Home »News»Internet

Firefox Loses... IE Wins?

Firefox Loses... IE Wins?

Techtree News Staff, Aug 16, 2005 1559 hrs IST

Mozilla s Firefox has lost market share from June'05 to July'05, for the first time since its inception in 2004.

E-Mail Print

According to NetApplications, Mozilla s Firefox has lost market share from June'05 to July'05, for the first time since the inception of the current 1.0 version in 2004.

Statistics reveal, that Firefox went down to 8.07% recording a 0.64% drop in market share, while Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) gained ground reaching 87.2% up from last month's 86.56%.

NetApplications also said that during most of 2005, Firefox had posted monthly market share gains of 0.5 to 1.0 percent, over and above Internet Explorer.

At this stage, it is impossible to predict if July's results are a mere glitch or the beginning of a downward trend for the open source market.

However, it is believed that recent security concerns in Firefox have lead to this development, moreso because it was security issues that forced a lot of people to move away from IE.

Of course, Firefox has been quick to release updates for its software. But, these are more in the nature of whole new releases. As a result, Firefox cannot be patched but has to be re-installed.

Reportedly, version 1.5 of the browser will be an improvement over this aspect.

Discussion Board

pal

,new delhi, on Aug 17, 2005 07:36 AM

Fire fax latest update 1.06 installed on my computer, but now when I use hotmail in firefox, many buttons are not visible like sign out, up arrow, down arrow etc. etc. Any one else have same problem? It all seems to work fine in IE.

dom5885

,Sydney, on Sep 08, 2005 02:21 AM

Go to Tools/Options/Load Images - uncheck (clear) "for the originating web site only"

Kalyan

,Vellore, on Aug 22, 2005 03:35 PM

Use Firefox for its adBlocker extension (adblock.mozdev.org) Use IE for compatibility with Windows update and known trusted sites that only work with IE. Use Opera for small size 3.5 MB, max features (Browser, Email Client, Chat, Notes within that 3.5MB) and max speed in rendering (especially javascript performance is fantastic) Life is full of choices... let's enjoy it all

pradeep

,mumbai, on Aug 18, 2005 10:44 AM

What can one do about the time Firefox takes to start up? I find it very slow in loading

psychomuse

,San Antonio, on Aug 22, 2005 10:46 AM

Try the program FireTune. It works on the XP prefetcher in order to start Firefox a bit quicker (but just a bit!).

Jeremy

,wellington, on Aug 21, 2005 03:58 PM

drag n drop exploit on IE also existed on Firefox, but firefox didn't fix the exploit for 4 months after IE. This is more common than you FF users would think.

Vittorio Felaco

,Kensington, on Aug 16, 2005 07:51 PM

What's wrong with having choices? Why should the object of business be to destroy the competition? When business confuses competition with warfare we all suffer and pay dearly.

Tammy

,Ocala, on Aug 20, 2005 02:02 AM

I agree, it's better to have more than one choice, I prefer firefox, it is not without flaws but if it shuts down you don't lose your whole computer like you do if explorer gets a glitch, it will stop everything from working and then you are done. With firefox, just keep a back up of your bookmarks and reinstall if something happens. That way internet viruses or problems do not attach to explorer and crater it all. I too like the absence of popups and self installing ads. It is easy to put pop up blockers on, but then you have yet another software to run and take away memory and it may stop the popups you WANT to come up and stall links. Long live firefox they are wonderful, but you die hard IE fans, go ahead and stay with it, deal with it and enjoy, I prefer not to have to reinstall my whole OS justbecause the web did something to my browser!

Jamadagni

,Chennai, on Aug 17, 2005 07:47 AM

[quote] As a result, Firefox cannot be patched but has to be re-installed. [/quote] Yeah, like Internet Explorer can be patched. You never know what next big security hole will be found AND EXPLOITED in IE. For FF, only theoretical security holes have ever been found till now. No exploits reported. I have uninstalled IE on my machine and am now writing using SeaMonkey.

dorkyminds

,moroncity, on Aug 18, 2005 10:35 AM

Are u from this planet??. go to secunia site and see the flaws and bugs of FF.. and what the dork is "theoretical security holes " ha ha !

Shriramana Shar

,Chennai, on Aug 17, 2005 07:53 AM

Would you rather download 5 MB Firefox or 50 MB Internet Explorer? Have you ever seen a bug on FF that was identified and exploited? The list of security holes on IE that were exploited is endless. On FF, they are only theoretical holes, and immediately fixed.

dorkyminds

,moroncity, on Aug 18, 2005 10:32 AM

Hello are u from this planet??. just see the list of flaws of FF at secunia site..

Ray Sutton

,North Vancouver, BC, Canada, on Aug 16, 2005 06:51 PM

Firefox version 1.06 is already out and I have it. Firefox is still more versatile and safer than Internet Explorer, and I like it.

