What did you do in the web browser wars of the nineties?

Nowadays, on any computer the web browser is the most used app. Windows did not include a built-in web browser when the web first come into view in 1991 and which was still the case when the web in progress to become more ordinary in 1995.

In 1995, Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates said that he wanted to make clear that his focus on the internet is vital to every part of his business. As a result of which Internet Explorer 1.0 come into view for Windows 95 later that year.

The web & Windows 95

The most popular web browser at that moment was Netscape Navigator and when Microsoft’s browser come into view, Navigator had a market share of around 85%.

Although Windows users had to purchase Internet Explorer 1.0 as part of the Windows 95 Plus! pack, later versions were made available as a free download as Netscape Navigator cost $49.

Netscape Navigator

Microsoft’s planned superiority over the competition. It also made the most popular computer OS in the world which also meant it can persuade’ PC manufacturers which include Internet Explorer with the new models as an alternative of Netscape Navigator. That meant nearly every new PC had an Internet Explorer icon on the Desktop when it was changed.

Netscape no more

Netscape’s fortunes quickly started to diminish and by the time Internet Explorer 5.0 come into view in 1999. Internet Explorer had also evolved from a separate browser which can be easily deleted into an essential part of Windows.

In particular, Web browsers and Internet Explorer had developed quickly in expected consequence of a highly competitive market. Now that Microsoft had packed together all competition, however, things started to change.

Internet Explorer 6.0 begins in 2001, soon after Windows XP went on sale. But while Internet Explorer 5.0 was fast and stable, version 6.0 was question with bugs and security holes and played a fast and loose with web standards.

Mozilla Attacks

Mozilla 1.0 was launched in 2002 and over 90% of net users were with Internet Explorer by now, but as not everyone was happy with Internet Explorer. That’s why some started to switch to the alternative web browser.

Here comes the competition

Google launched in 2008 its excellent fast Chrome browser and it rapidly found favor, gaining a 3.6% market share in slight under a year.

Share and Share Alike

Internet Explorer is still the most generally used Desktop web browser which has a 59% market share in 2015 but Firefox, Chrome and Opera all are still departing strong on Windows. Chrome is the 2^nd most popular desktop browser in worldwide with has a 23% market share while Firefox is 3^rd which as a market share of 12%.