Firefox's success in chipping away at Internet Explorer's majority Web browser market share has slowed since Microsoft Corp. began pushing the new IE7 as an automatic update to Windows users last year, a management consulting firm said yesterday. But a Web metrics company immediately disputed the conclusion, saying that IE7's introduction has helped -- not hurt -- Firefox. According to Janco Associates, which tracked users to several Web servers that the Nevada-based company manages, Firefox's growth rate has stalled since December 2006, when Microsoft started automatically issuing IE7 to Windows users. "We've started to see a stabilization of the marketplace," said Victor Janulaitis, Janco's CEO. "In three years, IE lost about 15% of the market share, but we're now seeing that leveling off."
From December 2006 to this month, Firefox's share increased less than a percentage point, from 12.5% to 13.4%. Meanwhile, IE's overall share climbed to 70.5% in March from December's 67.5%. In particular, IE7's share almost tripled from the beginning of December by March 1, climbing from 6.9% to 18.7%. Firefox's stall, said Janulaitis, meant that it and other IE rivals won't be able to overtake Microsoft's browser "without some major new innovation or driver."
View: The full story
News source: ComputerWorld
From December 2006 to this month, Firefox's share increased less than a percentage point, from 12.5% to 13.4%. Meanwhile, IE's overall share climbed to 70.5% in March from December's 67.5%. In particular, IE7's share almost tripled from the beginning of December by March 1, climbing from 6.9% to 18.7%. Firefox's stall, said Janulaitis, meant that it and other IE rivals won't be able to overtake Microsoft's browser "without some major new innovation or driver."
View: The full story News source: ComputerWorld
LOL
If Firefox is a fanboy program, you're a testicle.
I think the fanboy comment is directed at the fact that, like a lot of Apple users, FF users tend to take criticism of FF as if it were a personal attack on themselves and it doesn't really show FF in a good light when they respond to it (I'm not pointing out any of you in here).
-Spenser
Yes, you're right. Regardless, there IS a large community pumping out tons of extensions. Firefox has always been intended to be a relatively plain, simple browser. That's not a fault, it's a benefit. However, through the use of the abundant number of extensions produced, Firefox is the most powerful browser on the market.
So, let's see... I have an option of having a browser that can do TONS of things no other browser can do, EVERYTHING other browsers can do, and NO "extra" features I won't ever use? I honestly can't see why anyone would prefer anything else over Firefox.
Using Firefox to read this, and laughing at your FUD.
I used to use FF, but then I experienced Opera 9.10, its speed and usefulness, and I haven't used FF or IE7 since.
ROFL, Firefox is 100% better then IE, always has been always will be. Firefox was better when IE was just a sperm lol
Using Firefox to read this, and laughing at your FUD.
Ive used Firefox too and I switched back instantly. FF is much slower loading that IE(7) and IE7 brings all I need to the table.
Im laughing at you for needing to install another browser just so you e-penis grows...
I use Firefox at home. But, I am forced to use IE7 at office since it is build-in the windows and my company disallow me to install any software, like Firefox.
So, IE7 has higher popularity unwillingly.
There wouldn't have even been an IE7 if FF hadn't appeared and started eating into MS's market share. Someone had to show them that you can't just rest on your laurels.
and for Cork1958: For anybody with any real intelligence...
everybody know's that the most users don't know **** about which is beter and which is not so that's why microsoft IE is still the most used because it is pushed through the windows update system....( that sucks)
The real smart people under us, they controle there PC's and there windows update. So they still don't have IE7 installed or have it installed but have Firefox relocated as the main browser of there machine. that's where it's all about. real smart people do search for better software instade of beleaving that only microsoft makes the best software...
and for Cork1958: For anybody with any real intelligence...
everybody know's that the most users don't know **** about which is beter and which is not so that's why microsoft IE is still the most used because it is pushed through the windows update system....( that sucks)
The real smart people under us, they controle there PC's and there windows update. So they still don't have IE7 installed or have it installed but have Firefox relocated as the main browser of there machine. that's where it's all about. real smart people do search for better software instade of beleaving that only microsoft makes the best software...
i'm sorry but i like to think of me as somewhat intelligent and I use ie7 as main browser, not everyone likes firefox you know. Nothing to do with intelligence, they both have their pros and cons
Most people would never get IE7 if it wasn't automatic. Are you trying to tell me that it would have been better to leave them with IE6?
No. All the report means is that 3% of users who previously weren't using either IE or Firefox are now using IE. Meaning they were using something else until Windows Update gave them IE7 and they either haven't noticed, don't care, or prefer IE7 to whatever they were using previously. Firefox hasn't so much stalled as not had the auto-push advantage of IE.
