By David Meyer, 1 August 2007 08:30
NEWS
The most influential technology product of the past 25 years is Microsoft's oft-derided web browser, Internet Explorer, according to a survey of IT professionals.
The survey was carried out by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a 25-year-old trade body which certifies IT professionals and is funded by major vendors, including Microsoft. Out of the top five products in the poll, only one - the iPod - is not a Microsoft product.
Internet Explorer, which garnered two-thirds of the vote, was launched in 1995. Originally based on the little-known Spyglass Mosaic browser, its main competitor at the time was Netscape. By the time IE version 5 was released in 1999, it had become the world's most popular browser. It still holds that position today, although it is facing steadily increasing competition from the open source browser Firefox, seen by many as a more stable and secure product.
Second place in the poll went to Microsoft Word, selected by 56 per cent of respondents. Windows 95 was third (50 per cent), followed by Microsoft Excel and Apple's iPod in joint fourth place (49 per cent). Respondents were able to vote for multiple technologies.
CompTIA and Microsoft have traditionally been closely aligned, particularly in the fight against open source software - both are key members of the Initiative for Software Choice, which frequently takes an anti-open-source stance.
Earlier this year, CompTIA threw its weight behind Microsoft in Redmond's fight against an EU report which allegedly favoured open source software. On another occasion, when the European Commission fined Microsoft last year for not sharing or licensing protocol information with its rivals, CompTIA called the $357m fine "arbitrary and capricious".
CompTIA's survey was completed by 471 IT professionals and was carried out in May and June of this year. Other products which made the top 10 include (in order from sixth to 10th): the BlackBerry, Photoshop, McAfee VirusScan, Netscape Navigator and the PalmPilot.
Do you agree with CompTIA's top 10? Post a Reader Comment below.
David Meyer writes for ZDNet UK
Comments
There are 10 comments. Join the discussion
1. Ben Grimer
This is just another way of saying that the HTML/HTTP protocol invented by Tim Berners Lee and donated free to all is the most influential tech innovation for 25 years.
IE is just a later incarnation of the original Mosiac browser but they were just standing on the shoulder of giants. The basic research that made the browser possible was carried out at CERN in Switzerland.
Thank you Mr Berners-Lee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee
2. Richard
That's odd: Search engines? Apache? Ink-jet Printers? Laser Printers? The PC? Laptops? Wikipedia?
This seems a very strange list: Presumably it's based just on those brand-name products sold by the organisations members?
Without Apache, we'd have many fewer web-sites;
Without search engines, we'd be unable to find them;
The whole edifice depends upon affordable PCs & printers, and the ability to print images - in colour.
I now use Wikipedia much more than my paid subscriptions to Encyclopaedia Britannica and OED.
Google Earth??
Strange choices!
3. Simon
I can only presume that a significant proprtion of those voting for IE were actually voting for "web" or "web browser" but have been suckered by Micro$ofts PR department into believeing that the pile of bug laden, non-complaint c**p is in somehow related to either of these !
IE, like Windoze, has been responsible for enormous damage to computing tech - literally holding back progress to whatever pace Microshaft can manage to row their supertanker at.
4. Henrik Tougaard
I would like to know:
* who was invited to vote?
* what did they have to choose between?
If the voters were a collection of IE-users or the ballot only included brand-name products. that would explain the results.
On the other hand: I could'nt care less.
5. Joe Whitehead
Undeniable, but maybe not in a good way? ;)
6. anonymous
Aargh! Help me! I just rolled my eyes back 180 degrees and I can't see anything!!
7. Kevin Dorrell
So, Internet Explorer is more influential than HTML, www, HTTP is it? So, what is it that IE can do if http://www didn't exist? Practically nothing!
Conversely, what can http://www do without IE? Everything!
Do us a favour ... !
8. Shona
What a complete load of tosh
9. Steve Johnson
Typical - the americans always vote for themselves - they are the only country to have a world series and not invite other countries!
What a load of poppycock!
10. George Trideau
Please check the maps they use in Bristol! Apparently Canada is not a country for them.
Or perhaps they should save that hot air for the Bristol Balloon Fiesta next week.