This document provides an informative framework for organizations and individuals to compare Microsoft« Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape Communicator for the Windows« 95 and Windows NT« 4.0 operating systems. This document should be read in conjunction with the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 White Paper, which discusses in more detail many of the features mentioned here.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.

Executive Summary
Microsoft and Netscape are both planning to release their respective next-generation Internet client suites in mid-1997. While both products promise to offer users advances in technology and enhanced features, the two product strategies differ in vision and scope. Microsoft has a much broader vision for Internet Explorer 4.0, and our product offering is more comprehensive than Netscape's.

Internet Explorer 4.0 expands on Internet Explorer 3.0's innovations to achieve Microsoft's vision: complete integration of the Internet and the PC. This evolutionary product integrates the browser into the operating system, creating a single way to find, use, and work with all the information that users need, whether it's on their personal computer, a shared local network, or the World Wide Web. At the same time, Internet Explorer 4.0 is an open, standards-based, integrated suite of Internet software that includes the most advanced browser, communication and collaboration, and Webcasting solutions for end users, IT managers, and developers. An additional and important distinction between Microsoft's offering and Netscape's is that Internet Explorer 4.0 has been designed to solve the needs of both home users and business users.

Netscape Communicator and Netcaster offer a more limited vision and product offering than Internet Explorer 4.0. Their positioning is more akin to a set of middleware applications for business users to solve groupware needs, ignoring home user needs. Netcaster does not offer any integration with the underlying OS that Internet Explorer 4.0 does to create a truly integrated Web and native PC experience, plus Netcaster's information delivery model relies on proprietary protocols and does not support the proposed Channel Definition Format (CDF) standard. Communicator lacks the level of advancement that Internet Explorer 4.0 delivers in Web technology (such as site subscriptions, Dynamic HTML, and an object model for Web pages) and user enhancements (such as autocomplete URLs or search bar). And Communicator includes more proprietary standards (e.g., vCalendar), proprietary extensions (e.g., Collabra), and HTML tags (e.g., Layer).

Internet Explorer 4.0 brings incredible advances to browsing technology, allows for scaleable/open communication and collaboration, and enables the content of any Web site to be delivered directly to users' desktops. These advances make it easier for people to communicate with others, find relevant and personalized information, and create compelling Web content. The end result is a dramatically easier and more personalized way for users to get the most out of the Internet, enjoying a more entertaining and productive Web experience. Microsoft's broad vision for Internet Explorer 4.0's comprehensive suite of Internet applications includes the following benefits:

• The Best Browser for end users and organizations, as well as a next-generation development platform for content developers.
• Complete Communication and Collaboration, providing HTML-rich, Internet standards-based applications that deliver audio/video/data conferencing, messaging, Web broadcasting, and discussion groups.
• Webcasting of Sites and Channels, providing a rich and open authoring and publishing capability for sending and receiving information through either Web sites, channels, e-mail messages, or software components.
• True Web Integration, which makes Internet access a seamless part of your operating system, and therefore your PC.
• Complete Administrative Features for businesses, so corporations have the best client for improved corporate communication, easy deployment and administration, and reduced total cost of ownership.

The following table provides a comparison of the features and capabilities of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape Communicator and Netcaster.

