---
title: Mystified by the IE Decision
date: 2004-09-23T23:37:41Z
modified: 2004-09-23T23:37:41Z
permalink: "https://redmonk.com/sogrady/2004/09/23/mystified-by-the-ie-decision/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 90
categories:
  - Platforms
timestamp: 2004-09-23T23:37:41Z
tags:
  - Platforms
---

**Let’s review**:

1\. Microsoft’s [losing more](http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1646583,00.asp) Internet Explorer customers

2\. Fevered speculation on the net has it that the Redmond giant’s archrival du jour Google may be planning an incursion into [browser territory](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3680942.stm)

3\. Firefox – aiming for 1M downloads in 1 week – did so in [100 hours](http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=node/view/875)

 **The response**:

1\. [Microsoft to secure IE for XP only](http://news.com.com/Microsoft%20to%20secure%20IE%20for%20XP%20only/2100-1032_3-5378366.html?tag=nefd.lede)

I don’t get it. The competition will have – and actually [already is](http://weblogs.mozillazine.org/asa/archives/006542.html) having – a field day with this.

I’ve been outspoken before (RedMonk publication: Does MS Deserve the Slammer? – subscribers only, sorry) in arguing that Microsoft deserves a chance to turn its security story around, but this decision seems very poorly timed at best.

I’m not being alarmist – IE’s majority market share isn’t going away anytime soon, if ever – but the browser is still an important entrypoint. Or did Google hire Adam Bosworth and co. for nothing?