! I I ONLI~E STRATEGIES This column is not enhanced for 3.0 , 1 Netsc&pe's fIrst browser offers tables When they see these "Netscape Now!" at the San Jose Mercury's web site, ---...... I ._"'~Irn Til •• - the ability to present information messages on the , they can't http://www.sjmercury.comlan like menus or price-lists in columns. help but wonder why the people who example of the layout possibilities H you spend much time browsing It's second browser opened the world set up the web sites felt compelled to simply using tables and images. the Internet, you've probably noticed of animation though the Java and use the these "advanced" features. One of the reasons that companies two kinds of advertisements. J avaScript programming languages. Are all of those odd-ball browsers like Netscape and keep The fIrst kind are called "banner" Netscape 3.0 gives users the ability to something to worry about when you adding new features to their World ads. Think of them. as display adver­ play audio and video clips, explore design your organization's web pages? Wide Web browsers is beca1l8e they tisements. Found on the most popular three-dimensional worlds, and engage Absolutely. I examined the log files of are trying to capture both mindshare sites, such as Yahoo, . and in real-time chat with other users. my web site, http://vineyard.netJ,to and marketshare. Software companies HotWired, a banner is an image of a The problem with all of these new see which browsers were connecting. I can't do that by perfecting what's tried uniform size (468 pixeJa wide, 60 pix­ features is that those who don't have found 160 different browsers over a and true, which is the primary reason els high) that points to a particular the latest and greatest Netscape four-week period. There were well· that the companies are spending their web site or product. Banners are the browser won't be able to see web pages known browsers such as Netscape, resources on developing new features. billboards of today's cyberspace. that use them. That's the real message Microsoft lnternet Explorer and Fortunately, web designers don't The second kind of advertisement behind the buttons. "To experience . But there were also lesser­ have to play along. By concentrating is more insidious, because it doesn't this web site in the best possible way, known browsers, like GNNworks, on high-quality content, understand­ look like an advertisement. Instead, please download Netscape Now!" In -WB, PipeMacWeb, able layouts, and a set of pages that it's a little box: surrounded by the other words, if some critical part of OmniWeb, and TCPConnec:UI. are easy to navigate, you can put words "This site is best viewed with your web pages uses one of these Equally surprising was that most of together a web site that continues to the Netscape Navigator." The adver­ advanced features, and the person the people using Netscape weren't hold readers' interest. And you'll do it tisement itself is a little button that who is looking at your pages doesn't using version 2.0 or 3.0 - they were without spending tens of thousands of says KNetscape Now!," Microsoft have the appropriate browser, then using version 1. dollars developing slick gizmos that ," or even the computer user won't see what you or course, it doesn't make sense to many of your readers can't use ..... '"WebSurfer 5.0 Now!" want them to. design a web site for the least common Netscape's browsers have always I find these pervasive pseudo­ denominator. But it is nevertheless Simson. Garfinkel is a freelance offered a lot of exciting features for advertisements for Netscape to be dis­ surprising Just how good a web site journalist living on Martha's designers. And as web tasteful at the very le88t, and occa­ can look without using Java, Vineyard, Mass. In his fne time, M designers have become skilled in their sionally offensive. Many WIers on the JavaScript, Shockwave, Active-x, and runs the Internet service provider craft, Netscape has added more and Internet can't or won't use the latest other features that are being p1l8hed Vineyard.NET. more features to its browser. version of the Netscape Navigator. by the browser companies. Take a look s m , ,