What's up with the lack of progress from Microsoft with Internet Explorer?
I just saw this interesting article from ArsTechnica:
Here's the jist of what they are saying:
At last year's PDC, held in November, Microsoft showed a graph showing scores of a variety of Web browsers in the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark, to show off the progress that the company was making with Internet Explorer 9. Another such graph was shown off at the recent MIX event.
What was most interesting about the graph was not IE9's progress, but Opera's.Opera 10.10, released at about the same time as Microsoft held its PDC event, fared pretty badly. Faster than IE8, but slower than everything else, including the (private) PDC IE9 build. Opera 10.50, released a few weeks ago?
It's the fastest browser on the chart. It's faster even than prerelease versions of Firefox and Chrome, not to mention faster than the public IE9 Platform Preview build. SunSpider isn't the be-all/end-all of JavaScript performance, and it fails to represent real-world scenarios in a number of ways. However, it's clear that Opera's JavaScript performance has improved substantially over the period of about six months.
And most significantly, these improvements are now in people's hands. 10.50 isn't some preview release. It's a released, stable version of the browser.
This isn't the first time this has happened, either. Redmond promoted the JavaScript performance of IE8 in the run-up to its release, too. The result? By the time IE8 was released, or shortly after, competing browsers had once again overtaken it, with stable, shipping versions outpacing Microsoft's efforts.
By taking the approach of infrequent, but substantial releases, Internet Explorer users are being denied timely access to much of the progress that Microsoft is making, and hence denied the ability to take advantage of IE9's greater standards compliance.
We see similar situations, albeit with fewer easy-to-use graphs, when we look at how well other browsers implement SVG, or CSS, or HTML5. The current stable releases of Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera are all streets ahead of the current stable version of IE. Make no mistake: these other browsers do not provide complete, systematic, exhaustive implementations of these specifications (though Opera's SVG support is not far off). But they are already providing extensive capabilities, not to mention impressive performance, to Web developers. And they're doing so today.
But Microsoft? IE9 is going to provide thorough, complete implementations of many of these specifications. This is certainly a good thing. It's what all browsers should strive to be doing. But Microsoft isn't going to release these features piecemeal. The current IE9 engine is already a huge improvement over IE8, but its preview status makes it irrelevant. We don't know when IE9 will be finished—2011 seems the earliest possibility, and there's an outside chance that it won't be until 2012 that IE9 ships.
In the meantime, we get nothing from Redmond.
This approach sets Microsoft apart from the other browser vendors. Firefox, Chrome, and Opera all get regular updates. I don't just mean security fixes, though they get those too—they get regular feature updates that improve their performance, improve their standards compliance, and improve their user interfaces. Firefox, for example, had release 3.0 in July 2008, 3.5 in June 2009, and 3.6 in January 2010. Opera 9.5 was released in September 2007, with 10.0 in September 2009, 10.10 in November 2009, and 10.50 in March 2010.
Now, I agree that Microsoft have been too late to the table for each version of IE but for me there's more.
I wrote before about my outrage that Microsoft haven't simply built a better browser that can compete with all the challengers out there.
I want to open this up to you guys and gals. What do you think of Internet Explorer and do you think that the release of Internet Explorer 9 will make a difference?
Tell us what you think about Internet Explorer
We'd love to get your opinion about Internet Explorer and whether
a) You think it's a good enough browser and
b) If it's updated frequently enough for you..
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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opera
its true that opera is amazing and other web browsers r not far behind it.
the problem with intenret xplorer is it is to slow and buggy to be used ...
Much better...!
I think that the windows seven version of IE is at least much better than the rest of the versions...
It is faster, and to be very specific blocks irritating ...
I was told to run from the IE browser
Was told is has the worst security features and leaves you open to virus plus it is very slow.
IE8 is really second hand "stuff"
The IE8 on my PC is always "freezing" for varying amounts of time, from a few seconds to several minutes.
Why is this?
I have down loaded all the ...
