm stuck with Netscape. And if NS wasn't around, I'd have to use that M$ browser that sounds like a scream (and causes them).

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  41. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  42. AOL Should've Donated the Netscape Name by tabdelgawad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That way we wouldn't have had to go through the 'Phoenix-Firebird-Firefox' saga. I seriously doubt AOL is currently making any money on the 'Netscape' brand, but a Firefox-renamed-Netscape would actually have a chance of gaining some market share.

    It's probably still not too late ...

    --
    Imposing Libertarian views on everyone online since 1992.
    1. Re:AOL Should've Donated the Netscape Name by mcsmurf · · Score: 1

      They're making money (or at least try to) with marketing the new Netscape ISP.

    2. Re:AOL Should've Donated the Netscape Name by linuxci · · Score: 1

      I'd say it was too late. Netscape was turned into an ISP as well as being a major content portal. Would AOL want to lose their ISP customers and page hits by giving the Netscape brand to the Mozilla Foundation?

      If you say then they'd keep their customers and portal but allow Mozilla to brand their browser 'Netscape' then effectively they'd then be relying on Netscape for their marketing and you'd suffer from the problem of having to track down download links in the confusing mess that is their portal

  43. Netscape actually works better than Firefox by Cryofan · · Score: 1

    FF 0.9 has some sort of threading problem or something so that you cannot have more than 4 tabbed windows downloading at the same time. If you do have more than 4 at once, they all stop downloading.

    So I use netscape. Both NS and FF are better designed than MSIE, however.

    --
    eat shiat and bark at the moon
    1. Re:Netscape actually works better than Firefox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you're just hitting a setting. Are all tabs downloading from the same site? In about:config search for "connections" and perhaps you want to tweak what you see. But be kind and choose sane and internet-friendly values.

  44. Right. by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 1
    mozilla is today what netscape was years ago

    Sorry, but "netscape" always suffered from bloat. We don't mention it much here because of the intense IE hate mongering. But bloated it was, bloated it is. Netscape was never anything but bloat, but it was "our" bloat, not "M$" bloat. Besides, since "years ago" you where doing wheelies in the street on your bike with a banana seat and a sissy bar, exactly what version of NN where you talking about? NN6?

    --
    "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
    1. Re:Right. by punkass · · Score: 2, Insightful

      How about version 4.0, where they re-wrote nearly the entire suite (this was the first of the "Communicator" suites). For me, that was first release that took a step in the wrong direction in terms of bloat and speed, and I had been using Navigator since v.1.1.

      --
      "Nobody owns the fucking words man." - James Dean
    2. Re:Right. by cayenne8 · · Score: 1
      Netscape sure was a breath of fresh air, when all I'd seen to that point (back in the day) was Mosaic....

      I go between Firefox and Konqueror these days...depending on which button I hit first.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    3. Re:Right. by RLiegh · · Score: 1
      Sorry, but "netscape" always suffered from bloat.


      In 1997/98 I was using netscape 3 on a 486 with 16 megs of ram. It was fine. For the next three years after that, whenever I used linux I would hunt down the old binary versions of netscape 3, if I wanted something other than lynx to use.

      Netscape 3 ran like a champ on slow hardware; Netscape 4.x sucked ass, I'll give you that.
    4. Re:Right. by nuggetman · · Score: 1

      I'd used NS from 2.0 through 4.0, then to IE 4/5/6 for a short time while NS suffered lack of updates, and then back to Mozilla around version .8, now on Firefox

      Some of us had computers that we sat on when we came in from being outside enjoying youth

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    5. Re:Right. by nuggetman · · Score: 1

      were you that poor that you were still on a 486 by 1998? i was at least on a pentium 200 at this point

      --
      ...and that's all there is to it.
    6. Re:Right. by RLiegh · · Score: 1

      were you that poor that you were still on a 486 by 1998?
      yes I am, and that's what I had up until 2001, actually (currently using a p3 450).

      I could get a $1.5mhz for $100 from retrobox; but having $100 at one time is fairly rare at this point.