Anonymous

,Kampala, Uganda, on Aug 17, 2005 11:32 PM

Everyone here has the wrong end of the stick. IE does not have more inherent problems, it simply gets attacked more often because it's the software hackers can reasonably assume is on most people's PCs. If Firefox ever achieves the dominance IE currently has it will face the same issues. With the latest patches, firewall, a decent Spyware/Adware blocker, Anti-Virus, etc. (which you should have anyway regardless of using IE or FF), you have nothing to fear from using IE. If you don't know enough about Internet Security you only have yourself to blame - not Microsoft - for running into difficulties surfing the Net.

Barney

,City 17, on Aug 16, 2005 04:23 PM

Please also explain how these market shares are calculated. According to a recent study (http://www.tomshardware.com/business/20050721/) these are by and large bogus.

Joe

,NY, on Aug 16, 2005 04:44 PM

Microsoft proly paid netapps! simple as that

dan

,vancouver, on Aug 16, 2005 06:43 PM

it's not about who's faster. If you stick with internet explorer, you let microsoft decide how the internet evolves. And take it from a developer, it is slowing us down. microsoft doesn't play nice with anyone else.

dan

,vancouver, on Aug 16, 2005 06:48 PM

it's not about who is faster and tabbed navigation, it's about letting a corporated giant decide the future of the internet. Everyother company wants to share their knowledge to make it advance, while microsoft wants to keep it a secret and not follow standards that everyone else is working so hard at. So it isn't about you, it's about us, forget ie.

alex

,uk, on Aug 17, 2005 03:59 AM

WHAT?

hrishi

,thane, on Aug 17, 2005 06:40 PM

Opera is also a good alternative , u can use it in windows , linux,qnx,symbian os and it has more features than firefox , but it is adware .

Jess

,Silver Spring, on Aug 16, 2005 04:22 PM

Until IE provides simple features like tabbed browsing, more savvy users will look to alternatives like Firefox. As more people becoming "advanced" web surfers, more will find Firefox. Also, could this webpage have any more annoying flashing ads? Please?

Pulkit Kumar

,Chandigarh, on Aug 16, 2005 04:31 PM

Hi, actually, IE now provides the much liked feature - Tabbed browsing. Just install the SP2, and after you install the pack, you will find tab feature in your IE !! but the speed issue with IE still keeps me glued to firefox. IE makes my PC slow. you end up restarting the system once you open up couple of windows at once. pulkitkumar@hotmail.com

Tijl Kindt

,Leiden, on Aug 16, 2005 04:34 PM

Flashing ads? what flashing ads? Long live Adblock + Firefox ;).

Joe

,NY, on Aug 16, 2005 04:43 PM

IE has tabbed browsing via its new MSN toolbar implementation. I love firefox and trying out the new Deer Park Alpha 2. Firefox's memory leak despite the configuration changes to be made via about:config page is still a major issue, if you are a heavy user. I have seen firefox leaks all the way till 300 or 400MB. Otherwise, firefox rocks!

Joe

,NY, on Aug 16, 2005 04:46 PM

That's right Tij

Masmer

,Bangalore, on Aug 16, 2005 04:57 PM

Firefox is not faster than IE in the real sense, it downloads the page at the same speed, but renders it faster than IE. This gives us a feeling that it's quicker, but it's really not so. There are also a lot of holes in Firefox so it's as leaky as IE.

Rahul

,Delhi, on Aug 17, 2005 12:34 PM

hey guys, there r many security holes in ie6 ,and 4om the info on d web ie 7 beta is not 2good. why don't u use opera 8.2, it gives stunning performance. u can d/l it 4om www.download.com

foxrules

,Pondicherry, on Aug 17, 2005 01:59 PM

Think, she's referring to the adverts on techtree site.

Tayabba

,Hiealah Florida, on Aug 16, 2005 04:55 PM

Open 8 IE Browsers and 8 Fire Fox Browsers. Who eats more memory ? on my system Firefox was eating hell lot of memory. I switched back to IE. FF may be a good browser but these guys need to make it less memory hogger.

Withheld

,Canada, on Aug 16, 2005 07:02 PM

I'd switch back but I find adding memory a lot easier than a freakin' Windoze rebuild from the IE exploits....

dufferkiller

,hyderabad, on Aug 16, 2005 07:18 PM

what an idiot u are!!! thats why tabbed browsing is there - so that u dont have to open 10 windows of IE!!

B Rad

,Potown, on Aug 17, 2005 03:49 AM

Why would you open 8 Firefox browser windows when you could open 8 tabs instead.

Barney

,City 17, on Aug 17, 2005 01:18 PM

This is an unfair comparison. Firefox is built so you don't need to open multiple instances of the browser ... just open new tabs ! And compare the memory consumption of Firefox and IE (all instances combined) then you can have a real idea.

