3 ms·

Mozilla is in trouble if the PC and the entire "desktop computing" model continues to be sidelined in favor of mobile devices and natural UI's. Of the three mo

Mozilla is in trouble if the PC and the entire "desktop computing" model continues to be sidelined in favor of mobile devices and natural UI's. Of the three mobile devices I own (phone, tablet, ipod) on none of them do I need to go to www.Google.com to find information, nor I do use any Firefox browser. What happens to Firefox when I no longer need a laptop or desktop computer of any kind? The quality of the browser and the team, the philosophy, and goodwill is meaningless if their product isn't on the devices I'm using.

tree_of_item 15y ago
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/ You say you don't use Firefox on mobile, which is fine, but then you seem to claim their product isn't on the devices you're using, when it is.
- wavephorm 15y ago
  I'm aware of Firefox mobile, but it isn't installed on my devices. How does Mozilla expect to gain users (and search revenue) on these platforms if they can't even convince power users like me? This time they're competing against built-in browsers that are as competent and secure as what they're offering.
  - billpatrianakos 15y ago
    I'm not sure if power users are the ones that need convincing. Mozilla's philosophy is that the web is for everyone. As far as "everyone" goes, us power users are in the minority. They need to convince the average computer user, not people like us.
    - wavephorm 15y ago
      Trying to convince home users of this used to be easy. Microsoft has a long history of making inferior and insecure products that are dangerous to use. I can't say the same thing of Safari on iOS or the Android browser. I'm a power user and wouldnot recommend ordinary users bother switching to Firefox purely because of philosophical reasons.
      - billpatrianakos 15y ago
        Yeah but others would. And I really doubt anyone is trying to convince people to use IE besides the makers of that piece of crapware.
billpatrianakos 15y ago
Mobile is huge but the desktop isn't going anywhere any time soon. That's apples and oranges. The dust will settle and desktop and mobile will find their place as tools and nothing more. A lot of people talk about the death of desktop computing and that's just bull. Furthermore, Firefox is on mobile already. They don't need their own platform to survive. Firefox stands for something that differentiates it from the other browser makers. There will always be a market for what Mozilla offers and it isn't going away any time soon. People that are concerned about privacy will ditch Chrome, people who enjoy a fast browser that renders pages as they were meant to be will ditch IE, and as for Safari... well I'm not sure if anyone really uses it all that much (it's a great browser but to me it just collects dust).
- ams6110 15y ago
  I disagree a bit, I think that the home desktop is in real danger of being largely replaced by mobile pad/tablet computers, which do everything most home users need and are easily used in the comfort of a recliner in the living room. They may not do everything as well as a desktop, but when the time comes and people are looking at another $1,000 or more for a new PC a number of them will look at their iPad and say "that's good enough." The business desktop will be around for a long time, I agree, as its interfaces are much more practical for all-day use.
- wavephorm 15y ago
  Sure, buy that huge desktop computer, and 27" monitor, mouse, ergonomic keyboard, swivel chair.... to watch youtube videos and use Facebook. Nope. The desktop computer is dead. Home users will go tablet. Enterprise users don't use Firefox today, and they probaby won't tomrrow unless something drastic happens.
  - billpatrianakos 15y ago
    I still disagree. The home desktop will sharply decline and I agree that the way people use computers these days don't warrant the full desktop experience but we're overlooking a few things that mobile devices including tablets won't be able to replace for quite some time because of UI restrictions alone. People will still need to do word processing at home. Yes, tablets do an awesome job, you can get wireless keyboards etc. but there will still be users who feel more comfortable with the desktop. That's an edge case so I'll go on. Movie editing. I don't think the iPad can replace iMovie and won't for some time. I'm sure they can come close but then people still want to burn to DVD. Same with photo editing. And there's a lot more I think we're overlooking. There's no doubt that desktops are on the decline but their not going the way of the mainframe. They'll find their place and that place won't be as prominent as it is but I really doubt it'll be obsolete for home users at least not in the next 5 years.

tree_of_item 15y ago

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mobile/ You say you don't use Firefox on mobile, which is fine, but then you seem to claim their product isn't on the devices you're using, when it is.

wavephorm 15y ago
I'm aware of Firefox mobile, but it isn't installed on my devices. How does Mozilla expect to gain users (and search revenue) on these platforms if they can't even convince power users like me? This time they're competing against built-in browsers that are as competent and secure as what they're offering.
- billpatrianakos 15y ago
  I'm not sure if power users are the ones that need convincing. Mozilla's philosophy is that the web is for everyone. As far as "everyone" goes, us power users are in the minority. They need to convince the average computer user, not people like us.
  - wavephorm 15y ago
    Trying to convince home users of this used to be easy. Microsoft has a long history of making inferior and insecure products that are dangerous to use. I can't say the same thing of Safari on iOS or the Android browser. I'm a power user and wouldnot recommend ordinary users bother switching to Firefox purely because of philosophical reasons.
    - billpatrianakos 15y ago
      Yeah but others would. And I really doubt anyone is trying to convince people to use IE besides the makers of that piece of crapware.

billpatrianakos 15y ago

Mobile is huge but the desktop isn't going anywhere any time soon. That's apples and oranges. The dust will settle and desktop and mobile will find their place as tools and nothing more. A lot of people talk about the death of desktop computing and that's just bull. Furthermore, Firefox is on mobile already. They don't need their own platform to survive. Firefox stands for something that differentiates it from the other browser makers. There will always be a market for what Mozilla offers and it isn't going away any time soon. People that are concerned about privacy will ditch Chrome, people who enjoy a fast browser that renders pages as they were meant to be will ditch IE, and as for Safari... well I'm not sure if anyone really uses it all that much (it's a great browser but to me it just collects dust).

ams6110 15y ago
I disagree a bit, I think that the home desktop is in real danger of being largely replaced by mobile pad/tablet computers, which do everything most home users need and are easily used in the comfort of a recliner in the living room. They may not do everything as well as a desktop, but when the time comes and people are looking at another $1,000 or more for a new PC a number of them will look at their iPad and say "that's good enough." The business desktop will be around for a long time, I agree, as its interfaces are much more practical for all-day use.
wavephorm 15y ago
Sure, buy that huge desktop computer, and 27" monitor, mouse, ergonomic keyboard, swivel chair.... to watch youtube videos and use Facebook. Nope. The desktop computer is dead. Home users will go tablet. Enterprise users don't use Firefox today, and they probaby won't tomrrow unless something drastic happens.
- billpatrianakos 15y ago
  I still disagree. The home desktop will sharply decline and I agree that the way people use computers these days don't warrant the full desktop experience but we're overlooking a few things that mobile devices including tablets won't be able to replace for quite some time because of UI restrictions alone. People will still need to do word processing at home. Yes, tablets do an awesome job, you can get wireless keyboards etc. but there will still be users who feel more comfortable with the desktop. That's an edge case so I'll go on. Movie editing. I don't think the iPad can replace iMovie and won't for some time. I'm sure they can come close but then people still want to burn to DVD. Same with photo editing. And there's a lot more I think we're overlooking. There's no doubt that desktops are on the decline but their not going the way of the mainframe. They'll find their place and that place won't be as prominent as it is but I really doubt it'll be obsolete for home users at least not in the next 5 years.