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Firefox's 'retreat' ensures Microsoft excels
Contractor UK ^ | Aug 22, 2005 | Contractor UK

Posted on 08/26/2005 6:31:03 PM PDT by Bush2000

Firefox's 'retreat' ensures Microsoft excels

Open source web browser Firefox has lost the momentum it has steadily gained since it was unleashed last year, according to Web analysts at Net Applications.

The online portal’s unique Hit List service reveals a slump in the Mozilla browser’s market share, falling from 8.7% to 8.1 % in July.

Coinciding with its demise, was the advance of Microsoft's IE that has gained some of the ground surrendered in June, climbing back from 86.6 % to 87.2% last month.


The revival for the dominant browser comes on the back of average monthly losses of between .5 to 1% for Redmond, as Firefox started to gain acceptance among a wider audience than just tech-savvy users.

When asked by Contractor UK whether Microsoft’s sudden gains were from the unveiling of a new IE, Net Applications said a re-launch tends revive industry interest, and could have bolstered Microsoft’s market share of the browser market.

When a company launches a new product, there is always renewed interest in what the company has produced and it would also be fair to say that this may have had an effect, said a member of the Hit List team.

Although, there have been browser issues with Windows 2000 in the news, so it is possible that again you may see a dip [in Microsoft’s market share]. Right now, people are looking for security and whenever there are issues with the security of one's system, they will use what they feel will be the most secure.”

Besides Net Applications, web developer site W3 Schools, confirms that adoption of Firefox is falling, just as IE is reaching its highest share of the market in 2005.

According to W3's data on specialist users, Microsoft IE (6) enjoyed a 67.9% share in July, improving to 68.1% in August matched against Firefox’s top share of 21% in May, which has now dropped to 19.8% for the last two months.

Observers noted that both sets of analysis concur that Microsoft’s loss, up until now, has been Firefox’s gain, but over the last month roles have reversed.

Security fears concerning Mozilla and its browser product have recently emerged, coinciding with Microsoft’s high-profile trumpeting of its new safer browser product (IE 7), complete with glossy logo.

Experts at Net Applications said they were surprised at Firefox’s sudden retreat, saying they expected a slow down before any decline.

Yet they told CUK: “Whenever there may be problems with security, there always is a decline with users changing browsers.”

Data from the Web analytics company is based on 40,000 users, gleaned from their global internet operations, prompting some commentators to question the so-called ‘global decline’ in the Firefox market share.

The Counter.com reportedly finds that between June and July, Firefox actually increased its share by two points, and overtook IE5 for the first time ever.

The Web Standard Project suggests webmasters should treat data from web analysis providers with caution, before rushing to make service changes.

So what can we conclude?” asks the WSP, a grass roots project fighting for open access to web technologies.

“Not much: Mozilla-based browsers are probably used by just under 10% of the web audience and their share is growing slowly. IE5.x is probably used by somewhat less than that and its share is declining slowly. IE6 is roughly holding steady.”

Meanwhile, Spread Firefox, which measures actual download rates of the browser, reports that it took just one month for the Mozilla Foundation’s showpiece to reach 80 million downloads in August – from its July total of 70 million.

At the time of writing, Firefox had been downloaded 80701444 times, meaning adoption rates of over 10m occurred one month after Net Applications says Firefox bolted in light of the dominant IE.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: canthandlethetruth; firefox; forqclinton; fud; gatesbot; gatesfanclub; gatesgroupies; geisforqclinton; ie; microsoft; msfanboys; paidshill; redmondpayroll; shillboy2000; spyware; trojans; valentilapdog; viruses; worms
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To: antiRepublicrat
The suits choose Apache because Microsoft leveraged its monopoly desktop OS into servers. They mainly buy out of habit (or an insane panic deal with Microsoft because they mentioned using Linux), not because of any cost-benefit analysis.

And the only reason Java is so big is because the Sun salerep took the CIO out to lunch. Those stupid suits...if only they had you to run their business they'd really make some money then. {/sarcasm}

281 posted on 08/28/2005 1:44:18 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: adam_az

I'm hoping that tin turkey is just a troll account for bush 2000. I shudder to think that there could be two freepers who are really that dense.


282 posted on 08/28/2005 1:52:22 PM PDT by flashbunny (Always remember to bring a towel!)
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To: HolgerDansk
Now, why would they do that? They already have (and have tested) their clone of the US W-88 design, stolen during the Clinton Administration.

Because China, like Los Alamos, is moving toward using clustered simulation testing rather than monolithic supercomputers. And the good news for the ChiComs is that you OSS guys will probably write the software for them...
283 posted on 08/28/2005 2:45:53 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: antiRepublicrat
True, but did you actually see that chart? IE has far more critical and unpatched vulnerabilities.

Not true. The chart doesn't include the raft of recent FireFox plug-in vulnerabilities.
284 posted on 08/28/2005 2:49:41 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: antiRepublicrat
"Global" Linux community? I thought Linux was all about the rest of the world stealing American IP.

It is. Linux's sole purpose is to rip-off IP from American commercial interests.
285 posted on 08/28/2005 2:51:58 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: antiRepublicrat
The suits choose Apache because Microsoft leveraged its monopoly desktop OS into servers.

