Internet Explorer Continues to Tumble in Market Share
Stats for November show browser behemoth Internet Explorer taking another hit in browser market share, dipping below 70-percent, while Firefox held on to more that 20-percent of global market share for the first time ever. A 50-percent market share gap may seem like an unquestionable dominance, but consider that only five years ago Microsoft's browser accounted for 90-percent of global Internet traffic.
Browsers like Safari, Firefox, and even upstart Chrome spank IE when it comes to speed, features, and standards compliance, but the real reason users are defecting from IE probably has to do with its terrible record on security. Years of advice from security experts, blogs (like this one), and geeky nephews have prompted more and more people to start using other browsers at home and in the workplace.
The battle is far from over, but it seems pretty clear to us that Firefox, and companies like Google, are leading us into a post-Microsoft world. [From: Silicon Alley Insider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tom Walker said 8:01PM on 1-02-2009
Firefox got traction because so many competent Internet experts kindly shared it with the next level down, fairly expert users such as myself (emphasis on "fairly"), a classic Crossing the Chasm move, as described by Geoffrey Moore in his landmark book.
The Vista mess had inflamed most people since they finally got XP pretty right (98 still being a standout edition). MSN could have just raised the price a bit on XP and called it "Vista" if they had to do so.
But No, they wouldn't.
So people are voting with their feet. The real killer will be openoffice.org. Free; better than MSN Office; we started to use it after various Vista Office crashes. Openoffice.org works; doesn't crash. My company is distributing it shortly as an audiobook, How to Use, with a hot link to openoffice.org. Challenge? Only 5 pages of instructions needed! Wow.
MSN is suffering the fate of all armies fighting on too many fronts: Our beloved Apple fought back with iPod and then iPhone (wow again), which we all use v. laptops in many cases; then firefox v. IE; then Open Office v. Office Suite. And don't forget Linus v. Windows. And Google on search; the ultimate clean program.
MSN is just walking around to save on funeral expenses.... When the tipping point comes, it will roar like Maine ice breaking in the spring....
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Ishee92 said 9:26PM on 1-02-2009
I've had alot of problems with my Internet Explorer from Microsoft the last 3 months. I spent over $350 since 10-1-08 and I'm still having the same problem. When I'm on line using AOL and click on a topic to open or close it, my Internet Explorer window pops up. In the address bar its says (about blank) and my PC freezes up. The only way you can get rid of the Internet Explore window is to shut down my Pc completely. I have had my PC completely wiped clean 3X and my Windows XP Home Edition re-installed. Just got it back 12-30-08 and the problem is still there. I have Webroot Spyware and Anti-Virus protection on my PC. I've talked to Webroot, Microsoft, and AOL today, still no answers about this problem. Microsoft even had me go to Safety.live.com for a complete scan of my system. The test said there was no safety issues or viruses on my PC. Microsoft blames AOL, AOL blames Webroot, and Webroot blames Microsoft, and I'm left holding the bag and out $350. Maybe Firefox is a better idea, for me as ny search engine.
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lloyd said 5:27PM on 1-04-2009
delete all aol from your pc. Then reinstall from a disc.Whenever strange stuff starts, repete.aol is always adding stuff to your pc some of it is crap.
John Sawyer said 10:15PM on 1-02-2009
"...it seems pretty clear to us that Firefox, and companies like Google, are leading us into a post-Microsoft world."
And companies like Apple, if you bother to look at the statistics in the article you wrote.
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Esther said 12:05AM on 1-03-2009
Post MS world??? WTF are you going on about (drama queen much)? Where the hell do you think MS is going? Nintendo lost a whole lot of market share to Sony and later MS. Did Nintendo die? No, they came back stronger than ever before and are kicking everyone's @ssetts. I can't stand this typical sensationalist media drivel. MS is losing market share because the competition has actually gotten better. Or did you idiots actually think that MS would always hold a 90% market share? I use firefox in conjunction with another browser that runs on the IE engine. Firefox is ok, but it isn't wholly better than IE and as for speed...IE is still better where that is concerned. Firefox is slow.
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John Sawyer said 7:59AM on 1-09-2009
Wow, Esther--who's the drama queen?
By "post-Microsoft", I think the author meant "post-Microsoft nearly complete domination". The author isn't so dumb as to think Microsoft will go under.
bastion78 said 9:08AM on 1-09-2009
Well you see John, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. IE has not had near-complete domination in years to begin with and post-MS means after MS. It does not mean after MS domination. If that is what the author was trying to get across, then he should have been clear about it. Based on the article, as far as I'm concerned post-MS meant when MS will no longer be relevant. Personally I don't see a time when MS will not be relevant.
dpil1 said 1:37AM on 1-03-2009
ok they reason ie is so popular is people get a comp with windows ie is on it no brainer. secondly the average person doesnt want to go through " the super hard techy stuff" to change browsers if theres work
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raicha said 10:38AM on 1-03-2009
After many frustrating months of IE7 freezing up my computer, I switched to Firefox. Best thing I ever did. Not a single problem since day one.
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TVGenius said 12:18PM on 1-03-2009
I think the 'geeky nephews' have a lot to do with it too. I'm gradually getting my mom to use Firefox more at home, and my grandma who could never master XP and IE is doing great with Leopard and Firefox. My mom even works for a school district that does all their email through Google Apps (Gmail interface) and uses Firefox for browsing.
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dinosaur said 3:17PM on 1-04-2009
What do GM, Chrysler and Microsoft have in common. The arrogance that they can produce anything they like and people will buy it, no matter how crappy it is, because they are the big kahuni's. Well, eventually that arrogance will bring them down.
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mrfixit said 11:48PM on 1-04-2009
Microsoft is a great company and always will be.
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