Browser Wars: Firefox Moves Toward 50%, Content Ranting

According to a report, Firefox gained 46.4% of the browser share, while different versions of IE dropped different amounts in February.

I don’t know about you, but I think the folks at Mozilla have a lot to be proud of. I think the concept of browser plugins is sheer genius.  While I prefer the speed of Opera, I use Firefox with a bunch of plugins for the majority of my browsing.  I think if Opera got going with plugins, I’d stay with it the majority of the time.

I do not use any version of IE unless there is no other way.  Several of my vendors at work require IE so I’m stuck using IE6 on the Windows side.  There is a program called IES4LINUX, which manages to do the unthinkable and install IE (5, 5.5, 6 - beta installs 7) under Linux (using WINE).  Again, only for emergencies.  The only relief here is that it can’t cripple the OS or install viruses.  I don’t know if it is still possible but I used to use the Firefox IE Tab plugin to run IE in a Firefox tab.  They claim the plugin is Windows-only.

This is how I use the browsers across OSes:

OPERA:

Lean, mean, and fast.  Cookies, javascript, and Flash disabled.

FIREFOX:

A bit leaky, but does the job well.  Cookies, javascript, and Flash default to off.

Plugins:

• Noscript: permits javascript only when I tell it to
• Extended Cookie Manager: permits cookies when I tell it to
• Adblock Plus: It’s extremely rare that I see ads anymore
• FEBE/CLEO: nightly backup of extensions plus packaging into one file
• Colorful Tabs: helps me see the tabs better
• Foxmarks: I finally gave in.  Now Firefox on 6 computers has the same bookmarks
• ScribeFire: blogging client for when Lockergnome goes kablooie
• Simple Mail: a simple mail client is very handy when forwarding information
• UnPlug: downloads media - a must for YouTube
• Download Statusbar: mini download monitor, very helpful
• Down Them All: very helpful and speedy download manager

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I did an awful lot of ranting today.  That’s fairly normal but today the topic wasn’t: browsers.  I had two audio conferences that threatened to turn into Webex or similar efforts.  I always suspect this is going to be a problem, based upon past experience.

THE IE SHUFFLE:

I am sooooo sick and tired of the IE Shuffle, where you simply can’t use any browser except IE.  What kind of stupidity is this?  We have a very expensive new payroll system at work; the kind the Fortune 500 use.  After spending over a year eradicating any trace of Internet Explorer from our desktops, this software requires it.

You people are Grade A Ninnies.  It’s 2009 - people use other browsers.  What do you mean your software won’t work in Firefox?  And while you’re at it, you need to keep on top of the IE changes so your software works in newer versions.  I now have to freeze versions because your software will implode if it sees an unrecognized browser.  It will create an effect like the one planned for the Large Hadron Collider.

But you’re not the only myopic software people by a longshot.  Many web pages are IE-only.  What’s the point of restricting the potential number of people viewing your page?

The Cisco collaboration site I visited today appeared to be IE-only.  Webex is supposed to be ok with Firefox. More than one browser is a fact of life.  You have only to view your own page statistics to discover this.  And guess what…. there is more than one operating system too, folks.  Wake up and drag yourself kicking and screaming into the nineties.

I know this is a constant refrain and that the site seems to operate on different laws of physics than the ones of which we’re aware, but the Dell site is a prime offender.  Regardless of the fact that there are days when no browser on any operating system will allow the correct navigation and operation of the Dell site, it seems that it only likes IE.  This mostly leaves out my OS (and even the Windows OS some days).  Someone across the room just got a Mac so I might have some info on that later.

Doesn’t anybody do cross-browser testing or has that fallen by the wayside, like interesting content?  I did this testing with my first website, in the early days of the web.  It was important to make sure the site was viewable in Netscape and IE.

SECOND HALF OF CONTENT RANT:

In short, what the hell is up with web content `designers’?

In addition to being agitated that people only design content for one browser, I am sick to death of the incessant javascript/cookies/Flash mantra.  What good is a website if I have to install all sorts of crap to get to the content?  There is no real reason to use these.  Most are a serious security risk.  And yes, I know what they all do.

Our webmistress at work gave us the url for her personal site.  I asked her what I was supposed to see because when I got to the front page and clicked on photos, it went all black and told me I had to install Macromedia Flash to see the pictures.

I gave her no end of grief about this, telling her that you don’t need Flash to see pictures - try using `img src=’.  What kind of webmistress doesn’t know this?  She countered that it displays the pictures more elegantly.  I told her that on my site, the pictures display just fine, without requiring my viewers to install a single thing or alter the browser from its default settings.  She knew she had lost before she started but I made my point.  She was under the impression I had used the firewall to filter out all Flash.  Of course I have no idea where she came by that notion  :)

A prime guilty party is Adobe.  You cannot navigate their site without all the gee-whiz enabled.  Heaven forbid you try to purchase something from the overbloated page: it is not possible.  I even had people who like IE and Flash try to purchase Adobe software from the page and fail.  It’s not just me.

I think what we’re seeing comes from the gee-whiz, blinky-light people.  The same people who were thrilled because their cell phones came with cameras.  Why do they come with cameras?  Because they can.  They are of virtually no practical use (or quality).

Once upon a time, email was merely text.  Then some genius discovered how to use HTML.  And pictures.  And little smiley faces.  As a result, we got new and interesting viruses, designed to exploit the (many) flaws in HTML and browser security (or lack of thereof).  Since this was a really really bad thing to happen, it became the standard.  Just try disabling HTML mail and wait five seconds for the screaming to start.

So now the same thing is happening to web pages.  Because we can.  Hey, look… I can make pictures fade in and out!  Golly, that’s neat.  Lookit those blinky lights!  Man, this is a great web page.

The `forward-thinking’ designers at a certain antivirus company put their corporate antivirus product’s manual in flash.  So you don’t get a manual with the product and you have to view it in a browser with a specific plugin or you can’t read it.  And because it’s Flash, you can’t print it.  I know - why would anyone want to print a manual?

Javascript is a mess.  It is responsible for the gazillions of popups you see.  Its flaws have been exploited hundreds of times.  Every time you turn around there’s another one.  Considering that people don’t read, don’t update, and don’t seemto care, they might as well wave huge red flags online that say INFECT ME.  MAKE ME A SPAM-SPEWER FOR THE BOT OWNERS.  I WANT TO SEND VIAGRA ADS TO TWENTY THOUSAND OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS.

I use cookies when I need to purchase something.  There is really no other reason.  Otherwise they’re just used to track you, the sites you visit, and your purchasing habits.  Set your browser to reject them.  If you have to use them, set the browser to delete them when you close it.

I have tried Firefox and Opera on a number of sites which tell me I need to have javascript and/or cookies enabled to view the site (or for my convenience, like there is a grain of truth to that statement).  When I enable them, the site still won’t come up.  Not impressive.

Cut the crap.  Give me the content in a simple, easy to read page.  Stop the blighted blinky lights and animation.  I shouldn’t need javascript to go to the next page.  Or Flash to simply view the page.  I don’t care that you have this gee-whiz software.

`Because you can’ is not an acceptable excuse.