Firefox Market Share: On the Rise Again?

I've been using Firefox for about 2 years. I do not use IE anymore at all. Firefox is my favorite and most-used application of all time.

It is unfortunate that sites are still built around IE, and that I have to use it to make those sites work correctly. However, it's nice to see that more and more people seem to be jumping on the 'standards' bandwagon and things are working better.

And I just have to point out how funny (as well as stupid) I think it is that IE7 now requires users to activate ActiveX controls before using them. It's just plain annoying. I guess Microsoft could pay up Eolas and get it back how it was.. or everyone could switch to Firefox. Hmmm..

I usually use IE on other peoples computers to download FireFox and thats it.

I actually and literally resent it when I am forced to use IE by a web page. With time vendors and content providers will realize that this is likely the case for more than a few of their target audience.

I have actually decided not to shop at certain online stores because they don't work without IE. There's no excuse not to conform to standards.

i use both. most of the time FireFox. but i encountred sites that solely requires IE. i'm not sure if it's my Firefox settings or else, but sometimes my IE can be faster. maybe it's the cache handling? I'm not very sure.

I have always used Netscape as my browser but the change to Firefox was seamless and I won't go back. I still use Netscape for my e-mail but will soon try the Monzilla version.

I used FF for awhile, then Opera was recommended to me. Now I use Opera primarily, but there are many sites that look/act weird with it. So I still use FF for stuff (mainly just Yahoo! mail beta), and still have to use IE for several sites (after I have trouble in Opera and FF, I finally give up and use IE). How ridiculous to have three browsers installed and in use on one machine!

I've always used firefox as ive found IE is more prone to spyware and crashing in comparison to firefox

I use Firefox for all of my web browsing needs. I have IE Tab so that if a site needs to be opened in IE, I don't actually have to open IE.

It is my opinion after thinking about it, that the period of equilibrium and new surge should have been expected.

What I think you're seeing is this: The initial surge was by people who were either technically oriented or willing to try new things.

These people have probably reached their saturation point. If you accept the low end at 10%, then this means that 1 in 10 people are using FF.

The practical result is in an office of 50 people, 5 people are using FF. In a residential setting, tech types are often the source of tech support for their extended families.

In each setting, you have users who are not having problems related to web surfing and other users who are having problems. After seeing their happy colleagues / family members, unhappy users are probably starting to envy their peers good fortune.

So what I think you're seeing is enough saturation of early users in the general population of users such that the general population can see actual results and do actual comparisons.

Combine this with MS's ongoing security issues with IE. The situation would probably be different if IE were actually percieved to be improving. But the reality is that, people continue to have problems.

Continuous pain in the face of other's happiness is a great motivator.

I've forgotten how long ago i began using firefox..definitely more than a year...it was a spur of the moment thing...i was tired of cleaning up spam so i opted to get a browser that was immune to it...haven't had any spam since...i still use IE but only for two websites that i check infrequently that seem to require it...one of them is MS Update...go figure...i decided to give Opera a try a few months ago and I'm totally impressed with it...it's probably the best of the three featurewise but it's also the most technical...not a problem for me...actually my home page in Opera is PC World...i mainly use it there because the browser can be set to refresh any page as often as you need; especially useful for forum pages like this one...on any given day i'll have both opera and firefox open at the same time...i like the idea of being having multiple browsers..it allows me to have the option of using the other when a security flaw is found in one of them...then i can just use the uncompromised one while waiting the problem to be patched thereby still being able to surf without risk...i'll eventually install IE7 when it's finally fully released, but it's not going to get any more use than my current version...i hope web designers take notice and ensure support for alternate browsers...i've stopped opening IE when a rare site doesn't work with Firefox; now i just move on to an alternative site that does...ALL my family and friends now use Firefox...it's the tabbed browsing..can't do without it once you've started using it...

Firefox is way better than IE, and safer. I will never switch back to IE.

I use Firefox and Mozilla with great success. I only use IE at work because they refuse to recode some Web-based functions to work properly with Firefox even though Firefox is now offered to us. :P

I use both macs and windows computer so on my mac I use safari which is much nicer than firefox too me. when i am on windows on my family computer or at school, I use firefox and I have actually stopped using website that only run on IE (like yahoo music). It runs a lot more smoothly than firefox.

As far as safari goes, one of the reasons I stopped using firefox on my mac is compared to safari, firefox is way too cluttered. Plus somethings on the mac for firefox dont run smoothly (like scrolling with the keyboard) and safari opens pdf in the browser (doesnt have to load anything like acrobat).

I've been using Firefox for about a year, together with the Noia Theme. Never had a problem with it and the updates are simple and idiot proof.

