The bottom line is that Netscape has a ton of catching up to do, as Internet Explorer 5/5.5 (and to a large degree IE 4 as well) has left Communicator far behind in terms of technology, especially when it comes to Dynamic HTML and XML support.
Even if you don't want Microsoft to dominate the Web browser market, Internet Explorer is still tough to turn down considering its many advantages over Communicator -- IE is faster and much more reliable, is fully integrated with Windows 98, and is far ahead of Communicator in its support for emerging Web technologies. Here's to hoping Netscape can fight back with an outstanding 5.0 (or is that 6.0?) release of its own.
New in v5.5 SP2: Improved support for DHTML and CSS, WYSIWYG Print Preview, ability to use Connection Manager as your default Internet dialer (when Dial-Up Networking is already installed), a collection of the most up-to-date bug fixes and security patches Upgrade Meter:3 - Note of concern: There are reports that Microsoft has disabled all "Netscape style" plug-ins (QuickTime, for example) in IE 5.5 SP2. Whether this was done intentionally or not is unclear at this time.
New in v5.5: Built-in 128-bit encryption support (no need to download separate encryption patch); Print Preview feature; improved support for DHTML and Cascading Style Sheets (especially for developers); Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language support; support for colored scroll-bars, transparent IFrames, and vertical text layout Upgrade Meter:5
New in v5.01: Performance enhancements; 56-bit encryption support in standard release (128-bit encryption still available domestically); enhancements to search, history, and favorites tools; updated Outlook Express (v5.01) Upgrade Meter:4
New in v5.0: Radio toolbar, IntelliSense technology (as seen in Office 97) including AutoComplete everywhere (URLs, e-mail addresses, passwords, etc.), Search Assistant (search by type of information, including Web pages, history folder, e-mail and home addresses, companies and organizations, maps, encyclopedia articles, and newsgroups), improved History and Favorites functions, updated Windows Media Player (v6.1), updated Outlook Express client (v5.0), improved MS Wallet (v3.0), Offline Browsing Pack, IE Repair tool, import and export Favorites (to and from Netscape), Unified Online/Offline Synchronization, FTP Folders feature, "AutoTools" (AutoSearch, AutoInstall, AutoDetect, and AutoConfiguration); New Web Development features (Dynamic Behaviors, improved table and DHTML rendering, multiple CSS class support, and XML support; Release Notes Upgrade Meter:5
Note on 128-bit Encryption Release:
Pros: · Extremely quick browser, · Excellent mail client (Outlook Express 5.0), · Second-generation Dynamic HTML support, · XML support, · Completely free, · Dynamic Behaviors, · IntelliSense technology, · "AutoTools", · Internet Radio toolbar
Cons: · Not many major interface improvements over IE 4.0, · Discontinued and no longer supported by Microsoft
