60 likes | 159 Views
Netscape Workshop Whether Netscape?. Alan Silverman HEPiX, JLAB October 31st,2000. The Background. CERN is deploying Windows 2000 using SMS and MSI - see Alberto Pace’s talk. Netscape is not packaged for this, will it be?
E N D
Netscape WorkshopWhether Netscape? Alan Silverman HEPiX, JLAB October 31st,2000
The Background • CERN is deploying Windows 2000 using SMS and MSI - see Alberto Pace’s talk. • Netscape is not packaged for this, will it be? • Netscape is the currently-recommended mail agent for Windows users and the current recommended browser for UNIX • What is Netscape’s future direction?
Why Netscape? • Image - ‘Netscape is one of the most used apps in NICE; it actually works (mostly) just fine on W2000; now we are suggesting to drop it!!!’ • Consistent message - not so long ago we recommended Quickmail on Windows; then Netscape; now Outlook? If you had to change your VCR that often… • Avoid user retraining - it may not (seem to) be much effort but we computer professionals often under-estimate this • Consistency between UNIX and Windows - does this matter; to how many people, is Netscape really still valid even for UNIX?
And the Cons • No support (today) from Netscape for proper Windows 2000 packaging - HEP could invest this but does it make sense? Including ongoing support, new versions,... • Will Mozilla (now Netscape 6) ever really get off the ground, and will it be packaged? • We’ll need Explorer for other Windows needs (unless DoJ eventually succeeds) and adding a second browser adds a layer of complication
Future of Netscape Corp • Does it still care about the browser? • Seems not interested in offering support for it - does not accept an offer to buy support!
And the Question? CERN is discussing what to do. What are other labs doing?