| Most of Firefox's advantages are MSIE's | | | | Windows, making the new MSIE only available |
| disadvantages, and vice-versa. This article | | | | to users who have a license for Windows XP. |
| will look at some of the advantages and | | | | |
| disadvantages of Firefox in relation to | | | | Firefox also has a similar user interface |
| MSIE.AdvantagesSecuritySecurity is often | | | | among the different operating platforms. For |
| cited as the primary reason for users | | | | deployments that have a mix of operating |
| switching from MSIE to Firefox. Security is | | | | platforms (such as Linux for the techs, Macs |
| of utmost importance for software that | | | | for the graphic designers, and Windows for |
| interacts with remote computers, in an era of | | | | the accounts department), moving to Firefox |
| high security risk activities such as online | | | | for everyone thus brings technical support |
| banking.Firefox has fewer security holes and | | | | costs down.Time-saving browser |
| a tighter schedule of disclosing them. The | | | | innovationsInternet communication and |
| enhanced security in Firefox is due to a | | | | interaction is a core component for most |
| multitude of factors the system's inclusion | | | | modern businesses. Efficient use of web |
| of more source code reviewers and a better | | | | browser time translates to increased profits, |
| bug reporting system and exclusion of | | | | so innovations to help workers do their tasks |
| VBScript/ActiveX, often the source of | | | | faster are welcomed. |
| vulnerabilities.Meanwhile, Microsoft has been | | | | |
| clamoring for years to try to clamp down on | | | | Firefox leads MSIE in this regard, with |
| the MSIE security holes. It acquired an | | | | out-of-the-box features such as integrated |
| anti-spyware product, which it released under | | | | Google search in the toolbar, placing the |
| the banner of Microsoft AntiSpyware. It also | | | | find-within-page box at the bottom of the |
| promises its new Windows Vista platform will | | | | browser window so as not to obscure the text, |
| be more secure. However, Microsoft's track | | | | and so on.DisadvantagesRetrainingAny switch |
| record to date has done little to boost the | | | | of software incurs a retraining cost. |
| confidence of today's user. | | | | However, a switch from MSIE to Firefox |
| | | | requires only a mild amount of retraining.The |
| Standards complianceFirefox has vaulted | | | | switch from MSIE to Firefox is designed to be |
| ahead of MSIE with improved support for | | | | easy, with proper import of bookmarks and |
| standard web protocols, such as its superior | | | | other settings.Browser interfaces are |
| stylesheet compatibility.Since MSIE had a | | | | becoming standard, so understanding how to |
| leading marketshare, the company had less | | | | get up and running is not usually a problem. |
| interest in conforming to web standards, and | | | | There are some only minor adjustments. For |
| instead focused on proprietary protocols, | | | | example, "Internet Files" in MSIE is called |
| with the goal of maintaining their market | | | | "Cache" in Firefox. One can use a downloaded |
| position. That is, the focus of Microsoft was | | | | MSIE theme so that the Firefox user interface |
| to try to convert as much of its userbase to | | | | even more closely resembles that of |
| writing webpages and web applications that | | | | MSIE.Incomplete migrationIn a business with |
| required a proprietary MSIE-approach, so that | | | | Windows computers, if the switch from MSIE to |
| down the road, users would be less able to | | | | Firefox is incomplete, it can cost more to |
| move off a Microsoft platform. | | | | offer technical support for both browsers. |
| | | | This argument would only apply to shops whose |
| As a result, Microsoft neglected for years | | | | Windows computers are all Windows XP. Since |
| to improve support for basic open standards. | | | | the new MSIE is only available for Windows |
| For example, transparent PNG graphics did not | | | | XP, if there are different Windows versions |
| work all the way through to MSIE version | | | | (such as Windows NT or 2000), then the |
| 6.Multiple operating system platformsFirefox | | | | technical support team already needs to |
| is available for users who runs Windows | | | | support different types of MSIE |
| (Windows 98 through to Windows XP), Mac OS X, | | | | browsers.Another consideration, however, is |
| all the leading versions of Linux, as well as | | | | that even an incomplete switch from MSIE to |
| some lesser-used operating systems. In | | | | Firefox could result in less technical |
| comparison, Microsoft has dropped development | | | | support, since the Firefox users would be |
| for Mac, and other non-Windows systems. | | | | less likely to need help with fixing their |
| Furthermore, Microsoft has ceased new | | | | computer after an MSIE-related security |
| development even on their own versions of | | | | breach. |