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