Best Browser Features
Ease-of-Use & Personalization	IE 4.0 Browser	Netscape Navigator
AutoComplete Address Bar	Yes	No
Integrated Search Bar	Yes	No
Suite Integration with easy suite switching	Yes	Partial
Smart Favorites with auto web site checking	Yes	No
Drag and drop to favorites toolbar or menu	Yes	Yes
Reorder links using drag and drop in menu	Yes	No
Thumbnail view of Favorite sites	Yes	No
Offline browsing	Yes	Unknown
Navigation History with Back/Next buttons	Yes	Yes
Reorder and Combine Toolbars	Yes	Reorder
Use Mail/News client of choice	Yes	No
Full-screen browser and Kiosk modes	Yes	Yes (NYI)
User-friendly Error, alert & status messages	Yes	No
International Language Support	25-30 (final)	11 (final)
Dynamic HTML	IE 4.0	Navigator
True Dynamic HTML Styles	Yes	No
CSS Absolute Positioning with Z-order	Yes	Yes
Dynamic Content (HTML Object Model)	Yes	No
Multimedia & Animation	Yes	No
Data Binding & Awareness	Yes	No
HTML 3.2 & Compatibility	IE 4.0	Navigator
HTML 3.2 Support	Yes	Yes
W3C HTML OBJECT tag	Yes	Yes (NYI)
Enhanced Frames (borderless, inline, floating)	Yes	Borderless
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS1)	Yes (core + advanced)	Partial (core only)
File upload	Yes	Yes
Server push	Yes	Yes
Automatic Proxy Configuration	Yes	Yes
HTTP 1.1 support	Partial	Unknown
Downloadable Web fonts (True Type Std)	Yes	No (non-std Bitstream)
Unicode International character support	Yes	Yes
Rich Forms	Yes	Unknown
Interactivity	IE 4.0	Navigator
Full ActiveX support	Yes	No
ActiveX Control Viewer	Yes	No
Java Bean Support	Yes	No
ActiveX Script Debugger	Yes	No
Auto-Install and signing of plug-ins	Yes	Yes
COM/DCOM Support	Yes	No
CORBA/IIOP Support	No	Yes
Installable JIT architecture	Yes	No
Java	IE 4.0	Navigator
Improved AWT	Yes	Partial
Advanced Class Libraries	Yes (AFC)	Yes (IFC)
JDK 1.1 cross-platform support	Yes	Yes (NYI)
Java Beans support	Yes	Unknown
Automatic & bi-directional integration of ActiveX components and Java Beans	Yes	No
Dynamic HTML Object Model exposed to Java	Yes	No
Multimedia class libraries with DirectX support	Yes	No
Auto-install of Java class libraries	Yes	Unknown
Just-in-Time Compiler	Yes	Yes
Scripting	IE 4.0	Navigator
Scripting of Java Applets	JavaScript & VBScript	JavaScript only
Support for native document formats (such as Word.doc or Excel.xls) within the browser	Yes	Yes (NYI)
VBScript Support	Yes	No
JavaScript-compatible scripting	Yes	Yes
Integration of objects and scripts	Yes	Partial
Full event model for all tags & all scriptable	Yes	No
Scripting of Plug-ins	No	Yes
Multimedia	IE 4.0	Navigator
Multimedia Controls	Yes	No
Interactive Music Control	Yes	No
Progressive Playback of Video/Audio files	Yes	Yes
In-line (streamed) sound support	Yes	Yes
Video Streaming support	Yes	Yes
Native QuickTime video playback	Yes	No
Native MPEG video/audio playback	Yes	No
3D Animation & VRML 2.0	Yes	Yes
Performance	IE 4.0	Navigator
Native Shell Integration	Yes	No
Fast Java VM/JIT	Yes	Yes (NYI)
Fast Cache	Yes	Unknown
Direct CD-ROM support	Yes	Yes
Partial download support	Yes	No
Security	IE 4.0	Navigator
SSL 2.0/3.0 support, PCT 1.0 support	Yes	No PCT
Client & Server authentication	Yes	Yes
Code signing for Navigator Plug-ins, ActiveX	Yes	No
Code Signing for Java Applets	Yes	Yes
Support for Java applet "sandboxing"	Yes	Yes
Capabilities-based Java security	Yes	Yes
PICS ratings	Yes	No
Wallet	Yes	No
Personal Information Exchange (PFX)	Yes	Unknown
Smart Card Authentication and applications	Yes	Limited
Cryptographic API	Yes	No

Complete Communication and Collaboration
Mail	Outlook Express	Netscape Messenger
SMTP/POP3, NNTP, IMAP4, LDAP, MIME, S/MIME, MIME HTML standard support	Yes	Yes
Can view & compose full HTML messages	Yes	Yes
Multiple mail servers	Yes	Unknown
Offline Mail and News support	Yes	Yes
Rich Mail filtering	Yes	Partial
Search Messages on server and locally	Local	NYI
Auto Add to Address Book	Yes	Unknown
LDAP Lookup	Yes	Yes
Automatic name resolution/auto-lookup from personal address book and LDAP servers	Yes	No
Auto-complete from Personal Address book	No	Yes
3-pane view	Yes	No
Customizable Toolbar	Yes	No
Stationery Templates	Yes	No
vCard Support	Yes	Yes
Secure password authentication using SASL	Yes	No
Send encrypted and/or signed mail	Yes	Yes
Newsgroups & Discussions	Outlook Express	Netscape Collabra
Customizable Toolbar	Yes	No
HTML View & Compose	Yes	Yes
Multiple news servers	Yes	Yes
Threaded Message views	Yes	Yes
Watch Response Threads to my Messages	Yes	No
Create internal discussion groups	Yes	Yes
Secure discussions with SSL 3.0	Yes	Yes
Live Conferencing	Microsoft NetMeeting	Netscape Conference
Standards-based conferencing	T.120,H.323	H.323 only
True Application sharing	Yes	No
Audio Conferencing	Multipoint enabled	Point-to-Point only
Video Conferencing (H.323, H.263, H.261)	Yes	No
Data Conferencing (T.120 Multipoint)	Yes	No
LDAP Directory Lookup	Yes	No
Collaborative Whiteboard	Multipoint	Point-to-Point
Multipoint File Transfer (T.127 standard)	Yes	No
Chat	Multipoint	Point-to-Point
Live & On-Demand Broadcasting	Microsoft NetShow	Netscape Media Player
Streaming Video playback	Yes	Yes
Streaming Illustrated audio (images synchronized with audio tracks)	Yes	Yes
Streaming audio	Yes	Yes
Live Audio IP Multicast	Yes	Yes
Video IP Multicast	Yes	No
File IP Multicast	Yes	No
Rich scheduling capabilities	Yes	No
HTML Authoring & Publishing	Microsoft FrontPad	Netscape Composer
General Features
Page Wizard and Templates	Yes	Yes
WYSIWYG editing	Yes	Yes
Table editing & creation	Yes	Yes
Import and convert images	Yes (Office 97)	Yes
Style pages	Yes	Yes
Web Technology Tools
Netscape Plug-Ins	Yes	Yes
Java applets	Yes	Yes
JavaScript	Yes	Yes
Active X Controls	Yes	No
VB Script	Yes	No
Publishing Tools
Web Publishing Wizard	Yes	No
Web server	Yes	No

