Can Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 Lead the Next Generation of Browsers?

Microsoft recently unveiled its developer preview of IE9. If IE8 did little to curb Microsoft’s ever-sinking market share, how is IE9 going to save the day and establish leadership with the next generation of web users? Microsoft claims IE9 is “slightly faster than Firefox 3.6,” writes Computer World’s Preston Gralla. Hmm… sounds really compelling. I’m sure Sergey Brin and Larry Page wanted to be just slightly more robust than Yahoo! and Barack Obama wanted to be just slightly better than John McCain.

To establish leadership in tomorrow’s market, Microsoft needs to: 1) create a rich developer ecosystem with open source tools (think Firefox Add-Ons and now Chrome Extensions) 2) be not just slightly faster than Mozilla Firefox 3.6, but rocket ahead of Google Chrome or 3) develop a “wow” technology not currently on the market.

Microsoft appears completely focused on performance with IE9. It brought on some star power, including Ted Johnson. Johnson is the co-founder of Visio Corp, an application software company acquired by Microsoft. “I’m not convinced that speed alone will solve the problem,” writes Gralla. To compete, Microsoft might need to unveil a product that speaks to each skill-set: performance, add-ons and a unique, “wow” element. Microsoft’s historically lackluster performance leaves much to be desired.

If Microsoft doesn’t put rocket boosters on its ship, or add slick new features, it could be well… another depressing version of Internet Explorer. At which point, Firefox and Chrome will steal whatever is left of Microsoft’s market share. While Microsoft might take the #1 position in today’s market, if it is going to be tomorrow’s leader, let’s hope IE9 isn’t just “slightly better.”

Here is College Humor’s market analysis:

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