11–20 of 63 posts
jwz was right, the source code was out there and even though AOL eventually gave up on browser tech, the code lived on to become Firefox, re-igniting competition for web browsers, moving the web platform forward, and providing an independent browser that's beholden to users first.
I was at Netscape at the time of the acquisition. When they offered buy-outs for employees that would volunteer for layoffs I gleefully waved my hand and left.
AOL, an industry behemoth with 14 million subscribers, will
acquire Netscape's Navigator and Communicator software, its
e-commerce software, and its Netcenter Internet "portal"
site, one of the 10 most-visited sites on the Internet.
Q: What's a portal?
A: Yes, exactly.
I was at Netscape at the time of the acquisition. When they offered buy-outs for employees that would volunteer for layoffs I gleefully waved my hand and left.
Why would they buy you out to be laid off? Wouldn't they have wanted to keep that kind of talent?
Good contemporary read: https://www-archive.mozilla.org/fear.html jwz was right, the source code was out there and even though AOL eventually gave up on browser tech, the code lived on to become Firefox, re-igniting competition for web browsers, moving the web platform forward, and providing an independent browser that's beholden to users first.
Steve Case replied to that article too - https://www-archive.mozilla.org/stevecase.html
There's a good Netscape documentary filmed during their last year leading up to the acquisition. When they were working to get the Mozilla source code released. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q7FTjhvZ7Y
"This is a monk-like existence. There are very few women in these societies. These are male societies. They are secret societies. They function very much like the Masons or some street gang."
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why would they buy you out to be laid off? Wouldn't they have wanted to keep that kind of talent?
Right, this seems dumb as you're going to lose your best people first, since they're the ones knowing they'll have no issues finding something else on the open job market.
There's a good Netscape documentary filmed during their last year leading up to the acquisition. When they were working to get the Mozilla source code released. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q7FTjhvZ7Y
Sounds pretty prescient considering current events.