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IE Usage Falls Again, Firefox Gains

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

January 21, 2005, 10:08 AM

Use of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser has fallen for the seventh straight month, and the decline is beginning to accelerate, according to new data from research firm WebSideStory. Usage of IE stood at 90.3 percent, a one month decrease of 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, Firefox usage rose nearly a full percentage point to 5 percent of the market.

WebSideStory also showed gains in Apple's Safari browser and Opera Software's flagship browser. The original Mozilla browser showed some weakness, falling slightly since December.

Other browser usage surveys, however, show Internet Explorer to have already fallen below 90 percent. Rival OneStat.com in November said IE's share stood at 88.9 percent. OneStat.com at that time pegged Firefox usage at 4.58 percent.

Although Microsoft could not immediately be reached for comment, officials at the company have repeatedly stated to the media that they are not concerned about Mozilla's Firefox.

In a November 2004 interview with BetaNews, Gary Schare, Director of Windows Product Management at Microsoft, said that Firefox's "free ride" was over. "We think that getting the first set of early adopters is a lot easier than getting the next set, and then crossing over into the mainstream is pretty difficult," he said.

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By amitpagarwal

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 11:49 PM

Even after loosing to Firefox so rapidly, Microsoft has no plans of a new IE release before Longhorn. I hope Microsoft stops being complacent now.

http://labnol.blogspot.c...soft-so-complacent.html

Just my 0.01 cent.

The iNdIaN blogger
http://labnol.blogspot.com

Score: 0

By sat951

edited Aug 6, 2008 - 3:07 AM

Thanks, good information !!
I think IE will never recover and Fire never extinguish

Who ever controls technology,
controls world.
Roman emperors ruled the world because they built roads.
Britisher’s ------ built ships
Russians ------ built spaceships
Americans invented Atom bombs and Americans stills rules the world with Information technology.

Study the latest tech news and tips at http://mothertech.blogspot.com/

Score: 0

By CPC464

posted Jan 22, 2005 - 7:35 PM

Microsoft can afford to be complacent IE7 is the next Explorer due to be released about the same time as Longhorn....

However Microsoft have other goodies up their sleeves as IE7 will be the VERY last Internet Explorer

Score: 0

By kefaya

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 7:04 PM

from the web stats of several of my websites, I increasingly see more traffic from users with firefox, both for linux and windows. Opera has not shown the same increase.
More webmasters are designing their site to be firefox compatible, especially non-english websites.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 6:46 PM

I know this, but I use FF it's easier and has tabs. IE sucks and you can't stop the popup no mater what you do! FF is you don't use Flash you won't get a single pop up NONE!!!! I hate free source crap most of the time but FF works better what can I say? Case closed for me. IE can't even get the use of Windows XP Pro SP2 Accessibility Wizard to work right. I mean come on get real.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 10:41 AM

"Usage of IE stood at 90.3 percent, a one month decrease of 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, Firefox usage rose nearly a full percentage point to 5 percent of the market...Other browser usage surveys, however, show Internet Explorer to have already fallen below 90 percent. Rival OneStat.com in November said IE's share stood at 88.9 percent. OneStat.com at that time pegged Firefox usage at 4.58 percent"

Notice a difference? Is there any way to accurately say how many people use what browsers? Not really. FireFox is getting all excited because of the number of downloads--that's because anyone who hears about FireFox will probably at least try it once, as I did. Heck, I downloaded a pre-release and the final release for a total of 3 downloads, yet I do not use FireFox. Some people, on the other hand,
especially IT guys and network admin's, may download only one copy and install it on 200+ computers. My guess is that there are far more downloaded browsers than people that use them. I'm not complaining--it is just a little frustrating that they make such a big hairy deal about it when it's just over ten percent, like Microsoft should be shaking in their boots or something, Bill is oh so afraid of that kid at Mozilla corp. (by the way, isn't this only less than 1% different from the statistics for market share in November 2004?)

