Growing up is optional

Just got an email from CoffeeCup saying they are giving away free software for a link, so here goes

CoffeeCup - HTML Editor & FTP Software

Although a good laugh, this isn’t a question that needs to be asked.

What if Mozilla were to win in the end? [via]

The real question is: When will most users realise that there are better products than IE?

This is not a war that can be ultimately won or lost. It is fair to say the in terms of marketshare IE is winning. Stories like this offer great encouragement to the standards proponents.

As long as Mozilla, Firefox and Thunderbird continue to apply pressure to MS the users will be the winners. This applies to lots of things, not just browsers (not just software either).

I want to start by saying that this post is not a bash of Microsoft. I think that they produce some fantastic products and have done some great things for computing. However, they are now the dominant player in the market and that does cause some issues.

IMHO The thing that makes MS so good will be its downfall. For me as a user the best thing about MS products is the way they all work together. Office apps all tied to the OS, Mail (Outlook Express) and browser together. From a users view this is fantastic: until there is a security breach.

And that is what is currently woking against them. Security is the main reason I have switched to Firefox and Thunderbird and ZoneAlarm. The problem is that it is a complex system, and the more complexity there is, the greater the likelyhood of errors. The integeration of all of these products can allow a minor error in one product to cause problems for the whole system. Which is now why I prefer programs that are not tied to the OS.

I want to install some other OS at home, but what? I want to be Microsoft independent. I still want all my Windows apps.

I know more about the computer than most home users, but the trouble is that I have 1 box at home that my wife (and kids) also use. I can’t subject them to a less-usable system. It’s not so bad for the kids because they are very young and will learn whatever they need but converting my wife is going to be difficult. I’m still not allowed to remove the IE icon because Firefox is “just not the same”.

I recently found Free SuSE (via) so if I get the chance I’ll try it.

It appears that the the best browser, Firefox is catching up. Latest stats show a significant increase over the last few months, and with the US government recommending the use of something other than IE downloads of Firefox have doubled.

I switched to firefox when version 0.8 came out a few months ago when it first came out. I have it as my default browser at home, although my wife still prefers IE.

I tried various incarnations of Mozilla/Netscape since Mozilla 0.9 and Netscape 6 just to ensure that I didn’t become too locked to Microsoft, but never saw any reason to switch. IE was the better browser. However, now the tables have truely turned. In my opinion Firefox is better than IE. We can debate and compare the features and benefits of Firefox and IE ad infinitum, but the fact remains that I just like it better.

Most users don’t see the benefit in changing browser. Their eyes glaze over as you tell them about it. Or they’ve tried Mozilla before and didn’t like it. Getting past these barriers is perhaps firefox’s biggest battle. For most it is more hassle than it is worth to change.

The security benefits of Firefox may not last for long as it gains market share. Initially it is the innovators and fast followers that are using it. I think that they generally have a higher general awareness of security issues. However, as its market share increases so does the value of the prizes for those that would exploit it. It will become a target too, but currently there is no reason for them to target anything else: why go after 5% of the market when you can hit 90% with relative ease?

When I get a flashdrive I’ll carry it with me (along with the coolest extensions). That way I can install and demo it to anyone anytime.

New Zealand has a tradition of succeding when others with more resources and money fail. The sports field is a clear example of how our tiny nation takes on the giants of the world and often triumphs.

The #8 wire attitude has become legendary helped by Gallager (electric fence), Hamilton (jet boat) and in more recent times Britton (super bike).

Now in the infromation age there is a new kiwi taking on the world: Ben Goodger is the primary engineer on the Mozilla Firebird browser project. There are plenty of technical reasons to use Firefox. However, most users don’t care about this until they are given a demonstration or have some (security panic) reason to change.

This is an appeal to kiwis out there: cut down the tall poppy. Download and install Firefox, if for no other reason than to support the underdog.

This is not the reason I use firefox: I’m not someone who hates microsoft just because they are a large company. I genuinely believe that firefox is a better product than internet explorer.

Stating the obvious (obvious to me anyway), Seth Godin points out somthing I had always known but never actually written or spoken aloud. Apple is a fashion company.

Their form competitors are the obvious PC manufacturers. However, the strength of their brand is that they compete well for the fashion dollar with the increasingly techno-savvy public.

This is probably also part of the reason that I want a Mac

There is some very cool Mac only software. I wish my browsers could have history like this. Perhaps someone better than I at programming could build a Mozilla/Firefox Extension. (via Simon Willison)