Just a week ago, Microsoft finally threw the final wrench at their infamous web browser, Internet Explorer. Graphical web browsing was definitely a breakthrough and the industry has continued to push web browsers. We now see performance, privacy and other areas serve as focal development points. Asking the question of preferred web browser can be a lengthy discussion now. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Brave Browser and much more might pop up in results. Somewhere at the bottom of that list, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer might be mentioned. At the time of release and the following few years during the rage of Windows 95, Internet Explorer was all the rage and I spent countless hours using it. Fast forward to the present and IE has struggled to keep up with its iterative updates over the last few decades. Maintaining legacy compatibility has made the browser an infested mess and the lack of support in recent years guaranteed its certain death.
That day came on the 17th of August 2020. It’s safe to say that the application won’t be missed where companies are offering secure and robust browsers. It took a while for this to happen but Microsoft have finally put IE to rest and their efforts with Edge will continue in its steed. The internet looks back at Microsoft’s web browser with a sour taste, it’s been a platform that suffocated and destroyed the vision of Netscape. It reminds me of Microsoft’s approach to open source software, money is always the game and they will go to lengths to dominate and stifle anything that might threaten their various areas of business. Edge hasn’t ignited excitement across the board but it does use Chromium at least.
If you’re browsing at the office on Internet Explorer, it might be time to have a word with your I.T. department. I would be lying if I said I missed IE, but a life with less viruses, popup control and overall resource efficiency has made me forget about the Microsoft’s bundled software altogether. Enterprises relying on IE will have to migrate but this is for the best. Microsoft will continue to push Edge, especially on their enterprise customers but the market has many alternatives now. It’s time to get with the times and look into better solutions, for which there are many. My early days on the internet will always remember the time spent using Microsoft’s browser but times move on and everyone else should too.
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