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 4:41 PM

That's what I am saying... ITs rediculous. Look at it this way, lets say 10,000 people drive Ford Trucks. A new car company, called YYZZ is a direct competitor to Ford. YYZZ reports that their sales have sky rocketed in the past year. There is no proof that because YYZZ has more sales, Ford Truck owners are giving up their Fords for YYZZ, it just means there is a market for people to find something they like. I use Mozilla, Firefox, and IE (avant browser, netcaptor), and I hate opera.. I may visit the Firefox board and ask questions, but that doesn't mean I abandoned IE for Mozilla/Firefox, but marketing wise, of course Firefox is showing an "increase" in users. Those statistics are bogus at best, and wholly inaccurate. There isn't a finite base of webrowse surfers, therefore you can't conclude that just because Firefox has more users than last year, doesn't mean IE people are switching. Its a new product, it will get a lot of attention, but I don't agree people are just totally abandoning IE alltogether to go with a new product.. They are testing it. An increase in one, does not dictate a decrease in the other.

Score: 0

By eoswald

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 11:18 AM

You did not read the story correctly. You are talking about two different web analytics providers. OneStat was the 88.9 number in November... WebSideStory's numbers were 90.3 in JANUARY.

Now, In november.. Websidestory had IE usage at ~93%.

So there was a big difference.

Score: 0

By Noremacam

edited Jan 21, 2005 - 11:03 AM

Actually, the statistics are more likely based not on downloads, but on popular web server statistics, which monitor the browsers used on their webpage. Granted, this doesn't give you a perfect percentage, it's actually pretty decent estimate.

Score: 0

By sophist_dreams

posted Jan 23, 2005 - 7:51 PM

Those statistics are based on hits by browsers at a given web site, so they are apt to be quite accurate, users are tired of Microspud dictating to the markeplace what they can or will use. More and more websites are becoming Firefox friendly, that is they are adhering to the INDUSTRY standard for html, not the moribound standard for html that Microspud tried to force designers to use. As this happens the decline in the use of IE and IE based broswers is going to accelerate unless Microspud gets it, which I doubt they will until it really smacks them in the pocket book.

Score: 0

By JudahGabriel

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 11:57 AM

Well, if it is indeed a 'pretty decent estimate', and MS share is at least 88% of the market, MS still has nothing to fear. Until at least 1/4th of the market uses alternative browsers, web developers see little point in writing cross-browser compatible web apps.

Score: 0

By eoswald

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 1:16 PM

Are you kidding? NO browser has been able to bring IE down. IE usage up until June 2004 had risen for seven STRAIGHT years.

Obviously, there's something about Firefox that is making people switch, and then on top of it, sticking with it.

I see nothing preventing Firefox from reaching it's goal of 10% market share by mid year, and possibly begin to close in on 20% by EOY 2005.

With a update to Firefox (1.1) still on track for March, I think we will see an acceleration in adoption rate over the next few months. MS made the wrong move by holding off an IE update until Longhorn. By then, we'll probably have a 2.0 version of Firefox, and on top of that, a browser that would work well with Longhorn as no doubt the Mozilla people will get their hands on a beta copy.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Jan 21, 2005 - 2:49 PM

If 2.0 doesn't have ActiveX, it will never dominate--period. I don't care what you guys do, ActiveX is still very much a part of the internet, without it I would have a hard time getting PC users to fix their system. Trend Micro, Symantec, Network Associates, Macromedia, Apple, LucasArts, Weather.com--just to name a few off the top of my head. While some prefer to use FireFox, I have heard of only one company that has even considered deploying it over a network (by that I mean for business purposes, not a Mom & Pop Shop network) other than Mozilla Corp. of course. I'm sure there may be several replies to this, but I am ready for someone OUTSIDE of Mozilla Corp. to tell me of such, (eoswald, you did say "By then, [WE'LL] probably have a 2.0 version of Firefox..." [emph. added], so you are with Mozilla, Corp, are you not?)If the only way you can convince me to use your browser is by cutting down the company with over three-fourths market share of software, then I'll stick with IE.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 6:50 PM

ActiveX WAS THE BIGGEST mistake MS ever made!!!!

