http://www.cio.com/article/609219/Microsoft_Uses_Bing_Home_Page_to_Push_IE8?source=rss_news
The above article is about Microsoft pushing Internet Explorer (IE) 8 via Bing search engine. Considering the number of Windows users around the world, you would think there won't be a necessity to advertise their browser, especially when it comes integrated with it's Operating System. Apparently not, Internet Explorer is loosing a lot of ground to Firefox, because of it's superior features and functionality.
Microsoft over the years has become a monopoly in the browser market, which is slowly
changing over the past few years. The number of security threats over an extended period of time, is pushing the users towards more secure browsers like Firefox. As a result, Firefox has become the second most popular browser around the world and pressing hard to creep past IE in the near future. The popularity of Firefox in Europe is forcing Windows to give an option of choosing their desired browser over IE. Considering the number of internet users in Europe, once Firefox takes over the market, IE could very well be in trouble.
The Significant part of Firefox's appeal is it's add-ons and extensions in the library. There are numerous extensions for the users, ranging from business integration to social networking. Once users get hooked on to these add-ons it's hard to make them switch. The second most important advantage of Firefox over IE is it's openness, Firefox being an open-source software enables users to work on improving the features continuously and hence becoming more consumer driven. On the other hand, IE lacks the benefit of having thousands of eyes working on improving it, being a closed software. Last but not the least is the security, thanks to a better core design, Firefox is inherently more secure than IE. Firefox proactively updates the versions as and when security issues arise, which is not the case with Microsoft.
Consumers realizing the superiority of Firefox, are increasingly switching from IE to Firefox, which is pressurizing Microsoft to make a lot of changes in the newer versions of IE along with the improving security. According to me, unless Microsoft makes the browser open-source (which Microsoft will never do with their products), it will continuously keep loosing the market to Firefox. Microsoft has to realize that once they loose customers, it is very hard to get them back, no matter how secure the newer versions of the product may be and how well it is advertised.
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ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThis is the time I would really want to show my downgraded interest in IE. Not in terms of statistics but just my experience before and after. During my school days, all we knew about how to access the internet was IE, IE, IE. Think about it, when you were given 3 words - "Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome" and asked to describe the words just by your imagination. We were actually asked this question (just with IE) in our 4th grade first computer class. Imagining things is actually my forte. So right question at the right time. The thought that IE was something used to explore the internet cropped up in my mind, and lo!!!! my "teacher" said it was right. (Ofcourse, its in the name). For Firefox and Chrome, I would have never even closely imagined they were related to the internet. I really admire the fact that Microsoft was very considerate in drawing the consumers towards them from the very beginning. This is just to show my respect to the creator of IE. But am sad that its successors could not really live upto its mark in term of quality and consistency in the customer count.
Coming to its competitor Firefox, it has proved itself to be a clever fox , as far as I remember I have never had any problem accessing internet with it. Of late, I can actually bet that not even once have I ever accessed the IE without pop ups and unwanted downloads. One of the ultimate experiences I have had was auto virus files being downloaded when I open GOOGLE.COM. Yes guys, it was GOOGLE.COM. I am sure it was not the fault of GOOGLE as Firefox never did this.
Finally, though the stats show that there has been a rapid fall in the market share for IE, am sure there is a way IE could come back with a bang. Thats what I think Dheeraj mentioned in the last few paragraphs. I would want to support IE in the future firstly for its name :-) and next for its integrity from almost the very beginning of Microsoft.
Hey, I personally think that Microsoft has a lot to catch up on Mozilla's Firefox - mainly due to its customization options. Just as you stated, Firefox's main advantage remains better security and the fact that people can basically create their "own working environment "in the very browser.
ReplyDeleteIE remains a bit of a dinosaur even in these days when we have the speedy Chrome
So, what I expect from Microsoft is to make a real big step ahead with the next edition of the Explorer - version 9. So far, the rumor goes that it will have a much more simplified UI, improved JavaScript and HTML 5 support, as well as H264 video.
Hopefully, there will be a "browser revolution" for Microsoft with the IE 9, but I guess that we will have to wait until September 15th to see what the big deal really is.
That’s the reason why Firefox remains my choice, for now.
I have to agree with what was said in your blog as well as the comments. I personally, when given an alternative, can't stand using IE. I was using Firefox exclusively until about a month ago, but I am really starting to like Google Chrome. I think Microsoft is pretty out of touch with what people want from their browser at this point (making it functional would be a start), and I think your discussion about the open source nature of these newer browsers really nails down the problem with IE. Microsoft is going to have to do something soon, or they risk loosing a lot of ground to these newer browsers. I for one can't see myself going back to IE at this point, regardless of whatever improvements they might make.
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