SAN FRANCISCO – Microsoft Internet Explorer marks its 15th anniversary this week. The first version of the browser was launched back in the summer of 1995 and since then the browser–now in its eighth rendition–has undergone numerous updates, revisions and versions.

IE went on to become extremely popular, largely thanks to its deep integration as part of Windows. Within just a few short years, Internet Explorer dominated the browser wars, claiming as much as 95% market share, mainly at the expense of competitor Netscape Navigator.

However, IE’s rise did not continue forever. In 2004, Mozilla launched an open-source alternative, Firefox. As the years went by, Firefox slowly chipped away at IE’s market share.

Today, the browser landscape is a very different one, with Chrome, Safari, Opera and many others all competing for a slice of users’ Web time. But despite the range of choices, IE is–like it or not–still the world’s most popular browser holding a combined market share of over 60%.

Let’s look back over the browser’s past, and look ahead at where it’s headed:

Internet Explorer 1

Internet Explorer 1 launched on August 16, 1995. Based on Spyglass Inc.’s Mosaic browser, version one of IE was built by a team of just five or six programmers and came in at just under 1MB. While IE wasn’t initially included in the OEM version of Windows 95, it came bundled with Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95.

Internet Explorer 2

Released just three months after the first version; IE 2 arrived on November 22, 1995, with versions for Windows NT, Windows 95 and Windows 3.1. Microsoft released a beta version for PowerPC-based Macs in January of 1996. IE 2 added support for HTML tables and cookies–a quaint notion in today’s HTML5 world.

IE 2′s executable size? A whole 1.1MB.

Internet Explorer 3

Microsoft launched IE 3 in August 1996 for Windows PCs. Version 3 saw the introduction of the blue ‘e’ logo that is now synonymous with Internet Explorer. IE 3 came to the Mac in January 1997; version 3.01 of IE later became the default browser on Macs. It was the first mainstream browser to support cascading style sheets (CSS). IE 2 also included an e-mail client known as Internet Mail & News (which eventually became Outlook Express), and added support for GIF and JPEG images.

It could also play MIDI audio files, marking the birth of websites with annoying auto-playing sound files.

Internet Explorer 4

Microsoft released IE 4 during September of 1997. Bundled with Windows 98; Microsoft marketed it with the tag-line “The web the way you want it,” and added more new features, such as support for favicons. As part of the San Francisco launch event, Microsoft planted a giant blue ‘e’ on Netscape’s front lawn. The browser wars were on!
Internet Explorer also made its debut on Sun Microsystem’s Unix OS Solaris in 1998.

Internet Explorer 5

Microsoft’s fifth version of IE arrived in March of 1999, introducing a selection of new features. Microsoft added Compatibility Mode for testing purposes, and bi-directional text support was also added–an important feature for many international users. New search, history and favorite features were also included.

IE5 carried a download size of 37MB for 32-bit PCs, and as of March 2000, Internet Explorer 5 had a market share of over 50%.

Internet Explorer 6

August 2001 saw the release of IE 6, ready for the debut of Windows XP. By late 2003 Internet Explorer accounted for around 90% of the browser market, thanks in part to IE 6′s success. But despite its success in the market, IE 6 was universally slammed for its poor security features–a reputation Internet Explorer still carries to this day. The browser added a number of new features, and it also gained a pop-up blocker with its second service pack.
Now nearly a decade old, IE 6 still has a market share of nearly 17%.

Internet Explorer 7

After nearly six years since the initial release of IE6, in 2006 Microsoft finally graced users with a new version of their browser–IE7. During this gap between releases, Mozilla had released Firefox, and many features seen in Firefox made their way into IE7.

The browser, which was available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, brought tabbed browsing to IE,and introduced page zooming, a separate search bar, and support for RSS. For this release the browser was renamed, make a subtle change from Microsoft Internet Explorer to Windows Internet Explorer.

Internet Explorer 8

Version eight saw a general release in March of 2009, it is the default browser for Windows 7 and is the latest available version, coming with support for up-to 63 different languages.

Microsoft detailed that improvements to CSS and Ajax handling were a priority. The new browser also saw the introduction of a private browsing mode, which makes browsing history hard to find. Other browsers offered a similar feature, Microsoft’s is called InPrivate browsing.

A new feature known as Accelerators also debuted, offering access to additional Web information for any highlighted text.

What’s next….

Microsoft’s next browser, Internet Explorer 9, is due to enter beta next month. IE9 promises to have better support for new web standards, such as CSS3, HTML5 and more.

SAN FRANCISCO – Ballmer promised the world that a Windows 7 tablet is coming. Maybe it is, or maybe it’s just a pipedream, but Microsoft doesn’t need to focus on developing a Windows 7 tablet. Microsoft does need to focus on having a strategy for taking advantage of the changing mobile computing market–but it doesn’t have to include a Windows 7 tablet.
The assurance of a Microsoft tablet from Ballmer seemed more like a macho reaction to a triple-dog dare than a legitimate Microsoft project. It’s as if the analysts and media challenged Ballmer’s manhood, and Ballmer couldn’t accept that Apple and Google have tablets without throwing Microsoft’s hat into the ring as well.