Score: 0

By mahesh_n_77

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 2:18 PM

Hello everyone again..I seem to be getting a lot more vocal nowadays ;-)

well bourguoisdude and others ;-) I have by now gone through 1 software publishing(small)firm, an advertising firm, a teaching job in an engineering college and now a finance co - and I'd like to share with you all some *practical* figures:

In a nutshell:
1) The software firm used linux - konqueror and opera and mozilla. IE -? what IE? it does'nt and has never existed for anything other than win/mac. BIG Minus.

2) The advertising firm used a loose peer-to-peer win98/ME network. IE was everywhere, but mozilla(not firefox - the full suite) was used for the sole system used for all *official* correspondence.

3)The engineering college was mayhem - Solaris, SCO Unix, Netware, Linux, Windows (no macs :-( )
*all* sorts of browsers - from *LYNX* - yes, it's alive and kicking, thank u - to things like Deepne t Explorer were being used.

4)The finance co doesn't have much of a clue on web browsers, so it turns out every system has both IE and Firefox installed, which one gets used depends on the person in front of the net machine.

I think this gives you a very good picture of what actually goes on in the outside world as opposed to statistics alone. (Of course I don't live in the US/UK) ;-)

IE rules, yes, among

i) people who have no alternative
ii)people who don't care a damn what they use as long as it works
iii)people who don't know

sorry if my words seem a bit bitter.

In the end the choice of what browser to use rests with YOU, the user - not the marketing people pushing "World Domination" OR "Freedom of Choice".
I hope you make a good decision.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Jan 21, 2005 - 2:45 PM

"IE rules, yes, among

i) people who have no alternative
ii)people who don't care a damn what they use as long as it works
iii)people who don't know"

Don't worry I agree with most you said, but just for the record I have used Firefox, Opera (though it was a Windows 95 version, a long time ago...), Netscape, and Mozilla, and I still prefer IE, so at the very least, there is one person who has tried alternatives but still chooses IE. I think your bottom line pretty much sums it up, though.

Score: 0

By Squire72

posted Jan 22, 2005 - 12:27 PM

If you know enough about software configuration to NOT catch spyware infections simply surfing with IE, you're in the top 1% of IE users.

The way it's configured out of the box, even with Service Pack 2 installed, it's a magnet for virus and spyware activity - even without downloading anything, oddly enough.

The average user has no clue how to edit preferences in general, so expecting them to lock down an IE installation to the point where it's safe, yet still functional? Same thing as teaching your dog to go to the ATM and withdraw money for you.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jan 22, 2005 - 1:38 PM

Squire72, you're absolutely right, and that is why there needs to be a simple utility (or if there is one, it needs to be more popular!) designed to customize IE settings perfectly, add all those annoying tracking websites to restricted list, and keep IE up to date. If you or anyone else knows of such a program, please let me know.

Score: 0

By Squire72

edited Jan 22, 2005 - 6:15 PM

I'd agree with you, except for the fact the IE rendering engine is gutless and out of date.

It does a half-ass job of rendinging properly written HTML, it butchers CSS, and its JScript is a poor copy of JavaScript (ECMA Script).

The only good features are IE and Windows dependant, and non-standard, so they have no place in an open web...

The best way to secure IE is not use it at all.

Score: 0

By gawd21

posted Jan 21, 2005 - 6:57 PM

So you like popups and spy ware with no way of stopping it even with SP2 vs. Firefox as long as you don't use flash? HMMMMMMM Lets look at this way Firefox with no flash = 0 popups and spy/ad ware IE with or with out flash = mass popups and spy/add ware and doesn't even work well. I even work for MS and I wouldn't Use IE except that I need it for PARTS of my work!

Score: 0

By lilbump3000

edited Jan 22, 2005 - 12:34 PM

All you Firefox lovers just wait, the day for Firefox is coming. Its still becoming popular. Once it gets popular enough the hackers going to start targeting that browers as well and its going to be no better than internet explore.

