Firefox drawing fans away from Microsoft IE

[The Hunter]

Open-source browsers Mozilla and Firefox have won over a significant number of defectors from Microsoft's Internet Explorer in the past nine months, Web site metrics suggest.

The gains for Firefox, which was released in a version 1.0 preview on Tuesday, and for Mozilla are most noticeable at Web sites popular by geek-chic early adopters. For example, W3Schools.com, a Web development tutorial site found that Mozilla-based browsers were used by 18 percent of its visitors in September, up from 8 percent in January. Internet Explorer use dropped to 75 percent from 84 percent in the same period.

Among CNET News.com readers, site visitors with open-source browsers jumped to 18 percent for the first two weeks of September, up from 8 percent in January

Full article here:http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5368302.html

[GiR]

Im sure happy with the way Firefox runs,... my only complaint? AOL owns it.

[The Hunter]

it took me a long time to be convinced to try it as I always walk around something new poking at it with a pointy stick before trying it. I simply have to say that Im very pleased with it.

[DwarfBaby]

Tried it at 0.7. and hated it. However, 1.0 is a much different bird. Downloaded it this morning and unless some glaring bug surfaces this will likely be my new browser.

[collideous]

Firefox has been my default browser for a long time now. Web standards compliance, extensions, themes just give it the edge. And who needs a feed reader now that Firefox comes with Live Bookmarks?

[dbcalo]

Im sure happy with the way Firefox runs,... my only complaint? AOL owns it.

the mozilla foundation is a non-profit corporation. aol may fund it but they don't own it. it's an open-source project. "America Online Pledges $2 Million to Help Launch Independent Non-Profit", http://www.mozilla.org/press/mozilla-foundation.html

[FrozenShadow23]

There's different ways of saying you own something. When you donate 2Mil, you get some say in how shit goes down usually. I'm not saying that this has to be the case here, but it's possible

Dispite who does or does not own it, I love the program, I just hope it doesn't become so popular that more exploits are made to target it.

[davec8]

Glad to hear Firefox is finally starting to take off and gain some popularity. I've been using it since Firebird 0.7. It had some flaws but has made big improvements since then. The occasional times I use IE now I start cursing at it very quickly. It amazes me how IE seemed good before I knew any better but now I hate it. I've tried to convert some of my friends from IE. They keep saying ya, ya and never bother. Oh well, their loss I guess.

I just hope it doesn't become so popular that more exploits are made to target it.
I agree. I don't want to be having to having to download security patches or new versions constantly like IE. That would suck. Since I started using it I think there's only been 2 or 3 major security flaws found and they were fixed in a day or 2 each time, not the months it takes MS to patch IE. Keep up the great work Mozilla :gj

[wingnut2600]

Im sure happy with the way Firefox runs,... my only complaint? AOL owns it.

Mozilla is now a separate entity from AOL... it is the Mozilla Foundation. Netscape is owned by AOL, and based on Mozilla tech, but not really owned by them. They do receive some funding from AOL, but do you consider Oil companies to own politicians even though they receive money from them? hmmmmm.....

[MushroomheadXIII]

Im using mozilla, firefox rules as hell, just some problems with some plugins eg : adblock. Still, i dont use internet explorer until i have to. Mozilla should fix the bug bthat u cant watch videos from yahoo in firefox/mozilla.

[WE_DELIVER]

started using firefox yesterday....like it alot....

[SutterKayn]

Only flaw with Firefox is the download manager. Sucks big time. Having to get a plugin to use other managers as the default is a pain, but aside from that minor issue it's the best browser out there.

Opera is a close second.

[FrozenShadow23]

Ya, the manager really does suck big time.

[WRFan]

dream on, baby. IE continues to dominate the market at 94%. people using alternative browsers are nuts

[Mels_Smileys45]

I thought everyone used Firefox! I must be nuts becuase IE is poop.

[mountain_rage]

i don't know how anyone stuck to internet explorer though all those years of pop ups. As soon as I sarted getting popups I changed browsers. First I went with opera then I changed to firefox. The only time I use Internet explorer is when a website doesnt function right in firefox but its quite rare. IE sucks, I wish microsoft would die already.