The first time it is started up, Internet Explorer asks if you want to import your Netscape settings and bookmarks. Internet Explorer expects that you've been using Navigator already. While the ever-expanding size of hard drives and ever-decreasing cost of RAM makes this seem like more of a quibble, I prefer a browser which is designed to interact with other Internet software. Personally, I don't need two mail readers, two news readers and two Java installations on my computer. What makes Internet Explorer nice on your hard drive is that you don't need to install all of the extra stuff. However, if you use the Internet Mail and News program (based on Newswatcher) and install the Java software, you'll find that Internet Explorer is roughly the same size as Netscape. The browser part takes up less than 2 Megabytes of hard drive space, and requires about 4 Megs of RAM. The first thing you'll notice about Internet Explorer is that it's small. Internet Explorer: plays well with others

However, there are a few flaws, a large security hole, and an unfortunate reliance on the Code Fragment Manager which mar an otherwise excellent program. In virtually every feature category, Internet Explorer is ahead. It competes by being a far better browser than Netscape Navigator 3.0. Internet Explorer doesn't only compete by using the Microsoft name. The actual merits of the programs is irrelevant if Microsoft challenges you, you're in trouble. Usually, the strength of the Microsoft name is enough to wipe competitors off the hard drives of users. Most companies fear when Microsoft enters their niche.

If Microsoft continues to break the browser down, makes downloads appear in a separate window automatically, and improves the security of ActiveX, Netscape will find itself the loser in the browser war due to the merits of the competing programs, not Microsoft's marketing might.

Internet Explorer is a solid product, which shows the value of breaking monolithic browsers into smaller programs which work together.

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