Information Delivery
Premium Channels	IE 4.0	Netscape Constellation
Exclusive Premium Channels	Yes	Unknown
Channel content type supported: Any HTML, Dynamic HTML, applets, ActiveX controls	Yes	Unknown
Pluggable Custom Content Delivery Protocols	Yes	Unknown
Offline Channel viewing	Yes	Yes
Mini channels (tickers, company phone directories, stock quotes, etc.)	Yes	Yes
Subscriptions	IE 4.0	Netscape
Web Content Receive Options
In locally cached web pages	Yes	Unknown
In Desktop Web component, channels, tickers	Yes	Yes
In Taskbars	Yes	No
In Mail	Yes	InBox Direct Only
Notification Options
Email, Taskbar icon, Favorite tooltips	Yes	No
On the Desktop	Yes	Yes
Indication on Favorite icons	Yes	Yes
Subscription Status Folder	Yes	Unknown
Offline Reading	IE 4.0	Netscape Constellation
Integrated offline support for Web sites, channels, mail, news	Yes	No
Download Favorite Web sites	Yes	Yes
Support site passwords	Yes	Unknown
Control how many pages deep you want	Yes	Unknown
Customized Download Schedule	Yes	Unknown

True Web Integration Features: Integrate the Web and your PC
Single Explorer	IE 4.0	Netscape Constellation
Single click navigation & icon launching on Web, PC, and LAN	Yes	No
Single window for navigating local & Web	Yes	No
Unified toolbar adjusts for file vs. Web browsing	Yes	No
Combined Web and local favorites, available everywhere	Yes	No
HTML viewing of file systems	Yes	No
Native File Management	Yes	No
HTML-based Help	Yes	Yes
Start Menu & Taskbar	IE 4.0	Netscape Constellation
Start Menu Options (Selector Bar for Constellation)
Launch Web icons	Yes	Yes
Contains your Favorite Web sites	Yes	Unknown
Contains History List	Yes	No
Drag and drop customization of all items (applications, favorites, etc.)	Yes	Unknown
Taskbar and Toolbars
Allows creation of multiple toolbars for launching files, applications, Web tasks	Yes	Yes
Switch natively between applications	Yes	No
Can contain optional URL address, favorite links, tickers, or desktop shortcuts	Yes	No
Can contain file shortcuts, or search forms	Yes	No
Toolbars can float, dock, or merge anywhere	Yes	No
Active Desktop	IE 4.0	Netscape Constellation
Web Components on the Native Desktop	Yes	No
Put any HTML content onto the desktop	Yes	Unknown
Add data from Web via button-click, drag and drop	Yes	Unknown
Channel Bar	Yes	Yes
Screen Saver	Yes	Unknown
Create custom desktops and manage them	Yes	Yes
Automatically update content via Web	Yes	Yes
Offline caching	Yes	Yes
Rearrange/resize desktop components	Yes	Unknown
Show pre-existing content from native desktop	Yes	No

Complete Administrative Features
Central Administration	IE4.0 Admin Kit	Netscape Admin Kit & AutoAdmin
Easy, single-step wizard-based set up	Yes	No
Pre-configuration of desktop and browser	Yes	Yes
All options can be configured & "locked down"	Yes	Yes
Hands-free setup in corporate deployment	Yes	Yes
Automatic migration of existing configurations	Yes	No
Automatic Proxy Configuration	Yes	Yes
Set up and control; update user profiles	Yes (Win32)	Yes
Multiple user profiles sharing same PC	Yes	Yes

Features that are not implemented in the Internet Explorer 4.0 Platform Preview release but are planned for the next Internet Explorer 4.0 release are called out with a (next release). Features that are planned for the final product, but which probably will not make it into the next release, are called out as planned. Features that Netscape has said will be in Communicator, but which are not yet implemented, are marked with an NYI.

The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, this document should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Netscape data is based on information found on Netscape's Web site as of 3/20/97, or inferred from Netscape Communicator Preview Release 2.

©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks and ActiveX and Outlook are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Java is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.