I'm just too nervous to use IE and those confusing IE patch updates that need more patches to fix patches scares me further away from IE.

I've been using Firefox since it was Firebird. But the simple fact is some websites (like Microsnot's) won't let you do things unless you use IE. Yes, I know Firefox is catching up in the world of bugs, and problems requiring patches, but at least they put the patches out in a timely fashion. For the macs at work,

I put Firefox on for people if they find that Safari can't handle a website they need to get to. Apple & Microsoft abandoned the IE for mac, so I have been slowly weening folks off those browsers here at work.

I user Firefox as my primary browser. I have IE Tab for those sites that require IE however I still use IE for certain sites that can't even run in IE Tab. I don't really mind anymore I just locked Firefox down to whitelists only and I use IE for sites that I trust but don't want to go through the hassle of whitelisting because I'll only visit them once or twice.

I began the switch from IE to Firefox a couple of years ago and now use Firefox exclusivly. One thing I noticed about the 2 browers is that it would take IE anywhere from about 45-60 seconds to load, whereas Firefox took about 5. That coupled with all the extra functionality, like tabbed browings, that Firefox offers makes it unlikely that I would go back to IE unless Microsoft can out with a fantastic browers and the Mozilla organization sat back and became complacent like Microsoft did with IE6 once they crushed Netscape.

Any one else remember Phoenix? That was the early incarnation of Firebird. Some of us have been with 'em thru every rebirth.

If a site pops up incompatible with FireFox -- stuff 'em. It isn't even worth while to gripe at them.

Firefox Is the best browser you could do so many things with firefox.

I have no reason to use IE. Whether on a Mac or a pc, I use FireFox.

The only time my IE browser is ever used is when adware opens up an IE browser against my will. This never happens with firefox.

I used to have the 3 browsers (FF, Opera & IE) installed on my computer. I like the Opera best and FF second but now I only have FF & IE since a lot of websites work with FF and not with Opera.

Sometimes I still have to use IE. I use the "IE View" extension to open a page in IE from FF.

Firefox is far better and safer than IE. Microsoft may come with IE7, but be rest assured that it will be followed with numerous patches. Stuff the sites that need you to use IE exclusively!!

For those of you still using Internet Explorer just for Windows Updates, STOP. Just install the IETabs extension in Firefox and you can install your Windows Updates that way. Works great for me.

Opera 9 is in beta. It is really good.

My favourite is Opera. Opera has so many great features, such as fit-to-window, which is very useful on my laptop. I am now using the Opera 9 beta and it is a great!

You must admit that the users of PCMag's site are not representative of the population as a whole. These are individual enthusiasts, professionals, hobbyists, etc. The average user may never even look at a computer magazine or computer mag web site. Certainly commercial and industrial users are very rarely even allowed to use anything but IE, and, Mr McCracken, you watch, when IE7 is finally ready, Microsoft will have to blast those users out of IE 6.

Its 2 years since i've been using Firefox. Of late, IE seems so outdated and pure Junk.

Of course we remember Firebird. Somewhere on my home machine is a buried old folder where Phoenix 0.3 still lives. Hmm I might fire it up tonight for old time's sake.

--MG!

I've been using this engine since the Mozilla suite first came out (before it was hip to do so). I haven't returned to IE since. Gates doesn't care about his browser anymore (LMAO, if he ever did!) or his crappy E-mail program that is forced upon you in any recent IE d/l.

I'll do Paul (6-13) one better. I was sold on Firefox sometime back when I discovered that PC World site took 3 minutes plus to load (dial-up) with IE 6 and Firefox did the job in 12 seconds! And I haven't had a pop-up ad since - except for PC World subscription ad now and then (take a hint guys).

Ever since I tried Mozilla a few years back I have never looked back at IE. It has simply become too old and too insecure and didn't have all the nice features and speed that Firefox brought later on. I've checked out IE7 beta but it looks just like a very poor copy of Firefox. And that's compared with Firefox 1.5. Version 2.0 will soon come out and it is even better. Firefox is the best browser to use and it looks like it will be for a long time in the future.

I've been using FF for the last year and I too have never looked back. Work has M$ only, but thankfully we have FF Portable and I use that from my USB key!
Like others have mentioned in this thread it annoys me when I come across websites that don't render properly due to being IE only compatible. And unfortunately there isn't a Linux version of IE Tab.

On my main machine pcworld.com looks much better in Firefox than in Opera. I use notebook with 1400x1050, 15" display. I set minimal font size to 16 or more, otherwise the text is too small. In Opera, the lines of text in pcworld.com articles overlap. There is no such problem in Firefox.

