There is a short story in the NYT today about a small, but vocal, group of Netscape users who don't like the new, more interactive, Netscape. The story explains that a petition has been started to change the new Netscape back to the old Netscape where we (AOL) programmed the experience.
There is one piece of misinformation in the story: that we tried to silence the folks doing the petition by not letting them vote up negative Netscape stories on the new Netscape--that's simply not true. We've had a dozen negative stories about Netscape on the home page--just like DIGG has--and we understand that part of running a social news site is that your user base will use the site itself to talk to you. In fact, any negative story on AOL, Netscape, or myself immediatly goes to the number one position.
That's the price you pay for letting folks take control--they actually do it!
I think some folks don't understand that there is a window in which a story can remain on the homepage (just over a day). We do this so the news stays fresh (i.e. when you come back 24 hours later it's not the same self-propogating list stuck at the top level).
I respect the fact that a group of folks liked the original home page better, and they don't want to participate in the new social news site--it's not for everyone. However, this is a very small percentage of the over millions of unique users who come to Netscape, and for AOL there is a very strategic reason for evolving Netscape.com. That reason is we already have a professionally programmed portal in AOL.COM! Also, we told the users about the change for a month, but some folks I think ignored or missed the messaging. That's a big take away here: over communicate with your members (oh wait, I put this in a recent post--I guess I need to take more of my own advice). If I were to do this again I would put a message that blocked users from visiting the site until they had read a note about the upcoming changes. Live and learn.
Additionally, the fact was that the majority of users were not sticking with the old Netscape. A quick look at the stats (not Alexia please--it doesn't count the Netscape browser--where a large percentage of our traffic comes from) shows that Netscape lost 1/3rd of its audience over the past year.
So, we lost a third of the audience by not changing the site, and now by changing we're going to lose a very small percentage, but be back on a growth path.
Look at it this way: if Geocities could change itself to MySpace before losing it's marketshare to MySpace you would do that right?
Same thing here, we're in the middle of paradigm shift from top-down control to bottom-up participation, and when you make a radical change like that you're gonna get pushback. In fact, I'm really excited to see the pushback because it let's me know we are on the right track.
Any new service is gonna get folks who don't like it. The more radical or forward looking an idea is the more folks are gonna be shocked by it--and this is a radical (but soon-to-be established) concept.
We anticipated in our projections that a large percentage of the audience might not like the new portal (double digits) and we're well below that (single digits)--so, I think we did a good job. When you change the menu at your restaurant some folks are gonna like the old menu better... we understand that and we're sorry we can't maintain two versions of the site forever--but this is a business and we have to grow it. For those folks the AOL.COM portal is still providing the classic portal experience with a massive amount of new stuff including a ton of video and programmed news.
It is ironic, of course, that some folks are voting for *less* interactivity and control, but I understand it. I don't want the New York Times to be a social news site... I think.
Old vs. New Netscape (or "if you could change GeoCities into MySpace in 2002 would you have?")
Recent Posts
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Reader Comments
(Page 7 of 25)122. I've been with Netscape for 12 years or more and this is the biggest mess that I've seen. Bring back Netscape 7.2 because I don't like Netscape Browser 8.0 either. Fortunately I have Internet Explorer installed too. Netscape is falling fast!
Posted at 10:45PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Phillip H. Gable
123. Your "New Netscape" blows. How long did the "new Coke" last? Who wants to click, click, click on something just to get a story that is four or five days old? I, and numerous others, want the availability of getting a news story or a site that is fresh, with updated information. Additionally, where are all the comments about those who really like this new format and are very happy to use it?
Posted at 10:52PM on Jul 17th 2006 by S A G
124. OK, whoever is in charge at Netscape. I have read thru the comments so what is your problem. We do not like the new look. Why change what was familiar and liked. I will never have an electric blue AOL background ever, nor will I ever have anything to do with AOL. I have my reasons. If the computer world does not keep to the basics for the basic user and government retrictions grow,etc.etc. I'll just shut it down and throw it in the trash. Thank You for allowing my comment.