Here is what I have noticed, though: Exxon-Mobil does not build cars, and Coca Cola does not involve itself in manufacturing refrigerators. Exxon-Mobil wants to continue to ensure that its fuel is used in as many different vehicles as possible, and Coca-Cola would like to have its beverages in every refrigerator, but each focuses on how to adapt and improve its own products, and how to better market existing products, rather than trying to sell the cow and the milk at the same time.

Microsoft has strengths, and it has weaknesses. Rather than trying to overcome its weaknesses to flounder about in a futile attempt to compete in markets that aren’t its core business, Microsoft should focus on its strengths, and how to continue to evolve and adapt them to meet the changing needs of its customers.

At one point, mobility was about putting a Windows desktop into a more portable form factor, and supplying the world with Windows laptops, but the game has changed. That means that Microsoft does need to recognize that mobility is rapidly changing and determine where it fits in the new equation, but it doesn’t need to build the mobile platforms.
The rise of increasingly powerful and capable smartphones, and the introduction of the tablet revolution have shifted mobility away from Windows. The next generation of mobile computing relies on a mobile OS that is uniquely suited for mobile devices. Microsoft will shoot itself in the foot if it continues to try to make mobile computing about putting its Windows desktop operating system into new gadgets.

Most of the world relies on Microsoft Office for essential productivity software. Microsoft’s customers are heavily invested in Microsoft server technologies like Exchange, SharePoint, and Office Communications Server, and they want tools to allow them to access the Microsoft backend while on the go.

Rather than wasting time and money pursuing a Microsoft-centric platform that would probably only capture 10 percent of the market anyway, Microsoft should be building its mobility strategy on developing cross-platform solutions, or platform-specific apps that enable the 90 percent of the market to continue using Microsoft software no matter what smartphone or tablet they choose.

LONDON – With its iPad capturing 6 percent of the portable PC segment in the second quarter of 2010 Apple will continue lead the media tablet market through at least 2011 largely because of the lack of innovation in the netbook market.

Canalys today released its quarterly worldwide PC market data, highlighting Apple’s jump into the top five PC vendors. The iPad captured approximately 6 percent of the portable PC segment in Q2 2010, with over 3 million units shipped during the device’s first few months on the market.

“Apart from the ‘Apple effect’, the iPad owes its success to a lack of advancement in other portable computing segments, such as netbooks,” said Canalys Vice President and Principal Analyst Chris Jones.

“To capture share moving forward, PC makers will have to take the netbook to the next level or go after new customer segments with their own pads.”

Many manufacturers have announced the launch of pads for later this year, and Canalys expects pads to overtake netbooks by 2012.

Canalys expects the pad PC market to reach 12.5 million units in 2010, growing to 66 million by the end of 2014.

Due to its first-to-market advantage, Canalys anticipates that Apple will continue lead the market through at least 2011. As more vendors enter the market, however, there will be a period of experimentation with a range of various models aimed at both consumer and enterprise customers.

“The key to creating a great user experience on a connected mobile device is ensuring that the hardware and software work together in harmony,’ said Jones.

“Platforms such as Android, iOS, webOS and possibly BlackBerry, as well as Chrome, MeeGo and Windows, are likely to battle it out in the pad market over the next three years.”

“As the number of consumers with multiple devices increases, it will also be important for pads to seamlessly integrate with existing equipment,” said Canalys Senior Analyst Natalie Spitz.

“In addition to synchronization capabilities, vendors should be prepared to take a strategic look at content – all-important, but often overlooked.”

Though some overlap will be inevitable, Canalys forecasts that pads and netbooks will continue to coexist in the portable PC market for some time.

As the pad represents an additional luxury purchase to a certain extent, customers may eventually choose between the two devices, causing the netbook market to soften as vendors develop their pad offerings.

SAN FRANCISCO – Now is a particularly good time to ditch Windows for good, for workstations as well as servers. For instance, now that Microsoft stopped supporting Windows Server 2003 on July 13, you’ll need to find something different to use for your servers. Whether it’s switching from Windows Server 2003 to 2008 or to Linux-based servers–or changing out tired and faulty Windows Vista desktops for the alien Windows 7 or something more user-friendly–Linux provides you with freedom and freedom of choice.

You might believe that dumping Windows and switching to Linux is a difficult task, but the change in thought and the perception of that switch are the most difficult. If you’ve attempted an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, you know what pain is.