Sadly, this is a very common problem. Fortunately, there are various ways to deal with it (disabling style sheets etc.). It's amazing to me that so many webpages still specify sizes in pixels. I don't know if developers are clueless or just lazy.

I moved from Dos to Linux in 1993.. I used to browse the web via lynx, then Netscape, after which I took up Phoenix, Firebird, Firefox...

Only places I have had to use IE have been in schools, work (although I often quickly replaced it with Firefox), the public library and some stupid net cafés that still insist on using bug-ridden software like Windows.

My favorite Browsers in order are Firefox, Konquer, Lynx, Opera.
If you've never browsed the web in all Text with Lynx you haven't experienced the web yet. IE is not an option from me because I use Linux, but if I did use Windows I wouldn't have a problem using IE for sites that needed it.

Why don't some of the FF users use the User Agent Switcher to tell the website that the browser is IE and not FF. I know that it is available for the linux FF, but I don't know about windows. Don't use windows.

I think almost anyone who spends a lot of time on the computer and keeps up with the latest technology will use Firefox. I have used it for about one year and I cant see how I used IE. I switched between IE and Firefox when I first started using them, but firefox's looks, security, and ability of being customized made me hate IE. The reason firefox may never become as popular as IE is probably because many users that aren't that knowledgeable of software will always use IE because that is what comes on the computer. If computer manufacturers would add firefox to the programs preinstalled, it would easily become more popular than IE.

I love Firefox and got my brother to use it. He won't go back to IE either. Now if i can get my mom to use Firefox. I know she will love it compared to IE.

I have not used any browser but Firefox for nearly two years. I wouldn't use anything else. I also recommend it to any of my friends and computer customers.

I switched from MS to Linux about a year ago and since I was already using Firefoxx with Windows, the transition was much less complicated.

IE isn't an option for me since I run Linux on my home and work computers. I generally run either Opera or Firefox, though lightweights like Galeon and Epiphany also serve useful purposes. Of course there are still the text-only browsers like Links and Lynx that have their places as well.

Hey I would have to agree with most of the posts here, that FF is way better than IE 6...but in the case of 7, it's actually decent, one in the computer world always has to keep an open mind, they have made some big steps in IE 7 it should be interesting to see what happens when it leaves beta, I've tried it and I like it infinately better than 6.0, I think people who hate 6.0 should at least try the features of the new 7 before flushing it down the drain as it were

Firefox is the only browser I will ever use. Much better and more features than IE. I switched and will never look back.

Use 1.07, the newer 1.5 is a resource hog, and will gobble up your memory until it crashes. They need to fix this, its been like this since it came out.

PC World readers are more likely to try new technology products than others in the world. Most just use what comes with their computers. So, one should expect the % of Firefox users to be higher among PC World visitors than the true Internet-wide average.

Has anyome used Netscpae 8.1? Personally this is the best browser for 3 main reasons:
1. It combines Firefox and IE engines under the hood. I used Firefox+IETabs and Netscape does a much better job at rendering IE specific pages.
2. The built in functionality to add as many toolbars and the RSS feeds (scrolling or Ticking) in Netscape are way better than the "live Bookmarks" in Firefox or any other extension that exists for Firefox
3. And this is why I LOVE and use Netscape...You can configure Netscape to remember multiple logins for a single website (very useful), you can also set it to auto login if you want to!! awesome feature

I am very comfortable with FF, and I haven't used IE in so long (except at work, and then only half the time) that it almost feels weird using it.
I know there are a lot of high hopes for IE7, and I plan to give it a truly fair shot, but Microsoft simply has too much track record for problems to really win back large numbers of FF users. I think IE7 might slow FF's roll a little, but I really don't see it regaining its former domination, and that domination may decrease more over time, I think.
I have so far had no problems at all using IETabs in FF to render some pages (even on MS's web site), but I'll tell you, web developers don't have long to coast on refusing to honor FF, and if they don't get on board they might find themselves behind the curve in a few years.

I've been using Netscape since the olden days when I gave up BBSing with Procomm, 'bout the time of the Great Dinosaur Extinction. The last few versions, up to 8.x, have been bulletproof (aside from deleting all the marketing crap) and NS has always been vastly superior to IE. I tried FF and Opera and also liked them but FF had a nasty tendency to freeze on downloads and Opera crashed too often.

Since I got the new AMD64 with 2 gigs of ram though, FF has been flawless. I made the final swap over (to FF and Thunderbird as defaults) about 4 months ago and haven't had problem one with 'em so far. I'm still running NS 7.2 on the older machines and the laptop.
These days the only time I ever see IE is when some other program calls it or when I have to access my commercial bank account (because the dope who programmed that locked it to IE so I have a stripped down everything-disabled version for that one task.) Other than that I don't ever let it run and any site that demands it goes in the bit bucket toot sweet. Don't see it, don't miss it, don't care and take that Mr. Bill.

