Browser Wars

I was doing some reading about the recent re-ignition of the browser wars (okay, it's a 2004 article, but still relevant). One argument for the still-dominating popularity of Internet Explorer is that it comes installed on most computers sold in the world.

That's true, it does, and until Microsoft is slapped on the wrist again for monopolizing the market, it will continue to do so.

I think that while this was a huge factor in the past, we are going to see a distinct change in the next few years. In fact, this has already happened. Ever since the spyware boom, Firefox has been handed to the masses as a, "Here, this will keep your computer from getting infected," preventative measure. And it worked.

IE6 is the most popular browser in the world, but also the most spyware/malware-riddled. Firefox may have many slick features that IE6 doesn't, but it's possibly best known as a way to keep your computer running smoothly. And those features don't hurt, either, which is why average computer users are downloading it to install on their newly purchased computers.

IE7 was a much needed upgrade, fixing countless CSS problems, improving rendering and DOM performance, and tightening security all around. However, Microsoft didn't require the upgrade, and releasing it instead as a downloadable installer. This is critical because it places IE7 on the same level as Firefox--users have to look for it, download it, and install it themselves.

Similarly, there are also photo-enthusiasts who download software like Google's Picasa to edit their digital photos and upload them to the web. They aren't necessarily technologically-saavy, but they have heard about this software/service, and want it.

I think it's clear that we are in a period where ordinary people expect to get software and services off the web. Vista does include IE7, so Internet Explorer's market share isn't going anywhere too quickly. However, I think the domination of the OEM bundle is nearing its end, and this will have a significant effect on browser popularity trends.