unixman Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I've aways said that only an idiot would use IE and I've been proven correct! It's official: IE users are dumb as a bag of hammers ? The Register I've been an Opera user for over 10 years, since version 3.5!
featured_spectre Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 My IQ is 146...I use Internet Explorer and Chrome...I just proved that article wrong.
arwen Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 Well it is The Register, kinda typical of a red top paper...
MK-2 Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 from one of the comments there: Another thing worth considering, is that many users are forced to use IE at work or on public terminals while very few people are forced to use the other browsers. As such, most of the non-ie browser users explicitly chose to use their given browser, while a proportion of the ie-users don't have the choice.
AMLinington Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I use IE by choice and I'm not 'stupid'. I have all three 'main' browsers installed and the one that causes me the least amount of hassle is IE. Although it must be said that Firefox has it's uses - particularly where certain javascript applets are concerned. I loathe Chrome passionately though. The interface is horrible, the 'under the hood' settings are too 'generic' and not specific enough. Firefox at least has a good degree of customisable settings and in many ways outstrips IE in performance. But sometimes it's a bit of a pain - the addons in particular kinda irritate me. Personally I think it's wrong to brand someone 'stupid' by their choice of browser. The choice of browser is irrelevant - it's a personal comfort thing. Like a pair of tatty old shoes that are a bit rubbish but really comfortable. Just cos they're tatty doesn't make you a tramp...
localzuk Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 My IQ is 146...I use Internet Explorer and Chrome...I just proved that article wrong. On what scale is it 146? Organisations like Mensa prefer to use percentiles to group intelligence, as there are so many scales and they all differ. Eg. 'top 1%' etc... However, this study is entirely flawed due to one thing - bored workers taking the test on their work machines. It skews the results.
Arthur Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 Does this mean Mac and Linux users are smarter because they use an OS which doesn't have Internet Explorer? As one commenter pointed out... The sample is still based on people with nothing better to do with their time than complete an IQ test online, and the article suggests that these people have either searched for it or are the type who blindly click on adverts. People with higher IQs wouldn't have even bothered with the survey in the first place. I've been an Opera user for over 10 years, since version 3.5! You paid for a browser when others were free and then put up with that huge banner ad in versions 5.0 to 7.0.
featured_spectre Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 On what scale is it 146? Organisations like Mensa prefer to use percentiles to group intelligence, as there are so many scales and they all differ. Eg. 'top 1%' etc... However, this study is entirely flawed due to one thing - bored workers taking the test on their work machines. It skews the results. It was a Mensa test, however I couldn't afford the membership at the time. I just barely got above the required 144.
localzuk Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 It was a Mensa test, however I couldn't afford the membership at the time. I just barely got above the required 144. Indeed, but as I said, Mensa prefer to use percentiles, only including the 'number' when put in context of the scale it was on. Mensa make use of 2 tests/scales, namely the Cattell III B and the Cattell Cultural Fair III A. Minimum levels for membership on each are 148 and 132 at the moment (as they accept members from the top 2% of the population). However, IIRC, the level was around 144 for the III B when I took it around 10 years ago. All kind of irrelevant when talking about browsers though - bright people rarely take IQ tests when bored online!
MK-2 Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 bright people rarely take IQ tests when bored online! exactly,i spend my time catching up on the hollywood gossip sites instead......
CAM Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 They are portraying IE users as dumb, but singing the praises of IE users with Chrome frame installed? Makes no sense? It's amazing how much flak IE still gets from the uninformed who still think it is the piece of garbage back in version 6. MS has changed as a company, their products have also grown up and I put IE and Firefox at about the same level of preference. My work machine uses both browsers equally, at home I used Chrome then swapped to IE as the endless updates got boring. In fact I used to hate IE9, now I love it. Admittedly the IE developers could do with being a bit nicer to the web standards people and towing the line a bit more, but IE9 isn't something to just leave at the wayside because of the name. I have yet to see Ubuntu developers offer a browser choice instead of just installing Firefox as default... 1
CyberNerd Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I have yet to see Ubuntu developers offer a browser choice instead of just installing Firefox as default... It's in the documentation: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WebBrowsers
localzuk Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I have yet to see Ubuntu developers offer a browser choice instead of just installing Firefox as default... You've kind of missed the point of why MS offer a browser choice now - because they were legally forced to due to them engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. Ubuntu, as far as I know, has over a dozen browsers available from the default repositories (ie. a choice), but also doesn't have any form of monopoly and isn't trying to use that monopoly to leverage their way into other markets.
