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Internet Explorer users 'have below-average IQ'
The Telegraph ^ | Aug 1, 2011 | The Telegraph Staff

Posted on 08/01/2011 7:25:42 AM PDT by fellowgeek

PC World reports that a "psychometric consulting" firm called AptiQuant gave free online IQ tests to 100,000 people, and then plotted the scores against the browser on which the tests were taken.

It found that Internet Explorer users scored lower than average, while Chrome, Firefox and Safari users were very slightly above average. Camino, Opera and Internet Explorer with Chrome Frame were scored "exceptionally" high.

"The study showed a substantial relationship between an individual's cognitive ability and their choice of web browser," AptiQuant concluded. "From the test results, it is a clear indication that individuals on the lower side of the IQ scale tend to resist a change/upgrade of their browsers."

Some people have suggested that there may be other factors at work. Business Insider's Matt Rosoff points out that since IE is the default browser for Windows PC users, anyone who doesn't know how to download and install a new browser will be stuck with it - "which drags down the average". And users of other browsers "include a disproportionate number of computer geeks", which might bring their average up. Or, he admits, it might be that "IE users really are kind of dumb."

Within the group of IE users, version 6 users score lowest, while users of version 8 do rather better.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Technical; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: computergeeks; internet; internetexplorer; techie
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I used to subscribe to PC World, now I remember why I dropped it.
1 posted on 08/01/2011 7:25:46 AM PDT by fellowgeek
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To: fellowgeek

Sadly, this corresponds to real world experience. Those too stupid to upgrade from “PLEASE COME EXPLOIT MY COMPUTER IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY” aka IE6 are often not real smart in other aspects of their life.

Many vote Democrat.


2 posted on 08/01/2011 7:29:19 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: fellowgeek

Kind of a really stupid, self-evident “study”.

You would expect that smarter people would be more likely to take the time to switch to other platforms, even if it turns out those platforms aren’t any better. They simply would make choices.

The “less smart” people are likely going to buy a computer, and use what it gives them. This also explains the “smartness” difference between IE6 and IE8 — the less “smart” you are, the more likely you are to just keep using what you have, to not be set up to get automatic updates, and to not need to keep buying new computers that come with newer versions.

If tomorrow every computer started coming standard with Firefox, within 5 years that would be the browser used by the stupidest people.


3 posted on 08/01/2011 7:30:19 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: fellowgeek

I’m off to remove Internet Explorer from my resume’.


4 posted on 08/01/2011 7:30:44 AM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: Spktyr

I use Safari. Does that make me smarter than the average bear? LOL! Most Mac users use Safari, I think.


5 posted on 08/01/2011 7:32:33 AM PDT by basil (It's time to rid the country of "gun free zones" aka "Killing Fields")
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To: fellowgeek
So I'm smart because I use Firefox?

I guess the libtards use IE.

6 posted on 08/01/2011 7:32:50 AM PDT by Dengar01 ("Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" - Dr. Michael Savage)
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To: ShadowAce

Flame war warning! LOL


7 posted on 08/01/2011 7:33:10 AM PDT by CedarDave
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To: fellowgeek

Smarter people still use their brains.


8 posted on 08/01/2011 7:33:28 AM PDT by SouthTexas (You cannot bargain with the devil, shut the government down.)
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To: Spktyr
Everytime I "upgrade", I enter a world that wants to re-arrange my mental flow chart .... kind'a like ozero fundamentally changing the way America works.

Maybe we should all sign ourselves in for computer addiction, admit we have a problem and give it to a higher power?

There's ALWAYS a better deal within a few hours or a couple of days ..... after you drive out with your brand new, 3 year payment plan.

9 posted on 08/01/2011 7:34:23 AM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: fellowgeek

what waste of time.


10 posted on 08/01/2011 7:34:35 AM PDT by ken21 (ruling class dem + rino progressives -- destroying america for 150 years.)
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To: fellowgeek

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2756934/posts


11 posted on 08/01/2011 7:35:17 AM PDT by tomkat (Palin/West* '12)
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To: CedarDave

It’s obviously a BS study, but it’s a nice break from the debt ceiling idiocy.


12 posted on 08/01/2011 7:35:31 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: ken21

I’m wondering about the comparitive IQ’s of “carrot eaters” vs “potato eaters”.


13 posted on 08/01/2011 7:36:15 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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To: Spktyr

I agree. Most people with any basic level of intelligence use Apple products anyway.


14 posted on 08/01/2011 7:36:19 AM PDT by HereInTheHeartland (I love how the FR spellchecker doesn't recognize the word "Obama")
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oops


15 posted on 08/01/2011 7:37:27 AM PDT by tomkat (Palin/West* '12)
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To: EGPWS

Oh yeah? Why doesn’t anyone use LYNX anymore?


16 posted on 08/01/2011 7:37:36 AM PDT by fellowgeek (To geek or not to geek.)
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To: fellowgeek
Mosaic still rules!


17 posted on 08/01/2011 7:38:32 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: EGPWS

Good tip!

Guess I better go out an buy some Liquid Paper so I can update my resume in the same way!


18 posted on 08/01/2011 7:38:44 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: knarf

When even the manufacturer is saying, “PLEASE quit using that crap, it’s letting people take over your computer and exploit it in nefarious ways” it’s time to move on.

http://www.ie6countdown.com/


19 posted on 08/01/2011 7:39:14 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: fellowgeek

I use IE at work (many of our in-house and customer aps require it), but Firefox for personal use. So does this mean I’m only dumb on the job?


20 posted on 08/01/2011 7:40:29 AM PDT by Liberty1970 (For by grace are you saved through faith.)
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