Microsoft advises IE users to uninstall Netscape 8

Microsoft has alerted consumers that Netscape's latest browser appears to break the XML rendering capabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Dave Massy, a senior program manager for IE, warned users in a blog posting that after installing Netscape 8, IE will render XML files as a blank page, including XML files that have an XSLT transformation.

Microsoft did not make clear what versions of IE were affected, but a user of the DeveloperDex forum said he experienced the problem on version 6 of IE, which had been patched with Windows Service Pack 2.

Microsoft said it is investigating the problem and will work with Netscape to resolve it. It advised a "workaround" of uninstalling Netscape 8 and editing the registry settings.

One reader of the blog said the rendering problem could be a problem with IE, rather than Netscape. He suggested that such a feature could be useful for Microsoft as it would deter users considering a migration from IE to Netscape.

But another reader, Chris Beach, came to Microsoft's defense. "Cue endless conspiracy theories about Microsoft's 'dirty tactics.' Honestly, the rubbish you (Microsoft) have to put up with...my heart goes out to you guys. Keep up the good work with IE 7," he said.

This issue could be another blow to Netscape, which released Netscape 8 only two weeks ago. Just a day after launching Netscape 8 and touting the browser's security features, the company released an update to fix several serious flaws.

Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.

[System Tyrant]

"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish

It might be rubbish if Microsoft hadn't ever done that in the past, but they have so I think it is more like burned once twice shy.

However I figure that this time it probably is just a bug that Microsoft and Netscape will work out. I don't think that Microsoft went out of it's way this time to make Netscape fail. However when version 7 is released that might be a different story.

[System Tyrant]

"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish

It might be rubbish if Microsoft hadn't ever done that in the past, but they have so I think it is more like burned once twice shy.

However I figure that this time it probably is just a bug that Microsoft and Netscape will work out. I don't think that Microsoft went out of it's way this time to make Netscape fail. However when version 7 is released that might be a different story.

[richard mitnick]

Netscape and Microsoft

I have been using Netscape 8 since the beta, now I am on 8.0.1. I do not know what this issue of .xml is about, unless someone gives me an example of something to do so I could test it.

[George Cole]

using Netscape 8

http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm

[richard mitnick]

Netscape and Microsoft

I have been using Netscape 8 since the beta, now I am on 8.0.1. I do not know what this issue of .xml is about, unless someone gives me an example of something to do so I could test it.

[George Cole]

using Netscape 8

http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm

Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8

I haven't had any problems with Netscape 8. If there is a problem with Internet Explorer my suggestion is,"Uninstall Internet Explorer."

I use the latest versions of Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox , Netscape, and Mozilla. All four work fine, so I seldom use I.E..

Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8

I haven't had any problems with Netscape 8. If there is a problem with Internet Explorer my suggestion is,"Uninstall Internet Explorer."

I use the latest versions of Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox , Netscape, and Mozilla. All four work fine, so I seldom use I.E..

[ZeroJCF]

IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox

Forget uninstalling IE, because there are too many sites that require it (YUK). I would have to say this is a Netscape problem and IE is not at fault. As a rule o' thumb, in the IT support world, if your system works before a software install and does not after it. Guess what?? The new software goes bye-bye. I think Netscape is terrible, worse than IE. Hopefully soon, the programmers/developers will get it right and FireFox will be able to work across all standards. Is there really a need for a browser, that should have died off 5 years ago?

[ZeroJCF]

IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox

Forget uninstalling IE, because there are too many sites that require it (YUK). I would have to say this is a Netscape problem and IE is not at fault. As a rule o' thumb, in the IT support world, if your system works before a software install and does not after it. Guess what?? The new software goes bye-bye. I think Netscape is terrible, worse than IE. Hopefully soon, the programmers/developers will get it right and FireFox will be able to work across all standards. Is there really a need for a browser, that should have died off 5 years ago?

[Earl Benser]

Should be no problem.....

... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.

