Internet Explorer, the next Netscape?

Posted by multippt

Being an Internet Explorer user, I must say Internet Explorer is certainly lacking in some stuff. Sure, it has satisfied the basics and beyond, but the new average is now all about being the top. Internet Explorer had the opportunity to be everyone’s favorite browser - in fact, almost everyone used Internet Explorer at one time. However, Microsoft blew it simply because it wasn’t keeping up. Internet Explorer is falling behind most web standards, and even features and stability. Why is that so? Firefox, Internet Explorer’s new competitor is simply better than it, even when both are at their latest revision, and it will remain that way unless Microsoft manages to pull off something.

Internet Explorer’s failure

Internet Explorer had the biggest support of Microsoft, which is still today’s software monopoly. Windows is a great starting platform for Internet Explorer. In fact, Microsoft wiped out Netscape because it bundled Internet Explorer in Windows, and supplied it at no cost. Internet Explorer is originally better than Netscape in numerous ways. That same trend is happening to Internet Explorer, except it is in Netscape’s place.

What Internet Explorer lacks is security and standard-compliance. At the latest revision, Internet Explorer still have problems pertaining to security, and also have problems with web standards. While speed is not an issue as both Firefox and Internet Explorer are running at the same pace (stop hullucinating that either are faster than the other), Firefox had the edge as it boasts things users want that are not present in Internet Explorer - such as stability and customizing.

This is similar to Netscape vs Internet Explorer, in almost every way.

Ironically, Firefox was Netscape

Currently, Netscape has almost died. Few are using it, even though new versions of Netscape are released every now and then. Soon after, the Netscape company founded the Mozilla foundation (the commercial entity of this foundation is known as Mozilla corporation), which developed Firefox. So, Netscape’s new reincarnation is Firefox itself. Pretty neat that even a downed browser can come back from its grave.

The second browser war

Internet Explorer having gone through the first browser war now has to face another one. Sadly, it is the first browser war that actually caused the second one. Apparently, Microsoft was too busy rejoicing at its victory that development on Internet Explorer has come down to a snail’s pace, until Firefox ate up over 10% of Internet Explorer’s share. Though, unlike the previous war, this war has elongated for several reasons. One of which is that Microsoft is doing something about it. Having released Internet Explorer 7 which fixed some issues with Internet Explorer 6, Microsoft had delayed its demise. In addition, introducing Windows Vista gave Internet Explorer 7 a little more popularity and adoption. However, it is way behind schedule if compared to Firefox.

Why Internet Explorer may not become the next netscape

Currently, Microsoft still have an opportunity to shoot back at Firefox, as it still has control over 50% of the browser share. If Microsoft were to do any of these, chances are Microsoft may be able to push up adoption of the browser.

Internet Explorer 8

Currently in the works and will not be released until some time later, this browser fixes almost everything people hate about Internet Explorer, making it near perfect. Though, adoption is one problem, guess which computers get to use it? Right, computers running the latest versions of Windows. Unless Microsoft still maintains that set of compatibility for (not-to-old) older versions of Windows, Internet Explorer will not be able to match up with Firefox’s widely available compatibility.

Still, by the time Internet Explorer 8 comes out, guess who would be leading…

Make Internet Explorer available to Linux and other places

Internet Explorer runs on Microsoft’s software. Microsoft has not made it for Linux, and is unlikely to do so. Hence, >80% of all Linux users will be using Firefox. Strangely, Microsoft seems mainly interested in getting Internet Explorer on propiertary platforms like Mac OSX (for a while though).

Updates Internet Explorer much faster

Every update to Internet Explorer is quite major, and that’s because Microsoft loves to roll things up and send it straight to its customers. This is unlike Firefox which brings out small updates but at a higher frequency. Which is better? Big updates that come annually, or smaller updates that come monthly? Both are great, but when it comes with keeping up, smaller updates are better. After all, didn’t Microsoft win because it manages to pull off those updates in a short time during the first war?