Posted at 11:05PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Thomas E. Shepard III
125. I must say I have been a netscape user for about ten years. I have seen changes come and go but like everything else AOL gets their hands on they screw up!The new netscape sucks. I have been a loyal user and havent been back since they changed it. I hope it bites them hard! Aol why dont you just srew up AOL like you have already done and keep your hands off things that work! No wonder people switched from aol. Now you are running netscape in the dirt!
Posted at 11:06PM on Jul 17th 2006 by moparmann
126. I really hate the new netscape. It was so much easier to get the news I wanted, not what other people think is more important. If anyone out there can give me the url to a good quality news site please post it. I am leaving NS for good.
Posted at 11:10PM on Jul 17th 2006 by j riggins
127. You asked for it.
As an email user for 4 years, the other web page worked for me. It's a waste of time to vote or for that fact read these headlines. WHO CARES.
What is the number (how many?) of comments that will convince you; this is a poor format. No need to be defensive about your decisions which led too making this Netscape format...when users say they don't like it.
Posted at 11:22PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Sandra
128. Seems like berating your clients for not buying into a trendy "paradigm" or being resistant to "revolutionary" change is not the best way to go about your business. If I try to log in my email from your initial front page as opposed to the secondary link of the My Netscape Index, it takes an unruly amount of time. From either an aesthetic, technical and interactive perspective this new site is not welcoming for many people. Stop the 2nd year Media Studies/post-modernism jargon crap and understand the strengths of your old page. People don't mind the voting of news stories as a new and vibrant development in itself but not as the lead page of your browser. The same way we wouldn't like the op-ed portion of the New York Times on the cover page.
Posted at 11:25PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Gordon Woods
129. Used Juno.com for home page till they cluttered up with too much adds. AOL.com was worse. Used netscape for news. It loaded fast and was half way usewable. Ha Ha ! ! ! Now I can not find anything that is news worthy,,,,, You scroll, scroll, scroll, To See Gunck!!!!!!
Firefox, Opera and lunix in future....
Had dial up and your new browser was so ssllooww to load, It still slow with dsl....
I WANT TO SEE NEWS NOT SOME FORM OF BLOGERS POLLING VOTES AS TO WHAT IS NEWS...
IE IS NO GOOD, NETSCAPE IS WORSE, FIREFOX, OPERA WILL HAVE TO FILL THE BILL FOR NEWS,
OH! I FORGOT MSN.COM..... Darn! Thats Microsoft's little darling.
Spend hours on myspace looking at the kid's vidios,,, but thats not news.
I have to stop now, want to find news.
I only saw this coment on the new / old netscape, since it was the second one down from the top.
W. R. Smith
Posted at 11:26PM on Jul 17th 2006 by William R Smith
130. I don't know what is more annoying - a pop up ad or one that just won't go away?
News as a popularity contest? Gawd you're kidding that this is innovative and wanted by the audience right? Hey I have a better idea - why not make it a phone in like you do to vote for your favourite 'idol' then people who want the news can pay for the story they want? That way AOL won't have to have a conscience about making money and taking what was a pretty solid portal to one that is, well, intrusive and somewhat dysfunctional.
And am I really reading that because people aren't complaining they must like it? Don't make me laugh - most people WON'T complain, they'll just leave.
I've tried AOL in a past online life and found it apalling. Netscape has always been to user friendly approach of the big spaces. Now you're giving that up too which I guess will mean people will migrate to Firefox et al.
Then again perhaps this is all part of the wider pre determined strategy that is still playing out from AOL's takeover of Netscape - to shift its base across and shut down Netscape altogether.
Posted at 11:27PM on Jul 17th 2006 by MBarber
131. I agree that the new Netscape sucks and our numbers are not
as small as Netscape might think!
Posted at 11:29PM on Jul 17th 2006 by barb
132. I still like netscape's mail service however, I guess I am in the minorty. I am not a fan of "The new Netscape".... I liked the old one much better... Not that it's going to matter but, it's just my 2 cents worth...
