Why is Internet Explorer so popular?

Same reason AOL is still in business.

A product that is easily accessible and learned by any idiot doesn't have to be great. Do you think that the average computer user has any idea what "standards compliant" means? Of course not...

They just know that when they pressed the "on" button on their brand new HP that they bought from some pimpled-up 17 year old at Best Buy who said it was "top of the line", IE was sitting on the desktop, smiling up at them.

When they clicked on it, it worked. They get to where they need to go, and since they don't know that there is any better way to get around, IE continues to rule the browser market.

Firefox is gaining ground, though...and that is really good news. As that happens, MS will be forced to actually compete with someone, and put some effort into their wares.

In 1996, the most popular browser in the world was Netscape Navigator. Why? It was free. Microsoft charged $49 for IE. Then an interesting thing happened.

Gates decided he could give IE away for free and could make money on the server side of things. Let the businesses that wanted to develop web sites pay a boatload for server applications and that would offset the development costs for IE. At the same time that was happening, the folks at Netscape decided if IE was charging $49, so could they.

Within a week of each other, they flip flopped. IE was free and Navigator was $49. Navigator never recovered and IE became the dominant browser.

Microsoft decided that to maximize profits they had to give something away for free. It sounds counterintuitive, but it worked. And it worked well.

What do you mean it's not even standards compliant? It seems to work on all the standards. I find it display pages more correctly than other browsers like Firefox and Safari. However, it is slow. Part of the reason for it's widespread use is that it comes with Windows. Why download something else when your computer already has IE and IE works?

Because it's preinstalled with every Microsoft Windows system and people are too lazy to download a different one (or are unaware of alternatives).

When has the standards interpretation of IE ever stopped you from viewing a site? Are we talking semantics here? Are you saying it's bad because all the firefox people are saying it's bad? Sounds like a popularity contest and an uninformed opinion to me.

I'm not like most people/sheep around here. I'm a power user with a ton of computer experience, and I like IE. For one thing, certain cites only work with IE (OWA on Exchange 2007 really takes advantage of IE quite nicely for example, and I can push out group policies quite easily in an Active Directory domain environment).

It's just a little behind the curve when it comes to standards, but then again who cares?

If I had to choose a different browser, I would go Opera. I don't like the attitude Firefox users have. Opera is very fast, and they also invented a lot of features that other browsers steal (like tabbed browsing).

It's easily attainable?

All the schools I've attended have used Internet Explorer, so I've kind of become accustomed to using it, which is why I haven't abandoned it for say, Firefox. I don't really have time to learn the ins and outs of using another browser, I like the one I'm familiar with.

It was on my computer when I bought it as well. It's preinstalled on all Windows computers, and let's face it, they're popular.

I think most importantly, it's free. I do agree though, what are they at, Internet Explorer 8? I guess it's good they're improving the browser, but with 7 improvements you'd think it'd be close to flawless by now.

The answer is clear, Microsoft jams their browser down our throats. If you were to remove it, the Windows would crash. So personally I delete the shortcuts and rename the files so it never again works.

We used to install whichever browsers we wanted when the internet first came out. That is how it should be today - fair competition.

Because the majority of people who use the internet are retards, unfortunately. The interwebnet is a cesspool of netspeaking, trend-whoring social leeches who all seem to have some sort of people interaction/speech impediment.

Oh wait, this question was about IE.

Damn.

Because it's bundled into the most popular operating system in the world, and quite a few people don't know about alternatives.

It's cause it comes on all Windows computers. You gotta download most other browsers.

I don't really know. I use Firefox and it's so much better!

i guess people are just so used to horrible internet service!

some people have to use internet explorer because their computer is so old.