Vatsan

,New Delhi, on Aug 17, 2005 09:54 AM

Firefox is still the best alternative

Chris

,Santa Barbara, on Aug 17, 2005 01:20 AM

Im just amazed at how fast firefox comes out with updates and different extentions. I guess thats just part of the bennefit of open source, gotta love it.

Mike Hammer

,Victoria B C, on Aug 17, 2005 01:12 AM

I tried Firefox when it was released and found it was Netscape under a different name. Not at all compatable with many sites and a waste of time. I am no fan of Bill Gates or Microsoft however until someone comes up with a better system I am stuck in the mud of microsoft

richard mitnic

,highland park, nj ,usa, on Aug 17, 2005 12:33 AM

I tried Firefox, and Mozilla. But then I stayed with Netscape 8. Both engines, passcards, and invidual site security on the fly.

Abhishek Mitra

,Kolkata, India, on Aug 16, 2005 11:06 PM

I am directly and regularly associated with Internet activities for past 5 years. In my past 5 years experience in 90percent times I used IE until recently I had to switch over to firefox and I am using it since Firefox 1.x And its definately Good than IE, do you know why? Simply beacuse you machine is much much less vulnerable to spywares. Surf with IE for an hour and scan with Adaware or Spybot Search n Destroy and do the same after you browse with Firefox for same 1 hour, check the difference. If you want to get regularly infected with Trojans, Spaywares and want to blog down your computer's speed and please use IE, else without bothering much and a fraction of Market share move immedietly to to Firefox. Don't shout blankly! Feel the difference! Or else be ready with the CD of your OS in hand every weekend to Re-format your PC, since using IE will definately blog down your PC's speed.

Neo

,Zion, on Aug 16, 2005 11:04 PM

Donot blankly shout over Firefox!

Abhishek Mitra

,Kolkata, India, on Aug 16, 2005 11:04 PM

I am directly and regularly associated with Internet activities for past 5 years. In my past 5 years experience in 90percent times I used IE until recently I had to switch over to firefox And its definately Better than IE, do you know why? Simply beacuse you machine is much much less vulnerable to spywares. Surf with IE for an hour and scan with Adaware or Spybot Search n Destroy and do the same after you browse with Firefox for same 1 hour, check the difference. If you want to get regularly infected with Trojans, Spaywares and want to blog down your computer's speed and please use IE, else without bothering much and a fraction of Market share move immedietly to to Firefox. Don't shout blankly! Feel the difference! Or else be ready with the CD of your OS in hand every weekend to Re-format your PC, since using IE will definately blog down your PC's speed.

Abhishek Mitra

,Kolkata, India, on Aug 16, 2005 11:01 PM

Donot blankly shout over Firefox! I am directly and regularly associated with Internet activities for past 5 years. In my past 5 years experience in 90percent times I used IE until recently I had to switch over to firefox and I am using it since Firefox 1.x And its definately Good than IE, do you know why? Simply beacuse you machine is much much less vulnerable to spywares. Surf with IE for an hour and scan with Adaware or Spybot Search n Destroy and do the same after you browse with Firefox for same 1 hour, check the difference. If you want to get regularly infected with Trojans, Spaywares and want to blog down your computer's speed and please use IE, else without bothering much and a fraction of Market share move immedietly to to Firefox. Don't shout blankly! Feel the difference! Or else be ready with the CD of your OS in hand every weekend to Re-format your PC, since using IE will definately blog down your PC's speed.

VS Christopher

,Chandigarh, on Aug 16, 2005 10:57 PM

Doesnt matter, im not going back to IE ever in my life again.

S G Ali

,Karachi, on Aug 16, 2005 04:32 PM

Despite of the security issues, Firefox is relatively faster in browsing and more user friendly then IE. But i think they should come up with new patches instead of a whole new installation.

Joe

,NY, on Aug 16, 2005 04:47 PM

Patching business is defenitly affects the performance, a whole new installation is much better. Your bookmarks and window orientation never changes unless you delete the mozilla directory from the Application data folder.

abhay_j

,mumbai, on Aug 16, 2005 09:00 PM

new installation or patching!! faster or slower!! im gonna stick to foxy !! btw installing firefox all over again is a i little irrritating but not as much as IE(IRRITATING EXPLORER)

Vittorio Felaco

,Kensington, on Aug 16, 2005 07:55 PM

I have been extremely happy with Firefox. Choice is good. This is a market that can make more than one Microsoft rich. Why settle for just one?

Hot stuff

Home | Products | News | Reviews | User Reviews | Games | Downloads | Guides | Forums | Comments | Ask TechTree | Contests

Copyright(C) 2010 UNML. All rights reserved.

Feedback | Sales Offices | Contact Us | Disclaimer