Desktop Wars: NS6.1 unloads the dumpster

[rcjordan]

Yes, we're all used to seeing software packages try and take over a corner of your desktop; generally speaking, however, most software packages politely ask permission before they take over your desktop. Even Microsoft software behaves fairly well in this manner.

Not so Netscape 6.1. It not only throws a bunch of annoying shortcuts on your Windows desktop -- including a link for signing up for AOL! -- it also inserts them into your taskbar and your start menu. (This isn't an issue for Linux users, as Netscape obviously isn't trying to push AOL usage among Linux users.) In addition, Netscape throws shortcuts for WinAmp and RealPlayer onto the desktop as well.

Targeting the Newbie [newmedia.com]

At the end of the article, the author says "Still, it doesn't take long for you to clean up your desktop after these multiple product placements, so this is admittedly a minor quibble." It seems he lost sight of the sub-title of his own article 'Targeting the Newbie' ....newbies don't know HOW to clean a desktop, and Netscape (AOL) is banking on that.

[littleman]

Use Mozilla [mozilla.org] instead. As far as sleazy marketing tricks Microsoft and AOL are just about equal.

[ggrot]

Is this really so bad? How many complete and utter newbies are downloading netscape - really? Some, I admit, but most netscape users know how to delete things from the desktop if not the start menu. I really dont see this as an issue.

[zoidberg]

It also makes itself the default browser without asking, but puts an AOL link in your IE bookmarks just to be on the safe side.

I'll take Microsoft over AOL anyday.

[NetGrease]

I hate this kind of semi-aggressive marketing. Bombing my desktop is a cardinal sin for any piece of software, especially if it's doing it without my permission.

Sounds petty but I'm often inclined to immediately uninstall any software that does this, and then mail the offending company.

Definately get Mozilla 0.9.3 [mozilla.org] if you'd like a 6th generation alternative to IE. Open-source deserves your megabytes, AOHell/Nutscrape certainly does not...

[theperlyking]

As littleman says, avoid Netscape. They have been doing this for a while with their older netscapes too. I remember being irritated multiple times by netscape insisting on installing AOL messenger (no option to not install, or even uninstall it afterwards!!).

Funny about the bit though where it inserts them into your start menu, I though that was fairly normal for software :)