Following 60-Second Window #101, and comments from the User Group community (#101a), the UGNetwork asks Rich what he thinks about the AOL Netscape takeover...

Thursday, November 26, 1998

AOL & Netscape?

Rich sez:

fred, I'm mega-bogged down with deadlines right now, so I can't give you the full frontal assault. But basically, this, plus the amazing turnaround at apple computer, proves microsoft's long-stated contention that the computer industry can be turned upside down overnite, monopoly or no monopoly.

With 14 million users plus all of netscape's users (however many millions that may be), AOL is now in a position to become, or may already be, the dominant platform provider for the next generation of computing. Frankly, this is almost as bad for serious users as if microsoft owned the internet.

The last thing I want to do is use browser software built by AOL. As a long-time netscape user, I'm already making plans to switch to microsoft's IE5 and IIS for my web server. I don't want AOL's goofy user interface staring back at me all day, and I'm certain they'll pollute the browser with their silly "user friendly" junk beyond recognition.

Re: netscape, this is certainly a better way for them to bow out of the battle with microsoft, and gain long term survivability. It's also good news for sun, which could use a solid back-end web server and messaging platform, etc.

Never a dull moment in the computer game."

Rich Levin, KYW Newsradio.

Rich Levin's PC Report
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Check out the "AOL/Netscape FUN PAGE" in the News department!

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Rich Levin, Senior Editor
InformationWeek magazine -- CMP Media, Manhasset, NY
Reporter - KYW Newsradio 1060 AM (CBS) -- Philadelphia, PA
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