According to those statistics Firefox usage is still on the rise. IE7 introduction has mostly eroded IE6 user base while Firefox has enjoyed a slow but steady pace of growth. Not everyone here is "an over rated fanboy" for using Microsoft operating systems or products are we corky? I like Firefox for the fact it can be configured with themes and extensions and provides the same functionality that I'm used to across all operating systems that I use. Replying to this comment in FF 2.0.0.3 from FreeBSD 6.1 w/ KDE at the moment.
Last edited by Budious on 30 Mar 2007 - 10:26
Wikipedia has a good collection of data, and for good reasons skip the tutorial site W3schools:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers
For everyone there with data in Q1 2007:
- TheCounter.com shows slightly down for IE, slightly up for Firefox.
- OneStat.com shows slightly up for IE, slightly down for Firefox.
- ADTECH shows a sharply down for IE, quite sharply up for Firefox.
- Net Applications shows slightly down for IE, slightly up for Firefox.
So there you have that anyway... 1 in these 4 shows increasing IE usage. In all cases, it's hard to say which browser is "stealing" users from which. At these differences at fractions of percentages, one must even take browsers like Opera and Safari into account too.
The ADTECH data is interesting because it's mostly representative for Europe only, and Europe has traditionally had a bit higher Firefox market adoption.
Last edited by Jugalator on 30 Mar 2007 - 12:37
MSIE is still the daddy of them all.
Once FF3 is out and running in Protected Mode, then maybe I'll go back.
It isn't the case everywhere. Even on Janco's site they list OVERALL IE marketshare as declining from 76% to 70% while Firefox has gained 2% in the same period. W3schools tells a similar story: IE marketshare is declining.
IE6 was such utter garbage that it made things easy for FF.
IE7 is a different ballgame, obviously. Now, it's a browser more worthy of regular use. But let's wait about a year, see how Vista does, see how IE7 does, etc.
It's still very early to tell.
I have don't have a stake in either browser, since I'm a Safari/Omniweb user.
If you need alternative, you're either a fanboy or you're trying too hard to be different, that's how they want you to look.
Million of people are going to switch to vista, mililon of people are going to use IE, like it or not. A lot of people use a computer just for the sake of "Using" it. Not bashing or supporting anyone here, but just stating some of the obvious.
Huh? What if you don't or even can't run Windows? What alternatives do you have?
Huh? What if you don't or even can't run Windows? What alternatives do you have?
exactly!
Upgrading to IE 7 is a choice unless you are in a domain and your environment is controlled by an administrator. Here's a tip: Don't download the update. There, you chose not to get it. Did you accidentely download it? No problem, take 5 seconds and 'uninstall' it to revert back to IE6. Just because it was listed as a critical update doesn't mean Microsoft is to blame for you failing to take the time to review the updates and decide which ones you want.
The reason it shows up as an update is because its part of Windows. Therefore, if there is an update available it will be offered to you. If you don't want it, decline it when you install your other updates. You can also opt not to have the IE7 update offered to you again.
People who fail to see it as a choice are just too lazy to uncheck a box. Microsoft couldn't make it more of a choice if they tried.
Upgrading to IE 7 is a choice unless you are in a domain and your environment is controlled by an administrator. Here's a tip: Don't download the update. There, you chose not to get it. Did you accidentally download it? No problem, take 5 seconds and 'uninstall' it to revert back to IE6. Just because it was listed as a critical update doesn't mean Microsoft is to blame for you failing to take the time to review the updates and decide which ones you want.
The reason it shows up as an update is because its part of Windows. Therefore, if there is an update available it will be offered to you. If you don't want it, decline it when you install your other updates. You can also opt not to have the IE7 update offered to you again.
People who fail to see it as a choice are just too lazy to un-check a box. Microsoft couldn't make it more of a choice if they tried.
I really don't care what MAC does, lets not go down that road. The problem is that the IE7 will show up in the critical list even after the Do Not Remind me is selected. Once time should be enough. Now here is the fun fact, you have to look over at MSDN on how to permanentely block it...which breaks afer you make another update and you are BACK to SQ 1.
But for those wanting a richer internet experience, IE is spaghetti code chock full of security holes and bloat while FF is filet mignon served the way you like it.
I'd rather use IE but until the ad blocking is up to snuff, Firefox it is.
Yep, If you install Firefox, set Firefox as the default browser and tell it to always alert you when the default has been changed, and then install MS Office... surprise surprise! Office forces your default browser to be MSIE. You didn't ask it to, it just naturally assumed that you want to be force-fed MSIE.
:kicks MS Office:
Last edited by solardog on 30 Mar 2007 - 15:48
Good question. They are with out a doubt way too obnoxious. I think if they showed half as much passion in their daily lives as they show for FF, they would be in a place where a friggin piece of software wouldn't mean so much.
Personally I would like to see Opera gain a larger percentage in the browser market seeing as it is the better browser. IE has made great strides with version 7 however and I wouldn't be surprised to see FF not make any more gains.