  45. Re:Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by oddman · · Score: 2, Informative

    More pain in developing webpages/sites, since there will be yet another browser in the market, and the yuppies in marketing and sales will scream their throats off for "compatibility" with it

    Mozilla/Firefox/Netscape are all standards compliant browsers you don't have to design your website with any special code to achieve full compatibility with them. You would only have a problem if you have a non-standards compliant website, then you *would* have to rewrite it. But hey if you decided to have a non-standard site, you deserve to have to do extra work.

    Standards are your friends.

  46. AND it comes with AIM by atrizzah · · Score: 1

    It's so worth it to order the CD. I'm buying mine today!

  47. 5 CD pack? by bach37 · · Score: 1

    What the heck would they have on 5 cds? Lol.

    1. Re:5 CD pack? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FireFox dowsn't work with slashdot? WTF?

  48. here's "why netscape" by ChristTrekker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Corporate execs are more comfortable with a known brand name. Even though Mozilla (and FF, Camino, K-Meleon, etc) are based on the same code, they are not "Netscape". When execs are made aware of the faults and deficiencies of IE, they may think "I wish it was still like the old days, when we could at least choose between IE and Netscape." Lo and behold, here's Netscape 7.2. If you mention Opera or Firefox to them, you'd get blank stares.

    Also, some of these execs want an all-in-one solution, not a perceived patchwork of FF+TB+whatever to meet basic internet needs.

    Plus, "Mozilla" sounds like something only a geek could love. "Netscape" sounds like a polished product, like the marketing team actually spent more than 5 seconds to think of it. That's important to execs.

    1. Re:here's "why netscape" by gad_zuki! · · Score: 1

      >Plus, "Mozilla" sounds like something only a geek could love.

      Yes, but Firefox sounds like a defense weapon platform that could vaporize your competitors!

      "Deploy the Firefox!"

      *audible gasps*

    2. Re:here's "why netscape" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Considering the discussion about Netscape being a more "polished" name than Mozilla, it should be noted that Mozilla was the name of the original beta version of Netscape's first browser, released October of 1994. When the 1.0 version of Netscape's browser was released, it was renamed Navigator 1.0, and the rest is history...

      Reference:
      Berners-Lee, Tim. Weaving the Web. 1999. pp. 96, 99.

  49. The sound of silence by hodet · · Score: 1

    After the announcement great joy and chatter could be heard throughout the cricket community.

  50. half-baked? by stealth.c · · Score: 1

    I and some other people I know PREFER the Netscape integrated AIM. It doesn't throw popups at you by default, doesn't try to automatically log you in on startup, and looks better.

    The integrated AIM is the selling point that will get me to upgrade to Netscape 7.2 from Mozilla 1.7.

    A Netscape branded Firefox would be great. First of all because Firefox is a pretty stupid name, and regular users don't remember far back enough to associate Netscape with 'bloat' all the time. Making Firefox 1.0 The next Netscape Navigator would spread word-of-mouth even better than it is already. "Have you tried the new Netscape? It's really fast and no popups!"

    1. Re:half-baked? by HaloZero · · Score: 1
      I and some other people I know PREFER the Netscape integrated AIM. It doesn't throw popups at you by default, doesn't try to automatically log you in on startup, and looks better.

      What the hell are you talking about? I've been using AIM for years. It's trivial (read: very very very simple, even for a chimp) to turn off the auto-start, auto-login options. Infact, two checkboxes sit immediately over the 'Sign In!' button. It's easy:
      • [ ] Save password [ ] Auto-login
      Just uncheck both. That's one problem solved. The other is in preferences. Under 'Start AIM when [your OS] starts'. Another simple 'clicky'. The latter of the two options you can configure when you install AIM, so there's even less trouble, there. And AIM has never thrown a popup at me.

      The integrated AIM is the selling point that will get me to upgrade to Netscape 7.2 from Mozilla 1.7.

      That's not an upgrade. It's a degeneration.
      --
      Informatus Technologicus
    2. Re:half-baked? by joeljkp · · Score: 1

      It's also better for computer labs and such, because they only have to maintain 1 app instead of 2. I've worked in labs that have Netscape installed, but no IM apps or anything. Except Netscape includes AIM, so I can have my cake and eat it, too.

