 | |
| Type of site | Freeware/shareware archive of old software versions |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| Created by | Alex Levine, Igor Dolgalev |
| URL | www |
| Registration | Optional (to post on forum). |
| Launched | May 31, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-05-31) |
| Current status | Up |
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 founded the site in 2001.
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.'
When OldVersion.com was launched it offered 80 versions of 14 programs.
By 2005, over 500 versions were posted.
By 28 August 2007, this had grown to 2388 versions of 179 programs, in categories such as "graphics", "file-sharing", "security" and "enterprise". The site also carries 600+ versions of 35 Macintosh programs.
In 2007, PC World labeled the site "a treasure trove ... of older-but-better software";
In 2005, National Review called OldVersion.com a "champion" for "software conservatives".
According to Alexander Levine's own words, he has received threats from proprietary software developers for distributing old versions of web browsers, in particular, Internet Explorer which is difficult to support.
See also
References
- ^ Andrew Lavallee (2006-03-07). "Unhappy Upgrades: Software Users Seek Help 'Downgrading' Their PCs". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ O'Connell, Pamela LiCalzi (November 8, 2001). "Online Diary - Oldies but Goodies". The New York Times.
- Andy Rathbone (2005-12-23). PCs: The Missing Manual. Pogue Press. p. 536. ISBN 0-596-10093-0.
- "Oldversion.com as of 2007-08-28". oldversion.com. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28.
- DeLeo, Jennifer L. (October 20, 2008). "Old Software Versions We Want Back". PC Magazine.
- Mac.OldVersion.com website mac.oldversion.com. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
- Gralla, Preston (September 30, 2007). "Before They Spoiled the Software". PC World.
- Genauer, Rami (March 28, 2005). "Older Is Better: Software conservatives have a home in Oldversion.com". National Review.
- Levine, Alexander (January 15, 2012). "Why I'm willing to go to jail for running OldVersion.com". OldVersion. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
