Internet Explorer. What is considered the "only real browser" by some, I call the most evil, steaming pile of feces ever to come out of Redmond since EDLIN. Just the thought of that "e" with the swoosh around it sends chills down my spine. Well, let's get this over with; here comes the Internet Explorer flame page! Complete with technical and not-so technical comparison between IE and Firefox, a list of 'Features", and of course "Why IE became so evil".

The Good Ol' Boys Days

Think back to a time long past; a time where life was simple, programs were light, and the Internet was, for the most part, a bunch of independent servers which ran newsgroups and IRC chats. I am talking about 1995. (You know, the era my site finally left behind?) Back then, Windows was an operating environment that ran on top of DOS. Heck, a lot of the existing programs back then closed Windows to get more of the system's resources! Back then there was no Internet Explorer. There was NCSA Mosaic and Spyglass Mosaic (no relation). However, in 1995, Microsoft licensed the little-known Spyglass Mosaic and turned it into Internet Explorer. (Dum dum dummm....) Microsoft released Internet Explorer 1.0 in 1995 with the Internet Jumpstart Kit in the Windows 95 Plus! Pack. Microsoft released version 3 with 95 OSR2, dubbed "Microsoft Windows 95 with Internet Explorer". This version did away with all of the Windows 95 Shell systems, instead making all folder and drive icons spawn Internet Explorer windows. This was the first step to the Dark Side.

Browser Wars: The Microsoft Menace

Version 4 was released with the initial version of Windows 98, back in 1998. Since its 95 debut, it was tweaked and integrated even more with Windows. One such new feature was the "Active Desktop", which allowed the user to set web pages as the computer's wallpaper, so they could embed news pages, common links, and pr0n into their computer's desktop, all updated live. (OK so I doubt M$ intended for people to have live, updated pr0n on their desktops, but you KNOW at least ONE person did!) IE 4 also added support for DHTML, XML, and several other cutting-edge technologies. It also included Outlook Express, to eliminate the aging Microsoft Mail and News program.

IE 5 was released in late 1998, and included better support for new formats than version 4 did. It has the significance of being the last version to be compatible with 16-bit Windows, ie 3.1, 3.11, and NT 3.1. This is the version almost everyone uses, because it shipped with Windows 98 SE, ME, and 2000.

Now while all this browser integration was great for Microsoft, it made life for Netscape and other alternative browser users living hell. Sites were popping up left and right that were "IE only", or "ROFL YOU USE NETSCAPE?! GET A REAL BROWSER N00B!" (as some people must have seen it.) And of course the US Department of Justice didn't like it either, as the lawsuit came up "The United States vs. Microsoft Corporation". M$ was being charged because they illegally monopolized the internet market by including Internet Explorer with every copy of Windows. And in Windows 98 they integrated it so much into the system that there was no way for the average user to uninstall it. But M$ got off with a mere slap on the wrists, without any serious charges. After that, Netscape fell out of the user's attention. Since there was no competition left, Microsoft ceased major IE development.

Top 11 Reasons Why Microsoft Internet Explorer is Evil

1. There's no way to uninstall it
2. It allows programs to run by themselves by default
3. Active Desktop. I need not say more.
4. ActiveX lets hackers do ANYTHING to your computer
5. Some websites require it
6. It stomped out Netscape :'(
7. No major development on it in, what, 6 years?
8. IE is integrated into the desktop. If it crashes, then it brings down your whole system. Not so with Firefox.
9. Pop-Ups
10. It's a Microsoft product
11. Because if a huge multi billion-dollar corporation can't keep spyware and viruses from infecting their browser, but a bunch of open source "hippies" can, then there is something seriously wrong.

Seriously, Internet explorer is an outdated piece of shit.I mean, look at this. http://www.xulplanet.com/ndeakin/arts/reasons.html

It's a list of 101 things Mozilla/Firefox can do that Interweb Exploder cannot.

Anti-IE Links

http://www.toastytech.com/evil/index.html

On the contrary, I have set up 4 PCs without IE, or even Windows! :P Open Source all the way! No more mandatory space-wasting virus portals!

Up yours, Bill gates. Up yours.

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