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Only 25% of Firefox Downloaders Are 'Active Users'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-account-for-ten-percent-of-that dept.

bheer writes "The Guardian points out a page on the Mozilla wiki noting that 'only 50% of the people downloading Firefox actually try it out, and only a further half of those continue to use it actively.' ZDNet has some commentary on the browser's retention rate. While a 25% retention rate isn't necessarily bad, Mozilla is trying to improve these figures with a 12 point plan that includes more TV and media advertising, a better start page and several installation tweaks."

7 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. How do they measure this?? by Andrewkov · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I use Firefox as my main browser, but I've downloaded it many times to different PC's (which I may use only occasionally). I wonder how this affects their numbers.

    1. Re:How do they measure this?? by mhall119 · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's ok, I've installed it on multiple PC's from the same download, so I cancel you out.

      --
      http://www.mhall119.com
  2. This is what normally happends. by jellomizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Person A computer really messes up.
    Geek B fixes it and puts firefox to help them out.
    Geek B tells them to use Firefox so their computer doesn't mess up.
    Person A Ignores Geek B advice because what does he know he only fixes computers.
    Person A Computer gets really messed up.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  3. My 12-Step Retention Plan by andrewd18 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pfft. That 12-Step Retention Plan sucks. Here's a better one:

    1. Change Firefox icon label to closer resemble action of getting to web. No longer shall the icon on the desktop be called "Mozilla Firefox", but instead, "U CAN HAZ INTRN3T".

    2. Force the Firefox icon to easier to find location. <img src="firefox.png" alt="U CAN HAZ INTRN3T" height="768" width="1024" /> Problem solved.

    3. Alter the default browser settings path for better user choice. Embed an audio file of Arnold Schwarzenegger saying, "Use Firefox! Use it now!" into the IE startup path.

    4. Major outbound brand marketing program driving brand recognition and differentiation. A full page NY Times ad with the "Walkthrough Cat", its text changed to "GIT UR INTERN3T ON".

    5. Improve download page and first run pages. Download page must be similar to NY Times ad, so the imbeciles we're trying to reach can actually remember wtf they're downloading. The first run page must have "HAI! U GOT INTRN3T!!" in large letters, preferably with blink tags and links to pron.

    6. Launch support.mozilla.com SUMO If Firefox sees another bloated browser installed on the computer, it will challenge it to a wrestling match, the winner becoming the new default browser. A small side-effect may be a userbase increase in the Asian market.

    7. Make common plug-ins work out of the box. The MegaRotic Toolbar will now be part of the initial install, as will an RSS feed of Digg.com.

    8. Make add-ons and personas more accessible. The Mozilla Store will now ship free wizard hats and robes with every Firefox download.

    9. Make the web feel more human. Male users will find their browser displaying all text in capital letters approximately once every twenty-eight days. Female users will find their browser doesn't remember their user preferences or date of birth form fields.

    10. Improve messaging through communication channels. We will also improve messaging through non-communication channels. Yes, our code monkeys are that good. 11. Stickier start page. If you left-click anywhere on the new start page, it will take three right-clicks to get your cursor to move again.

    12. Change Firefox icon image to closer resemble action of getting to web. In keeping with steps 1 and 7, the new icon will show Ceiling Cat, as we all know what most of our users will be doing on the internet.

  4. Re:My numbers are a bit different. by AlexBirch · · Score: 5, Funny

    Both of my ex girlfriends are using Firefox... I'm glad to see that our relationships weren't wasted completely.

  5. Re:That's still a lot by Nimey · · Score: 5, Funny

    Believe it or not, I've made an HTML page that was Lynx-only. It would display with e.g. Mozilla or Opera but would look like poorly-formatted shite.

    Lynx supports a tag of the form <tab indent="90" id="t1"> and then later you can set up a pseudo-table using <tab to="t1"> or arbitrary tabs.

    Obviously this would only work with a fixed-width font anyway.

    hmm... the Lynx documentation says that the tab tag is from HTML 3.0.

    --
    Hail Eris, full of mischief...

    E pluribus sanguinem
  6. Re:My numbers are a bit different. by jez9999 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Both of my ex-girlfriends use Firefox together.

    In bed.

    --
    == Jez ==
    Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.