      --
      WeRelate.org - wiki-based genealogy
    3. Re:half-baked? by F'Nok · · Score: 1

      I myself prefer the Netscape AIM client.

      The Netscape AIM is actually *less* bloated than the standard AIM client, and much better for the geek inside...

      Can you embed JavaScript and CSS into YOUR AIM?

      Because I can mess with my mates I know are on the Netscape AIM by slipping in CSS and JS. :p

  51. Perfect Timing by rackrent · · Score: 1

    With all of the press that's been run lately about the security holes with IE/OE this could not be better news for Gecko, Netscape and Mozilla. While I agree that most people will still ignore it and click on their little IE button, I would not be surprised if a lot of organizations' IT departments begin implementing Mozilla, Firefox, Thunderbird, what have you.

    I only say this since I run a small newsgroup (not even tech related, though I field all the tech questions) and have convinced several users to use anything other than IE. While the transition for some of them was rough, they realized it was just as good, just different.

    --
    --- There is a man in a smiling bag.
    1. Re:Perfect Timing by DrCash · · Score: 2, Interesting
      It's really not hard convincing other people to use other browsers. Most of your average users on the internet (the non-techies, mom-and-pops, teeny boppers, etc) just use whatever comes with the computer because they don't have the knowledge to starting making additional major changes to their computer (or they just don't want to screw it up because they don't want to pay their geek friends to come and fix it - and laugh at them miserably - when they do screw it up). So that's exactly why IE is the browser of choice for 94% of the web.

      Once these same people start using the web a bit more, get used to things better, and finally get fed up with all the damn spyware, spamware, pop-ups, and start complaining to their techie friends about it, they realize that their techie friends haven't even used IE since like, the dark ages (if ever). So by word-of-mouth, they'll finally upgrade to something decent - hopefully that will be Mozilla Firefox (because it rules).

      I've also noticed that the G4/TechTV show, The Screen Savers, regularly plugs Firefox as it's browser of choice whenever someone asks what is a good browser replacement for IE (The Screen Savers rule!).

  52. Are the Browser Wars Back? by DrCash · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Check out http://slate.msn.com/id/2103152/this article [slate.msn.com]. It discusses PC viruses, and how Internet Explor^H^H^H^H^H^H is far more susceptible to viruses than other browsers. The author has downloaded Mozilla Firefox, and finds it superior. And the best part about this story - it's hosted by an MSN WEBSITE!! I guess da Bill hasn't found this one yet,...

    Perhaps Paul Boutin (article's author) will be searching for a job pretty soon,... ;-)

  53. When I saw the icon up there... by stealth.c · · Score: 1

    That icon with the Mozilla critter behind the N, I was reminded a little of this.

    1. Re:When I saw the icon up there... by Ari_Haviv · · Score: 1

      isn't that oscar the grouch?

      --
      Join Team Mozilla #38050 Folding@home
  54. Press coverage by VitaminB52 · · Score: 1

    Yes, indeed corporate execs would rather install a recognized brand like Netscape than an unknown 'brand' like Mozilla/FireFox/Thunderbird. However, they will only consider installing Netscape 7.2 when they are aware of its existence.
    To bad Netscape 7.2 doesn't get half the attention in the press an average Microsoft product would get. With more / better press coverage more execs (and consumers) would be aware of Netscape 7.2, and consider installing it. It's up to the AOL/Netscape marketing department to generate the necessary press attention.

    Absolute product superiority doesn't do any good for you if you don't know about the product, you have to know about the product before you acquire it*.

    * I don't consider virii & spyware to be 'products', certainly not superior products.

    1. Re:Press coverage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, Netscape 7.1 got a ton of press attention, won some awards, etc. And there were a bunch of downloads.

      The problem is the product itself. Works fine, but it's mega-bloated, takes an hour to startup, and has a cluttered and ugly UI. (All this applies to Mozilla AppSuite as well.) So, adoption hasn't been good among people used to IE.

