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Mozilla Chairman Speaks on Open Source/Microsoft
ChrisMDP writes "Tom's Hardware has an interesting interview with Mitch Kapor, the chairman of the Mozilla Foundation. They discuss, amongst other things, what it's like competing with Microsoft, and Firefox as an operating system." From the interview: "Pragmatically, I think we have to distinguish between a base set of extensions and everything else. It gets progressively more difficult to create seamless solutions when there are nearly infinite possibilities for customization and tweaking of settings. There's a basic tension in principle that can never be completely resolved."
Owwch.
"and Firefox as an operating system."
Doesn't Mitch know that it's almost exactly that statement that caused Microsoft to launch its slaughterfest against Netscape when Marc Andreesen said it?
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Now give me a ide and some documentation so that I can create xul apps. The biggest push should be to get a xul ide together to help extend and push the platform. I don't care if it is written in xul or python or whatever, don't point me to xul maker either it looks like ass and is being developed way to slowly. I love firefox now make it damn easy for me to build cool xul apps.
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I have noticed that the teacher's computers where I am attending are loaded with spyware. They were all using Internet Explorer. A few switched over to Firefox right after I told them MSIE lets spyware in. But most couldn't care less. Finally, I found something that is getting the others to switch over. I ask them "Would you use a web browser created by a convicted monopolist?" They always say "No." Then I tell them they are using one (Internet Explorer). This gets there interest and then I get them to download and switch over to Firefox.
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*sigh* You know, maybe people are just creatures of habit. Just because they are doesn't mean they're stupid. I tried getting my mother to switch to firefox. She honestly tried it for a few days and said, "meh, it's not worth learning something new when the old thing works just fine for me." Ok, that's fair. While they're not radically different in UI terms, as far as setting preferences, managing downloads and such, they're worlds apart. (I think firefox is easier to set preferences in - except for the ones you can only get to with about:config).
But, I'm not going to say she's stupid. So the best thing I can do as a conscientious son is to make sure she knows safe browsing habits and keeps her computer up to date. For a 45 year old woman who'd never used a computer until about two years ago, her ability to spot something that isn't right is remarkable. She's never had a virus or spyware.
Now if I could just get her to stop asking if I'm there when she gets my voicemail, I'd be set.
I'd be inclined to agree as well. Stats come from my own site, linked up above below my name. Note that my audience is far from being a tech-savvy crowd for the most part.
Browser / Total Uniques / Browser Percentage
Dec. 2004
MS Internet Explorer 5804579 80.7%
Firefox 682022 9.4%
Unknown 314979 4.3%
Opera 102336 1.4%
Netscape 101781 1.4%
Mozilla 100551 1.3%
Safari 74319 1%
Konqueror 4194 0%
Firebird (Old Firefox) 1792 0%
Phoenix 1419 0%
Others 3177 0%
Jan. 2005
MS Internet Explorer 5461478 79.8%
Firefox 716106 10.4%
Unknown 269946 3.9%
Opera 108339 1.5%
Mozilla 101918 1.4%
Netscape 94016 1.3%
Safari 73714 1%
Konqueror 6146 0%
Firebird (Old Firefox) 1769 0%
Lynx 1052 0%
Others 3040 0%
Feb. 2005
MS Internet Explorer 3527555 76.7%
Firefox 571325 12.4%
Unknown 231353 5%
Netscape 77205 1.6%
Opera 68264 1.4%
Mozilla 66347 1.4%
Safari 43025 0.9%
Konqueror 9937 0.2%
Firebird (Old Firefox) 1357 0%
Camino 637 0%
Others 1941 0%