Internet Explorer doesn't work
I get a message that IE is not working, that a solution will be researched and then a message saying try again later.
Its infuriating.
IE hasn'...
IE9 disappointing
Hopelessly frustrated with IE9 and the 64 bit system.
Without a Flash Player we missed half the info on every web page.
No fix would work on my ...
IE8 with Windows 7 Hangs too often
I upgraded my ThinkPad T400 from Vista to Windows 7 Professional but IE8 hangs very often and when it hangs, it sometimes also hangs Outlook.
After ...
IE?
I only use IE when the product I need wont allow other Browsers to access their site.
Will wait and see what IE9 has to offer.
Hate it!
I hate it I dont use it
I use Firefox and never will use anything else
IE is still sluggish and virus prone Microsoft just needs to give up on ...
A Browser For The Majority
I don't know what the actual statistics would say, but my gut says the majority of people who use any Windows operating system also use the default IE ...
2011, new computer, ie still sucks
forget the program, what about the service. how long has this been going on? Is there a lemon law for browsers?
poor service
I am not happy with internet explorer because it is slow and I keep gettting the "window is busy" message.
I have since switched to Chrome and really ...
Good But.......
Not rated yet
I find IE8 very good but for the fact that it is continually "not responding" so making it almost unusable why can't Microsoft get it right???
IE8
Not rated yet
I find Internet Expolorer very frustrating at times, I always get it saying 'Not Responding' a lot of the time.
I don't know what is happening, that ...
wait a w hile before changing things
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Hi.
Someone at sitepoint recently suggested that chrome is the better way to go now, so I downloaded it.
I couldn't see where it was any faster ...
Needs more filtering! But improvements have been seen as well.
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Try getting a trojan on your system not by which browser you are running but the search engine used and the first link in the results? WHAMO! You just ...
What's Internet Explorer?
Not rated yet
It has been so long since I've used internet explorer as a web browser that i can't really comment.
Currently using Google Chrome & Google Chrome Portable ...
IE 9 Not Desigend for XP
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Most recent reports are that MS has decided not to make IE9 compatible with XP.
So, if you run XP and intend to continue to do so, it's Firefox or ...
IE: Very Good Browser, But it dosen't update often.
Not rated yet
Microsoft has created a really good browser, but they don't update a Major Version much.
I think (This does make sense too) that Microsoft is waiting ...
IE Disappointed
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Every time I use Explorer things just seem to get worst.
Thank GOD it isn't the only browser available!!!!!!
Internet Explorer
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I use this Browser only when badly written sites insist on using non standard code which prevents other browsers from functioning correctly.
My Browser ...
Don't use it
Not rated yet
Firefox is friendlier interface (don't have to hunt for refresh or home icons) and not sure, but maybe more secure?
solw
Not rated yet
IE is to slow, my firefox, google chrome and safari are all faster and better
RE: IE stinks!!!!
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I've tried to use IE since Windows 3.11, you'd think after all these years they could get it right, DUH!!!
IE...uh...
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Hard to comment on IE since I haven't used it since IE6.
The main reason is that it sucks.
Firefox is my main but I'm liking Chrome too.
Too slow
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My new computer came with IE.
Typing was too slow. Firefox solved the problem. Same problem with my labtop with XP.
I only use IE when I need ...
Sobre a internet explorer
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Eu particularmente acho, que ela está muito deficitária pois entra qualquer coisa por ela virus, espam sem nenhuma qualidade ou pelo menos uma indentidade ...
IE8 Does Have Problems
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Whether I'm running IE8 on Win 7 or XP, it is the browser that does crash the most often.
I could never understand that. Too many times I see the window ...
constant problems
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dropping out.
cant display website.
diagnose connection problem-useless.
Such a waste of time and a time waster.
What can be done. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!...
About Internet Explorer
Not rated yet
I must admit I hate Internet Explorer and I do not want recommend it to anyone.
I have it on my computer (because it installs with Windows), but don'...