      Maybe a Netscape 8.0 based on FireFox would have a better shot.

    2. Re:Press coverage by VitaminB52 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Yes, Netscape 7.1 did get a ton of press attention. However, I was talking about Netscape 7.2 . And MS products still get a megaton of press attention, not just a single ton :(. Netscape 7.2 needs more press attention to get a good signal/noise ratio against the MS products. Have a look at all the press attention for the yet-to-be-releases SP 2 for XP ... if Netscape 7.2 get's half of that ....

      Mega bloated? Mozilla AppSuite is approximately as big as the standalone browser + emailclient + composer + tec. put together. It's a choice between several downloads totalling +- 20 MB, or one big +- 20 MB download.

      Takes an hour to startup? What kind of equipment are you using :) ? 20 MHz 386 ;) ?
      On my old 500 MHz Pentium III + 64 MB memory it takes over half a minute, but on my new 3 GHz Pentium IV with HyperThreading and 512 MB memory it loads in seconds. No problem.

      If Mozilla suite takes an hour to load, then most other apps will take long to load too. Not a Mozilla problem, but old hw not designed for todays sw.

    3. Re:Press coverage by magefile · · Score: 1

      Maybe a Netscape 8.0 based on FireFox would have a better shot.

      By the time they get to Netscape 8.0, Firefox will probably be at 1.0 (only 1 major version away!) and thus, Mozilla-based Netscape will be the same as Firefox-based Netscape (1.0 is when FF becomes the next Moz's browser).

  55. Firefox will become as big a brandname as NN/IE by mbottrell · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Whilst many claim Firefox doesn't have the brand recognition that Internet Explorer does, it's getting a big push here in Australia.

    Take a look at the front cover of the Sydney Morning Herald.
    You can read the full article here.

    Kudos to MozillaZine for running an article on it. :)
    So yeah... people in Aust. are taking firefox seriously... most Aust. sites are getting hammered if they are not FF friendly. :)

    Cheers,

    M.

    1. Re:Firefox will become as big a brandname as NN/IE by Ari_Haviv · · Score: 1

      well could someone please tell the webmaster in charge of the governing party to fix their website!

      --
      Join Team Mozilla #38050 Folding@home
    2. Re:Firefox will become as big a brandname as NN/IE by mbottrell · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't bother....

      No-one reads it.
      Same as the Labour Party Website
      (honestly it was the first time I loaded both!)

    3. Re:Firefox will become as big a brandname as NN/IE by mbottrell · · Score: 1

      If it's really important however... u can email them at: libadm@liberal.org.au

  56. Kewl by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 1

    Im now running BrowseMaster 3000 in DOS 1.0 on a TI-99/4A

  57. Buy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    "the release date has been confirmed as August 3rd as a free download or by buying a CD."
    • Jeez, first the RIAA, and now Netscape? AOL gives me all these CDs for free ... why can't somebody take a page from their book?
  58. Netscape.. Old version.. Ancient PC.. "Bleh" by Dogtanian · · Score: 1

    However, when they heard "Netscape" they immediately think "buggy, bloated, slow", etc.

    Unfortunately, many installations that are still running Netscape are running old versions on old (and slow) machines. You know... P166s in desktop cases attached to fuzzy and dim old 14" monitors with signs of impending death, and dither-tastic 256 color displays (which reminds me... does *anyone* still think about "web-safe" colors these days?)

    This does not create the requisite feelgood vibes about Netscape.

    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  59. Why? by orionware · · Score: 0

    New Netscape?

    why W H Y? w h y why why w h Y? why WhY?
    why w h y

    why? w hy

    Ha! I Defeat the "postercomment" algorithm!

    --


    Karma means nothing to me, so suck it...
  60. Netscape Sucks by vbrtrmn · · Score: 1

    Wow, I hope when I install Netscape, it will add all of those AOL icons all over my system, plus some extra eBay icons, those are always useful. Plus the browser will probably be more bloated than Internet Explorer and there will be little hope of getting security patches, because the versions are so far appart.