It'll be interesting to see if there's another uptick in alternative browsers come '07 when people realize how much they are going to have to spend for Vista and the horsepower to run it. Waddaya bet that about a gazillion people decide to pass and stick with XP...and then go looking for ways to make it better?

I Know Everyone Talks About Firefox, Opera And IE... But What About Maxthon? Or Formerly... MyIE2??? I Use Maxthon Because It's What Internet Explorer Should've Been... Plus It's Compatible With The Microsoft Update Sites... Plus It Has An Impressive Ad Blocker And Other Features That Firefox Doesn't Have...

I've used Firefox for a 'long' while, but I'm still annoyed by the number of sites that don't work properly with it and the number of times I'm thus motivated to go back to IE to get the full functionality of a site. . . . Am I alone? . . .

LOVE FIREFOX. HATE IE.

BTW, about the ad blocker, try Adblock Plus and the Filterset-G updater. The updater auto-updates the adblock filters so they filter stupid bandwith-consuming ads and not other content.

I'm ad free and happy

I keep reading about people who keep getting spyware installed from using IE. How? This is a load of bs. Sure, there have been some flaws in IE that has possibly allowed spyware to install automatically. But, the truth is that 99% of people click "OK/Yes/Next" on EVERYTHING without reading what it is, and THAT is how they get spyware.

While both major browsers now have an information bar to try and combat this sort of thing, idiot users really bring this on themselves. Somehow the noob default behaviour to a dialog needs to be changed from "Yes/OK/Next", to "No/Cancel", which I guess is also the idea behind UAC. I think getting people to read things is a bit beyond achievable.

Maxthon?
I use Maxthon myself, a lot in fact. But it's basically a "face" over IE insides, though it does offer a few features IE should have had. I use Avant Browser, which is also an IE cover, for a bout the same reason. Both are pretty good too.
I still don't like the time it takes for FF (or anything using the GECKO engine) to load, by the way.

While i agree that a majority of persons today are getting spyware mostly by clicking on banners or by installing questionable software, joel should note that the very first spyware were actually cookies that recorded surfing habits...and there were spyware that exploited your activeX settings...i guess you've never heard of 'drive-by downloading'...even the most knowledgable of us fell victim to that type of installation because you just had to open the page and the floodgates were open...drive-by installation doesn't work with alternative browsers, which was why they caught on in the first place...right now IE6 is the least innovative browser out there...IE7 will catch up but won't raise the bar...it will be interesting to see how MS will try to get users to install the finished IE7..will they use automatic updates and place IE7 as a critical update?..unlikely...the average user isn't going to look for it when it's released though; anyone really concerned about the safety of using IE6 would have switched already...are they going to rely on Vista sales to promote it?...we'll soon see...

I use FF because of it's better compatability. But I don't like it. First, it is so stupid with saved logins. I like Opera's Password Manager. It is SOOO nice. FF is light years behind. IE is better than FF in that regard.

Also, the ability to save sessions is awesome. Unfortunately, Opera has problems savings multiple sets (or perhaps we could blame the user). I just wish web designers would get off their lazy duffs and code to spec. Then we could use any brower we wanted without having to worry about compatability issues.

Opera 9 will support css3. That should fix most of the compatability issues with sites like PCWorld.

Albatrou-

I can not run Netscape 8.1. I used Netscape 8.x from the beta on up through 8.0.4. It was great for all of the reasons you stated. On two computers I had all of the same problems: freezing on launch; freezing when running (crash). I was a big on Netscape.

I moved to Seamonkey, which with IETab, gets you almost all of what Netscape offered, in a much smaller footprint and a much faster action.

Firefox only lacks one feature that I need, and they just won't add it.

But, now I feel an affinity for Seamonkey. It is my default.

It seems to me most people here are Firefox advocates and I don't blame them for taking such a stance. I too have Firefox and I just recently dowloaded IE 7 beta and it looks like a poor imitation of Firefox. IE 7 beta has included tabbed browsing and an anti-phising monitor as part of the "beefed-up" security measures. But to be honest...there isnt anything to great to write home about Microsoft's new product...What else is new?...That being said I will probably purchase Windows Vista Ultimate :)

I first started using Firefox just over two years ago when a friend installed it on my computer and said," try this;I think you'll like it!".Okay I liked it a lot.I just downloaded IE 7 beta and was trying it out;but I couldn't hang with it;I closed it and switched back to FF to finish my business.I'll keep n open mind but I will use what works best,I'll try the new Netscape. Netscape was my favorite a few years ago

IE is only good usually for Windows Update. I have it blocked with ZoneAlarm otherwise. LOL. Firefox is so much better and so customizable.

