Comments on: IE usage drop--slip or blip?

Microsoft's market-leading and Netscape-eating browser has slipped slightly in popularity, a researcher says.

The Truth

The reason why the greater 90% of people use and continue
to utilize I.E. is because it is set as the default browser on
their computers and, I don't mean to offend anyone, but
most computer users are technology ignorant. I've even had
some people in management positions ask me: "What is a
browser?" Although most people are not well informed,
once you commence to impart knowledge, they learn rapidly
and make the best decisions for them ? as has been the
case for all those I have trained. So far, after I compared I.E.
to Opera and Firefox, these persons have retained both
Opera and Firefox on their computers, have set one or the
other as the default browser and have ceased to utilize I.E.
They are very content with the new browsers for they permit
them to better use their time on the Web and don't interfere
with the rest of their work by causing their computers to
crash or freeze.

I am certain that if every Windows user received a browser
comparison between I.E., Forefox and Opera, were told how
to make the program their default browser and had the
three installed on their machines, they would cease to use
I.E. Evenmore, if a distinct browser was set as default, the
user would use that browser.
The truth is, unlike what Microsoft representatives comment
(that users are satisfied and don't have any problems with
I.E. ) on the articles I read here, people are tired of the
limited options and constant system problems caused by
I.E.'s instability and integration to the system, as it tends to
bring down the entire house when it crashes.

The botton line is that Microsoft representatives utilize
Windows users' ignorance to justify their usage of I.E.

And yes, there is a group of us out there that detests
Microsofts' technology for it constantly releases garbage
that necessitates a million updates that never fix anything.
But I do not believe it is we that created the mentioned
decrease in I.E.'s usage because we already use other
browsers.

I believe it is our obligation to inform people on what is best
for them and all of us, as their usage of I.E. affects all that
use Windows computers. It would be of greater benefit for
users to read articles on why Opera and Firefox are better
browsers than I.E. and why they need to switch to these
these.
The best solution would be to have computer makers install
other browsers and set one of these as teh default prior to
selling the computer to the buyer. This way, I.E. will only be
utilized when the user needs to connect to Microsofts'
Windows Update site.

Hey Microsoft, the world does not necessitate handicapped
software! Put I.E. to sleep! :-D

Finally, I do not work for Mozilla nor Opera and I have used
I.E. in Windows 98, 2000 Pro. & XP Pro. as well as in Mac OS
X (which is my current operating system). I have dealt with
I.E.'s instability and lack of support for Web standards for
more than seven years.

I'm surprised it's not more of a drop

I expected by now to hear about businesses to have Firefox rolled out as the default browser on it's users PC's. I know if I was in a position of influence where I work, I would be making this strong recommendation.

I would argue that most domain users do not need IE. It's security flaws far outweigh it's features. It is in any businesses best interest to have it's users using a more secure browser. There is no reason not to.

If people are forced to use a different browser at work, they would be more likely to use the same browser at home.

[arnetwork]

I switched!

As the previous poster has mentioned I'm surprised the drop in I.E. usage isn't bigger. I know I switched last week.

I put it off for quite a while because of concerns about compatability with xp. So far the only problem has been an error messgage which is displayed every time I open a new web page. The message says that the computer can't find the requested file, all this while the requested file is being loaded in the background. Foxfire has some security problems of it's own but at least they aren't the subject of everyday conversation and newspaper articles.

All my bandwidth tests indicate a throughput greater than 1.5 megs so I guess the new browser hasn't slowed things down. Certainly, I'm not able to detect any slowdown visually.

[John Kuzak]

businesses best interest

http://www.analogstereo.com/dodge_daytona_owners_manual.htm

[saleen351]

My 2 cents.

I've been using Fire Fox for about 2 months, and I have no idea how I surfed the web without it for so many years. I've switched all the pcs in my office (5 of them) to FF, and only with a tiny glitch in our online ordering system we use, but I just use the plug in "view page in IE" when it arises and problem solved. However FF isn't even done yet. As soon as 1.0 comes out in the next month, I'll be switching my brothers, parents and my friends pcs over. I'd say FF is twice as fast, and has only crashed twice on me. I'm so glad my Apple friends told me about it. Tabbed browser is the wave of the future. Only use IE for windows update since the sob's at MS force you to use their browser to update windows.

Oh, NO MORE SPYWARE!!!!!!!!! MY PC HAS NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY!!!