Web Browsers
by Deborah J. Aaron
Introduction
A browser is a program that allows users to interface with the World Wide Web. Nearly two years ago Internet World reviewed 24 browsers available at that time. Netscape (version 1.0) was named as one of the two best browsers available in April 1995, with the other being InternetWorks. However, later that year (1995), Microsoft entered the Internet market by launching the Microsoft Network as a commercial online service and integrating its Windows Explorer browser with the Windows 95 desktop, as well as providing the browser free of charge. Less than two years later, Netscape and Microsoft dominate the Web browser market.Netscape still has the majority of the market. However, its market share has decreased to 70 percent from 87 percent reported in May 1996, and its primary competitor is Microsoft's Internet Explorer. One cannot open a computer magazine today without seeing an article that touts the "war" between the two companies, with such titles as "Browser Battle Lines" , "The Battle to Rule the Web", "The Browser War", or "Netscape vs. Microsoft: Who Will Rule the Web?".
The purpose of this report is to describe, compare, and contrast N etscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and to examine their current use of HTML standards as defined by the W3C.
Netscape vs. Microsoft
HTML Standards
The Future
IT Standards Home
March 6, 1997
Draft
debaaron@vms.cis.pitt.edu