POLL: Should Netscape Continue Support For Netscape 7?

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

Results of this poll will be presented to Netscape Management as many of you have requested the continued support of Netscape 7. Support means updates of security features, etc. and may also include fixing the most critical bugs.

Elite Poster Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 443

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,

Cadet First Class Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 85

That would be great (if they have the man-power to do so). It makes me wonderf, however, what will happen to Netscape 8? In fact, the entire direction taken by Mozilla has become rather confusing. Mozilla spawned Netscape. Netscape was bought by AOL. AOL dropped support initially and cut Mozilla loose. Mozilla divides itself into Firefox/Mozilla only to eventually cut support and development for Mozilla. Seamonkey is the redesign of Mozilla's suite by a group of volunteers. Netscape 8 continues at its own pace apart from the others with a very small user base. This division and running in several different directions (so different from Opera and Microsoft's IE) seems counter-productive. And now we wonder if the long-in-the-tooth NS 7 will be supported and its bug fixed and security gaps patched? Well... I suppose it would be a good thing but I would also guess that it wouldn't command more than a one-digit percentage of users and again, probably prove counter-productive. There needs to be a unity of purpose and it seems to me the best future for Mozilla users is currently with Firefox and Thunderbird. Why not combine all limited resources and put all development into these apps with hopefully a better integration?

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

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That would be great (if they have the man-power to do so).

They do.

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what will happen to Netscape 8?

Continued development

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Mozilla spawned Netscape

Nope, the other way around. Jamie Zawinski, Netscape employee/programmer started Mozilla in 1998. AOL bought Netscape after which Mozilla ventured off on it's own to become The Mozilla Foundation. Jamie is no longer involved.

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And now we wonder if the long-in-the-tooth NS 7 will be supported and its bug fixed and security gaps patched?

Well, that's the purpose of the poll, to bring the results to management to convince them of the need to continue support for the suite while at the same time forge ahead in the standalone arena. Best of both worlds IMHO.

Cadet First Class Joined: Nov 05, 2006 Posts: 12

If Netscape resumes its support of 7.2, it should also allow the user to reject some of the AOL stuff that bloats the size of the browser/email client. Why have to download stuff you don't want to use?

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

In the installation routine, select "Custom" and you can UNcheck AIM and anything else you don't want / need, etc.

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:28 am

Jay...
How will the updates be made available? Sell me a CD every year? Subscription basis? THAT would be the true test of interest! Probably get management's attention, also. Or, is that where Dilbert comes from? Very Happy

btw, I voted "yes".

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

Let's bring this into the proper perspective. I am doing this POLLING on my own volition, management has no input and no plan as of yet although it's been hinted. My intention is to bring my ideas directly to management as a "See what the user's want?".

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:48 pm

Jay...
Feel free to include my suggestions as ideas in your powerpoint for management. Hopefully they'll enhance your "Champion" status. Very Happy

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

Getting paid by Netscape is status enough ... Smile

Elite Poster Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 506

I use NS8 with Thunderbird at work to test them out, & 7 at home. So far, I do not see 8 as an advancement, nor any advantange at all, to change to it at home. As well, ver 8 is terribly confusing & difficult on setting up things such as.. Personal Toolbar. Seems more like a step backwards, than forwards. Typically I can figure these things out fairly easily, but not this ver 8.. it's horrible in my opinion.

I prefer to stick with NS7 Suite (which includes the email client) and not change to 8 and get Thunderbird. I would love to see continued support of ver 7 (and have ver 8 deleted & redone into a totally new & even better design.. as a suite and not a stand alone.. and slightly more user friendly).

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

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difficult on setting up things such as.. Personal Toolbar

The problem seems to be that EVERYthing is on the toolbar and it's up to the user to use the customize feature to remove the items not wanted. On the other hand, if the toolbar was vacant then how would the user know the other stuff existed. It's a learning curve either way.

Once you have it the way you want it I think you'll like the concept.

Elite Poster Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 506

JayGarcia wrote:

It's a learning curve either way.

Yea I just can't seem to get it. Moving items, adding, removing, putting things where I want them & onto the right toolbar.. getting the right toolbar to display etc.. haven't mastered it it. I seem to need a darn instruction book on it lol

Site Admin Joined: Jan 1, 2003 Posts: 6529

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Yea I just can't seem to get it

Drag everything you don't want back to the customize window from EACH toolbar. Use the arrow on the left to switch from toolbar to toolbar. Now you have clean toolbars to start with. Your Personal Toolbar should have just your bookmarks and the other toolbars can be set up for other features such as the tickers, weather, system mail, web mail etc etc. Everything you drag back to the customize window will wind up in the proper area of the window so that finding them again will be easy.

Note: Once you have it set up, that's it, no need to bother with it again.

Outstanding Contributor Joined: Feb 11, 2003 Posts: 4182

Some of NS8 ideas are good, like the Multibar, which allows customization which is not possible with other browsers. It is a matter of spending a bit of time in getting used to it. But, NS8.x has more flaws that I care to fight to get around them. Is it up-to-date? We have to trust Jay's word, but I, always, wonder.
Now, does one want the customary Suite, or, is willing to work with standalones. The idea of a standalone is sound, because there is no way that both browser and mail will go on the blink at the same time, unless the computer goes. However, I have had experience which shut down the entire suite.
So, I have mixed feelings, for various reasons, but I would be willing to try an updated Netscape suite, if nothing else because of the obstacles placed by AOL to get to their videos/music (use of ActiveX).