Microsoft Finally Pushing IE6 Users to Upgrade
Out with the old, in with the new!
You may be well beyond Internet Explorer 6. You're likely to have upgraded to 7, then now 8, or maybe moved onto an alternative browser such as Chrome, Safari or Firefox – but a surprising 23.3 percent hasn't yet.
The 23.3 percent usage of Internet Explorer 6 makes it still the most widely used internet browser. IE7 trails at 18.2 percent and IE8 at 18.1 percent.
While Microsoft is likely happy that internet users are sticking with Microsoft software, it isn't so pleased that the biggest chunk is still running browser technology from eight years ago.
Given the Internet Explorer is a free product, the motive for Microsoft in urging users to get caught up with the times is more to do with security and the advancement of the web. Browsers developed after IE6 are better equipped to handle modern websites and multimedia – as well as better adherence to web standards.
Microsoft is now running a campaign from now through June 2010 that'll urge users to upgrade.
"What we're doing with the outreach is help users understand how to protect themselves against social engineering threats that exist and to help people understand how Internet Explorer 8 puts people in control of their own privacy online," said Ryan Servatius, senior product manager for Internet Explorer, according to CNet.
Part of the reason why IE6 still has such a foothold is because it shipped with Windows XP, which is also the most widely used version of Windows today. Those moving to Windows 7 will naturally also move to IE8. The real challenge ahead for Microsoft will be to convince corporate users to upgrade – hopefully by way of a completely OS overhaul.
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touchdowntexas13 productivity can be greatly increased with better browsers...Reply
i guess people just don't feel like messing with other browsers. -
sunflier Replyto do with security and the advancement of the web.
Sometimes those security/advancements can be a real pain in the "browser". -
adaman2576 I'm gonna send this article to our IT guy right now. I've been nagging him to let us upgrade because explorer 6.0 does not allow tabbed browsing. Having multiple windows open everywhere on a little work provided 15" CRT drives me crazy. I don't think that's asking too much.Reply -
nekoangel On the corporate side, many corporations will not upgrade due to them not wanting to update their own websites and software that may not be compatible with newer browsers. Same reason goes for how many are using windows xp.Reply -
Ciuy touchdowntexas13..i guess people just don't feel like messing with other browsers.suckersReply -
kinless This article is using outdated information from Net Applications. IE6 usage has dropped closer to 22% now, and IE8 marketshare has surpassed IE7.Reply
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=3
These bloggers/publishers should know by now that there's new stats on the first of every month, so they might want to try timing these articles as such. -
tester24 I like IE because when I click on the icon it loads immediatly where firefox I have to wait. Toss up between the two but I do have to say that after using IE7 or 8 you can't go back to 6... just no logical reason to.Reply -
dark_lord69 touchdowntexas13productivity can be greatly increased with better browsers...i guess people just don't feel like messing with other browsers.Reply
Personally... I just don't want any more cr4p installed.
I believe a PC should run with very few extra apps and un-needed cr4p.