Thumbs down for Netscape 8
Netscape cripples part(s) of Internet Explorer
A discussion on IEBlog confirmed that Netscape messes with how Internet Explorer displays XML pages. When Netscape is installed, it fiddles with part of the Windows Registry used by IE, which then does not work again without removing Netscape 8 and manually fixing a registry setting (not advised unless you know what you’re doing!).
Now, most people wouldn’t even know what XML is, right? XML is a structure document format used variously across the web, but most visibly as RSS feeds, like the ones on this site (see the RSS links below).
How important is this in the scheme of things? Probably not very important at the moment for most people, as XML documents are not widely used in a format that a user’s browser ever actually sees.
However, I take exception to software that plays around with other software’s settings to the point that parts of the software no longer work. In any case, how can I be sure that Netscape hasn’t also affected some other part of IE that simply hasn’t been found yet.
Third party software
Netscape’s licence agreement outlines that the user would be given an “opportunity” to additionally install some third party products when installing the browser.
IMPORTANT NOTE: WHEN YOU INSTALL NETSCAPE 8 YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS FROM THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS. A LIST OF THE AVAILABLE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCTS WILL BE PROVIDED DURING INSTALLATION. USE OF EACH AVAILABLE THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCT IS GOVERNED BY ITS OWN END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT. THOSE LICENSE AGREEMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED FOR YOUR REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE DURING INSTALLATION OF EACH SUCH THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PRODUCT. — Important Notes (appears as preamble to the Licence Agreement)
Netscape here is basically saying that it might bundle someone else’s software with the browser but refuses to be responsible for the actions of the bundled software. Now, I don’t remember being given this “opportunity”, but it opens the gates for anything in the future.
