Poll: IE users are kinda stupid...

[Da Orky Man]

I tend to use Chrome, simply because it runs noticeably faster on my netbook. and I mean 2-4 times faster.

 

[Xanadu84]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Correlation. A Magical world where wild implied causalities can be extracted from completely arbitrary numbers.

Take the smarter people in the world, those with at least some computer knowledge. Many of them will switch to a different browser, because they are knowledgeable enough to make an informed choice. Smart people will be distributed amongst those browsers.

Amongst those intelligent people, plenty will choose Internet Explorer.

Now take the less intelligent people with no computer knowledge. They simply won't change the default. Meaning they will all "Choose" IE.

If Firefox were the default browser on computers, then Firefox would be the lowest IQ average. All that means is that you need to be reasonably intelligent to have an opinion in the first place. Once you are amongst the group of intelligent people who make informed choices, you aren't going to find any appreciable difference.

Throw in social pressures amongst "Smart" groups that have nothing to do with actual intelligence, shortcomings of an internet IQ test, shortcomings of IQ tests in general, and any unforeseen selection bias, and you firmly arrive at absolutely no causality. I'm sure the correlation exists, and that correlation might be helpful, but it says absolutely zip about your choice of internet browser as a predictor of your intelligence.

 

[DiabloBub666]

I've downloaded as many browsers as I can get my hands on and sampled them (I have a mac, so IE isn't really applicable...). Out of all the browsers I've tried, Chrome runs the fastest and has the least amount of problems associated with it. Safari was fast at first, but it slowly broke down on my computer for a reason I still don't know. Firefox is OK as far as browsing speed, but it has certain, er, features that make it less enjoyable to use (for instance, the search bar stays the same no matter what tab you're on). Opera is fast but a bit unintuitive. I've tried others, but they haven't really matched any of these four. Any of these are fine, but I like Chrome the best...

 

[Lilani]

Well here's the problem.

"AptiQuant, a "psychometric consulting" firm that provides hiring exams for businesses, gave online IQ tests to more than 100,000 people."

Who the fuck takes an online IQ test seriously?

 

[imperialreign]

I love how there's no shortage of people that want to beat IE into the dirt . . .

. . . oddly enough, 90% of the time they're over zealous FF users . . .

Regarding the IQ? ROFLMAO! That's one of the best arguements FOR alternative browsers I've heard yet! Really, what a biased study. Simply because some users are still using out-dated IE doesn't mean they're of any lower IQ . . . it (more-than-likely) means that someone hasn't taken the time to educate them on maintaing their system's software.

I wish someone could actively demonstrate where IE isn't as secure as other browsers, because I absolutely fail to see the difference . . . even more shocking considering I rarely, if ever, have either my AV software or firewall enabled, unless I plan on delving into the bowels of the intardwebz. Oddly enough, a lot of my buddies (who're avid Opera and FF users) run into MORE issues with keyloggers, spyware and viruses in one year than I have over the last 4 years - even with their assortment of well-known high-dollar AV and Firewall suites. Call me old-school, but the easiest way to keep your shit secure is by simply keeping it all up-to-date - which is how IE started to get such a bad rap; from all the non-tech savvy users who're simply use what came installed on their system . . . y'know, the people still running IE5 and IE6.

There is really no difference in browser security. IE's biggest problem is that it has a larger user-base, so more malware is designed towards it's idiosyncricies . . . FF has been slowly earning itself a larger market claim, and at the same time has been slowly earning itself a broader range of malware to go with it. Again, the browser in question has no sway on security if you don't keep your shit up-to-date.

The only thing I'll give a nod towards other browsers over: they're more flexible and offer more user configurability; something IE is still desperately lacking. Otherwise, I've personally found IE to be faster in displaying pages than other browsers . . . simply for the fact that 90% of all websites are still coded for IE primarily. It's simple common sense - the largest user base sways website design. I'm not saying all, as there are pages designed to be displayed with FF, Opera, Chrome, Safari, etc. but they're few and far between. Besides, from my experience using other browsers, IE displays a page properly more often than other browsers do.

Anyhow, just $.02 from a long, long-term IE user here, who's still be unable to be swayed by the browser zealouts that abound on tech-related sites.

