STUDY: Internet Explorer Users Are Dumber

[UndergroundWire]

A research firm posted an IQ test on its Web site and then compiled the results from more than 100' date='000 users.

It found that there was no substantial difference between users of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

But Internet Explorer users had IQs below average.

That's a switch from five years ago, when IQs were more or less the same across all browsers. The company, Aptiquant, bills itself as a "psychometric consultant." Its main business is creating tests to help businesses hire well.

Now before all you Opera users get too satisfied with yourselves, there are lots of possible reasons why IE users scored so low:

• IE has about twice the installed base of any other browser, so IQs are more likely to tend toward the mean.
  
• IE is the default browser of 95% of people who don't know how to download and install a new browser, which drags down the average. (Mac users in this boat stick with Safari.)
  
• People who use other browsers include a disproportionate number of computer geeks, which brings their averages up.
  
• Online IQ tests -- or IQ tests in general -- are silly.
  
• IE users really are kind of dumb.
  

...

Source: http://www.aptiquant.com/news/is-internet-explorer-for-the-dumb-a-new-study-suggests-exactly-that/

The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.aptiquant.com/IQ-Browser-AptiQuant-2011.pdf

[Neo003]

It's kind if pointless study in the first place. But anywho I have all 3 major browser installed, but I use mainly IE. If that makes me dumb in anyone eye so be it.

[_neutrino Veteran]

isnt their use in an inferior browser proof enough?

IE9 really isnt all that bad however, i still refuse to use it lol.

[Jan Veteran]

I use IE9, does that make me dumb for using what works best for me?

[UndergroundWire]

Try being a web developer and you'll see why IE is an inferior browser.

P.S. I use Firefox and Chrome (depending on the situation). Firefox has a lot of cool grease monkey scripts and plugins. Chrome is fast but the plugins are not as good as Firefox IMO.

[Nerd Rage]

Try being a web developer and you'll see why IE is an inferior browser.

That was true in the past, not so much with IE9.

[htcz]

A research firm posted an IQ test on its Web site and then compiled the results from more than 100,000 users.

It found that there was no substantial difference between users of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera.

But Internet Explorer users had IQs below average.

That's a switch from five years ago, when IQs were more or less the same across all browsers. The company, Aptiquant, bills itself as a "psychometric consultant." Its main business is creating tests to help businesses hire well.

Now before all you Opera users get too satisfied with yourselves, there are lots of possible reasons why IE users scored so low:

?IE has about twice the installed base of any other browser, so IQs are more likely to tend toward the mean.

?IE is the default browser of 95% of people who don't know how to download and install a new browser, which drags down the average. (Mac users in this boat stick with Safari.)

?People who use other browsers include a disproportionate number of computer geeks, which brings their averages up.

?Online IQ tests -- or IQ tests in general -- are silly.

?IE users really are kind of dumb.

Great article :) Yes the study says that IE users are dumber but it shows some reasoning why and things of the study.

Greate article :) Neowin sometimes should write article this way :)

[UndergroundWire]

That was true in the past, not so much with IE9.

Still holds true. Try viewing http://www.themeparkhype.com/ and tell me what you see different?

Great article :) Yes the study says that IE users are dumber but it shows some reasoning why and things of the study.

Greate article :) Neowin sometimes should write article this way :)

Yup, that's there finding with IQ and a possible explanation as to why. The conclusion of the report says more study is needed. But it's interesting that 5 years ago the IQ's were not that different from people that use different browsers.

[Nerd Rage]

Still holds true. Try viewing http://www.themeparkhype.com/ and tell me what you see different?

When viewing in IE9 and FF5, each browser displays a different header photo (both are very blurry and distorted) and IE9 shows the login button as a rectangle while FF5 shows it as rounded edges......however, FF5 shows very poor formatting around the edges (some odd borders) while IE9 does not. Not sure which is correct, but the site looks odd either way.

[ahhell]

What kind of stupid bull**** it is?

Quite possibly the dumbest observation of all time.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I don't know about "Dumb Per Say!" But they are usually really stupid computer users. Now i'm not saying EVERYONE who uses IE is a stupid computer user. Just the Majority of them.

[FMH]

An enormously big majority of enterprise use IE. I don't think they're dumb

[Marshall Veteran]

I wouldn't take offense just because you use IE. This article is biased in that IE is preinstalled on the vast majority of computers. Now the "dumb" people don't even know what a browser is, let alone have the knowledge to know there are other options for browsers to download.

If Firefox came preloaded on every version of Windows then it would be deemed the browsers choice for idiots.

[McKay]

I wouldnt say "dumb", more like "Computer illiterate".

The ammount of times I get called over to fix a parents computer, open IE and see this.

[-KJ]

I wouldnt say "dumb", more like "Computer illiterate".

The ammount of times I get called over to fix a parents computer, open IE and see this.

Yeah, why would someone choose that as their homepage rather than Google or Bing?

[zeta_immersion]

I dont agree with the dumb thing ... though I tend to agree with the fact that there are people out there that would open a browser and if google.com is not present would call in saying the internet is not working and moreso, if google.com is presen then they would type cnn.com webpage so ......... use whatever you want really, but know or be familiar with some other options

[Marshall Veteran]

I wouldnt say "dumb", more like "Computer illiterate".

The ammount of times I get called over to fix a parents computer, open IE and see this.

Wow :blink:

I've seen a lot of toolbars installed, but that is just ridiculous.

But I know the routine, you try to inform your parents to watch the dialog boxes when they're installing software because you need to untick the boxes for toolbars, but it goes in one ear and out the other.

[Mockingbird]

I use Internet Explorer 9 as my primary browser and that is by choice.

I don't see how this makes me looks any dumber. Internet Explorer 9 is a very capable browser.

[Hum]

Firefox makes me smart :laugh:

[jackkk1]

I wouldnt say "dumb", more like "Computer illiterate".

The ammount of times I get called over to fix a parents computer, open IE and see this.

................

They aren't illiterate, they are trying to stay updated like in matrix, look, they've got all great features in one place - latest sport news, aol radio listening with one button click, Popswatter, Fun cards, latest news, weather and a lot more just with one button click! Fast and reliable! Ain't required to type the address!

[zeta_immersion]

I use Internet Explorer 9 as my primary browser and that is by choice.

I don't see how this makes me looks any dumber. Internet Explorer 9 is a very capable browser.

yes very capable ... it is just not for everyone as I amsure very few would use a command line type browser to surf porn

[remixedcat]

I use IE.... to download firefox.

[Athernar]

It's funny, people will respond to this and go "omigosh its sooooooooo true im so smrat 4 not use ie". But go and post thread a thread saying that the Norwegian gunman used x browser, so people who use that browser are more likely to be neo-nazis...

Guaranteed 30+ page ragefest decrying the article and how such observations are stupid and how untrue they are.

[UndergroundWire]

An enormously big majority of enterprise use IE. I don't think they're dumb

I would. Our IT guy didn't questioned what is VMWare and why is it installed on my machine? I told him to leave and ask your supervisor that question.

I wouldnt say "dumb", more like "Computer illiterate".

The ammount of times I get called over to fix a parents computer, open IE and see this.

damn you. I wanted to post that.

I use IE.... to download firefox.

It's the best for doing that. No doubt.

[fenderMarky]

So google users are dumb too...