    Now with Mozilla, if there's a security issue, a patch is usually released within a day or two. You just can't expect the same quality from a product developed by AOL, remember, AOL owns Netscape, why the hell would you use their browser?

    Netscape is dead, use Mozilla!

    --
    it's a sig, wtf?
  61. Evil MS and IE by Bull999999 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Did anyone noticed that Office 2003 Service Pack 1 automatically sets IE as the default brower without even asking?

    --
    1f u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
    1. Re:Evil MS and IE by theendlessnow · · Score: 1

      Office 2003 SP1 switches your default browser to MSIE to make it easier to receive future MyDOOM updates. Duh.

    2. Re:Evil MS and IE by Bull999999 · · Score: 1

      Damn, and I switched back to Mozilla as my default browser. I was wondering why I stopped getting the MyDoom updates.

      --
      1f u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
    3. Re:Evil MS and IE by srcosmo · · Score: 1
      More irritating "integration":

      MSN Messenger uses IE to open external links, regardless of your system's default browser setting.
      And I was trying to wean my family off of IE...
      :-(

      --
      free speach
      Did you mean: free speech
  62. Anonimity using the user agent switcher by cerberusss · · Score: 1

    Setting the user agent switcher to IE also provides a little bit more anonimity. It's a little bit too easy for my taste to spot the firefox-lovers in the access_logs.

    --
    8 of 13 people found this answer helpful. Did you?
  63. Corporate brownie points by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A very important point is the fact that now, if a business wants to roll out the browser, they have a corporate contact and a support partner in form of Netscape. Lack of a commercial entity behind a product is one of the biggest, if not THE biggest obstacles to adoption of a lot of FOSS in commercial IT.

    This is exciting also because Mozilla is not just a browser, but an application framework - it happens to be a very nice toolkit for developing client-side GUIs. In a corporate environment with a lot of custom-rolled user interfaces, this is a very valuable tool; and even PHBs are pleased because there's Netscape to sign a support contract with.

  64. I think the real question by wyldeone · · Score: 2, Funny

    is who cares?

    --
    In the beginning the universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry and is widely considered as a bad move.
  65. I've waited for this. by theendlessnow · · Score: 1

    Finally I can get rid of Mosaic. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

  66. Are you crazy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    AOL still makes a lot of money off their Netscape.Com portal and there is still Netscape-branded server products.

    As much as I wish they donated the name/domain too, they didn't. It would of been great if they did.

  67. Re:MODS WHAT ARE YOU DOING? by Bull999999 · · Score: 1

    It's quite sad that some people try everything that they can to mod down the people on their enemy list. If you have that much time to burn, get a life or a job.

    --
    1f u c4n r34d th1s u r34lly n33d t0 g37 l41d
  68. IE bloated? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is IE bloated? Mozilla is slower and more bloated.

  69. Exactly by DesScorp · · Score: 1

    That's why I've installed Netscape 7.1 on my network; most users at least recognize the name, and thus have more of a comfort level when I tell them not to use IE. A vendor of ours asked me for advice on using a different browser. Just for funsies, I told him Mozilla, just to see what his reaction was.

    He looked at me like I had just asked him to drink a glass of mud.

    Branding matters.

    One look said everything. Then I told him "just go to netscape.com and download navigator", and he brightened up, saying "Yeah, I think I'll do that". He was far more comfortable with a known name than with something that sounds like it slithers across the grass on a national geographic special.

    --
    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
  70. "unremovable" IE? by danheretic · · Score: 1

    Actually you can remove it:

    http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312451
    http://www.litepc.com/ieradicator.html
    http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak1241.aspx

    ...for a start.

    Or you can do what we do here: Install Firefox as the default browser, bury or remove IE icons, and change the start page of IE to an internal page which explains why IE is so bad.

  71. Mod -1 : Bad Joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    re: I've waited for this.
    Finally I can get rid of Mosaic. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
    You mean you haven't been using Mozzaic all these years?
  72. AOL Should've Donated Navigator/Communicator names by mdfst13 · · Score: 1

    The web browser and suite are named Navigator and Communicator respectively, not Netscape. They could have named the browser Mozilla Navigator and the suite Mozilla Communicator...which would have fixed the Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox issue. Note that donating Netscape would not have. It just would have changed from Mozilla to Netscape Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox.