Microsoft sucks. They don't innovate and they are paying the price. And when they do innovate, their innovations suck and are already behind. Has anybody tried IE7 beta? It is a memory hog big time. I stongly discourage anybody from installing IE7 or WMP 11 for that matter. I think Microsoft is trying to upgrade the computer industry by requiring more memory in their products but performance sucks when compared to previous versions or firefox.

I user Firefox as my primary browser. I have IE Tab for those sites that require IE
I began the switch from IE to Firefox a while back and now use Firefox most of the times. One thing I noticed about the 2 browers is that it would take IE anywhere from about 45-60 seconds to load, whereas Firefox took about 5. That coupled with all the extra functionality, like tabbed browings, that Firefox offers makes it unlikely that I would go back to IE unless Microsoft can out with a fantastic browers and the Mozilla organization sat back and became complacent like Microsoft did with IE6 once they crushed Netscape.

I agree with MJ and Joe, the ease of use and the great features of the Fox are a real blessing. I've convinced family and friends to switch over. When IE7 finally comes out of Beta I'll upgrade so I can get the latest XP patches ( after I check with Uncle Woody to make sure there's no Defcon alert) Thanks for helping us techies for lo these many years.

You know, FireFox isn't all it's cracked up to be. Many of the vulnerabilities that have been shown in IE are still there in ForeFox and Mozilla. But it's common sense that when more people use one product than another, that product will be found to have more flaws since more people are doing the looking. Especially when many people looking for flaws in IE and just looking so they can say "This flaw exists in IE". There is also alot of functionality derived from ActiveX that isn't found elsewhere. Most of the sites that require ActiveX legitimately do so because part of their technology is built on it. Not maybe there is a different way to do it (different scripts...) but it may be easier in ActiveX. And of course people are going to get hit with security vulnerabilities. Most people are stupid and don't know any better. I use ActiveX and javascript and Java and I haven't had any problems with them. The real problem is that people don't want to learn how to make their PCs secure, they just want it to be done for them, and anyone who argues with that obviously hasn't spent any time dealing with End Users. So until End Users become smarter, true security will always elude them and they will have no one to blame but themselves.

I work with Mediacom Cable as a service technician. I have installed a lot of modems and browsers. I install Firefox on almost anyone’s computer I come across. I tell them that is the recommended browser by our company now for stability and security reasons; which is not my companies policy. And then I remove all I.E. links of off the desk top. Takes about 3 minutes for the whole process on a cable modem.

The average person does not know the difference between, yahoo, google, and I.E.. I am serious that forty something segment does not know the difference between a website and a web browser. They are just using what came with there computer. I.E. accounts for a small percentage of service calls but it is noticeable. I have never been on a service call for Firefox. I wish all ISPs required the use of firefox or netscape.

P.S.
In my experience I.E. is very good for getting pop ups until the computer crashes.

I doubt I will return to IE anytime soon - not because I ever found it to be a bad browser, but it was always behind the trends and Opera or Firefox can always offer something extra.

Firefox is a memory hog though and I have thought about ditching it for a while - I was using Flock for a while, but the lack of extension support made me switch right back to Firefox - I might one day use Opera but I always found it to be the clunky browser that does almost anything - half of which I'll never need.

Maybe it's an effect of the marketing plan by google for firefox.

One thing I've noticed lately is that Firefox is now lagging behind Opera, Safari, and Konqueror in terms of standards-compliance. Opera 9, Safari's new Webkit (will be released in a future Safari version), and Konqueror all did perfectly on the Acid2 test, arguably the most difficult CSS test on the web. Firefox did much better than Internet Explorer 7, but still made some mistakes. What that means is that every browser comes pretty close to rendering a web page identically except Internet Explorer, but Firefox is being surpassed by the other major browsers out there (besides IE). I used to be a programmer for Mozilla Suite and now I'm a Firefox user and develop cross-browser dynamic web content that interacts with Flash.

Only use IE if I have to and I haven't tried the IE FireFox extension. Wonderful thing about FireFox is the architecture that seems to allow any imaginable feature to be created and added
as an extension (i.e. IE)

My "tiny" web site with less then 13k hits in June statistics seems to mirror PCWorld to some degree..

In this order top four..

IE, FireFox, Safari and Unknown

June 83.3/9.4/2.5/2.6
July 69.9/23.9/2.3/2.1

Looks to me the world is shifting to FireFox