I use a couple of browsers, but my favorite is Netscape. I’m aware of the fact that most Internet users don’t use Netscape – someone even called Netscape simple – but that’s fine with me: in fact, I like simple. My browser doesn’t have to be too complicated. It has to be reasonably fast, it has to be easy in use, and it has to be stable.

O, and it needs to work fine in combination with Windows Vista.

As such, Netscape’s great for me. It works awesome. Never have a problem with it.

Well, until now that is: via TechCrunch comes the news that Netscape feels “it’s the right time to end development of Netscape branded browsers, hand the reins fully to Mozilla and encourage Netscape users to adopt Firefox.” The reason? Netscape’s only used by 0.6% of Internet users as their (main) browser.

What? Adopt Firefox? I have Firefox, but it doesn’t always work well. Better: my Internet connection gets cut every now and then when I use Firefox. Yes, I know, that’s a big problem, but it does that constantly, and there’s no way to fix it.

Netscape also put up some questions and answered them. There we have it again:

Q: I use Netscape now. Now that Netscape is stopping support, what do I do?
A: The Netscape Team fully stands behind the fine work being done by the Mozilla Foundation. We recommend that you download Mozilla Firefox and give it a try. We know you’ll enjoy it!

Q: Will I still be able to use Netscape?
A: You will still be able to download old versions of Netscape from the Netscape Archive (link coming). However, these products are no longer supported. Our recommendation for the nostalgic out there is to download Mozilla Firefox, and add on the Netscape theme and Netscape extensions which are available here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/user/56836

This way you’ll have a current web browser that is very secure, and has the look and feel you have grown accustomed to with Netscape.

Well, a happy new year to you guys at Netscape as well!