OldVersion.com

Last updated
OldVersion.com
OldVersionLogo.png
Type of site
Freeware/shareware archive of old software versions
Available inEnglish
Created byAlex Levine, Igor Dolgalev
URL www.oldversion.com
RegistrationOptional (to post on forum).
LaunchedMay 31, 2001;22 years ago (2001-05-31) [1]
Current statusUp

OldVersion.com is an archive website that stores and distributes older versions of primarily Internet-related IBM PC compatible and Apple Macintosh freeware and shareware application software. Alex Levine and Igor Dolgalev [2] founded the site in 2001. [1]

Contents

Levine created the site because "Companies make a lot of new versions. They're not always better for the consumer." As reported in The Wall Street Journal, 'Users often try to downgrade when they find confusing changes in a new version or encounter software bugs, or just decide they want to go back to a more familiar version,' said David Smith, an analyst at research firm Gartner. 'Often, they discover that the downgrade process is complicated, if not impossible.' [1]

When OldVersion.com was launched it offered 80 versions of 14 programs. [2]

By 2005, over 500 versions were posted. [3]

By 28 August 2007, this had grown to 2388 versions of 179 programs, in categories such as "graphics", "file-sharing", "security" and "enterprise". [4] [5] The site also carries 600+ versions of 35 Macintosh programs. [6]

In 2007, PC World labeled the site "a treasure trove ... of older-but-better software"; [7]

In 2005, National Review called OldVersion.com a "champion" for "software conservatives". [8]

According to Alexander Levine's own words, he has received threats from proprietary software developers for running an archive of obsolete internet browsers with known critical security flaws.[ citation needed ]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Andrew Lavallee (2006-03-07). "Unhappy Upgrades: Software Users Seek Help 'Downgrading' Their PCs" . The Wall Street Journal .
  2. 1 2 O'Connell, Pamela LiCalzi (November 8, 2001). "Online Diary - Oldies but Goodies". The New York Times .
  3. Andy Rathbone (2005-12-23). PCs: The Missing Manual. Pogue Press. p. 536. ISBN   0-596-10093-0.
  4. "Oldversion.com as of 2007-08-28". oldversion.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28.
  5. DeLeo, Jennifer L. (October 20, 2008). "Old Software Versions We Want Back". PC Magazine .
  6. Mac.OldVersion.com website mac.oldversion.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
  7. Gralla, Preston (September 30, 2007). "Before They Spoiled the Software". PC World .
  8. Genauer, Rami (March 28, 2005). "Older Is Better: Software conservatives have a home in Oldversion.com". National Review .