Why was there ever a browser war in the first place?

[lowtech1]

Why were they competeing to give away more of thier products for free???? I don't get it, how is this beneficial to either company?

MS tactic is to ensure it is the only product on a PC therefore they can charge what ever price they please.

1. It is similar to the rent to own places & credit card scheme...buy now & pay later with a high interest.
2. It is the same tactic that console makers using...practically giving their game boxes away for free then gouge on the games.
3. Same affect as giving away salted peanuts at bars to make the patrons thirsty so they would buy more drink.

Killing compettion by strong-arm tactic instead of inovation is a bad practice, that why we have such thing as anti-trust law to protect the consumer.

 

[lowtech1]

Netscape3.0 Gold also, didnt pay anything

That seemed to be very strange, because the plain-jane 3.0 Netscape were at first when on for sale for about a year. Then you could download it, but 3.0 Gold never was free during its hay day. You have to pay for 3.0 Gold well into the 4.x release.

 

[Pretty Cool]

Proof that Netscape 1 was free for "personal use".
-------------------------------------------------------------------
PART I -- TERMS APPLICABLE WHEN LICENSE FEES NOT (YET)
PAID

GRANT. Netscape hereby grants you a non-exclusive
license to use its accompanying software ("Software")
free of charge if (a) you are a student, faculty
member or staff member of an educational institution
(K-12, junior college, college or library) or an
employee of a charitable non-profit organization; or
(b) your use of the Software is for the purpose of
evaluating whether to purchase an ongoing license to
the Software. The evaluation period for use by or on
behalf of a commercial entity is limited to 90 days;
evaluation use by others is not subject to this
restriction. Government agencies (other than public
libraries) are not considered educational or
charitable non-profit organizations for purposes of
this license agreement. If you are using the Software
free of charge, you are not entitled to hard-copy
documentation, support or telephone assistance. If
you fit within the description above, you may use the
Software in the manner described in Part III below
under "Scope of Grant."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Versions 2 and 3's agreement change the following:

From: The evaluation period for use by or on behalf of a commercial entity is limited to 90 days; evaluation use by others is not subject to this restriction.

To: The evaluation period for use by or on behalf of a commercial entity is limited to 90 days; evaluation use by others is not subject to this 90 day limit.

Yes, the software was readily available on Netscape's website. You could use an ftp client or another browser to download the file. When you installed the software, there were no serial numbers that need to be entered. Commercial users were supposed to pay for a license after a 90-day trial. However, I doubt if anyone ever did since the Navigator never expired.