November 30, 1998 – Newsletter #4

November 30, 1998 – Newsletter #4

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Please visit https://www.htmlgoodies.com.

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I hope you all stuffed yourself silly last Thursday. I spent
the Thanksgiving holiday sitting on a curb in New York City
watching the MACYs parade. Luckily I didnt get hit in the
head with a giant inflatable Spiderman. My dinner was turkey
on a stick from a street vendor. At least I think it was
turkey. Im kidding of course. I ate pizza. Turkey pizza.
Kidding again.

H T M L G O O D I E S B O O K S I G N I N G !



If you live in NYC and program in HTML you’re in

luck…



Joe Burns, renown HTML Guru will be appearing in

person at The Internet Cafi, Wednesday, December 9

from 7:00-9:00 pm to autograph copies of his new book

“HTML Goodies.” So hit the bookstore and bring your

copy of “Goodies” to the event for an opportunity to

meet Joe Burns and talk a little HTML in person.



Copies of the book will be available for purchase at

the event.

What do you think about AOL talking about buying Netscape
for around 4 billion dollars in stock? Wow. Some really rich
people are going to get stinking filthy rich. So, does it
mean anything to us Web designers? Maybe a couple of things.

It used to be that you could write for the AOL browser by
simply staying around the Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0
(IE) browser level. The AOL browser was modeled after IEs
browser. Thats one of the reasons that IE was able to take
such a large bite of the browser market so quickly.

Now what? Will AOL abandon its browser and go with a
Netscape Navigator style browser? And if so, which version?
If they go with the next version to come out, 5.0, then that
might slow AOL down even more than it already is. 5.0 is
going to be a mammoth program. IE 4.0 already is.

Will this allow Netscape to once again be the dominant
browser in the market? Its doubtful. AOL is the largest
Internet service provider today and theyll probably
trumpet that little “N” on the horizon logo everywhere, but
AOL doesnt install operating systems like Microsoft. And
until the government stops Microsoft from requiring
manufacturers put IE on new computers, Netscape will
continue to have a fight.

But even if the government does allow manufacturers to stop
putting IE on their computers, by this time it may be too
late. Say what you will about Bill Gates, but IE is a
pretty darn good browser. I dont know that Netscape has
kept up.

Strictly from a web designers point of view, wouldnt it
have been better if Microsoft bought Netscape? (I would
have suggested that Netscape buy Microsoft, but that seemed
a bit absurd). That would make one browser for all where the
same commands work all around and we could stop all the
error codes.

But that would mean no competition and thats not good
either.

What does this mean for the business of the Net? Netscape
Net Center is one of the most popular sites on the Internet.
AOL is the biggest Internet service provider. Millions upon
millions of eyes will pass over advertising banners with the
profits all going to AOL/Netscape Inc. I think its a safe
bet that they wont having and trouble meeting the cable
bill at the end of the month.

Does this mean the end of the anti-trust lawsuit against
Microsoft? Maybe. The Microsoft lawyers will certainly argue
that now there is a computer giant equal to their strength
thus there is now a true choice. I think its a viable case,
but I dont see the case being dropped. I do see the
government being more apt to cut a deal at this point
though.

Finally, what will happen with the company names? Hopefully
nothing. Or will we all be forced to pronounce Naolscape?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Until next time Goodies to Goers. Keep coming around the
site. Youre always welcome.

Joe Burns, Ph.D.

“And Remember: The only professional sports team in America
where both the city and team mascot names are from a
foreign language is the San Diego Padres.”