AOL’s Problems became Ours
America Online has agreed to drop its suit against Microsoft in return for $750 million and the privilege of keeping IE as the default AOL browser. For face value that seems to be fine with all of us and is just business people playing cards.
Sadly there’s much more that comes about with this. First of all I should note (to those that may not know) that AOL already owns Netscape and has since 97’ if my memory serves me right. One now wonders why AOL really needs to use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. Why not put more time and money into your own product? What I’m guessing now is that IE will be AOL’s choice browser engine and further push Microsoft up in browser ratings.
I hate to bring inform all of you IE6 lovers but it’s not that great of a browser. NN6 (among many other browsers) are able to render sites much quicker and better. On top of that many other browsers offer helpful functions that make the overall user experience a better one.
Microsoft has also pointed out a couple things as well with this little agreement. One is the promise of AOL working better with newer versions of Windows. Well, that’s nice - I’m happy that they will work together better (i say sarcastically). What that means to those that use Windows is a lot more AOL problems, content, and over crap that’s stuffed onto your computer when you purchase that new desktop of laptop. You can basically just expect to see AOL & Microsoft SPAM coming directly into your computer and sitting on your desktop. This isn’t a very comforting idea.
The second thing that Microsoft is announcing is the releasing patters of newer browsers. Right now you can download newer versions of IE when they are available. Many times you upgrade without even knowing it if you use your ‘Windows Updater’. Now Microsoft is announcing it will no longer make a stand alone version of IE. This means you’re not able to upgrade your browser unless you upgrade your whole Operating System.
That’s going to be plain HELL for people like me that make a living off of making websites. Now I can’t test what a site will look like unless I buy a OS every time a new one comes out.
Now you may read that and think it’s no big deal. I mean, YOU aren’t a web developer so what would that mean to you? Well, now you aren’t able to upgrade individual pieces of your computer. You now have to use the lowest common denominator on everything until you upgrade everything.
It would be like using Windows 98 and using Internet Explorer 4.0 as your browser. Right now you can upgrade to a better, more secure, faster, and easier navigating Internet Explorer 6.0 - for free. With this new change you’ll be forced to use old software that will not correctly display the web as it grows.
This is just of course the tip of everything. Not only will you not be able to independently upgrade your browser when better ones come out, Netscape will also be going out the door. With AOL owning Netscape but using Internet Explorer, they won’t find any need to keep putting money into something [Netscape] they don’t use. Now you’re being robbed of choices.
Of course there are still many other browsers out there that you can freely use and most of them are better than Internet Explorer.
So with all this news flying around it’s making me very nervous in what we, as users, will be forced into. From a developers standpoint - it’s pissing me off and will end up costing me and many others hundreds and hundreds of our hard earned dollars.
Update:
This makes me much happier about turning off my Windows machine a couple months ago and only using Macs.
