Re: Microsoft's OS competitors

From: Koloen, John <jkoloen[_at_]wic.tdh.state.tx.us>
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 07:48:06 -0600 (CST)

Erik Oliver <oliver[_at_]dolphin.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> One note, although in theory you have to pay for Navigator, I've yet
> to see anyone ever actually fork over the money for it since they
> permit ANYONE to download the Pro/Gold versions from their web sites
> for free. I'm sure the licenses say all sorts of things, assuming
> anyone other than a lawyer could read and understand them, but the
> practical reality is that Netscape's browser share is based on giving
> away razors to sell razor blades -- server side products for BIG bucks.
>
> The fact is that Netscape's apparant market share is just that,
> apparent, when they have forced people to pay for the browsers, people
> choose other choices a'la Chevron which just ditched Navigator for
> Explorer.

That may be true for individuals, but not necessarily for organizations. I work for a large government agency and we recently deleted all copies of Navigator from thousands of CPUs and installed MS Internet Explorer. The reason? We didn't have site licenses for Navigator. Netscape does want users to pay for Navigator, otherwise why is it sold at computer stores? It's willing to give away its product but it's coy about payment issues. Explorer, on the otherhand, is expressly not sold as a separate piece of software.

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John Koloen--jkoloen[_at_]wic.tdh.state.tx.us Division of Health Communications
Bureau of Community Oriented Primary Care Associateship for Health Care Delivery
Texas Dept. of Health

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Received on Wed Apr 30 1997 - 12:48:00 GMT