Browser wars heat up
The browser wars are about to heat up again. This time, things could get ugly.
Both Netscape and Microsoft have beefed up what they have to offer, with Microsoft still trying desperately to make up lost ground.
With the latest release of its browser, Internet Explorer 4, Microsoft is trying something that could backfire.
The model Microsoft is using would have us believe there is no difference between our desktop personal computer and the Internet.
With Internet Explorer, the Internet becomes an integral part of the desktop. Internet Explorer is expected to be built into the next release of the Windows operating system.
In the meantime, Netscape has been adding interesting features to its Communicator version 4. One of the latest is In-Box Direct, a free service that allows you to get mail from CNN, the New York Times , the Financial Times , and others.
The only proviso is that you use Netscape to read your mail. I signed up for 15 publications including the New York Times Direct , Hotwired, Financial Times Information News Review , JavaWorld , and E! Online's Daily Buzz .
I have yet to receive anything from E! (I have been on for a month) and Hotwired seems to arrive with the same stories all the time. The others are fine.
In order to sign up for In-Box Direct, you must get a digital certificate from VeriSign (free of charge). This makes certain that you can add or delete publications to your list.
Not only do you get a digital certificate, you can move it from one machine to another. I moved mine from my Dell to my Mac easily (I sent the verification file to myself using e-mail, using Netscape's certificate import/export feature).
The only thing that would make the service better would be a larger list of publications, including Asian ones.
It is interesting to note that Microsoft may be its own worst enemy.
Because it controls desktops, there are many who view its browser policy with great scepticism.
Why should Microsoft control browser space, they ask. Even if Microsoft is trying to create the best browser it can, it may have to do more work about how it is being perceived.
Meanwhile, Netscape keeps adding useful features and supports more operating systems than Microsoft.
PROS AND CONS Product: Netscape's In-Box Direct Price: Free Platforms tested: Power Macintosh 8500 with 160 MB of RAM and Dell Dimension XPS H266 with 65 MB of RAM Pros: Web page delivery to your mail box Cons: Lacks a large range of products
