When it comes to the internet, a lot has changed in 10 years. Computers can handle a lot more processors, much more graphic detail and the speed is significant faster. This naturally has seen the web evolve, websites become more advanced and it’s users more technically savvy. Rewind 10 years ago when not many site used CSS, Javascript or even PHP, what was the web like? Lets go back, way back to 1999! Y2K anyone?

Apple.com

One of today’s most inspirational sites was very different 10 years ago. They still kept their site very simple back then.

Google.com

You’re witnessing what was the birth of one of today’s biggest corporations. Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google officially went live in November 1999, 10 year birthday celebration? The founders invested $25,000 from credit cards to get the site going (along with a grant from the Stanford University Library), probably the best $25,000 of the banks money ever spent.

Microsoft.com

It’s a bit concerning that Microsoft’s download center site still looks very similar to their site 10 years ago.

Yahoo.com

It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago people were using something other than Google to search the web.

Amazon.com

Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1995, Amazon saw fast growth online being named by Time magazine as one of it’s 10 best sites of 1996. By 1999 Amazon had 8 automated warehouses, each costing $50,000,000… Ouch. No wonder Amazon didn’t post it’s first full-year profit until 2003.

Cnet.com

One of the web’s premiere destinations for anything tech, cnet has managed to stay a popular destination for it’s visitors by evolving with the web to give users what they want.

Ask.com

Ask Jeeves was a popular destination to get your questions answered on the web. Today you don’t get to Ask Jeeves, the name was later shortened to just Ask.

AOL.com

Once a monster Internet Service Provider, AOL had over 30 million subscribers. Today AOL has been on the decline since 2002 after merging with Time Warner and now has less than 6 million subscribers.

Adobe.com

One of the worlds leading software companies, many elements of their 1999 site are still used in modern website design.

IGN.com

Still a popular site for gamers IGN has been around for quite some time, here’s what it looked like in 1999.

Sources:

• Website Screenshots from: Way Back Machine.
• Wikipedia
• 50 great e-businesses and the minds behind them, Random House Australia 2007.