interesting. did you hate it because of its featureset, or because it wasn’t IE? the fact that applications such as OneNote or various websites are designed only for IE, to me, is not a reason to hate the Firefox.

“Further, Firefox lacks immunity from security issues, the only real reason to run from IE.”

i disagree with this on three counts: first, nothing is “immune” from security issues - whether that’s Firefox or IE. second, IE is only really secure if you’re running XP or better. if you’re on Win 2K or 98 - still sizable populations both - you do not have the security that XP users do. last, security to me is the *least* of the selling points for firefox. in my usage it runs faster consuming less memory, has tabbed browing but most importantly is a platform for lots of new functionality in the form of extensions.

there are plenty of reasons, IMO, to use FF. if it doesn’t meet your needs, that’s fine, but i think you criticizing it for the wrong reasons.

Really? I tried Firefox. I wanted to love Firefox. I hated Firefox. Doesn’t play well with Westlaw. Doesn’t have plug-ins for OneNote (o.k. an MS product, but one that I’m addicted to). Doesn’t work with my practice management software (plug-in issue). Further, Firefox lacks immunity from security issues, the only real reason to run from IE. So, why bother with a browser that isn’t 100% compatible if you don’t get any benefit in the form of better security?

People that think the Desktop is dead are somewhat outside of this world. That will not happen in the short run.
The question is, is your machine still usefull in any way whithout the network? If it is (games, check the local sent items folder, put some ideas into Writer), then, you don’t want an NC. If you work in a Bank branch, if the Network fails you, your machines is pretty much useless so, a Network Computer would, in fact, be the best solution.
As for the “Dead of Windows” (boy, would I love that), I strongly believe there are 3 reasons why so many people still use Windows: Habit, Games and Interoperability issues.

Interoperability is being solved and I doubt MS will manage it’s lock-in for another decade. Games are also being addressed, slowly but, if a significant number of desktops changes, the Gamming ISV’s will also change. I think it’s because he realises that that Jonathan Schwartz has in it’s blogroll the Sun’s Chief Gamming Officer.

That leaves us with habit but the nice thing about habbit is that they can be changed (even if it takes a full generation).

If you talk with people that still use IE (and don’t work for MS, of course) you’ll see reasons like “someone told me that not all sites work with the other browsers” and “are there any other browsers?”