Netscape Communications Corp says Microsoft’s plans to integrate its Explorer browser into Office 97 doesn’t scare it one bit. However, the Redmond camp says Office users will no longer want or need independent browsers like Navigator when Microsoft provides them with all the Web capability they want fully integrated. But Netscape says users should question whether they really need Office or IBM Corp’s Lotus Notes in the future as Navigator and SuiteSpot offer better Java, layout, cross-platform implementation and integration of mail and news than Office. Netscape currently has PowerPoint and Excel plug-ins but is looking at supporting doc objects and OLE technology. Netscape also pointed out that Navigator has more users than Office and said We’re here today with our products. Microsoft’s plans are just vapor right now. Netscape admitted Notes has some features it doesn’t, such as offline local replication, and said it didn’t expect Notes to fade away, but in a 70s metaphor, likened Notes to minicomputers and Netscape’s products to PCs.
