Mac versus PC. The debate has been going on for several years. Regardless of the reason for choosing a Mac, if you own a Mac, you might be wondering why you can’t download the current update of Internet Explorer on your new computer. The answer is simple: Mac’s come with Safari.
This is not a new development, but first time Mac owners might be surprised that they cannot continue to use the browser they became so familiar with on their old computer. Adjusting to the Safari browser will take a little bit of time, but users should not find it too difficult to make the switch.
If the answer to “why” is “because of Safari,” then the question that naturally follows is: when did Microsoft stop offering Internet Explorer for Mac? Microsoft stopped offering updated IE for Mac when Safari came out. In order to see why Microsoft stopped producing Internet Explorer for Mac, it will be helpful to consider the following:
- Competition? No. While Mac’s and PC’s are obviously in competition with one another, Mac did not force Microsoft out. This was a decision made entirely by Microsoft. They chose to pull out, rather than being told they were no longer welcome.
- Compatibility? Not really. The compatibility issue would generally fall under the competition issue. Microsoft was not having issues making Internet Explorer compatible with Mac because they had access to the code used on Mac computers. The only way that Internet Explorer would have compatibility issues is if the code developers did not have access, and that only happens when the partnership is dissolved.
- User Friendly? And now here’s the main issue. Microsoft believed that Mac users would be happier with an Apple developed browser than they would be with a Microsoft developed browser. While there were no compatibility issues, Microsoft felt that Apple would be able to better serve their own customers than what Microsoft could, and that the Safari browser would work better with a Mac than Internet Explorer does.
- What about other Microsoft software like Office? Office will continue to be available for Mac’s. At this point, the only thing that once worked on both PCs and Macs and now only works on PC’s is Internet Explorer.
So the reason that Internet Explorer 9 is not available for Mac computers is the same reason that Internet Explorer 8, 7, and 6 are not available for Mac. Once Mac developed their own browser, Microsoft chose not to make these versions compatible.
For those who wish to continue running their Mac computers with Internet Explorer, there are cloud options. You can run a cloud version of Internet Explorer on any operating system because it is downloaded on the computer that is running the cloud, instead of your computer. For most Mac users though, once you have adjusted to Safari, you will find it works just as well as Internet Explorer, if not better.
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