For enterprise users looking to introduce Firefox to their business: you may wish to reconsider. Businesses are notorious for being substantially behind in version numbers, occasionally (or a lot) trading even security for compatibility. Mozilla had a staggered release schedule: a minor version number was little more than a security update; a major version number was a fairly-large overhaul. Enterprise users were able to upgrade minor version numbers and be reasonably assured that compatibility would be maintained. There were no such assurances for a major version number, thus requiring rigorous testing before applying. Mozilla has ended their policy of supporting back versions with security updates and are also moving between full versions much more rapidly, causing dissension amongst enterprise users.
Moving the world forward, not backwards, and always twirling towards freedom.
Ed Bott took the opportunity to prod Mozilla during his Thursday evening column. He contends that shutting out enterprise will assist in the impending implosion of Firefox and allow Microsoft and Google to pick up the pieces. I seriously disagree with that statement and applaud Mozilla for staying focused on their goal. True, Mozilla will be vastly less attractive to the enterprise; however, if Microsoft did not have Windows and Office to push with Internet Explorer, would search ad revenue and donations cover the long-term development cost incurred supporting enterprise users? And really, I would have thought Ed Bott of all people (ok, except maybe Paul Thurrott) would respect a company that can make a decision like Mozilla just did and stick by it after covering Microsoft for so long.
I recommend daily updates
I recommend daily updates that users will have to download so that every browser they use is up-to-date. This will prevent people from using old stuff way past its prime, the way they’ve done with IE6. I mean, what better way to spend half my day at work than updating Acrobat, Flash, Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft hotfixes, and now Firefox.
Microsoft and Google pick up
Microsoft and Google pick up the pieces?
I can see the argument for Microsoft, who only release a major version of IE every 2 or 3 years, but why is he saying Google will fit better for enterprise? Google does a major version update every few weeks, faster than anyone else!
As much as I disagree with Ed
As much as I disagree with Ed Bott on this one: Google does release an enterprise version with an MSI installer and control over accepting updates… putting them more Enterprise-friendly than Mozilla’s latest policy (you really need to look for it though, http://www.google.com/support/installer/bin/answer.py?answer=146164).
That said, the corporate culture of trading off a little down productivity for increased risk of critical security failure is a problem and recent events show how costly that could be.