3 ms·

>> If IE6 were holding it back for so long, why did it >> miraculously stop, even though nothing changed? The >> answer, of course, is that it wasn't IE6. I

by axod 17y ago

>> If IE6 were holding it back for so long, why did it >> miraculously stop, even though nothing changed? The >> answer, of course, is that it wasn't IE6. It was the lack >> of a business model, which was inadvertently solved by >> Google. I think one reason was that Netscape had got so big and unwieldy that users didn't see a compelling case to switch from IE once MS forced them into using it. Firefox changed all that with innovative features, and a quick easy browsing experience - credit where credit's due. I don't think the business model really matters TBH. Firefox would have happened without google. Maybe you have a point though, maybe people could have tried harder, and "Done a firefox" earlier, and still been able to gain market share. I don't know when all the legal stuff against Microsofts anti-competitive business practices started to get stamped out, but it seemed to be around the same time of phoenix/firefox.

mattmaroon 17y ago
It is important to note that IE6 didn't suck at first relative to its competition. It just didn't improve while the rest of the web did at the speed of light. I know it's hard to remember that when you're trying to find workarounds for lack of png transparency or figure out why your divs aren't where they should be. Firefox clearly started happening before they found such a great way to monetize, but I have a hard time believing it would be what it is today with tens of millions of dollars less coming in. Now there's so much money in it that there are multiple decent competitors to IE. All of Microsoft's settlements seem to have had no impact on their browser strategy really. Every copy of Windows still has IE on it, just like it did before, and requires a download of Firefox or any other competitor. I don't think their "anti-competitive practices" or the cessation thereof have made any difference at all. Hence my original post.
- garethm 17y ago
  In Europe, Microsoft will not be selling any version of Windows 7 that includes IE. See http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009/06/11/working-to-fulfill-our-legal-obligations-in-europe-for-windows-7.aspx http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009...
- axod 17y ago
  As far as I remember, MS made sure that no OEM was able to ship a PC with any other browser installed. Or at least made it not in their interest to try to.

by axod 17y ago

mattmaroon 17y ago

It is important to note that IE6 didn't suck at first relative to its competition. It just didn't improve while the rest of the web did at the speed of light. I know it's hard to remember that when you're trying to find workarounds for lack of png transparency or figure out why your divs aren't where they should be. Firefox clearly started happening before they found such a great way to monetize, but I have a hard time believing it would be what it is today with tens of millions of dollars less coming in. Now there's so much money in it that there are multiple decent competitors to IE. All of Microsoft's settlements seem to have had no impact on their browser strategy really. Every copy of Windows still has IE on it, just like it did before, and requires a download of Firefox or any other competitor. I don't think their "anti-competitive practices" or the cessation thereof have made any difference at all. Hence my original post.

garethm 17y ago
In Europe, Microsoft will not be selling any version of Windows 7 that includes IE. See http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009/06/11/working-to-fulfill-our-legal-obligations-in-europe-for-windows-7.aspx http://microsoftontheissues.com/cs/blogs/mscorp/archive/2009...
axod 17y ago
As far as I remember, MS made sure that no OEM was able to ship a PC with any other browser installed. Or at least made it not in their interest to try to.