Popular Websites are Looks Like 10 Years Ago

1.Microsoft

Microsoft had done tremendous changes to their web frontend over the pass ten years. The old one lacks of graphics and the current definetely has a very strong corporate look.

Microsoft Website in 1999


Microsoft Website in 2009



2.Yahoo

Comparing to what we’ve seen ten years ago and now, Yahoo had undergone quite a significant change in terms of their business model and that totally reflects their web front end. The search-engine based company used to be very ’search engine focused’ but it’s looks more like a information portal now.


Yahoo Website in 1999


Yahoo Website in 2009



3.Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems in 1998 totally recalled us how a typical Geocities and Tripod free template were like.

Sun Microsystems Website in 1999


Sun Microsystems Website in 2009



4.Google

Google was still in beta ten years ago. These guys believed in simplicity and there’s no exception whether it’s 1999 or 2009.

Google Website in 1999


Google Website in 2009



5.Apple

We always like how folks at Apple design their website. They’ve always been the trend setter and their designed inspired a lot of the Web 2.0 design out there. That said, have you seen how their website looks like 10 years ago?

Apple Website in 1999


Apple Website in 2009



6.Hotmail

Most of us start playing with e-mailing on a free account when we were introduced to the Internet, and when it comes to free email Hotmail is amongst the hottest. Here’s how the web interface looks like before Microsoft decided to turn call it the Windows Live Hotmail.

Hotmail Website in 1999


Hotmail Website in 2009



7.PCWorld

Ten years ago, PCWorld was using a 3-column display. You can imagine the site to be really congested, considering the fact that most of us (if you already started surfing) were still on monitor resolution 800×600 and below. But over the pass decade, the site has been much more better. Content arrangement is neat, well-organized and the red header with white background definetely make the entire display looks clean.

PCWorld Website in 1999


PCWorld Website in 2009



8.Wired Magazine

Wired ten years ago was too text-based and we think the left navigation looks odd with titles in red background and listings in light green. It’s hard to imagine the website to be what they are now, because it totally rocks.

Wired Website in 1999


Wired Website in 2009



9.Amazon

Clear-cut navigation is very important for any e-commerce site and we believe Amazon handles this pretty well. The site has not been changing over the pass decade in terms of the amount of content they put forward on the first page. The most obvious change over the pass ten years in Amazon is perhaps swapping the horizontal tab navigation to a left sidebar drop down and bringing their search box to the top.

Amazon Website in 1999


Amazon Website in 2009



10.Time

Time maintained their 3-column display over the pass ten years. Only difference is, they’ve managed to make it way cleaner and neater, even though contents on the website is like 5x more.

Time Website in 1999


Time Website in 2009



11.Adobe

Over the years, Adobe has had the difficult task of portraying themselves as a software company (product links and information first) and as a creative company (large pictures and imaginative layouts). I think their current design does both well.

Adobe Website in 1999


Adobe Website in 2009



12.ESPN

ESPN has always followed a simple formula: Show the main stories on the front page, supplement them with links to other popular stories, and then have easy-to-find linkage for every sport they cover.

ESPN Website in 1999


ESPN Website in 2009



13.MTV

The problem with trying to cater to current trends of culture is that you regret it all the more in the years ahead (flannel shirts anyone?). It's hard to believe that they had a Java version of their site and even harder to believe that they sported a "Best Viewed with IE" badge.

MTV Website in 1999


MTV Website in 2009



14.CNN

At first glance, it seems that a news site like CNN hasn't changed much, but when you look at the layout, typography, and inclusion of new media (like web video), you'll see how much better the current website is. (Granted, it looks like the oldest version here might be missing its CSS, but it's still lagging behind in design).

CNN Website in 1999


CNN Website in 2009



15.Nike

Nike requires new visitors to pick a locale. Nowadays, Nike uses almost all Flash in their site and they continously win Flash awards for these sites.

CNN Website in 1999


CNN Website in 2009