I see little point in the "What browser do you use?" topic except to discuss the pros and cons of different browsers.

It's obvious that most people will use Internet Explorer because almost all computers that are bought for people or sold to them are pre-loaded with Some version of Windows, in which the only browser is Microsoft's own, Internet Explorer. And since a big proportion of first-time computers users are not so computer savvy and do not become so because they do not really need to, they will use what they are given.

In the internet Cafe I am typing from, a few of the (Windows 2000/XP) computers have Mozilla Firefox installed on them, most likely by Firefox enthusiasts, and I see that almost all of the people who use the computers use Internet Explorer, because they will stick to what they know.

Now I, I was lucky enough to have friends that use Firefox and being the wannabe non-conformist that I am, I rejected IE and installed Firefox, and since then have always thought of IE as a product of "The Man". I am also close to ditching Windows all together, and going with Linux... But anyway, I digress.

It has recently come to my attention that computer company Dell will be giving the option of having either Linux or Windows Vista pre-installed on the computer systems it sells, giving Mozilla Firefox and other good browsers a chance.

I hope this has been fairly interesting for someone, and I strongly encourage people to download and try Mozilla Firefox, a great (free!) browser. Get Firefox.

This post has been edited by keri-j: May 10 2007, 04:43 PM

Honestly You have it totally correct, the reason IE is so popular is because "most" pc's come with Windows Installed which naturally comes with IE. People who about firefox but dont want to mess around with there computer's.

I think if Dell do give the option of either Linux or windows, IE will still be ahead of the other's because people do not know what Linux is, Everyone know's what windows is.

I Also Highly Advise downloading Firefox

Came prepacked with most PCs, would be one major reason why IE is so popular. Although the rise of 'Netscape Mk 2' (aka Firefox) is one thing. Interestingly enough when the internet actually went commercial in the mid 90s, Netscape started as the leading Internet Browser before Internet Explorer eventually took over for numerous reasons.

But as for operating systems, its interesting if Dell does go with the options of either packaging PCs with either Windows Vista or Linux.. but a computer 'n00b' would have no idea what linux is.

I like to use IE, and since I'm the only one who seems to prefer it over FireFox (and who's posted ) I'll give my view on it:

Pros:
*I seem to like it more than firefox because it just seems less "crowded". I've tried FF and even Opera, but they seemed to have too many toolbars.
* The obvious one, because it's what was installed Less messing about
* The font size. I don't know why, but it's probably coz I've used it so much and I'm used to it now, but the "Smaller" font is what I prefer, and in FF/Opera, I couldn't get the font size the same, and it bugged me
* And, also slightly said above, because it's what I've used for ages, so I'm used to it.

Cons:
* It's security/pop-up blocking is quiet poop, but you can always get firewalls/anti-viri/pop-up blockers, but it is more hassle.
* "It's noobish". Now, I'm not saying this, but alot of people will "burn" you because, since you use IE, you must be a noob/microsoft fan boy (Off topic: Anyone who feels that way...Do you have to be an Apple fan-boy if you own an Ipod? Or maybe you just like it coz it's a good MP3 player? Idiots ). So if your "image" is important to you, then it'd be a bad thing to use IE

That's how I feel anyways

the simple fact is, most people don't know any better so they just make do with what they have.

if some people consider firefox as the "alternative" browser, i consider it as my "principal" browser. IE comes third to me (Opera being the second ).

Most paople dont know other browsers exist. That would be it.

Most people would be at least computer literate to know that there are at least other alternatives.. eg Mac Users, and even newbs who has a friend or a few that is computer literate would at least introduce them to their preferred browser (which in many cases would be firefox if not IE).

Okay, you all seem to think IE is so popular, but at least among the demographic that visits my site, there are nearly as many people use firefox as people who use IE, so Firefox is definately becoming more popular and IE less so... Internet Explorer isn't as popular as it used to be. More people are using firefox now because it's simply better. People still use firefox because it comes with their computers, but people are getting smarter.

Right. Even in Vista i don't use the new IE, i use Firefox. I personally think it IS better, maybe because of it's ease and design.