Oh Internet Explorer, how I loathe thee.
After years of assault from superior browsers, the aforementioned Explorer’s share of the browser usage pie has finally fallen below the 50% mark. Expect impromptu celebrations to break out everywhere in the world where web designers and developers can be found. Also expect massive overnight parties at two separate Mountain View, CA addresses – Mozilla’s and Google’s.
What’s surprising is not that Internet Explorer’s share has dropped below 50%, but that it actually took so long for it to happen. Despite the fact that far superior browsers: Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and even Apple’s Safari, have existed for years, IE still hung on. That just goes to show the extent of the damage caused by Microsoft’s sneaky, anti-competitive, install-our-crappy-browser-in-our-crappy-OS policy.
The constant decline in IE’s market share has been effected largely by Chrome. As this graph by ArsTechnica shows, IE’s share has continued to decline rapidly, even as Chrome has gained by leaps and bounds. Firefox, on the other hand, has remained largely static after losing market share to Chrome in 2010.
Even though Microsoft has pulled up its sagging pants somewhat with IE 9, it still remains a sub-par browser, especially when compared with Google’s ultra lithe offering.
And who are the people still using IE?
The same lot that keeps Yahoo afloat.
Also, I know it’s tantamount to blasphemy, but I’ll say that even Firefox might head the IE way unless it mends its ways and bears once more, it’s former ultra-light arms. Despite several aggressively promoted releases, Firefox has failed to garner any further market share, and I daresay that’s due to a faulty product, not a lack of marketing muscle.
Anyhow, today, geeks around the world: rejoice. Sauron has been toppled from its high perch.
