Where would the internet be without Mcft?

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Originally Posted by JPnyc

But then we'd all be stuck in the same hell as AOL users, and juno users, etc. Forced to use whatever software the ISP shoves at ya.

I'm not sure that if I had been FORCED to use a browser like netscape navigator early on, that I would've developed the same interest I have now.

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Only if you choose to. I *NEVER* used AOL or other mass ISPs. I used a local one. And, as a Mac user, was able to start off with the basic protocols -- telnet and FTP -- and go from there. Additionally, there were a lot of magazines and books that came with free internet utilities. You were only forced if you choose to stay with an ISP that required it.

I was with Internex (small Toronto ISP that charged decent rates -- I stayed with them until they were bought out and high-speed came into the area). To this day, I have never used what the ISP "required" me to use.

MsMittens sticking it to the man for over a decade. :)

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Originally Posted by MadBeaver

MsMittens sticking it to the man for over a decade. :)

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Hell, ya! :D

Half the time it was because I didn't like their tool selection or they altered the defaults to something that just made it suck (e.g., AOL's browser was modified from original and made it near impossible to browse with).

But you're an experienced user. Most novices aren't even aware that you CAN use another browser, while connected to AOHELL or similar.

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Originally Posted by JPnyc

But you're an experienced user. Most novices aren't even aware that you CAN use another browser, while connected to AOHELL or similar.

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Now I am. Back then I was green beyond belief. I mean the first time I heard a modem I thought something was broken. LOL

I had to teach myself. The reality is that I think MS has done a disservcie by making everything too easy for everyone. Yes, make it somewhat easy but also require a bit of knowledge and learning.

Well from a certain POV they did. I mean IE is only remotely secure if you know how to configure it LOL. I'm joking, but that's actually true. I always recommend other browsers than IE (and IE shells) to novices. IE should only be braved by a somewhat savvy user. Of course that's not the way it works out most of the time.

Well, nobody ask me directly but here's my opinion....


Internet is .... well, Internet. Browsers are related to it, but not exactly the creators or developing needs.

As far with the question in matter, Internet will be the same even if M$ doesn't give you IE anymore or even if M$ leave to be what it is. Other different question will be "if" novice users will use internet in the same way they do now.

But, lets ask why they're "novice users" and no geeks? Back in that days (1996) geeks where pasioned people by informatic software, content, tecnology and some others stuff, as is it today, the element of "novice" were born when the software (IE by example) came with the user-friendly philosophy which isn't bad.

Now, if we took IE, or M$ what left? alot of things to use and with a bit of luck, the novice concept will be dismissed :)

Try to compare what is Internet or what could it be without IE or M$ in this days is pointless just because Internet is a monster that have grown alot in last years and keep going.

Even when the Internet (as Internet) started, IE was not a need, there was netscape, even Nexus and some plain browsers that let you access the content that exist in that moment. It wasn't pretty (flash, desing, usability, accessability.....) it was plain text, there was the ftp and telnet channel and some others stuff, but they weren't coming usin IE, just protocols and IE wasn't the only software that understood them.

Now, what if we remove IE.....users will let Internet access atemps or will look for other access methods? will those users still novice or will became geeks? :D

On the other hand, well, the ISP is forcing you to use their browser because IE dies, doesn't exist anymore.....As many choices as exist today, you'll be force to use ISP's browser? Not at all, just download other.....

Internet includes the World Wide Web, FTP, broadcast, telnet, SMTP, SSL, SSH and so on.....will all that change or be inaccessible just because IE is no more with us?.......is hard to believe, at least to me ;)




Regards

Me shows my age here -
I remember using a chat client called Q-Link (Quantum Link) on a Commodore 64 (I think a 2400 bit modem). If you want to talk about what ruined the internet :eek:

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Originally Posted by ShagDevil

Me shows my age here -
I remember using a chat client called Q-Link (Quantum Link) on a Commodore 64 (I think a 2400 bit modem). If you want to talk about what ruined the internet :eek:

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It was you all along!!! :D

But the net is now as universal as tv or phones or any other medium you want to name. Were it not for the ease of use of IE and it's ubiquitous inclusion, I don't think we'd be at the point now.