Technically, no browser has "web standards," just some have better implementations of the standards than others. But I don't think any browser could be considered completely "standards-compliant."
- The UI sucks on Mac OS
- It seems to eat up resources if you leave it open for a long time. I leave my browser open all the time, so pretty soon Firefox is making my system slow down to a crawl.
I still always recommend it to any casual users out there, but if I was using Windows it'd be IE7 for me.
Also, let us keep in mind the fact that MS is playing their favorite game again... They sit and watch other companies and organizations innovate, then slap together their own version and let it take over the smaller guy. They dominate the OS field, let's not let them dominate the web.
I'm all for aternatives to MS but that doesn't mean that other companies like Apple and Mozilla are angels and/or the answer
Then IE says "IE is not your default browser, would you like to change this" and low and behold, the vicious circle continues. I haven't installed IE7 on this PC, last time I did it just crashed and froze every time I went to use it. Firefox is generally much more stable for me.
Have you ever thought about telling them why they are getting spyware, instead of just telling them to use firefox. I've used IE all my life and never got one virus or piece of spyware.
Plus they got AdBlock+ & FlashBlock add-ons for 'FREE'. Lot of the add-ons for IE you got to pay for (lame).
Thats why I like Firefox.
both are good browsers. and lets keep in mind:
they are there for looking at websites, not much more.
im writing this using firefox since its relatively small and fast. and im on a mac. plus i didnt need any extension so far. because i use it for... browsing the web. fullstop. =)
i could also use safari or omniweb or whatever but i like FF. no reason maybe.
+1
Firefox users should worry more about the TPM chip which will take the personal out of personal computer. The TPM chip controls what software runs on your computer and what operating system it runs. It's a very big threat to open source software, especially Linux.
Read even more here
Personally, I'm sick of all this corporation and market share trash. The only reason Internet Explorer has more market share, is obviously because dumb yuppie middle class idiots that have a bunch of children everywhere running around the house see the Dell, HP, etc. commercials, call them up, order a computer that has a bunch of crap hardware in it. They get it and hook it up, and right on the desktop they see Internet Explorer. They take nearly 30 minutes to figure out they have to double click the icon and then they see the internet is alright provided they have an internet connection(If the installer was smart enough), figure everything is alright and nothing is wrong.
Most of Internet Explorer's market share is full of the above type of people. As long as the above continues to happen, Internet Explorer will remain the dominant browser despite how much the semi-educated World of Warcraft player tells everyone about Firefox.
Last edited by halflife28 on 31 Mar 2007 - 02:04
main reason i dont like IE7 is it's interface!... they screwed it up... but on a good note it's (IE7) clearly overall better than IE6 was (besides interface) cause it's got tabbed browsing now which is one of the major things IE6 lacked which made firefox WAY better.
plus another reason i like firefox over IE6/7 in general is cause of extensions... although i pretty much only use 1 addon it's still does something that once i got used to it i would rather not browse without and it is "TabScroller" ... basically what is does is, when i hold down right mouse button and scroll the mouse wheel it switches tabs instantly this way i aint gotta manually move mouse to tab bar and click each tab (saves time) ... IE7 lacks this so thats another reason i dont like IE7.
bottom line = IE7 on the whole got much better than IE6 and overall it's much closer to firefox now, although i dont like it's (IE7's) interface and it lacks extensions so i wont be leaving firefox anytime soon (if ever)
i think alot of the reason IE will ALWAYS be by far the king of web browsers for the mass public is cause it's basically included with windows, which pretty much guarantee's the average joe (and theres alot of em) will use IE related browsers.... cause it's like alot of peoples comments said above.... most users pretty much only goto a few websites/check mail/order stuff online etc and they DONT CARE about which browser they use as long as it works there happy, so this right here guarantee's that there going to be using IE related web browsers.
As a browser, IE7 is IMO still far behind any other major browsers. Opera is IMO the best browser at the moment when it comes to functionality. It has lots of smart features, the new Speed Dial in 9.2 beta is a great simple idea that makes browsing the net just that more enjoyable. Mouse gestures are another. Sure you can browse WWW without them but once you get used to them you wonder how you ever did without 'em.
The drawback of having tons of functionality and a very customizable UI is that to the average user it will seem complex and to the less-than-average user (the type who needs help just installing a program) very difficult. MS is doing well if you look at it like that. All the software they bundle with Windows is made to be fairly easy to use. The problem is that to a "power user" that means that they don't offer features you may need and the UI tends to be simplistic with more advanced features (if there are any) hidden behind endless menus. Now that I think of it, I don't think I use any Microsoft programs aside from Windows itself because there are better options available.
For the record I usually install Firefox instead of Opera when I go fix an "average" or "less-than-average" user's computer simply because Firefox is a bit more like IE and without extensions more simple to use.
atleast i dont think i can be affected since im running firefox
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