Linux Format forums

[ggsinclair]

Have a look.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4406204.stm

Gordon

[Rhakios]

I'd still like to know how they gather these statistics. I have noticed that Opera identifies itself as IE by default and you have to change the setting to get anything else, would most users bother? There is also the issue of people setting their browser's identity as IE to get around stupid website restrictions.
Until one knows the way these statistics are gathered, they are meaningless.
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Bye, Rhakios

[ggsinclair]

Rhakios

Good point - but it raises the profile of Firefox and, ultimately, open source software.

That cant be a bad thing.

Cheers.

Gordon
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Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.

[Rhakios]

I can't help wondering if its profile isn't actually higher anyway.
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Bye, Rhakios

[jjmac]

Yes, unless info is provided on the gathering method(s) used, it does become meaningless. Promotion that results from researches that later are revealed to be erronous, or even doctored, can only have the reverse effect ultimatley. And so should be avoided.


jm

[linuxgirlie]

I agree, and would love to know how they collect them, are they looking at the browser online at any given time, or do you have to visit certain website?
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My knowledge comes with no warranty...........

Server operating system designed for schools:www.linuxschools.com

[jjmac]

Yes, it sounds a little suspicous to me ... would sites that keep hit counts have info like that available to be botted. Or are they accessing a sites cookie files ???, or something ?


jm
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http://counter.li.org
#313537

The FVWM wm -=- www.fvwm.org -=-

Somebody stole my air guitar, It happened just the other day,
But it's ok, 'cause i've got a spare ...

[nelz]

A browser identifies itself with the USER_AGENT variable. This can be logged by the site. Cookies have nothing to do with it, they are stored by the browser, not the server.

It is indicative, but not too reliable. You can change the User-Agent a browser sends (spoofing) and sometimes have to to get lamely written sites to accept you. A proportion of the hits from IE are actually people using other browsers and spoofing.

The sites you use the gather the statistics also affect the results. msn.com will get a higher proportion of hits from IE than mozilla.org, this site or Slashdot.
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Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

[Cogar]

Firefox is a good browser. Although I mildly prefer Konqueror, I still use Firefox for just this reason--I want people who run websites to know that people are using browsers other than IE. (I think Konqueror use is such a small percentage that it is typically ignored.) On the other hand, as Firefox use grows, so does its credibility to the general public. In turn, this could lead to more people switching.

[M-Saunders]

You could use Konqueror, but set it to identify itself as Firefox -- two birds, one stone!

M

[nelz]

Can IE spoof? Every time someone lets you near a Windows system, set IE to spoof as Firefox
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Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

[M0PHP]

Yep, to a certain extent, IE can spoof

[Nigel]

Time to create a .reg file to carry around on my USB key, methinks

[Cogar]

[Rhakios]