The new Netscape is a definite, hands-down winner

July 4, 2006 – 11:52 am

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I know there’s a bunch of people who don’t agree with me. Right now. But I feel that just might change. So far the Old Netscapers “hate the change”. I think it’s safe to say that based on anecdotal evidence of people commenting. Users have mentioned that they really liked the old site and wanted a choice of using it, instead of the new one. Okay, fair enough, I have no idea who’s decision that was, but I’m sure everyone can move past it, if given a choice of using the old page.

Well, Netscape has solved that dilemna. You can access the Old Netscape if you really hate the new one.

However, I get a sense that the majority of people don’t comment when they’re happy, they merely continue to use the service. I’m sure a great number of Old Netscapers will become New Netscapers. In fact, they’re using Web 2.0 right now. They’re being presented with brand new opinions from non-traditional media sources. They’re expressing their opinions in blogs, which some of them have never done before.

They’re emotional right now, but this too shall pass. Let’s look at how improved features can help a user’s Netscape experience:

  • You’re now an active participant in a growing social experiment when average people get to express their opinion. Contrast this to the days of traditional media, where someone hand picks what news YOU get to see
  • If you become an active member of the new Netscape community, you’ll get a chance to particpate in shaping the page into what you want it to be. In the past, you didn’t have such interaction
  • You can interface directly with Netscape, and express your opinions - from what I’ve seen in their short life so far, they’ve shown a great deal of editorial integrity
  • Your feedback can help improve the system - it seems like the Netscape Engineers are working hard to improve and upgrade the system. Brian Alvey seems to have an excellent handle on the scalablity issue, and the fact they need new hardware so fast shows you just how successful the initial launch of the new page has been.

We’ve seen the new Netscape people act fast on the bug reports and on the lack of choice of using the old page, so the main concerns should be addressed. Between the old users and the influx of new users going on, the new site promises to be a potent mix of politics, entertainment, and the ever trusty technology news which threatens to upset the established order of Web 2.0.

You can see some of the promise of what Web 2.0 offers if you look at a company that isn’t attempting to censor negative feedback. In fact, the open discussion has already allowed them to improve their product in a way that should help them maintain and grow their customer base in explosive fashion. I think it’s great to be around at the beginning.

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