Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) remained the most popular web browser in the world in April according to recent figures published by NetMarketshare.

Total worldwide usage for Internet Explorer in April 2010 was 59.95%, which on the surface seems impressive until you realize that IE's share two years ago was 75% and almost 95% at its peak.

The world's second most popular web browser in April was Firefox at 24.59%, followed by Google Chrome at 6.73%, Apple Safari at 4.72% and Opera at 2.3%.

See graphic of marketshare in 2010 and 2009 here (http://www.digitalhome.ca/2010/05/use-of-internet-explorer-continues-to-fall/)

I'm surprised this number is still so high.

When I think of all the linux machines, iPod Touch device, mobile phones, iPads, etc... I would have figured the other browser percentages should have been up more.

Don't confuse BUZZ with real life usage. Here are the April stats from http://www.netmarketshare.com.
Windows 91.46%
Mac 5.32%
Linux 1.05%
Java ME 0.79%
iPhone 0.53%
Symbian 0.23%
iPod Touch 0.12%

^^^

Those are OS stats, not browser stats. Two different metrics.

I think what he is saying is that 97% of machines are still Windows and or Mac so all those "other devices" with their alternative browsers are still a small amount.

I just switched to FireFox, at least it is stable. IE 8 keeps crashing and Action Centre keeps blaming add-ons in particular Flash Player. So why does Flash not work in Windows 7 and works fine in Firefox? IE 8 is worse than using a bug loaded beta version.

Maybe it's the same logic that they're throwing around in the Apple v. Adobe divorce case....Apple claims that Adobe is poorly coded, and Adobe claims that the independent devs that use Flash are making poor code.

So why does Flash not work in Windows 7 and works fine in Firefox?

Because you have messed up the installation of the flash plugin in IE8 and need to re-install it.
Because you have not messed up the installation of the flash plugin in Firefox.