Slashdot Mirror
Is IE Usage Share Collapsing?
je ne sais quoi writes "Net Applications normally releases its statistics for browser and operating system usage share on the first of every month. This month, however, the data has not shown up — only a cryptic message stating they are reviewing the data for inexplicable statistical variations and that it will be available soon. Larry Dignan at ZDNet has a blog post that might explain what is happening: Statcounter has released some data that shows a precipitous drop in IE browser use in North America, to the benefit of Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. At the end of May, StatCounter shows IE usage share (for versions 6, 7, and 8 combined) at around 64%; at the beginning of June it is now about 56% — an astounding 8% drop in one month. We should keep in mind the difficulties in estimating browser usage share: this could very well be a change in how browsers report themselves, or some other statistical anomaly. So it will probably be healthy to remain skeptical until trend this is confirmed by other organizations. Have any of you seen drops in IE usage share for Web-sites you administer?"
I agree, the main reason I don't use Chrome is because of all the plugins I use with Firefox. Also I've notice more Macs in my server logs over the past few years. And definitely more people using Firefox. I've noticed a lot more Wii's and PS3's in the logs as well. Not sure if I'm just noticing it more though.
Does your web site not work on Safari or are you reading your statistics wrong?
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What I noticed is a dramatic shift in the listening to your IT guy lately.
People actually listen now instead of blowing me off and going right back to their porn surfing with IE.
The bad economy makes people actually listen when the IT guy says "I'll be back in 30 days to collect another $250.00 if you dont change your internet habits."
I love a bad economy, it forces people to be less stupid.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I run a tech-related site, so Firefox does have an above average share but no major changes in share month to month:
Firefox:
June 6, 2009 - July 6, 2009 63.55%
May 6, 2009 - June 5, 2009 63.77%
Internet Explorer
June 6, 2009 - July 6, 2009 20.83%
May 6, 2009 - June 5, 2009 21.68%
Opera
June 6, 2009 - July 6, 2009 5.86%
May 6, 2009 - June 5, 2009 6.48%
Chrome
June 6, 2009 - July 6, 2009 5.62%
May 6, 2009 - June 5, 2009 5.07%
Safari
June 6, 2009 - July 6, 2009 3.44%
May 6, 2009 - June 5, 2009 2.33%
The perception of myself (and finally! lately!) my non-technical friends...
is that using IE
a) has a ton of obnoxious ads- some are loud- some take over the screen.
b) is like walking around with a huge "kick me" sign on.
c) is frustrating because of the lack of many useful plugins (where would I get all these glorious HD Videos-- FINALLY "Blues Travellor" without firefox).
d) is frustrating because "they" own your browser-- not you. It's behavior serves "them", not you.
But mainly the virus/kick me thing.
After my bud clicked on a link (just a frikkin link!) on the yahoo message boards, he had to reinstall his entire computer!?!?!
With Firefox, Flashblock and Noscript- you are pretty darn safe.
Chrome got a lot of press- and to be honest, I've been looking at Safari myself. (once you break yourself of IE, you ask-- okay, but is there something else EVEN better than this?)
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
Actually, summertime is the worst time for Firefox usage. Firefox is a much larger percentage of European usage than U.S. usage and so when Europe goes on summer vacation for a few months, Firefox's global share falls measurably.
What I really would like to see is the browser share of the Slashdot logs.
We still use IE6 where I work. We have too much stuff hard wired to it. Yet we need another browser - one that is up to date and compatible - in order to use a lot of sites and to test new externally facing applications. So we have Firefox installed everywhere too. We can install and run Firefox without disturbing our corporate standard. We can't do that if we upgrade IE.
Some are also running Safari 4 on Windows and Mac OS/X and there are a few other odds and ends around as well, but the bottom line is that if your company must continue to use IE6 for its internal apps, then they pretty much have to support a non-IE browser in order to effectively use today's internet.
Very often, people confuse simple with simplistic. The nuance is lost on most. - Clement Mok
There's an inexhaustible supply of work thinking for people who can't or won't. (Sort of like there will always be work for sysadmins, because even here in the future nothing works.) The problem is that the work itself resembles being paid lots of money to dredge through sewage by hand.
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It wouldn't have to be just developing countries. In South Korea, it's pretty much impossible to use anything but a PC with Internet Explorer, since they have some kind of national identity system that only works as an ActiveX plugin in IE.