  73. Re:AOL Should've Donated Navigator/Communicator na by GoldMace · · Score: 1

    The web browser part of Mozilla is still called Navigator in a few places. File, New, Navigator Window for example.

  74. Okay. There's no Documentation. Someone tell me. by blair1q · · Score: 1

    Okay. There's no Documentation. Someone tell me.

    What's the difference between installing "Mozilla" and installing Firefox and Thunderbird in tandem?

    And when are these tools going to realize they need to get some real documentation out?

  75. Whats the point, focus on Firefox and finish it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Quit the browser confusion, Nestcape, Mozilla, Frefox, Camino...

    Stick to one browser and improve on it. Finish off Firefox that is the best thing now to compete with Explorer forget everything else.

  76. Very stable, with a native XUL NS toolbar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What can I say... NS 7.2 has been running fine here for about 3 weeks, and has not crashed ever since I installed it. Currently I have 20 running instances of the browser, each with around 6-8 web page tabs open. The new Netscape Toolbar, believe it or not, is handy, but you can also hide it if you don't like it. AIM and ICQ on a sidebar tab are... well, the same as 7.1, useful enough for me.

  77. Re:Re : Netscape 7.2 To Be Released August 3rd by fcassia_at_gmail · · Score: 1

    What a dumb post manavendra. Netscape 7.2 *IS* Mozilla 1.7, with the modern theme as the default (instead of the ugly Classic that Moz uses) The differences: 1. Different throbber 2. Different "splash screen" 3. Custom "Help" screens 4. AIM and ICQ coded in XUL, available in a sidebar tab (same as Netscape 7.1) 5. Support for @netscape.net proprietary webmail accounts as part of the email client. (@aol.com accounts can now use standard IMAP). 6. Latest Flash (and I hope, Java) bundled with the browser, unlike Mozilla which comes with no plugins. 7. A native XUL (xpi) implementation of the Netscape Toolbar. 8. Probably some other third party software bundled, for marketing reasons. You don't have to install it if you don't want it (select "Custom install).

  78. Couldn't Agree More.... by vwjeff · · Score: 1

    I am a tech at a local school district. Recently I started installing Mozilla on all of our new machines. A few days later I was asked by my boss what the Mozilla thing was. My answer went something like this:

    "Mozilla is an open source web browser."

    Wrong answer. I was cut off after the first sentence. I went on trying to explain that Mozilla is Netscape without all of the added AOL garbage. He wouldn't get off the name.

    Mozilla, that's a funny name. Well if it's like Netscape then just install Netscape. I don't want to see the Mozilla stuff installed on our machines."

    I have continued to install Mozilla with just a few modifications. I have renamed the shortcut on the desktop to "Netscape," changed the icon, and disabled the startup splash-screen.

    My boss didn't notice the difference.

    1. Re:Couldn't Agree More.... by ChristTrekker · · Score: 1

      I have continued to install Mozilla with just a few modifications. I have renamed the shortcut on the desktop to "Netscape," changed the icon, and disabled the startup splash-screen.

      My boss didn't notice the difference.

      LOL! That's hilarious. If you happen to know of a good IE skin/theme so I can do the same sort of thing around here, let me know.

    2. Re:Couldn't Agree More.... by riscthis · · Score: 1

      Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?

      http://pages.prodigy.net/zzxc/ieskin/

    3. Re:Couldn't Agree More.... by ChristTrekker · · Score: 1

      That looks like it. Thanks! The ones I knew of hadn't seen any recent development, so they didn't work with newer versions of Moz/FF. This one's in beta for FF 0.9 though...that's a hopeful sign.

  79. Today's August 3rd - I don't see Netscape 7.2 by MpmpmpC · · Score: 1

    I checked the Netscape web site, and today's August 3rd - I don't see Netscape 7.2 on the web page.. Did they change the date again?

    Where can I find Netscape 7.2?