John, basically what @Home offers is an IP connection. You can use whatever browser you want.
I really think the browser/content issues are both moot. They offer fast access to the net.
Yes, by default they install a browser (a lightly-customized version of Netscape - has a rotating @ instead of the Netscape log) and it goes to their default home page, which is your local @Home content.
Big whoop. I don't use either one, and I suspect most users won't either. The @Home "content" is minimal, and that's fine with me. It's mostly pointers to "partner" sites. (For example, here, they point you to the San Diego Union-Tribune for local news.)
In fact, I had them skip the software install completely. I'm using exactly the same software I used to use. They reconfigured the IP parameters in Windows95. Took 5 minutes. That's it.
As far a "convergence between IE, MSN and the content of @Home" @Home users can subscribe to MSN content for $5/month. Not exactly sure why they'd want to, but they can.
I think a lot of people have the mistaken notion that somebody offering a connection service has some lock on content or what the user will see (say, by using a proprietary interface). When people start thinking this way, visions of advertising and merchandising dollars start dancing in their heads.
Well, they CAN try to do that, but they are just going to wind-up with unhappy users, becuase the whole attraction in the first place is the openness of the Internet. People want the Internet, not some limited version or cheap imitation.
I beleive that @Home is doing to right thing, by focusing on the access that users want and need. |
