Use of Internet Explorer continues to decline
According to Net Applications’ browser usage share statistics for October 2009, the number of people using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) continues to fall.
Net Applications reports that worldwide, IE remained the number one browser in terms of usage in October at 64.6% but that was down significantly from 73.6% in October 2008.
The number two browser in October 2009 was Firefox at 24.1% up from 19.6% a year earlier. Safari usage was 4.4%, up over 50% from 2.9% in October of 2008. Chrome moved into the number four spot at 3.6%, up from 1% a year earlier. Opera dropped into fifth spot at 2.2%, up from 2.1%.
The following charts, courtesy of Net Applications, show browser usage share for October of 2008 and 2009.
October 2008
Browser Share October 2008 Courtesy Net Applications
October 2009
Browser Share October 2009 Courtesy Net Applications
I use Chrome. Fastest browser out there
I just do not understand the business model. Why would people fight to giving away their products?
I hate Firefox. It issues updates pratically every week. Even it is done automatically, it still drives me crazy. For that reason, I stick with IE.
I’m with you. Over the years I have tried Opera, Firefox, Google Chrome and I still return to IE. Lately it’s been IE8. Sure I have issues with it occasionally but not like with the other browsers. In many cases I find when I install one of the other browsers they install other ‘goodies’ that hijack some of my other apps without telling me. Annoying!
IE gets updates too through windows updates. In fact there was one this week!
Interesting. I use Firefox and love it. IE I can’t stand. I find IE doesn’t have the tools that Firefox has. For updates, IE updates are done with windows so you don’t see them as often. That is a bonus if the programme is made by Microsoft. Firefox does not have that so we see the update when we run the programme. Most other programmes do this if they are not Microsoft. As for “goodies” I have never had Firefox install “goodie”. Now Google Crome does if you don’t see the check box.
I am just glad we have a selection of programme we can use.
As a web developer, I have a healthy hatred for IE. I will admit, however, that IE 8 is by far the best browser Microsoft has ever made. It’s still crap compared to FF and Opera.
Safari causes me a few headaches as well.
I’d like to re-ask the question posed by KCLP… Why DOES MS make a browser? What’s the point of expending so much time/energy/money developing software that will NEVER be sold? Particularly when faced with superior open source competition?
its because the default search engine is BING. You search in IE, Mircosoft makes money