Firefox Users Stay Ahead On the Update Curve

Reader Alex links to news of a study comparing the currency and patch level of various Web browsers, excerpting: "Firefox users were far and away the most likely to use the latest version, with an overwhelming 83.3 percent running an updated browser on any given day. However, despite Firefox's single click integrate auto-update functionality, 16.7 percent of Firefox users still continue to access the Web with an outdated version of the browser, researchers said. The study also revealed that the majority of Safari users (65.3) percent were likely to use the latest version of the browser between December 2007 and June 2008, after Safari version 3 became available. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Internet Explorer users ranked last in terms of safe browsing. Between January 2007 and June 2008, less than half of IE users — 47.6 percent — were running the most secure browser version during the same time period."

Comments

47%

[Geak]

47% are still using Mosaic????

Re:47%

[rootphreak]

What you really need is a gopher client, or if you have to be lame enough to use an http client then lynx ftw. Mosaic is for losers.

Re:47%

[Nathonix]

breaks repeatedly on my system. xp sp3, dual core athlon 2.0ghz, 2gb ram.

Re:47%

[YukiCuss]

breaks repeatedly on my system which is so cool and better than all yours here are its specs

Re:47%

[Darkness404]

You mean that your computer can run Vista at an acceptable speed?!?

Re:47%

[csnydermvpsoft]

I found this file rather amusing:

We are currently in the process of writing a new FAQ due to some recent changes in licensing policy. Questions concerning commercial licensing of NCSAMosaic should be directed to mosaic@spyglass.com

Questions concerning the copyright on NCSAMosaic should be directed to: mgoode@ncsa.uiuc.edu

A new, up-to-date FAQ will be appearing here shortly.

-David Mitchell
  08/24/94

Re:47%

[Entropius]

I heard they were testing Vista out on a BlueGene to see if it would run acceptably fast, but trials had to be stopped after a few thousand CPU's went on strike protesting against cruelty.

Re:47%

[d3ac0n]

Oh, nice job. It's Slashdotted. Gopher site run over by Mack Truck of internet traffic from Slashdot. Poor little Gopher never saw it coming. :(

Usual drivel

[taustin]

When Microsoft has shit flashing on the screen automatically to remind you to do updates, it's evil intrusion in to one's privacy. But when Firefox does exactaly the same thing, they're God's gift to enlightenment.

The reason most Firefox users use the most up to date version is that it's the only way to get rid of the annoying pop-ups.

Re:Usual drivel

[arotenbe]

When Microsoft has shit flashing on the screen automatically to remind you to do updates, it's evil intrusion in to one's privacy. But when Firefox does exactaly the same thing, they're God's gift to enlightenment.

Firefox requires you to restart your browser, but Windows requires you to restart your whole computer.

Then again, with Firefox it takes just as long...

Re:Usual drivel

[Artuir]

What computer are you using, Babbage's Difference Engine?

Re:Usual drivel

[n3tcat]

The death clock is rare. Usually after windows update it'll just tell you every 5 minutes that you still haven't rebooted. The death clock you're probably thinking of is reserved for those times when they can tell you are actually doing important stuff on your computer.

Re:Usual drivel

[nschubach]

(I know I probably shouldn't say this... but I can't stop typing!)

You see, this is why ____ will never make it. If I have to keep using these obscure command line fixes in order to make my system work the way I want, regular people will never use it.

Re:Usual drivel

[One Childish N00b]

What?? Why should I have to type out arcane commands just to get basic functionality??

If the answer to everything on Windows continues to start with "Just drop to a terminal...", it will /never/ be ready for the desktop!

Re:*shrug*

[arotenbe]

No reason to fix what isn't broke.

What the hell are you doing on Slashdot?

"Most secure"

[Legion_SB]

Between January 2007 and June 2008, less than half of IE users - 47.6 percent - were running the most secure browser version during the same time period.

That many people still run IE 2.0?

Re:Lynx?

[Hucko]

Development cycles are too extended to be used in any annual statistics. Perhaps you can petition to have them included in centennial statistics?

Re:Understandable

[Hal_Porter]

Frankly, I'm sorry I upgraded to Firefox 3. Had problems with my google homepage and with YouTube since. Good thing there's IE Tab.

Somewhere deep in hell a demon just snorted battery acid and gasoline on the keyboard and then Alt Tabbed back to Visual Studio, project title IE8.

Re:Trust

[daremonai]

... when running a Windows box, security isn't that big of a deal. I later wiped the HD and installed Ubuntu.

And there isn't any connection between those two statements. Trust me!

Re:Trust

[Just Some Guy]

Yes, but I'm sure that a lot of them prefer IE 6 to IE 7.

On behalf of webmasters everywhere: those people should be taken out and shot.

Re:Understandable

[tobiasly]

Windows Updates are so damn obnoxious that I always consider turning it off and doing my updates manually.

C'mon, what's so obnoxious about that little shield asking you every 5 minutes, "You need to reboot your PC because I just updated your web browser and a few other nonessential apps. You wanna reboot now? How about now? Huh? Can I reboot now? OK, if you don't reboot now, then the next time I ask I'll pop up the OK button right under where you were about to click and you'll lose all your work anyway..."