[Info-vax] : Re: OT: Rob Short: Operating System Evolution

[JF Mezei]

VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:

>>http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
>>http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp


> No info on where and how these stats were collected?

http headers is how. Big question is "where". If you use the Microsoft
web site, then you will get a very low number of non Windows users.

And this does not take into account that non windows platforms often
have to lie about their OS in order to access certain web sites.

For instance, Bell Canada (who has some sort of alliance with Microsoft)
at one point simply refused access to those not running Explorer on
Windows. So a Mac user would just change the "personality" in a drop
down menu to send the Windows/Explorer identity in the HTTP request.

As a result of this shenenigan, Bell Canada could claim that 99% of its
customers ran Windows on Explorer and that it only needed to support
that platform. (Since it blocked anyone not running that platform).

Bell Canada has since removed the code that prevented access to non
Windows users, but its terms of service for internet access still
require customers to run windows and explorer.