All Hail Netscape!

Few subjects have provoked more email than our Comment about Netscape and Apple

By Bob Schmitt
May 3, 1996

It seems there are few subjects that invoke such fierce devotion as does one's choice of computer platform and Web browser. Perhaps only religion and politics invite more responses. As of Wednesday evening we had received over 160 responses to our Comment on Netscape and Apple. This total exceeded the combined total responses of all previous Comment columns! Overwhelmingly, the responses were pro-Apple, pro-Netscape. We've culled a representative sample of responses and published them at left, but there were also a lot of concurrent themes running throughout the responses that we wanted to include here.

Micro-"fill in the blank"

Many of our readers had clever new name suggestions for Microsoft, some of which included:

Microshaft
Microsloth
Microsnot
Micro$oft
Microsh-t and
Microstiff

Perhaps the ultimate in pettiness came from Bryan Kobler, who after spelling Microsoft with a lower-case m added, "(I didn't capitalize microsoft on purpose)."

Several readers also felt inspired to rewrite Microsoft's slogan. This from Michael Wheeler: "Microsoft takes us where *THEY* want to go today." Michael Jardeen counters with a new slogan for Netscape, "Where do you want to freeze today?"

Bill Gates, der Führer?

The depths of Mac fanaticism were revealed as well. The extremes ranged from tasteless to apocryphal. Pat T. O'Connor's comparison of Microsoft to "Nazi Germany" concludes with, "I'd rather go to a death camp than use inferior products." Eric Matthews of Calvary Cathedral, responding with a simple, "Amen," provided the URL for his "God Bless Apple Computer" page. Martin Cunliffe defined fanaticism with his proclamation, "I will be taking my Mac with me to my grave."

Micro$oft Marketing

Many readers commented on the difficulty of going up against Microsoft's incredible marketing muscle. Steven Wisner makes this point by stating, "Microsoft is in the enviable position of having (for a second time) almost unlimited financial resources to capitalize on a technology that someone else pioneered." Wade Heninger sums this sentiment up with, "Microsoft could sell snow to Canadians."

Is Netscape just a pawn?

One recurring theme throughout the responses was the idea that Netscape is playing into Microsoft's hands by releasing Windows versions first and subsequent Mac versions months behind; hence propagating the Windows platform and boosting sales of Windows machines all sporting MS's browser. Many had strong words for Netscape's lack of Mac support. "Their support for the MacOS is notoriously horrible," says Michael Skovrinskie. Heninger adds, "I am dumbfounded that they [Netscape] choose to support the platform of their enemy rather than give equal treatment and keep the Mac community happy." Robert "Buzz" Hill sees the situation as dire indeed, calling Netscape and Mac "the last hope for a free world," and concludes with, "Seldom in the history of civilization has a society been so tolerant — no, supportive of the loss of their freedom."

"The problem with Microsoft," states Brad Paton, "is that it is too big. Much as AT&T was before it was broken up into the Baby Bells." This is, of course, what Microsoft fears the most and which will, more than anything, keep Apple alive and make Microsoft tread lightly into Netscape's arena. Paton continues, "Microsoft is in a position that is so anti-competitive, that anybody and everybody that is a challenger to Microsoft has to be applauded and supported."

Will Netscape take the licking and keep on ticking?

Readers, such as Andrew B. Peterson, point out that the pattern of "cheap imitations/knock-offs of innovative products becoming more successful than the real thing," is not unique to the computer industry. Case-in-point: Switzerland's former lock on timepieces prior to the 1970s and, more recently as W. Kent Ellwin points out, "the Sony Beta format vs. VHS." Peterson sums it up with, "There will always be a market for quality and a place for innovation. Will high-quality, innovative products always command a large market share? This is almost never the case. But this I can say: whenever possible, I will choose the higher-quality, innovative product."

Good for you Andy, never settle for second best.

All for one and one for all

Many respondents ended their missives with passionate proclamations such as "once again I reiterate my allegiance to them, LONG LIVE APPLE!" and "All hail Netscape!" and this bit of prose from Grayson Muir: "Long live the Mac and Netscape in peace, harmony, ease of use, and power."

The number of responses we received to this Comment and the overwhelming support for Mac and Netscape surprised even us. Also the negativity toward Microsoft was overwhelming, as Steve Curtis said, "I don't know what it is in someone that gives them such aversion to the Microsoft phenomenon, but I feel it...."