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