4 ms·

All the arguments that are used against IE can also be applied to Notepad, Outlook express, Calc and a 100 other pre-installed programs. I don't understand why

All the arguments that are used against IE can also be applied to Notepad, Outlook express, Calc and a 100 other pre-installed programs. I don't understand why IE is singled out as special.

melling 17y ago
How about we want an open standards Internet and the 90% monopoly Microsoft has on the desktop really endangers that? After all, ms wouldn't give a crap about open standards unless pushed.
- abrown28 17y ago
  1) I assume that by using "We" you mean you and I and a few others because it's painfully clear to me that approximately 90% of the browser using world could care less. 2) Is using force the only way to accomplish the goal of open standards?
  - melling 17y ago
    You don't remember Bill Gates testifying in court that IE could not be unbundled from the OS? IE is still a choice. IE9 will be a much better product because of the changing browswer landscape. The progress of the Internet really has suffered because MS didn't put much effort into IE development. It is the worst browser and it has the most market share.
  - AlisdairO 17y ago
    Against a company with a monopoly and a vested interested in closed standards that help maintain that monopoly? I'd say so, yes.
    - abrown28 17y ago
      If that company enforced their monopoly through force then I would agree with you.
- endtime 17y ago
  >How about we want an open standards Internet and the 90% monopoly Microsoft has on the desktop really endangers that? Why does 90% Windows market share endanger open web standards? Web standards are implemented by the browser, not the OS.
  - melling 17y ago
    As far as browsers go, how would you rate IE? Is it the best? Second best? Probably third or fourth? It has over 60% market share in the world. 18 months ago, it was over 70%. I would argue that this has more to do with Microsoft having 90% desktop market share and IE is the default browswer.
    - endtime 17y ago
      Sure, but that's completely irrelevant. You're not making a coherent point. Microsoft doesn't have a browser monopoly. Period.
sumeetjain 17y ago
This is an interesting question. I'm not sure what the legal or business reasoning is; but from my personal perspective, Internet browsers are fundamentally different from most other products. I believe a person's ability to access information is more sacred than her ability to perform word processing. I liken the question to why I support universal free education but not universal free binders.

All the arguments that are used against IE can also be applied to Notepad, Outlook express, Calc and a 100 other pre-installed programs. I don't understand why IE is singled out as special.

melling 17y ago

How about we want an open standards Internet and the 90% monopoly Microsoft has on the desktop really endangers that? After all, ms wouldn't give a crap about open standards unless pushed.

abrown28 17y ago
1) I assume that by using "We" you mean you and I and a few others because it's painfully clear to me that approximately 90% of the browser using world could care less. 2) Is using force the only way to accomplish the goal of open standards?
- melling 17y ago
  You don't remember Bill Gates testifying in court that IE could not be unbundled from the OS? IE is still a choice. IE9 will be a much better product because of the changing browswer landscape. The progress of the Internet really has suffered because MS didn't put much effort into IE development. It is the worst browser and it has the most market share.
- AlisdairO 17y ago
  Against a company with a monopoly and a vested interested in closed standards that help maintain that monopoly? I'd say so, yes.
  - abrown28 17y ago
    If that company enforced their monopoly through force then I would agree with you.
endtime 17y ago
>How about we want an open standards Internet and the 90% monopoly Microsoft has on the desktop really endangers that? Why does 90% Windows market share endanger open web standards? Web standards are implemented by the browser, not the OS.
- melling 17y ago
  As far as browsers go, how would you rate IE? Is it the best? Second best? Probably third or fourth? It has over 60% market share in the world. 18 months ago, it was over 70%. I would argue that this has more to do with Microsoft having 90% desktop market share and IE is the default browswer.
  - endtime 17y ago
    Sure, but that's completely irrelevant. You're not making a coherent point. Microsoft doesn't have a browser monopoly. Period.

sumeetjain 17y ago

This is an interesting question. I'm not sure what the legal or business reasoning is; but from my personal perspective, Internet browsers are fundamentally different from most other products. I believe a person's ability to access information is more sacred than her ability to perform word processing. I liken the question to why I support universal free education but not universal free binders.