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Netscape 8 Breaks IE XML

Posted by Zonk on from the thats-an-oops dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has alerted users that Netscape's latest browser appears to break the XML rendering capabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Dave Massy, a senior programme manager for IE, warned users in a blog posting that after installing Netscape 8, IE will render XML files as a blank page, including XML files that have an XSLT transformation. What a week for Netscape 8.0; first the browser needed several fixes hours after its release, then it was discovered that without IE installed, Netscape 8.0 will not install, and now IE needs Netscape uninstalled to work."

6 of 398 comments (clear)

  1. Does anyone use it? by coop0030 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I haven't tried out Netscape 8.0 (Firefox is fine with me for now), but what are some reasons people are switching to Netscape 8.0?

    Does anyone have any stats on how many people are even using it? What are the website statistics showing?

    To me this sounds like Netscape ran into a "too little, too late" situation with their newest iteration of their browser.

    1. Re:Does anyone use it? by Will2k_is_here · · Score: 5, Informative

      I work the helpdesk part time at my University.

      Users have used Netscape since NS 4 days. They don't feel comfortable trying anything else. NS7.2 tells them they have an outdated browser so they just upgrade. That's why they download it.

  2. You're outta here! by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 5, Interesting
    1. Netscape browser needed several fixes hours after its release.
    2. Netscape browser will not install unless IE is installed.
    3. Installation of Netscape breaks IE.

    Back in the day, I was a big Netscape fan, and I waas really hoping that this new release would bring them back as a player, but enough is enough, guys. Three strikes, and you are OUT.

    One more thing...
    <zealot>
    Firefox rules...IE sucks...let's fight!
    </zealot>

    ^_^

    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    1. Re:You're outta here! by 0x461FAB0BD7D2 · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're thinking that Netscape 8 breaking IE is a flaw, while it's clearly a feature. Hence, #3 is not a strike, it's a home-run.

  3. Sounds like yet another... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    instance where an arbitrary and totally meaningless deadline for launch wrecked havoc on software.

    Releasing Netscape based on Firefox 1.03 after 1.04 was available with important security fixes was completely idiotic if a key differentiator of Netscape is supposed to be superior security!

    And then releasing an updated version within 24 hours based on 1.04 to show the world they could simply have delayed the initial launch by a day in the first place proved their mismanagement (any excuse about changing to 1.04 being complex and delaying the launch too much went out the window).

    Now their bragging rights about being able to switch betweeen IE and Firefox rendering is damaged because they didn't test enough to find out if their product breaks existing functionality like displaying XML?

    Not Netscape-specific but for software in general...Managers, get a clue, if you don't like deadlines given by engineers then remove features until they can provide timeframes that are acceptable. And you engineers that are too cowardly to say "No, that cannot be done by that time unless we eliminate/postpone some of the requirements" get some balls.

  4. Re:And you're too slow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So you're the jerk that makes my boss require me to make netscape 4.7 compatible web pages. :p