Why Upgrade Your Browser?
By: Diana
Date: May 05, 2008
Category: browsers, technology
In 2002, approximately 95% of web users surfed the Internet with Microsoft's Internet Explorer 6 (IE 6). This was the height, and the end, of the Microsoft vs Netscape browser wars. Netscape no longer exists.
But in recent years, IE has been slowly losing market share, especially since Mozilla Firefox became a contender (though IE's use in Asia remains high). There are many reasons for the decline, but the most relevant is that IE 6, unlike the other modern browsers, requires designers and developers to apply many tweaks, hacks, and outright magic to end up with far less satisfying results for users. In other words, for both the user and the developer, IE 6 is frustrating and often antiquated. Until recently, we've had to "design down" to include IE 6 users. With far superior, free-to download browsers like Firefox, Opera and Safari (which is now available for Windows users) gaining popularity, IE is hardly the only game in town anymore.
In October of 2006, Microsoft released IE 7, which includes many necessary improvements. But it wasn't until October 2007 that Microsoft removed the restrictions that initially made the browser available *only* to users running Windows XP SP2 or higher. If you wanted to upgrade your browser, you had to upgrade your operating system, usually to Vista. This was good for Firefox, who began to attract the abandoned users and gain market share, which made developers happy too.
If you want to (or must because your work requires it) stay with a Microsoft browser upgrading to IE 7 is essential. Why? The web today -- the dynamic, interactive becoming-essential-to-daily-life experience called Web 2.0, requires it. I simply can not design or develop a web site that offers a rich user experience for IE 6. Problems with transparent PNGs, leaking memory, Ajax incompatibility, and design layout quirks abound. During my last web project I created two sites, a watered-down, less attractive and usable version for IE 6 users, and a version for everyone else. Within a year or two, I predict that many developers will no longer create sites that support legacy browsers such as IE 6.
Security issues also make upgrading essential. Firefox protects you from phishing (and therefore, identify theft) and spyware. Because the browser is constantly being tested, monitored, and upgraded, viruses are often stopped within days of release. After surfing, all your personal data, including browsing history, can be cleared with one click.
Less essential reasons, but still important from a satisfied-user perspective, are tabbed browsing, enhanced search features, customizable themes, a bazillion add-ons, in-browser spell checking, session restore, and live titles for bookmarks that are automatically updated.
Here is the CNET review of Firefox 2 with many good comparisons to IE 7. To download the latest versions, visit Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer 7, Safari, or Opera.
Happy surfing!