Dark Fusion Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 For many people, using a non-Microsoft browser such as Firefox is now a must for secure Web surfing--but most still keep a copy of Internet Explorer around just in case. The problem is that many Web developers create their sites so they work best with Internet Explorer (IE), but not to work as well with browser software used by relatively tiny groups of potential visitors. Sites subject to complaints from Firefox users include Web travel site Expedia and Microsoft's MSNBC news site. Even Shutterfly, the online photo service backed by Netscape Communications co-founder Jim Clark, warns visitors that it supports only a limited set of browsers. These incompatibilities between browsers are as big a headache for developers as they are for Web surfers, some professionals say. "It's definitely a problem," said Noel Briggs, a developer at Web design company NetTensity. "The time we waste on addressing browser incompatibility problems easily amounts to a significant percentage of our payroll." The biggest reason why most people can't dump IE, however, is Microsoft itself: The software giant's Windows Update site blocks out non-IE browsers completely. That means anyone running Windows who wants to download and install the latest security updates from the Web will have to keep IE close at hand. Some consider that ironic or worse, given that authoritative groups such as Carnegie Mellon University's Computer Emergency Response Team now warn people to stay away from IE because of its myriad security problems. View: Full Article News Source: C|NEt News Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[jo3y] Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 BS The internet works better with Firefox than with Internet Explorer.. Does IE support trans PNGs? No Does IE support The lastest CSS standard? No.. It should be flipped around. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veiva Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 I've already dumped it.... :whistle: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxikk Veteran Posted September 30, 2004 Veteran Share Posted September 30, 2004 well duh, it's built into windows. how about my reason: cuz they do not care about my experience surfing the web and there are better alternatives to do what ie intends to do. oh, but add themes, extensions, and a COMPLIANT parsing engine. hmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted September 30, 2004 Veteran Share Posted September 30, 2004 MS got confortable and have gotten smacked in the face for it. I use FX, but unlike most obsessive Fx users, I have enough sense to know that MS has the ability and the desire (read as "desire to squash out their trash talking threat") to wow us. Unfortunately, it'll be 2007 before we get to be wowed :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[jo3y] Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 and a COMPLIANT parsing engine. hmmm. if IE actually did this, I wouldnt bee so hard on using it (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanmcv Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 It's kinda hard to "dump" IE, considering it is built into Windows and 75% of the Windows GUI is based on it. Nonetheless, I've made the move to Firefox. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS64 Posted September 30, 2004 Share Posted September 30, 2004 This info aint nothing new here Even when ppl got into FF more,they said that some sites wont show up unless you use it in IE (EX: Windows Update) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted October 1, 2004 Veteran Share Posted October 1, 2004 In the end, this is just another news site looking for attention by talking about Fx and IE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argi Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Yep, IIRC, they wrote another controversial FX vs IE article before. Nothing new here, nothing that hasn't been said before, and nothing you shouldn't already know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futb0l Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 you don't uninstall IE - you just keep it there... and if you want to go to windowsupdates or sites that are only compatible with IE then you just use the Browse With IE plug-in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoobie Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 By publicly talking about what you think is wrong with IE you are giving them everything they need to develope the next generation of thier browser. What the complaints have done is something the "alternative" users never intended for. They have given Microsoft the information and ideas that they need to ensure thier browser is and always will be the market leader. So the next time you complain about IE and it's security issues, I thank you. The next time you complain about it's lack of features, I thank you. The next time you complain about it's html standards, well, I can't be certain on that one. :whistle: but I thank you anyway. Becouse I know, that down the road in the not too distant future, I will be using a browser that will be faster, stronger and more feature rich than anything else on the market. and I owe it all to you. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 This article smacks of Microsoft hate. The article claims MSNBC doesn't work in firefox. Pure Bull Sh!t Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shihchiun Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 like we can get rid of it anyway... :rolleyes: they basically force us to use it because windows update won't work in any other browser. that and the people who refuse to use web standards and make ie-only websites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redestium Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 MS got confortable and have gotten smacked in the face for it. I use FX, but unlike most obsessive Fx users, I have enough sense to know that MS has the ability and the desire (read as "desire to squash out their trash talking threat") to wow us. Unfortunately, it'll be 2007 before we get to be wowed :unsure: I'm not sure if MS will let IE sit around for even one more year. I have this vision of IE being relegated to core system functions (Windows Update, its core libraries for programs, etc.) and a downloadable, more advanced browser from MS that kicks ass and isn't tied to the OS. I might be dreaming though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leedogg Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Every operating system needs a default browser. Its as simple as that. It doesnt have to be the best browser or the most feature rich. All MS has to do is keep it secure and up to date. I've always had 2, sometimes 3 browsers available for testing/compatibility reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 hmm, they ask us to keep IE around and then go on to publish this: IE--embraced, extended, extinct? "Still, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me," O'Grady said. "If Microsoft just added a few new features like tabbed browsing, it would automatically eliminate a lot of the basis for criticism that it is taking right now. I don't know technically what is involved. But I can't see why an organization the size of Microsoft can't do that. The only conclusion I can come to is that the browser is not the important platform to them that it once was." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chode Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Three points I'll throw into the circle. 1) Has it ever occured that the reason that IE is such a security nightmare is that it IS the most popular browser still? This makes it prime target for those wishing to use exploits and vunerabilities. Where Microsoft flaw is the long period of time between software updates. This is the only way that alternative browsers can claim the true advantage over IE (all other advantages stem from this one, so don't start raving at me about security and such) 2) Think Microsoft will pull it's act together with IE7? Probably to come with Longhorn? 3) I think what this article is trying to say is that with most alternative browsers, it is still a smart idea to keep IE handy in case the page won't render in the alternative browser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lechio Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 For those sites that don't work with IE there is a simple solution: The user agent switcher extension http://www.chrispederick.com/work/firefox/useragentswitcher/ That way you can fool them sites by saying you are using IE (or something else you put in there ;) ) Stay safe, use Firefox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shihchiun Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 that hasn't really worked for me. and even if it does, the sites that have html tags/attributes that are ie only still won't display properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexx Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 I've ditched IE becuase my Operating System of choice doesnt require a web browser in order to update itself :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicane-UK Veteran Posted October 1, 2004 Veteran Share Posted October 1, 2004 So this is the problem? They are basically saying "Look, because some web developers are uninterested in web standards and want to develop their sites for IE exclusively, then its probably best that you stop using that technically superior standards compliant browser called FireFox and get on with the security holes and misbehavior of Microsofts browser." I don't think so. Microsoft have come a long way, and hell, they even made an OS I find hard to get away from (XP!) but Internet Explorer just sucks compared to FireFox - and its not exactly like its an out of date version of Netscape Navigator or something that can't render pages correctly - it does about 97% of sites that I visit perfectly. FireFox rules - I won't be changing back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neostyle Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 "Planning to dump IE? Think again" nah , thats the wrong title . it should be : don't think twice , dump ie ... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Frett Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Here's my story. I decided one day that IE was starting to become a security hazzard on my system so I set out to move to a different browser and was determined to do so. I decided on Mozilla. I started to use mozilla but found out that I still needed IE for cirtain things, but I requested for those websites to to make their site compatable with mozilla and they did. Two days later I broke it off with IE. Just like before when I always said that I couldn't live without IE, I'm now saying I can't live without mozilla. It's was 100% worth it. I was one of the non believers guys. Anyone thinking about switching from IE to Mozilla/Firefox, don't think. Just give it two days like I did and your hooked. Can't be that bad, even some of the guys from Microsoft use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanekiwi Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 i use IE for windowsupdate only. if there's a way around this, tell me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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