Spare me the flaming and the bullshit propaganda replies to my post, as I don't intend to acknowledge them . . . unless you take the time to write out a REAL reply in a cordial manner while attempting to back up statements with facts (as I'm always up for a good debate), I'm simply going to pass it off as zealous blithering and babbling . . . otherwise known as fanboishness.

 

[thiosk]

I'd rather use IE than firefox. As far as I can tell, while IE use correlates to stupidity, Firefox correlates to being a mindless parrot (Microsoft is bad! microsoft is bad! *GWAK* Firefox! Firefox! *GWAK*)

I, of course, use chrome, which correlates to:

Being very intelligent.
Being Very good-looking.
Having a VEry large manhood.
Owning a VERy fast and amazingly eco-friendly car.
Being married to a VERY sexy partner with enormous breasts\pectoral muscles.
Using very in sentences, with ascending capitalization.

only kidding. kinda. firefox drones are annoying. good god its a browser, its like microsoft killed your mother and raped your father.

(the biggest problem with most browsers is that they allow "toolbar" installation, which piggyback on other applications. Oh god, the horrors. I havn't found anything that interacts in that way with chrome, so it remains quite snappy.)

 

[Noswad]

Well in my humble opinion IE is a brown streak on the face of the internet, people who use it are not stupid, merely ill-informed. I cannot think of a single person i know who went back to IE once they'd tried crome, carrier pigeons or the royal mail, all being infinitely faster. As for security i don't think Browsers make much of a difference, so long as you practice common sense when on the internet.

Maybe not the best avatar to be discussing computers and run-speed in.

So many critical people on this matter, so many skewed opinions. You act as if other browsers do no wrong. Well, I'm here to tell ya that they DO and you'll have to live with that. The reason the 'study' is a load of bullshit is because it's all a matter of choice, circumstance, and what works for the individual. I'll give you an example.

I have both IE and Firefox on this computer, the one I'm on right now. Firefox takes longer to load things and it won't always do my flash right. Like, I'll be trying to play a game on Newgrounds and it flubs it up. Everything's up to date, no doubt. Still does it wrong. I don't even have Chrome, but I hear as many liking it as not.

I think the problem is that many of you are feeding a bias because your system stats ON TOP OF your browsers are good as well. Now, can we get over this shit already? It's a bit flamey in here.

He has a IQ of 6000 y'know

Ok probably heavy on the exaggerations, but I have to respond to the system stats bit. I run an old clunky, but powerful, desktop and a newish, but low spec, laptop and for both Chrome has proved the fastest.

 

[Verlander]

It's by far the most common, and pretty intelligent people can be ignorant about computers. I use Opera, and I'm hardly the smartest guy in the world. Maybe 3rd or 4th...

 

[JezebelinHell]

I really do not think that people that use IE realize that there have been serious security issues with the browser. People that work in the tech field for any length of time have spent years watching this hole and that hole being manipulated to the consumers detriment over and over. If you haven't spent years fixing and patching the problems Microsoft lets slide repeatedly into their software why would you care?

Yes, the browser comes installed on you machine. Yes, it does work. At some point you are either forced to pay attention to your security by something happening or you continue to get lucky and go about your way naive to the reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_web_browsers#Vulnerabilities

I am not really familiar with Chrome, I am happy with Firefox. Why is it different? Firefox is open source. There are people that could be hackers looking for the holes in IE to exploit. With Firefox there are people looking for the holes for bounty. Yeah, if you find a security hole in Firefox it could net you $3k I believe it is up to now. The business development for IE is to hide the holes and hope no one finds them. There were security holes in IE that were used just a year or so ago to hack WoW accounts. Turned out to be a known issue going back to IE version 5. Between version 5 and 7 it was not fixed until it was exploited. That is the Microsoft model. When your security holes lead to millions of people being at risk, it is not the model to follow. That is why a lot of people working in the tech field do not use IE, it is not blind hate of Microsoft, it is past experience.

 

[FalloutJack]

Well in my humble opinion IE is a brown streak on the face of the internet, people who use it are not stupid, merely ill-informed. I cannot think of a single person i know who went back to IE once they'd tried crome, carrier pigeons or the royal mail, all being infinitely faster. As for security i don't think Browsers make much of a difference, so long as you practice common sense when on the internet.

Maybe not the best avatar to be discussing computers and run-speed in.