Lay off the crack. The suits aren't deploying servers based upon the antitrust case from 5 years ago. If you think that, you're delusional.
286 posted on 08/28/2005 2:53:29 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: antiRepublicrat
It is nice to see Microsoft finally catching up to a 35 year-old OS.

LMFAO! Linux is 35 years old? Hilarious. May I remind you that you guys can't wait to point out that Linux ain't Unix. It's Unix-like. But it ain't Unix.
287 posted on 08/28/2005 2:55:16 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: exnavychick
Still seems overwrought and hyperbolic to me.

Let's put it in perspective. Every dollar that the Red Chinese and North Korean military saves by using software written by foreigners can be diverted to buying new weapons, increasing the size of their army, supplying their troops, boosting their defenses, etc. It also enables them to utilize computing infrastructure that makes it easier for them to track and repress dissidents, control the flow of information within their societies, and increase their spying capability against us. I realize that that these threats don't play well in the U.S., where people are essentially ignorant on defense matters, or Europe, which is obsessed with leveling the computing playing field to compete against the U.S. But it's true.
288 posted on 08/28/2005 3:25:52 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: adam_az
China promises to play nice with the Windows source code I gave them access to!

Dude, Redmond ain't mailing CDs to the ChiComs containing Windows source code. The ChiComs have to come to Redmond and sit in a room with Microsoft's attorneys if they want source code. Meanwhile, you OSS guys are shoveling free source code at the ChiComs as fast as your little sweatshops can crank it out...
289 posted on 08/28/2005 3:28:31 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: Bush2000

"Dude, Redmond ain't mailing CDs to the ChiComs containing Windows source code. The ChiComs have to come to Redmond and sit in a room with Microsoft's attorneys if they want source code."

Source?

Who cares if attorneys are in there, anyway? How can an attorney know what the chicoms are looking for in MS sourcecode? How can they stop them from using it to write exploits when they return to china?

"Meanwhile, you OSS guys are shoveling free source code at the ChiComs as fast as your little sweatshops can crank it out..."



People who do something voluntarily are not in "sweat shops."

Try again!


290 posted on 08/28/2005 3:43:03 PM PDT by adam_az (It's the border, stupid!)
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To: Bush2000
LMFAO! Linux is 35 years old?

No, UNIX is. I didn't say I was talking about Linux.

291 posted on 08/28/2005 3:51:38 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Bush2000
. The suits aren't deploying servers based upon the antitrust case from 5 years ago.

No, they're deploying it because that's what they know and that's the only thing thier Microsoft-only IT staff understand, not because it's the best. I know this is true for government.

292 posted on 08/28/2005 3:52:55 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Bush2000
It is. Linux's sole purpose is to rip-off IP from American commercial interests.

Yet you just mentioned the "global" Linux community, not the American one.

293 posted on 08/28/2005 3:53:25 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: antiRepublicrat
No, UNIX is. I didn't say I was talking about Linux.

WTF does UNIX have to do with my earlier comment? I was referring specifically to Linux, and you brought up UNIX. Non-sequitor, as usual...
294 posted on 08/28/2005 3:59:38 PM PDT by Bush2000 (Linux -- You Get What You Pay For ... (tm)
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To: Bush2000

You said - "Dude, Redmond ain't mailing CDs to the ChiComs containing Windows source code. The ChiComs have to come to Redmond and sit in a room with Microsoft's attorneys if they want source code. Meanwhile, you OSS guys are shoveling free source code at the ChiComs as fast as your little sweatshops can crank it out..."

Answer this point.

Who cares if attorneys are in there, anyway? How can an attorney know what the chicoms are looking for in MS sourcecode? How can they stop them from using it to write exploits when they return to china?

If you can't or won't answer, at least be a mensch and admit it.


295 posted on 08/28/2005 4:40:14 PM PDT by adam_az (It's the border, stupid!)
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To: Bush2000
The chart doesn't include the raft of recent FireFox plug-in vulnerabilities.

I was referring to UNIX, of which Linux is a variation, specifically in that it uses the very UNIX security model that Microsoft is finally emulating.

296 posted on 08/28/2005 6:29:19 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: antiRepublicrat
No, they're deploying it because that's what they know and that's the only thing thier Microsoft-only IT staff understand, not because it's the best. I know this is true for government.

Would that be the same Microsoft-only IT staff that doesn't deploy Windows firewalls?

297 posted on 08/28/2005 7:03:50 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (If at first you don't succeed keep on sucking until you do succeed)
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To: Bush2000
There's a world of difference between a sitcom and a bunch of OSS Commie sympathizers who think it's amusing that their support is helping build out our enemies' computing infrastructure. ..

I like you, boy, but don't think for a minute you can wear my pants.


298 posted on 08/28/2005 7:35:56 PM PDT by JoJo Gunn (Help control the Leftist population. Have them spayed or neutered. ©)
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To: for-q-clinton
are you agreeing that IIS provides more value to the businesses that choose it?

That would depend on the business right?

299 posted on 08/28/2005 7:46:27 PM PDT by N3WBI3 (If SCO wants to go fishing they should buy a permit and find a lake like the rest of us..)
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To: Bush2000

Somebody tell redhat (American Company) they are ripping off American commercial interest.. Tell them to pass it on to Novell.


300 posted on 08/28/2005 7:48:08 PM PDT by N3WBI3 (If SCO wants to go fishing they should buy a permit and find a lake like the rest of us..)
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