[msims]

Just disable IEs XML rendering engine in Netscape!

I found a simple solution: when netscape asks if you "Want to use IEs XML rendering engine to render web pages in netscape just click no.

Its that simple. ;)

[Earl Benser]

Should be no problem.....

... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.

[msims]

Just disable IEs XML rendering engine in Netscape!

I found a simple solution: when netscape asks if you "Want to use IEs XML rendering engine to render web pages in netscape just click no.

Its that simple. ;)

[MajorCB]

Netscape 8

Can Not get 8 to stay up and running so its gone IE is gone Firefox and MSN(IE) don't work with some sites Java Problems they cail. So it OPERA the All around does everything for me

Me too

Opera 8 is almost perfect. It does have an occassional fault - but not as bad as some browsers. I've used it OK on banking & online brokerage sites (identifying it as IE) and it's pretty much OK.

But as someone else said - if existing software worked before and doesn't work AFTER something else is installed - the something else goes. It doesn't matter if the newly installed product works OK in isolation. It's up to the developers of the new software to fix their product........if they want ME to use it. (Or they could convince the millions of other developers to cater for their new product).

[George Cole]

Java Problems

http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm

[MajorCB]

Netscape 8

Can Not get 8 to stay up and running so its gone IE is gone Firefox and MSN(IE) don't work with some sites Java Problems they cail. So it OPERA the All around does everything for me

Me too

Opera 8 is almost perfect. It does have an occassional fault - but not as bad as some browsers. I've used it OK on banking & online brokerage sites (identifying it as IE) and it's pretty much OK.

But as someone else said - if existing software worked before and doesn't work AFTER something else is installed - the something else goes. It doesn't matter if the newly installed product works OK in isolation. It's up to the developers of the new software to fix their product........if they want ME to use it. (Or they could convince the millions of other developers to cater for their new product).

[George Cole]

Java Problems

http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm

[JuggerNaut]

IE breaks web standards!

So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.

[mortis9]

I.E. is standard

whatever you're talking about regarding open standards (w3c) is utterly irrelevant. I.E. is the defacto standard and is the default browser for 80% + internet users. Any browser that wishes to compete must take into account that most, if not all, webpages are designed around I.E.

[JuggerNaut]

IE breaks web standards!

So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.

[mortis9]

I.E. is standard

whatever you're talking about regarding open standards (w3c) is utterly irrelevant. I.E. is the defacto standard and is the default browser for 80% + internet users. Any browser that wishes to compete must take into account that most, if not all, webpages are designed around I.E.

solution...

Use Safari.

solution...

Use Safari.

Typical GREEDY M$

This is sooo not suprising, it's just more of the same greedy, anti-competitive monopolistic BS from M$, the world's most digustingly avaricious company. I have really enjoyed watching their share price flatline over the last couple years, they much be getting desperate by resorting to cheesy tactics like this.

Are you an idiot ?

In what way did M$ do something wrong, when THEY had the established browser ? Were they supposed to be psychic ? Are they supposed to cater for every other piece of software that may be released IN THE FUTURE ???

As for someone elses comment about web standards - just as history is written by the winners - standards are set by the biggest bully in the school yard. That would be M$, in the case of browsers.

Typical GREEDY M$

This is sooo not suprising, it's just more of the same greedy, anti-competitive monopolistic BS from M$, the world's most digustingly avaricious company. I have really enjoyed watching their share price flatline over the last couple years, they much be getting desperate by resorting to cheesy tactics like this.

Are you an idiot ?

In what way did M$ do something wrong, when THEY had the established browser ? Were they supposed to be psychic ? Are they supposed to cater for every other piece of software that may be released IN THE FUTURE ???

As for someone elses comment about web standards - just as history is written by the winners - standards are set by the biggest bully in the school yard. That would be M$, in the case of browsers.

[guyd_pcmasters]

Netscape Breaks IE

Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"

[guyd_pcmasters]

Netscape Breaks IE

Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"