So many critical people on this matter, so many skewed opinions. You act as if other browsers do no wrong. Well, I'm here to tell ya that they DO and you'll have to live with that. The reason the 'study' is a load of bullshit is because it's all a matter of choice, circumstance, and what works for the individual. I'll give you an example.

I have both IE and Firefox on this computer, the one I'm on right now. Firefox takes longer to load things and it won't always do my flash right. Like, I'll be trying to play a game on Newgrounds and it flubs it up. Everything's up to date, no doubt. Still does it wrong. I don't even have Chrome, but I hear as many liking it as not.

I think the problem is that many of you are feeding a bias because your system stats ON TOP OF your browsers are good as well. Now, can we get over this shit already? It's a bit flamey in here.

He has a IQ of 6000 y'know

Ok probably heavy on the exaggerations, but I have to respond to the system stats bit. I run an old clunky, but powerful, desktop and a newish, but low spec, laptop and for both Crome has proved the fastest.

Hard to tell, really, if Holly has all his marbles and he's just fiddling about or if his senility is genuine sometimes. Still, not the point.

The point is this... I don't talk to many Chrome users about Chrome, really. I haven't done a case study. I HAVE studied Firefox and Explorer, and you already know who won. I'm only saying what's obvious here: Your mileage may vary.

 

[holy_secret]

I use it because firefox freezes every seven seconds for two seconds. Yes I've clocked it all.
It is extremely annoying when watching videos on YouTube or so.

This is why I went back to IE.

 

[soapyshooter]

They might not be computer saavy like you. My mom for example only browses a select few websites and uses IE. Stop being so fucking arrogant because of a browser of all things

 

[Laser Priest]

What.

Seriously? Every group of people has its share of idiots. Unless the group is specifically classified as "People who aren't idiots".

 

[Akytalusia]

It's the worse out of them, but that does not mean they have a low IQ, my friend gets nothing but A's and he uses IE, you kinda sound stupid for saying such a thing.

I didn't like IE until IE9, pinned sites is very convieniant so I switched. On my laptop and other desktop I still use FF.

Are you saying I have a low IQ because I use IE9?

They might not be computer saavy like you. My mom for example only browses a select few websites and uses IE. Stop being so fucking arrogant because of a browser of all things

i'm saying nothing of the sort. if you 3, and any of your predecessors would actually read either the article, or my post, wich wasn't that long. seriously, it's like 5 lines, and they're all pretty short. try reading a post before replying to it.

 

[Snotnarok]

I don't think that the study is saying that you're stupid for using IE however I do think that they are implying that stupid people tend to use IE.

 

[Jerubbaal]

I use both IE and Chrome, but I tend to avoid Firefox completely. However, my main browser is IE. I don't know my IQ, but when I took the ACT 6 years ago, and when I took the LSAT last year, I was in about the 97th pecentile on both.

So at least in my case, I think it's absolutely wrong.

 

[Macrobstar]

Sooooo...

I'm stupid for using and Internet Explorer? IT'S A FUCKING INTERNET PROGRAM. I thought they were all the same. And isn't Explorer a default browser installed in every windows computer?

They're not the same. IE is the worst of them. It's the slowest and most insecure browser. Get yourself Chrome. You'll FEEL the difference.

THIS!
You're not stupid, you were just unaware of the flaws IE has. Right?
Quickly, get Chrome and discover the magic of tabs and incognito mode!

.... IE9 has tabs and inprivate browsing. your plate isn't offering anything new yet.

One word. Adblock

 

[th155]

Sooooo...

I'm stupid for using an Internet Explorer? IT'S A FUCKING INTERNET PROGRAM. I thought they were all the same. And isn't Explorer a default browser installed in every windows computer?

Trying to resist the urge to say it. Failing.

Thanks for proving their point. The irony is infallible.

Most of them have enhanced engines under them that allow them to be faster than other internet browsers, and they also come with different addons. Firefox has literally (and by that i mean figuratively) millions of good addons not available on IE. And Chrome, well, it has a very fast engine, and it looks very nice. Very, very nice...



Anyway, the the results are in no way likely to be accurate. Tell me, do you ever take an IQ test online? No. 99% of them are scams.

One word. Adblock

And split processes. If one tab crashes, it doesn't kill all of chrome, just that tab. Also, tabs that don't look ugly.