The browser wars are back on

Some unsettling stats for Microsoft: Mozilla's Firefox is fast catching up on Microsoft in Europe. Or so says web measurement firm Xiti Monitor. In this, its second year, Firefox now represents 23 per cent of the European browser market, Xiti Monitor says. In seven European countries, it has a share of greater than 30 per cent. For a good country-by-country breakdown, click here.

It should be noted that Xiti Monitor measures browser share by the number of web page visits generated by a particular browser. Thus, it's likely that a good deal less than one in four European web users has Firefox as the principal browser (the thinking goes that Firefox users are heavier surfers, and thus visit more pages than IE users).

Still, the growth is considerable. Firefox market share has doubled in its first two years. And, since the company introduced Firefox 2 in October, daily downloads have doubled again. This doesn't bode well for Microsoft, which last month formally launched Internet Explorer 7, its first update in five years. According to this breakdown in France by Xiti, the head-to-head battle is not even close. While IE 7's share has trebled, Firefox 2 has increased 14-fold.

Yep, the browser wars are back on.

Firefox plans revamped browser: click here for full story

Comments

[Jim Parson]

As a technology professional for over 30 years, I have watched Microsoft's methods of operation. I understand fully how they ruin other companies and destroy innovation.

[sinczar]

It has never been a fair fight. If there was a Geneva convention for software, and OEM's were allowed to install Firefox on their products without fear of punishment from Microsoft, IE would have waved the white flag a long time ago. Firefox would be the browser of choice on 90%+ of the desktops.

Rich D.

[Tony Duncan]

I can vouch for this. No matter how good rival software can be (and most of what I've seen has been superior) Microsoft can and does pull the carpet out from beneath them - as soon as it's beginning to hurt.
It's a monopoly that needs to be pulled down...

[roseman]

Netscape (and now Mozilla/Firefox) has/have always been on the cutting edge of features and quality in browsers.

Microsoft forced IE into peoples laps by bundling it into Windows; most people were too naive, or didn't care to download the free, better browsers. They just used what was already there.

It is good to see the Mozilla products on their way back up :) they deserve it.

(Please do NOT post e-mail address)

[leonard mocek]

As a Mac user, I went to Firefox and really do like it. I hope Firefox trounces Microsoft. that would be just desserts.

[bob taylor]

Mozilla simply works better.

[Ted Burnet]

I think it is very good that there is a real strong competitor to IE. Keeps MS on it's toes.

MS has the habit of killing competition by bundling pieces of software (thereby making them appear free), to pre-empt competitors from growing, so it is good they get a cookie of their own dough.

[Wedge]

Great websites make the web a wonderful place; great browsers make the rest of the web a more pleasant and safer experience.

[JayTee]

Firefox has been my browser of choice for a long time. The only reason I still have a shortcut to Internet Exploder is for when I encounter one of those sites that are poorly constructed enough not to work with Firefox - some of them banking and commerce sites that should know better as Firefox is more secure. The next step away from M$ for me will be Linux.

[Paulo Custodio]

I am not a Firefox/IE user. I use Opera. But I can´t help but laugh at Firefox because of their stated reasons for a version 3. Version 2 was a ridiculous 'upgrade', and now they want another upgrade... As for Microsoft´s big monopoly tactics, I have seen none of that lately. The company seems to have learned from past mistakes. IE7 is just as "evil" as Safari. Both are a part of an OS, and both can be put aside. But Opera...oh boy, I struck gold using this baby :)

[Anthony Chadwick]

I use Opera, which is better in my book than both of them. It has a nicer feel. I got a bit tired of being asked whether I wanted to start stumbling all the time.

[Chris Robertson]

I have used Firefox since the day it was available to the public and I love it. Internet Explorer was plagued with virus attacks, spyware, and bugs. This isn't to say that Firefox is perfect, but it runs far smoother and error-free than IE. I also love the innovative "tabs" that allow the user to easily switch back and forth between multiple websites.

[Alex Kerr]

The sooner Microsoft ceases to exist the better. It would be fine if they bundled the best software with Windows, and if Windows was a well-built, reliable operating system. Sadly, the opposite is true, and slowly the world is coming to realise it, and that hugely better alternatives are available. Microsoft is yet another monopoly that deserves to be torn down and destroyed.

[Adam howell]

I've been using Firefox awhile. However, since Firefox 2 I've found it very unstable and I know I'm not alone. Mozilla really should sort out the problems before storming ahead with Firefox 3. I'm still using Firefox but only because I'm too lazy to switch to IE. At the moment, for me, in terms of stability Microsoft is in the lead. I do of course want Microsoft to die a miserable death, but only when there's a suitable alternative. Linux is a fine OS but it is not really in direct compition with Windows, it's something else.

[dogs rule]

Will Firefox 3 be able to handle the poorly contructed sites mentioned by jaytee? That is the reason I don't have Firefox as my main browser. Can't trust it to work when i need it to.

[Alistair Toomey. Anderson Toomey Limited]

As the Managing Director of the company that developed community in a box (www.myciab.com) I can vouch that Firefox is a much better and stable browser for developers than IE. Internet Explorer causes us no end of problems when developing web applications, especially when using java and XML.

[Rich]

Mozilla 1.5 is great but 2.0 is worse. Does this mean that 3.0 will be worse still? I have had to uninstall Mozilla 2.0 twice, the first time because Tab Mix Plus, easily the best Mozilla extension, wasnt compatible for the first fortnight (and Mozilla made it as difficult as possible to find and reinstall 1.5), and then uninstall it again because of a lag of about two seconds, especially when writing say in a blog like this or Wikipedia. It drove me mad.

So 1.5 is brilliant, far superior to IE6, but 2.0 isnt. I am quite handy with the computer/internet interface though rather busy and in spite of several attempts have been unable to download IE7, cant be bothered anymore as Mozilla 1.5 is fine. Shame, as I hear IE7 has tabs, which are vital for any 21st-century web broswer. I think these companies are so desperate to imporve their product but what they claim to be upgrades are often downgrades. as with Mozilla 2.0. I dread Vista.

[kuiky]

I saw the light a few years ago, and switched from the Microsoft monopoly to Firefox. My experiences have been nothing but good, with no bugs, and perfectly stable. Hopefully the new version of Firefox will deal an even greater blow to the Microsoft Corporation, and rid the online community of its grip.

[Sean Deverell]

I have been using Firefox for a long time. I have tried other browsers but personally found Firefox to be the best. Opera may be faster and more secure but it lacks the extensions and themes Firefox offers. Also I like to support open-source software development and do this by using open-source programs.

[Jesse]

I like the new Internet Explorer. Microsoft is getting better all the time. Plus they give tons of money to charity :)

[Buzz]

I have used IE7, Opera and Firefox. For me, Firefox is the better browser. It's faster and more reliable, with Opera coming a fairly close second. As for IE..., well, need I say more?!!!