From the beginning, Internet Explorer versions have been problematic for me because of the diabolical decision of Microsoft (MS) not to conform with accepted “universal” codes or practices.
Obviously, it started with Microsoft’s almost total monopoly of the OS at some point. Using this monopoly, it easily killed Netscape, by bundling IE with its OS knowing fully well that most clients are too lazy or too clueless to look for better alternatives.
Not satisfied with that, in an attempt to further isolate (with hope of destroying) Apple, at some point, it decided to discontinue any IE versions for Apple computers.
There are universal html codes and other layouting standards accepted by many browsers, but with MS destroying Netscape, it created a greater barrier for other browsers by deviating from the universal html codes and other layouting standards.
As a result, if you look at any website script, a great part of the efforts would be attempts to workaround the idiosyncracies of IE, and their various iterations. These workarounds obviously slow the site.
Maybe there should be a concerted campaign among programmers and webdesigners as well as users to use alternative technologies that conform more to standards. If it succeeds, this may marginalize certain MS products, like the IE, that do not conform to universal standards.
No “good deeds” go unpunished
These unfair monopolistic strategies has worked for Microsoft quite well over the years. It got so arrogant. Now, these past deed are slowly coming to haunt Microsoft in a fast changing technology environment.
And, when their strategy won’t work, they just make a copy of the technology of the small innovative competition or another strategy is to pre-empt the competition by publicizing that Microsoft is going to create a similar product but won’t follow up with it. Or perhaps, they really do not have to imagination to do it.
If recall, it was Bill Gates showed a demo of a mobile computing device long before the iPhone was even announced. If I recall correctly, it was also Bill Gates who showed the power of touch and cloud computing.
The thing was, they were just gimmicks. So that when others upstage Microsoft, what do they do? They attempt to ridicule the innovation, or rush to make the own, haphazardly.
Remember Steve Ballmer’s infamous response to the original iPhone?
Now, it is Microsoft that is catching up, but not making it, with zune, its Mobile OS becoming irrelevant, and yeah, it also built its own App Store, and many music stores, and actual physical stores near existing Apple Stores complete with its genius bars.
Cornelio
