Microsoft Windows, also called Windows and Windows OS, computer operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation for personal computers (PCs). Microsoft software is owned by Bill Gates, who launched Internet Explorer, a web browser included in the company’s line of business in 1995.
For the longest time, Microsoft has been the go-to for audiences, especially for browsing; an intermediate stage for audiences to link to other platforms. However, the longest stay wasn’t reliable and lost its support from the audience. Therefore, shutting down Internet Explorer seems to be the best course of action.
Jake Saunder (Vice President Asia Pacific & Advisory Services) stated in his interview with CNN; that Internet Explorer stayed there for almost half his life and it had around 90 percent market share. Then the arrival of its competitors was one of the biggest threats.
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer’s era of dominance ended long before it shuttered. However, if we look back in history Microsoft had shunned its biggest competitor that had dominated the internet market; Netscape Navigator, which back then was the only browser that had gone mainstream. In the opinion of many netizens, the pop-out widget was one of the most unique and cool features of that time, but the Microsoft browser; “Internet Explorer”, took over and became a monopoly. Many may compare this platform shutting down to Netscape Navigator’s disappearing around 2003.
Saunder further added that Internet Explorer retired because the consumer demands were met more through chrome and safari as both the browsers have about 65 percent and 90 percent market share, respectively.
The reaction of Netizens to shutting down Internet Explorer
“Is internet explorer shutting down?” has been the most asked question by the users as soon as the news about its shutdown has been released because in some way or another its users have an association with the legacy it holds. Some audiences also express disappointment because it is still used for administrative purposes in regions like Asia.
MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory tweeted “Rest in peace, Internet Explorer. You’ll be missed. We feel old.” Tom Warren, a Senior Editor for The Verge reacted to Internet Explorer’s shut down by tweeting a meme and stating: “is internet explorer truly dead?”; Many prominent personalities, organizations, and people had shown their concern for its shut down; but at the same time relieved because according to them Chrome has been the ultimate user-friendly browser for them.
Shutting down Internet Explorer was right or not?
However, the real question arises whether shutting down Internet Explorer has given an advantage to its competitors or was never a threat? The exit of Internet Explorer from the digital market was a mere formality because its demise had taken place long before its announcement. It was nothing but an e-store for users to download other browsers i.e Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, etc. Google stayed in the market because it constantly updated its features and kept on synchronizing data with other devices.
The digital market moves forward rigorously by constantly changing the algorithms of its server, apps, etc to meet the consumers’ demand. Those who made it and are still in the market should be vigilant in identifying and implementing changes; otherwise, those browsers and firms may have to face the consequences of dying and disappearing.
Conclusion
However, for developers and those wishing to access legacy applications, Edge has an inbuilt “IE mode”. As a result, Microsoft says access to its legacy desktop browser will remain available on older versions of Windows, including Windows 8.1, Windows 7 Extended Security Updates; and limited versions of Windows 10. In addition, Internet Explorer’s legacy will live on long after its retirement since it came pre-installed on Windows computers for more than two decades.