Also I have been using Internet Explore for years as well without getting Spyware, Adware, or Viruses. It seems that people who get all that which who are now firefox users, used internet explore without anti-virus, spyware, or adware protection.

But like I said the day for Firefox is coming.

Score: 0

By clutch32

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 2:59 AM

lilbump3000:

You said it yourself in your post, you had to install ad-blocking tools and pop-up blocker to surf without worries. Kinda strange isn't it? You get a free browser that most likely requires you to purchase (or at least download) additional software to use it without danger. Kinda makes you wonder if people really would use IE, if it wouldn't be included in the OS.

Personaly, I don't give a damn about market shares. Choose what you want to use for yourself. But don't whine if your computer is broken because you made the wrong choice.

Score: 0

By Squire72

edited Jan 22, 2005 - 6:16 PM

Nobody ever claimed (correctly, anyways) that Firefox wasn't vulnerable to exploits.

But on the same token, the Mozilla community is much more proactive and quick about fixing things than Microsoft, and actively attempt to fix things before it becomes common knowledge.

Microsoft leaves issues they know about unfixed until someone points them out to them... and even then, it can take weeks or even months for them to provide a patch that doesn't work.

Score: 0

By VikingBlade

posted Jan 22, 2005 - 9:27 AM

Umm... I'm pretty sure you can not get spyware using IE. I have yet to get any ad/spyware from IE usage in two years.

I also use Ad Muncher, which btw without its use it's like light and day difference than IE without, and Firefox with Ad-block.

Firefox just needs to make the tabs so they are real tabs like Opera natively. (Tabbrowser extension seems to be at its limit) The way Firefox handles tabs now is not how tabbed browsing is suppose to work.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jan 23, 2005 - 3:58 PM

I'm pretty sure you are wrong.

http://techrepublic.com....5100-22_11-5230146.html

Score: 0

By netwiz562

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 4:39 PM

I've been using Internet Explorer since '95 and I have yet to get a single spyware prog/any viruses. Most of Internet Explorer's security issues have nothing to do with the software but instead the person using it. I do agree that Microsoft could have designed it to be more secure out of the box, but it is still the users job in the end. ActiveX is one of the leading problems in IE security, however allowing Active X controls on any site is still up to the user. I am not an IE lover, but I do not think it is Microsoft's fault that it is "less secure" than other browsers. This is mostly the result of it being the most popular browser out there. Once FireFox enters the mainsteam it will to experience the same targeting and exploits will be found. Browsers will never be 100% secure . One thing Firefox does have that could be exploited in a similar way to ActiveX controls is its extensions feature. This has not been taken advantage of yet, but it will be.

I do not thing IE is perfect, but it is still one of the best browsers out there. Along with IE I also use Firefox on a daily basis, and even Opera once in a while. I think that choice in browsers is great because it pushes competition causing the internet to evolve more. In the end their success will be determined by user satisfaction.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 6:26 PM

" I do not think it is Microsoft's fault that it is "less secure" than other browsers."

Right, it's the customers fault and not faulty equipment.

I guess Firestone's problems were customers faults too, as were the Chamois blankets, and the Aprilaire electronic air cleaners.

Wait, software is perfect and isn't bound by the laws real products are.

My bad.

Score: 0

By ArKay74

posted Jan 23, 2005 - 2:24 PM

Oh, really? Is there a standard which says just how tabbed browsing has to be done? Must have missed that one.

Also, I know that many pepople do have problems with spy-/ad-/dialerware caught with IE since they are usually not aware of the dangers (otherwise that stuff wouldn't spread so rapidly, peopre are just not very careful).

I for one use Firefox on 3 diff. operating systems (Windows/MacOS/Linux), so I do trust that this statistic is somewhat accurate.

Score: 0

By Maestr0

posted Jan 24, 2005 - 9:54 AM

You know, the very rare times I have had a virus on my PC, it was from an Email, not from IE. I can understand people blasting IE for spyware, but in my experience at least, most viral activity is through downloading (which can happen with IE or firefox) and email.
Let the flaming begin.

Score: 0

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