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Microsoft Considered Renaming Internet Explorer To Escape Its Reputation

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft's Internet Explorer engineering team told a Reddit gathering that discussions about a name change have taken place and could happen again. From the article: "Microsoft has had "passionate" discussions about renaming Internet Explorer to distance the browser from its tarnished image, according to answers from members of the developer team given in a reddit Ask Me Anything session today. In spite of significant investment in the browser—with the result that Internet Explorer 11 is really quite good—many still regard the browser with contempt, soured on it by the lengthy period of neglect that came after the release of the once-dominant version 6. Microsoft has been working to court developers and get them to give the browser a second look, but the company still faces an uphill challenge."

15 of 426 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Call it Web? by binarylarry · · Score: 5, Funny

    They can't name it after Steve Ballmer either, Chrome is already taken by google.

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  2. All white meat by anmre · · Score: 5, Funny

    McDonald's is happy to introduce the all-white-meat chicken McNugget!

    Wait ... what the fuck was in it before?

    1. Re:All white meat by dcollins117 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Wait ... what the fuck was in it before?

      Only the finest, !00% natural, meat-bearing animals.

    2. Re:All white meat by Known+Nutter · · Score: 3, Funny

      You must be fun at parties...

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      Beware of the Leopard.
  3. Change "Microsoft" too? by nukenerd · · Score: 2, Funny

    While they are at it, why don't they change "Microsoft" and "Windows" too. They have got terrible reputations.

    1. Re:Change "Microsoft" too? by Brandano · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yup, the next step is renaming the Windows brand. And to keep the current theme of something that is fragile, and allows easy access to people with bad intentions, they could just call it Microsoft Backdoors, I guess.

  4. Totally misread the title by e065c8515d206cb0e190 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft Considered Renaming Internet Explorer To Netscape Its Reputation

  5. Re: Call it Web? by LordKronos · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft Chair - makes the internet so fast, it flies.

  6. Re:American car companies... by paiute · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft Edsel

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  7. Re:question: does IE support adblock and noscript? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    A large part of the web surfing public is too dumb to even think about, let alone understand, why basic proactive security features are necessary, and are content to take their system in to Best Buy once every couple of months to "get the viruses cleaned off" because they don't know any better.

    Mozilla/Google/MSoft would rather people not use security-enhancing tools because their business model (setting aside Moz) to a large extent rely on the collection and sale of user information, which any good security extension blocks by default. Keep in mind "most" people only use really their computer for email, work or school, social media bullshit, and porn/entertainment. That covers 90+% of the web surfing public. And the circle continues.

    After the nth time I wiped my parent's PC I ended up just installing Chrome with the requisite extensions, setting the shortcut as IE's icon, and telling them their "Internet Explorer got upgraded". Haven't had to clean it off since.

  8. Re:American car companies... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Audi, BMW, Porche, Volkswagen, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Mitssubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota weren't sitting on their thumbs in the 15 years it took GM, Ford, and Chevrolet to get their cars up to snuff.

    Glad to hear Ford wasn't sitting on its thumbs while it improved its cars.

  9. Re:Naming contest entries by goombah99 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I nominate the name (acronym): UFIA or UFIA explorer

    How about "Webbie" who would guide you like clippie ("It looks like you are searching for tentacle porn, today")?

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    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  10. Re: Call it Web? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Microsoft Chair - makes the internet so fast, it flies.

    How about "Stool" instead.

  11. Re: Call it Web? by TWX · · Score: 4, Funny

    How about "Stool" instead.

    No, you see, they're trying to change how we perceive it, not reinforce the current perception...

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    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  12. Re:American car companies... by zlogic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Audi, BMW, Porche, Volkswagen, Honda, Ford, Mazda, Mitssubishi, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota weren't sitting on their thumbs in the 15 years it took GM, Ford, and Chevrolet to get their cars up to snuff.

    I agree, every time someone tries to sell me a Ford, I always tell them it's horrible and I'd prefer Ford instead.