Firefox surpasses 10 million download mark

TalkBack 20 of 197:

Next »

« Previous

• Thread View
• Flat View

Young at heart.

Sorry I misguessed your age.

Okay, let's see if we can discuss the same thing at the same time.

You wrote:
"Build on their software for fun and profit" leaves out the important point that the profit is solely for MS. If you're talking about coding for fun, it ain't on Windows; that's the purview of Open Source development.

Every application written for Windows and sold is "built on" Windows. Don't think of IE only. The idea that business expands more rapidly when a standard is available to all is the "network effect". Windows' monopoly has been defended on that basis for some time.
I wasn't introducing a new idea here, just observing a truism.
The "for fun" part of the statement refers to all those free programs written to make the user experience better. I appreciate the generosity of the programmers.


You also wrote:
And if developers can do so much with IE, why hasn't one made IE extensions, using their very own .Net development tools, that provides for tabbed browsing?

You can have tabbed browsing and a number of other features, maybe more than available with FireFox, by installing either Maxion (once MyIE 2) or Avant. They're free. If you want tabbed browsing only, I've found a program for you.

I have a selection of free programs for IE that makes it do exactly and only what I want. FireFox would have simplified by coming with a number of the features, but now it's only another piece of software to maintain that adds nothing I choose to regard as worthwhile.

I've suggested that Microsoft may respond to the problem of the unchanging quality of IE by buying Maxion, say, and making it available as a voluntary download.


I've criticized Microsoft in these posts.
But I try not to underestimate them.
If you're going to limit yourself by thinking everything they do must be wrong and that the company has no flexibility or ability to conceive and implement a grand strategy, then you're joining the tradition of opponents who have tried and failed to make a dent.
If you think any word of respect for Microsoft makes one a simple apologist, then you're going to overlook a lot.
If life hasn't taught you about complexity and contingency and respect for an antagonist, then you haven't been paying attention.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 12/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

• The Impact of Virtualization Software on Operating Environments VMware Today's use of virtualization technology allows IT professionals to ... Download Now
• The True Costs of Virtual Server Solutions VMware In an economic environment that is repeatedly heralding the message "do ... Download Now
• Five Steps to Determine When to Virtualize YourServers VMware Server virtualization isn't just for big companies. Entry-level ... Download Now