With Netscape about to issue its first major browser release since the AOL buyout, it may be worthwhile to think about what's really at the heart of the matter in the "Redmond Justice" case: Microsoft vs. Netscape duking it out for the hearts, minds, and clicks of the Internet browser market. And regardless of how the case turns out, there's little doubt that if Microsoft hurt Netscape (illegally or not), the damage is done. Netscape's software was once dominant, even though it "cost" $30 and Microsoft's alternative was free; but with virtually limitless resources at its disposal (and an operating system monopoly to abuse), eventually Redmond was able to turn the tables. These days, with something like a 70% share of the market, Internet Explorer is squarely in the lead.

Now, many of you are going to tell us that it should have more market share, because IE is the better browser. That may be true-- these days. After all, when was the last time Netscape issued a major release of Navigator? 4.0 came out when, in 1997? Everything since then's just been minor improvements. In terms of features, look-and-feel, etc. Microsoft first had to play catch-up, and is now way out in front. But could that have happened if the company didn't have ways of coercing the use of those earlier, decidedly ickier versions of the product to grow its market share? Most people think IE5 is the best browser available for the Mac, hands down. But who remembers IE3? Or even IE2? The word "yuck" comes to mind. In fact, we never would have used Internet Explorer at all, had Apple not been forced to include it as the standard browser on new Macs. Think how much more that bundling concept applies to the Windows camp. They bought share, and time to improve a product that should otherwise have been laughed off the market when it first appeared. (Hmmm, who remembers those pre-3.0 versions of Windows? See any parallels?)

So, Netscape lost and sold out to AOL. For those of us still using Netscape browsers, our best available option is Communicator 4.72-- which, frankly, we don't feel to be much different from 4.0. (Oooo, AOL Instant Messenger is now part of the download. Pinch us, we're dreaming.) Our brief foray into using builds of the Mozilla 5.0 open-source browser project were uninspiring, to say the least. And as we await the unveiling of Netscape 6.0 (due on Wednesday, according to a Reuters story), we can't help but feel that we're going to be underwhelmed. (Plus, who knows how long we Mac users will have to wait before being able to use it anyway?) Still, we're pinning our hopes on Netscape 6, and hoping that iCab gains full Javascript and CSS support soon...