Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Compuserve as precedent? Will Netcenter find its soul?

Author:Phil Wolff
Posted:11/24/1998; 9:59:24 AM
Topic:AOL Acquires Netscape
Msg #:457 (In response to 455)
Prev/Next:456 / 458

AOL seems to be tolerant of multiple brands of portal under its corporate wings. I'm thinking about how they preserved Compuserve; it still exists as an AOL division/subsidiary and has its own community and style.

The underlying problem with Netcenter today is that it has no soul, no face, no real personality, voice, or identity. If the underlying services were available elsewhere and I had confidence they would persist, would I miss Netcenter? No. Your experience may have been different.

Now ask people who frequent the Well or Compuserve or the Yahoo stock message boards or Bianca's Shack or GeoCities. These portals have a real sense of place and character and purpose.

Q. Is Netcenter different enough in identity from AOL's web portal to justify sustaining it as a separate place?

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