Posted at 11:29PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Mr. Happy
133. I really enjoyed the old netscape and wish you could incorporate this site as a link from the old netscape, this way everyone that wants to express their opinion can do so.
I miss all the links to weather, jobs ,quick news links etc.
Also I have been using netscape since 1999 and the e-mail service . also when the change came about it erased all my saved e-mails.SOME IMPORTANT!!! . Can't complain about a free servie though. Constuctive criticizm!!! Have A GREAT DAY :
Posted at 11:31PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Danny
134. I do not want to see MSN popping up as the Homepage for Netscape, what a Horrible situation! What's missing is the sidebar format of the various Links on the Netscape Homepage.
That gave it a more distinctive & exclusive look & easier navigation to things I liked! The current format has a very bland Milktoast look to it as if Netscape were trying to be just one of the Boys, rather than standing out.
Most of the time I tend to choose Netscape because of the tabbed browsing & the fact that it sits on it's own (not mixed in with other toolbars, unlike IE/MSN).
In upgrading let's keep the features I just mentioned whie making sure that Netscape ALWAYS shows up as the Homepage by Default & not MSN!
Thanks.
Posted at 11:35PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Delano Spencer
135. Hello All
I thought I would like the new Netscape..BUT..I hate having to side-scroll to read the whole page..Hey do you think everyone has a 21 inch monitor..It is just as bad as trying to read the mail..Try giving me a bigger box to read it without having to go through hoops..right now about 1/4 of my screen has a navigator with related stories and NO way to close it..Give me a break..I feel so frustrated with this ..Even explorer is looking starting to look good, err..No..I will stick with Firefox..At least I can see the whole page.
Posted at 11:39PM on Jul 17th 2006 by kench302
136. You can't tally a percentage based on who is vocal enough to complain. Most people are apathetic. The new look is crap. What percentage is the 150 or less users that bother to vote on any of the stories? The rest of us are stuck looking at the top choices of stories picked by low IQ twits. So there needed to be a change...well what you changed into is real crap. Any intelligent person will go elsewhere for their news. I only pass thru to get to my webmail. My first impression was that the layout looks ugly, and then, that the format is targeting the immature viewer. For those looking for a good browser, Firefox is the best I've found. Now I'm on a hunt for a new News page.
Posted at 11:42PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Empress
137. i like the idea of an interactive website, but as a homepage? isnt that what messageboards and myspace are for? i miss the old netscape, this new format seems too jumbled and haphazard, and honestly looks very unprofessional and poorly designed. the 'old' page was a perfect mix of relevant news and entertainment. now it just seems to be a collecion of mindless entertainment with a token genuine story thrown in every once in awhile. the old page was much more accessible and user friendly, and the new one... well, im unfortunately about to start looking around for an alternative home site.
Posted at 11:48PM on Jul 17th 2006 by kristen
138. New Netscape sucks. Sorry.
Posted at 11:50PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Scott Donnelly
139. The new netscape sucks!! I want to see the news stories of the day and I don't really care about what's "popular" with the people who have the time and inclination to comment on the news. Many of us just want to see the important and pertinent news stories of the day and are too busy with our lives to vote on news stories. I am trying new sites as a result of the new netscape and as soon as I find a good one I am out of here!!!!!!!!!! Any suggestions for a new site as my home page for news and information????
Posted at 11:57PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Christi Lott
140. Every time I finish checking my Netscape webmail, I'm automatically taken to the newly redesigned web page, which I don't like at all. I'm a conservative, and I've got no use for all the liberal/radical choices of your so-called "anchors." I liked the old web page a lot better, because it contained real news articles and info spots that I actually clicked on. Now I just try to ignore your new page and instead check one that's more tradional.
Posted at 11:58PM on Jul 17th 2006 by Ken
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121. I've switched to another homepage. The new Netscape has limited access to many of the features I use. Perhaps some want their homepage to be interactive; however, I simply want a functional and useful portal to information I can easily access. The new Netscape fails in all these goals.
Posted at 10:41PM on Jul 17th 2006 by MIchael Simmons