Business owners find that Linux, for what was once a “niche” operating system, provides the necessary components and services on which many rely. Linux continues its entry into the world’s largest data centers, onto hundreds of thousands of individual desktops, and it represents a near 100 percent domination of the cloud services industry. Take the time to discover Linux and use it in your business. Here are ten reasons to give Linux at least a second look:

1. Commercial Support

In the past, businesses used the lack of commercial support as the main reason for staying with Windows. Red Hat, Novell and Canonical, the “big three” commercial Linux providers, have put this fear to rest. Each of these companies offers 24x7x365 support for your mission-critical applications and business services.

2. .NET Support

Businesses that have standardized on Microsoft technology, specifically their .NET web technology, can rely on Linux for support of those same .NET applications. Novell owns and supports the Mono project that maintains .NET compatibility. One of the Mono project’s goals is to provide businesses the ability to make a choice and to resist vendor lock-in. Additionally, the Mono project offers Visual Studio plugins so that .NET developers can easily transfer Windows-based .NET applications without changing their familiar development tools. Why would Novell and others put forth the effort to create a .NET environment for Linux? For real .NET application stability, Linux is a better choice than Windows.

3. Unix Uptimes

Linux stability offers business owners the peace of mind that their applications won’t suffer lengthy outages due to operating system instability. Linux enjoys the same high uptimes (often measured in years) that its Unix cousins do. This stability means that Linux can support your “99.999 percent available” service requirements. Rebooting after every patch, service pack, or driver change makes Windows an unstable and unreliable choice for those who need nonstop support for their critical applications and services.

4. Security

No operating system is 100 percent secure and Linux is no exception. But, Linux offers excellent security for its users. From regular kernel updates to an almost daily list of security patches, Linux code maintainers keep Linux systems very secure. Business owners who rely on commercially supported Linux systems will have access to every available security fix. With Linux, you have a worldwide community providing security fixes, not a single company with closed source code. You are completely dependent on the response of one company to provide you with timely security fixes when you use Windows.

5. Transferable skills

One barrier to Linux adoption was the idea that Linux isn’t enough like Unix, and therefore Unix administrators couldn’t successfully use their knowledge when making the switch to Linux. The Linux filesystem layout looks like any commercial version of Unix. Linux also uses a standard set of Unix commands. There are some Linux commands that do not transfer, but this is also true of any version of Unix.

Windows administrators might find that using a keyboard instead of a mouse is a difficult part of the transition, but once they discover the power of the command line, they might never click again. Don’t worry, though, for you GUI-bound Windows types, Linux has several desktop managers from which to choose–not just one.

6. Commodity hardware

Business owners will like the fact that their “out-of-date” systems will still run Linux and run it well. Fortunately for Linux adopters, there’s no hardware upgrade madness that follows every new version of the software that’s released. Linux runs on x86 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. If your system runs Windows, it will run Linux.

7. Linux is free

You may have heard that Linux is free. It is. Linux is free of charge and it is free in the sense that it is also free of patents and other restrictions that make it unwieldy for creative business owners who wish to edit and enhance the source code. This ability to innovate with Linux has helped create companies like Google, who have taken that ability and converted it into big business. Linux is free, as in freedom.

8. Worldwide community

Linux has the support of a worldwide community of developers who contribute to the source code, security fixes and system enhancements. This active community also provides businesses with free support through forums and community sites. This distributed community gives peace of mind to Linux users, because there’s no single point of failure and no single source for Linux support or development.

9. Linux Foundation

The Linux Foundation is a corporate collective of platinum supporters (Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Intel, NEC, Novell and Oracle) and members who, through donations and membership dues, sponsor Linus Torvalds and others who work on Linux full time. Their purpose is to “promote, protect and standardize Linux to fuel its growth around the world.” It is the primary source for all things Linux. The Linux Foundation is a big positive for Linux users and adopters because its existence assures continued development of Linux.

10. Regular Updates

Are you tired of waiting for a Windows service pack every 18 months? Are you also tired of the difficulty in upgrading your Windows systems every few years because there’s no clear upgrade path? (Ubuntu Linux offers new, improved versions every six months) and long-term support (LTS) versions every two years. Every Linux distribution offers regular updates of its packages and sources several times per year and security fixes as needed. You can leave any upgrade angst in your officially licensed copy of Windows because it’s easy to upgrade and update Linux. And, the best part? No reboot required.

If you’d like to give Linux a try, there are several distributions that are free to download and use without the need for any commercial support contract:

• CentOS — Red Hat Enterprise Linux-based free distribution
• Ubuntu — Free, enterprise Linux distribution (Commercial support available).
• Fedora — The Fedora Project is the free, community-supported version of Red Hat Linux.
• OpenSUSE — The free, community-supported version of Novell’s SUSE Linux.
• Debian — The parent distribution for many Linux distributions including Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
You can find information regarding switching from Windows to Linux through the Linux Foundation or any of its platinum members. When it comes to increasing your efficiency, saving money, and providing non-stop services to your business and its customers, how many reasons do you need?