Saying Goodbye To Internet Explorer 11 This Year
- Posted on
- Fri, February 25, 2022
In case you missed it, Internet Explorer is retiring on June 15, 2022. Microsoft began hinting at the end of the browser back in 2020 and had been phasing out support for it ever since. Fast forward two years, and here we are, only months away from the end of Internet Explorer as we know it. Before we say goodbye to this nostalgic piece of tech history, let’s look back at where it came from and where the internet is going.
It All Started In 1995
Microsoft introduced Internet Explorer way back in 1995 as an add-on for its Windows 95 operating system. If you’re struggling to remember what life was like in 1995, Bill Clinton was President, cell phones were huge and only used for actually making phone calls, and the “Macarena” went viral (well as viral as things went in the 90’s).
Believe it or not, the first two browser versions sold as an add-on piece of software to the Windows software. However, Internet Explorer version 3.0 and newer were always free of charge, built right into the Windows platform.
Between its launch in 1995 and 2013, 11 versions of Internet Explorer have been released to web surfers worldwide. Each version had enhancements, bug fixes, and continually became more user-friendly. For many, many years, Internet Explorer was the go-to browser for anyone that wanted to dive into the world wide web.
Through the years, however, there were issues between Windows programs and Internet Explorer. For example, in 2010, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9, but it needed Windows Vista SP2 to work properly. Unfortunately, about 44% of Internet Explorer users were still using Windows XP on their computers. This newfound consumer habit was notably the beginning of the end for Internet Explorer. Google Chrome worked well with many versions of Windows and started to creep into Internet Explorer’s market share along with Firefox and Safari.
Introducing Microsoft Edge
In the Fall of 2014, Microsoft announced a new product that aimed to replace Internet Explorer – Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft may have been a little too late on this release, though, and the adoption of Microsoft Edge was slow. It simply couldn’t compete with Google Chrome and other browsers that were much more mobile-friendly, with far fewer bugs.
It was only a matter of time before Internet Explorer would see its last day on computers, and that day is coming soon. If you are still running any programs on this browser, now would be a great time to find an alternative. If you currently have Internet Explorer on your computer, you should also have Microsoft Edge.
Microsoft has touted three reasons why Microsoft Edge is a significant improvement from Internet Explorer. First of all, they claim that Edge has enhanced browser security. Password attacks are super prevalent these days, and Microsoft Edge is supposed to be able to protect against them. Microsoft Edge is also compatible with both modern and legacy websites. Lastly, Edge was designed to streamline productivity. It has features that use less memory and CPU while increasing battery life.
Goodbye And Thank You, Internet Explorer
27 years is a very, very long time for tech. Microsoft’s flagship browser held on for as long as it could, and many of us have very fond memories of this first version of the Internet. Whether you are planning to utilize Microsoft Edge or a competing browser, we’ve all got Microsoft and the O.G. Internet Explorer to thank for today’s extensive and robust internet experience.
- rony
- : February 25, 2022