IE is a web designers nightmare
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I am attempting to offer my services as an individual who upgrades websites by taking out tables and going fully over to css.
For this I use xhtml ...
No No No.
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I tried Internet Explorer,but it is so slow and has security problem's,I now use Firefox which give's me everything.
why does the NAB not accept IE as a browser?
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Using Internet Explorer for banking on line with NAB I was shocked to see it rejected!
This I presume was that it is insecure for banking purposes....
Still have to see how fast IE9 will be...
Not rated yet
Microsoft's various iterations of its IE just could not compete with Opera, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. It continues to be the suckiest browser in the ...
Internet Explorer
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Internet explorer just no a reliable software to me.
Don't take me wrongfully but i like it. However because of it performance over the years, i happen ...
IE Explorer
Not rated yet
IE is good but not good like Chrome, Firefox.
I think speed vise Firefox is best but functions vise chrome is best.
khalid,
Riyadh, Kingdom of ...
With non-English versions it changes the fonts erratically, and often churns away apparently doing nothing.
Not rated yet
1.If you are using, say Hebrew, and want to write an address, it sometimes writes in English, sometimes in Hebrew. In fact, this is so bad, that Google ...
E.I.
Not rated yet
hate it, never use it,, has caused me nothing but problems,, Internet Explorer9, I would have to have it proven to me that it can meet or beat so many ...
No and NO
Not rated yet
Ok question A... No, nor do i want to recommend it to anyone.
I do local tech support and have recommended to get a better browser to all of my clients ...
IE Bad News
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I have been a IE fan for many years and have always stuck with it until now this latest version IE8 sucks (running Windows 7 Ultimate) it's slow, many ...
Explorer fixed?
Not rated yet
Their is only one way to fix explorer... Start from scratch... Microsoft keeps on patching a sinking ship...
They will never fix it...Take a page from ...
Internet Exploder is one of the worst things ever to come out of Redmond...
Not rated yet
...and it's not getting better fast enough to keep up.
I run Opera 10.51 (build 3311) on my machines, and every time I use Internet Exploder on a client'...
IE8
Not rated yet
I believe Microsoft is shortchanging those of us who want to stay with IE.
I keep hearing how we should retire IE for Firefox or Chrome.
I have ...
The worst browser out there
Not rated yet
I don't use IE for several reasons.
1. It's too slow
2. It has too many security holes
3. I don't like the way it works.
There are just much ...
IE8 stinks.
Not rated yet
Internet Explorer and Firefox are both rather worthless.
They always crash when you are in the middle of something.
Usually something important....
Crap
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IE is slooooooooow, complicated, too busy on the screen, too many boxes, ugly, to often asking to be the main search engine, to much advertisement!
And ...
The Champion vs. The contender
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First and foremost, Internet explorer is like a existing model car who's updates and design changes are done in increments intentionally by design.
You ...
Long Live Firefox
Not rated yet
I stopped using IE years ago when IE6 was out. After a string of problems with that version, somebody recommended Firefox and I've been using it ever ...
IE updates
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I think that IE don't have many updates compared with other browsers, i.e. Firefox, which is my favorite, but IE will be a little better if they get worried ...
IE9 updates
Not rated yet
I really don't use IE8, haven't used IE for years. I'm a Firefox user.
Microsoft, well, they should piece out the changes.
Get something working ...
What is internet explorer
Not rated yet
One of my hobbies is repairing or rebuilding machines for people.
Except for using IE for system updates I always make sure to install another browser,...
Switched to Firefox
Not rated yet
I had been a loyal IE user for many years but when they brought out the latest, I lost the ability to forward, save, etc.
Firefox has all that IE used ...
No change
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In think that the release of IE9 would made no change to the problematic of not on time update.
We need the release of something "strong" in order ...
Mic rosoft? Who's Microsoft?
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I NEVER use IE.
And if a website requires it, I never go there again.
I don't use Microsoft apps (Open Office is at least as good if not better,...