Users vent spleen at new Netscape

AOL has unveiled its revamped Netscape social news site to a less than enthusiastic reception from existing users.

The company began testing a beta version of Netscape earlier this month and the new site allows users to submit stories and vote on ones they like, similar to Digg. The more votes a story receives, the higher its ranking on the front page. 

Users can also add comments to stories that have been posted, a feature that has been used by existing visitors to express their dislike of the new look. 

"When I first saw the new beta page I had every intention of finding a new home page. I still love the browser but netscape.com is awful," wrote one user in response to a story about the relaunched site.

Another user said: "I have been a Netscape user for many years and do not like the format that all of a sudden is on my screen. You could at least give an option to see if we want to change."

One user challenged the ability to vote on stories. "I don't want other people voting on what I should read first. I want to see major national news stories and then, if I want to know about entertainment or sports or whatever, I can click a link," the user said.

"I liked having a choice. This new format is awful. What if the New York Times decided to have readers vote on where things should be placed in the paper? What a disaster. If this is how it will be from now on, I'm changing my homepage."

Other users were more succinct. "Please bring the old Netscape.com back," wrote one.

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