Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer

Netscape Navigator is the leading Web browser. Though a majority still use Navigator, Microsoft released Internet Explorer in early 1996 with the aim to topple Netscape from its king of the browser hill perch. The free market works as long as it remains free, and the browser wars have benefited consumers by impelling both Microsoft and Netscape to constantly strive to improve their products.

With each release, the browsers have included more features and more bells and whistles, however, Internet Explorer has not become quite as bloated as Netscape, requiring less RAM to run. Netscape, on the other hand, still beats IE feature for feature, but the hard reality is that many features are little used, and some are nearly useless.

Most important, the browser wars have all but pushed out the myriad other browsers that once cluttered the field. This is good in a way because many of these other browsers did not support important formatting and functional features like security, tables, frames, and JavaScript. Without security, for example, doing business on the Web is a risky venture. For another browser to enter the melee, it would have to meet a certain minimum requirement to pose any threat to the big two.

To the question "which browser is better" we can only say that you should probably judge for yourself. Each has a slightly different "feel" and interface. You may find that you prefer one over the other. You can download versions of both programs for free at the following locations:

Download Netscape Navigator at http://home.netscape.com.
Download Microsoft Internet Explorer at http://www.microsoft.com/ie.

Back to Main Help Page | Search | Give Feedback
If you are not finding the help you need, please give detailed feedback.