Arthur Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I loathe Chrome passionately though. The interface is horrible... You won't like what Mozilla are thinking of doing to Firefox then... http://i.imgur.com/fCP66.png
Arthur Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 (edited) I have yet to see Ubuntu developers offer a browser choice instead of just installing Firefox as default... Firefox should remain the default browser in Ubuntu 11.10. However, this could change in the future... http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/05/firefox-to-remain-the-default-browser-in-ubuntu-11-10-uds/ We're going to be discussing the default browser in the default app session, which we haven't had yet. The original session was scheduled to discuss switching to a browser other than Firefox or Chromium, due to the release cadence of those browsers. However, we already decided before UDS that there is no chance of that, so we didn't want to waste everyones time by having a session for it It will be interesting to see what Canonical choose to do with the next Ubuntu LTS release (12.04), now that Mozilla support only the current version of Firefox (previous versions are EOL'd). Edited August 1, 2011 by Arthur
mthomas08 Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 from one of the comments there: I was thinking that, how many people buy a PC and leave IE on it just because "They have no clue how to change it" or are happy "If its not broke, don't fix it". We force people here to use IE, Why? Because frankly we have had too many issues with Firefox/Opera and Chrome. For some reason when installed it seems to cause all sorts of "Random" issues. No joke on the Random either, one laptop even had graphics driver issues as a result of Chrome installed.... once removed - worked fine with a projector. That survey would be like saying "Only Haters don't use IE" because so many people just hate Microsoft. My home PC has both Firefox and IE, my work PC though I stick to IE over Firefox.
superfletch Posted August 1, 2011 Posted August 1, 2011 I've been an Opera user for over 10 years, since version 3.5! In that case judging by the bar chart back in 2006 you were dumber than an IE6 or IE7 user. Personally I've liked IE since v7, I'm forced to use v8 at work and choose v9 at home as I like the minimalist interface. Sure I've used plenty of other browsers just to compare but never had a genuine NEED to use a different one. I think your browser choice comes down to personal preference and if you need your browser to do extra functions then you'll go with what's appropriate Firefox was probably the first Browser to offer extensions so it's cornered a large number of users that way. IE will of course get more stick than the others and it will always have a higher proportion of idiots using it as it is the default browser for the default OS.
thepineapplehead Posted August 2, 2011 Posted August 2, 2011 (edited) I have firefox blinkers on, have been using it since 0.7 I don't use IE because its slow to load - but then with the amount of extensions my firefox has, and the increase in program size, IE probably loads quicker. I just don't use it out of principle - it is much better than it used to be. However for everyone complaining that firefox keeps changing its UI, have you compared IEs interface from 6 to 9? Edited August 2, 2011 by thepineapplehead
CAM Posted August 3, 2011 Posted August 3, 2011 You've kind of missed the point of why MS offer a browser choice now - because they were legally forced to due to them engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. Ubuntu, as far as I know, has over a dozen browsers available from the default repositories (ie. a choice), but also doesn't have any form of monopoly and isn't trying to use that monopoly to leverage their way into other markets. MS offer a (supposedly) one-time prompt asking which browser they prefer. Beforehand users had to download and install the browser after looking for it. Ubuntu you have to go into the repository and look for it. How is that any different?
JJonas Posted August 4, 2011 Posted August 4, 2011 It looks like the report was a hoax BBC News - Internet Explorer story was bogus
6Foot2 Posted August 7, 2011 Posted August 7, 2011 It looks like the report was a hoax BBC News - Internet Explorer story was bogus Another report stating that the report was a hoax: Link: 'Dumb IE users' report faked, admits scam's architect - Computerworld
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