Microsoft Settles With Aol

manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:33 pm

http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-1011296.html

I'm sure all of you have heard about this by now, that AOL just got $750 million in the browser war anti-trust case between Internet Explorer and Netscape. But as a fan of mozilla, open-source sibling to AOL's netscape, I just want to point out that as a result of the settlement AoL will receive a 7-year royalty free contract to allow AOL to conintue to use Internet Explorer. That's right, just when AOL annouces that it's considering dropping IE and going with Netscape in the next version of it's internet service, Microsoft hands them this little "gift" as part of the settlement. Oh and considering AOL is also the owners of nullsoft, crators of Winamp, AOL also receives a long-term, nonexclusive license to use Windows Media Player 9.

So apparently the way Microsoft says sorry for unfairly pushing a competetor out of the market, is by continuing to lock them out, at a lesser cost. Actually the only thing it really seems Microsoft has conceeded, aside form a large wad of cash, is that Microsoft will work more closely together with AOL on future version of the service, and microsoft will help AOL distribute cds to PC manufacturers.

But now the question arises, what about mozilla and netscape with the royalty-free IE on the horizon for AOL?

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Thu May 29, 2003 11:05 pm

what about mozilla

That is all I am concerned about. I don't know......

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Thu May 29, 2003 11:15 pm

Yeah I hope nothing happends to mozilla. I'd use Opera, but I like Mozilla better.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Fri May 30, 2003 9:30 am

Red Squirrel wrote: Yeah I hope nothing happends to mozilla. I'd use Opera, but I like Mozilla better.

I think I would be using IE if Mozilla went away...

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Fri May 30, 2003 9:38 am

hehe, well I still like Opera better than IE, but I would probably end up using IE for testing my site, since Opera renders funny.

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manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:27 pm

I migt use opera if mozilla went away, but I really don't like bothering with adshareware for something I use all the time like that. MOst likely I'd end up using a free IE frontend like slimbrowser or something.

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:29 pm

I forgot about the opera ads, I`d probably use something else too, or get a "trial".

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:31 pm

free IE frontend

That's what I would do!

I am concerned about Mozilla.....

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:35 pm

I think mozilla would be ok though, even though it`s based on netscape, I don`t think it`s the same people who program it, so even if netscape is gone, mozilla should stay.

..I hope this is the case.

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manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Fri May 30, 2003 3:04 pm

Red Squirrel wrote: I think mozilla would be ok though, even though it`s based on netscape, I don`t think it`s the same people who program it, so even if netscape is gone, mozilla should stay.

..I hope this is the case.

I was thinking about that too. Since Netscape is based off of mozilla, up until now, AOL has had plenty of reason to fund the mozilla project, but if they ditch it, what's going to happen to all the servers that keep the software available to users and developers, and all the people who keep the whole thing going? I would hope that the people for Red Hat, Suse, mandrake, debain, andall the other big linux companies would jump in, as right now mozilla is one of the best full featured web browsers for linux. Maybe mozilla could find new sponsers in them and other companies, and perhaps with a name change, live on.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Fri May 30, 2003 3:58 pm

If something does happen to Mozilla, I will still be using it long after the project would be dead!

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manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Fri May 30, 2003 5:02 pm

takahita_tsukino wrote: If something does happen to Mozilla, I will still be using it long after the project would be dead!

Quick! Download the latest stable version in all ports you could concieveably use, along with the source!

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Fri May 30, 2003 5:28 pm

manadren wrote:
takahita_tsukino wrote: If something does happen to Mozilla, I will still be using it long after the project would be dead! :roflmao2:
Quick! Download the latest stable version in all ports you could concieveably use, along with the source!

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Fri May 30, 2003 7:46 pm

manadren wrote:
takahita_tsukino wrote: If something does happen to Mozilla, I will still be using it long after the project would be dead! :roflmao2:
Quick! Download the latest stable version in all ports you could concieveably use, along with the source!

I declare the world in state of emergency!!! WE MUST ACT QUICK!!!

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megaspaz · Post by **megaspaz** » Sat May 31, 2003 2:45 am

i've heard rumors for a while that aol was looking for some way to dump netscape. it really didn't seem like a good merger anyway for both companies. anyway, aol has been in financial doldrums since the last time i remember they posted the greatest loss (at the time) in US history. either way, i think the main thing is that ms and aol are looking into interoperability between their im clients. now aol im users can send viruses to ms im users and visa versa with greater ease.

at the same time, i don't think netscape/mozilla will die because of this.

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manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Sat May 31, 2003 3:17 am

I don't really think that mozilla will die either, but the road ahead could get a bit bumpy. Too many geeks have too much time invested in this little app for it to die

and even if it did, it would re-emerge in under a different name or something. What I'm really worried about is development slow downs and mozilla losing ground in the browser market.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Sat May 31, 2003 10:16 am

mozilla losing ground in the browser market.

I really don't care about that. Although, I must admit that being in the majority would be nice!

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Sat May 31, 2003 4:12 pm

I just saw a comercial on TV "Switch from aol to Msn It's easy!". I suppose it has to do with all that is going on with AOL and all that.

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manadren_it · Post by **manadren_it** » Sat May 31, 2003 5:07 pm

, but seriously, it's more like if you ever buy a pc that comes with windows, you'll get an msn cd and an aol cd with it.

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Chris Vogel · Post by **Chris Vogel** » Sat May 31, 2003 7:25 pm

http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=201381

You may want to check that out if you are planning to do a fresh install of Firebird or Mozilla (When your bookmarks have been deleted)....

I just thought someone would want to know that.....

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Sat May 31, 2003 7:43 pm

manadren wrote: , but seriously, it's more like if you ever buy a pc that comes with windows, you'll get an msn cd and an aol cd with it.

That's a good point! Quite funny, actually.

Another thing, ever notice how when you clean install Windows, you are almost forced to sign up to msn? Whereever you go that msn thing will come up so you can subscribe and it will immediatly start dialing this toll number.

First time I thought I really had to do that and I let it ring!

I don't remember my parants getting mad after opening a bill though. I dont even remember what happened when it dialed out, I got a voice mail or something.

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megaspaz · Post by **megaspaz** » Sat May 31, 2003 8:42 pm

manadren wrote: , but seriously, it's more like if you ever buy a pc that comes with windows, you'll get an msn cd and an aol cd with it.

cool! i need more skeets for the gun range...

i actually don't think there will be a developmental slowdown for mozilla. after all a lot of developers have the source code available to them, so while a slowdown in the beginning may happen, i don't see that happening for any extended period of time. the joys of open source.

netscape, on the other hand can just die for all i care.

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Red Squirrel · Post by **Red Squirrel** » Sat May 31, 2003 9:13 pm

And I don't really care about Netscape. Besides, if you view any sites with frames you're screwed.

Actually, I'm thinking of before, I'm sure they implimented frames now did they?

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wldkos · Post by **wldkos** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 10:37 pm

megaspaz wrote: i've heard rumors for a while that aol was looking for some way to dump netscape. it really didn't seem like a good merger anyway for both companies. anyway, aol has been in financial doldrums since the last time i remember they posted the greatest loss (at the time) in US history. either way, i think the main thing is that ms and aol are looking into interoperability between their im clients. now aol im users can send viruses to ms im users and visa versa with greater ease.

at the same time, i don't think netscape/mozilla will die because of this.

you are such a firm hater of MS products... which is fine by all means

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