Dueling Fools
August 18, 1998
Escape from Netscape
Netscape Price (8/18/98): $32 1/8
Netscape <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: NSCP)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: NSCP)") end if %> once owned the Internet -- now nobody owns Netscape. Falling, like the shooting stars of its animated logo, the company has gone from producing the dominant Web browser of choice to struggling to become a content-based Internet portal in the shape of Yahoo! <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: YHOO)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: YHOO)") end if %>.
Of course, Yahoo! is what Rick Munarriz (TMF Edible) is saying about Netscape -- he is the bull this week. Yi-Hsin Chang (TMF Puck) is growling in bearish form. Is the new Netscape reinvigorated or simply spreading itself too thin? Rick and Yi-Hsin are about to share their thoughts, then it's your turn because...
You Get to Vote!
Once you've read the arguments and the rebuttals, it's your time to cast your vote. We'll tabulate results each week and revisit them from time to time to see whether you were right! As always, we invite you to join us in the Dueling Fools Message board to continue the duel.
[Any suggestions, comments, praise, or flames, please send them along to the Dueling Fools Team.]
|
The Bull... Maybe this is it! Netscape's share of the Web browser market has been gradually giving way to Microsoft's <% if gsSubBrand = "aolsnapshot" then Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MSFT)") else Response.Write("(Nasdaq: MSFT)") end if %> Internet Explorer over the past three years. Netscape has gone from total dominance to just 60% of the market, and with recent estimates slicing Netscape's lead even further maybe this is, indeed, it. As you read this, at this very moment, the baton of market leadership may very well be passing. Continue... |
The Bear... In anticipation that my friend Rick will attempt to pun me to death, I thought of one that sums up my view of this Internet browser and enterprise software company: Netscape is a net from which you need to escape. Continue... |
Results for last week's Starbucks Duel
| Answer | Percentage |
| I can't make up my mind | 4% |
| TMF Max's Bull argument |
36% |
| TMF Edible's Bear argument |
39% |
| They were both excellent |
17% |
| They were both lame |
4% |