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OldVersion.com

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OldVersion.com
Type of site
Freeware/shareware archive of old software versions
Available inEnglish
Created byAlex Levine, Igor Dolgalev
URLwww.oldversion.com
RegistrationOptional (to post on forum).
LaunchedMay 31, 2001; 23 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]

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 distributing obsolete internet browsers, in particular, Internet Explorer which is difficult to support.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Andrew Lavallee (2006-03-07). "Unhappy Upgrades: Software Users Seek Help 'Downgrading' Their PCs". The Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ 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.
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