[gonehome]

I swear I read the Netscape guys went to Microsoft hq in Redmond and posted signs all over the campus mocking Microsoft for being stupid and missing the web.

Rumor was Gates saw one and thought they were right so pivoted to destroy them.

Don’t poke the bear I guess?

I can’t remember where I read this or how true it’s likely to be, but it came to mind.

[actionfromafar]

In my memory it was the other way around?

[gonehome]

Maybe? I did find this from 1997: https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Microsoft-Pulls-Pran...

I thought I’d read that came after Netscape started it though? I could be wrong.

Some more info here: https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/browser-wars/

> “Then, Marc Andreessen began talking up Netscape not just as a browser, but as a new, cross-platform operating system. He went as far as saying that in the future, Netscape would reduce Microsoft to a set of “poorly debugged device drivers.”

> Gates did a quick about face in May of 1995. He sent out a memo to all Microsoft employees titled “The Internet Tidal Wave.” In it, Gates outlined a new future for his company, one connected extricably to the Internet. His paranoia for competition was also clear. Netscape, Gates demanded, was a company that Microsoft would need to “match and beat.””

[disillusioned]

Well that's the nitty gritty of the specific history I was looking for, thanks!

All these comments are great, though.