Safari's Desktop Browser Share Hits 5% for the First Time

**Anthony Bouchard** · 10-01-2011, 11:29 AM

Safari is Apple's renowned native desktop and mobile browser. Safari comes pre-installed on all Macs and iDevices right out of the box.

For the month of September, NetMarketShare reports that Safari has reached 5% browser share on all of the world's desktop and laptop computers for the first time in history. Microsoft's Internet Explorer still comes in first at 54%, Mozilla Firefox at 22%, Google Chrome at 16%, and Opera at almost 2%. The pie graph can be seen below:

It could be that some users are enjoying the new features that Safari has gained in Mac OS X Lion; full screen browsing, reader mode, multitouch controls, and a zippier load speed. Although full-screen-enabled apps in Mac OS X Lion is only feature-friendly with a small number of Mac Apps, chpwn saw this weakness as a way to improve on Mac OS by creating a small hack that allows all Cocoa-based apps to run in full screen called Maximizer. It requires SIMBL, but it can enable full screen on Firefox, Opera, and Chrome in the same native way that it works with Safari.

When it comes to mobile browsing, Apple's Safari is the king of the hill racking in at almost 56%. Mobile browsing of course being iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad. With the amazing sales numbers Apple has been seeing in iDevices, this should be no surprise to anyone but, jaw-dropping nonetheless.

On a side-note: Macintosh market share is now almost 14% in the US, 6.5% worldwide. iOS is almost 55% worldwide.

What browser do you use? What operating system? Share in the comments below!

Sources: Apple, chpwn, NetMarketShare

**Heathen711** · 10-01-2011, 12:19 PM

Windows xp machine: ie7 (work related restrictions)
Mac laptop: chrome
iPhone: safari
iPad: skyfire for iPad

Untill the work area can convert to Mac, IE will live...

**sziklassy** · 10-01-2011, 12:27 PM

IE7 is actually decent nowadays. What I cannot understand is how it held on for so long. The past handful of releases were utter crap. I don't have anything against Safari, except that it isn't chrome or firefox!

**KraXik** · 10-01-2011, 01:12 PM

I'm quite looking forward to that new silk. Using cloud seems a great idea. It talks alot of talk that's for sure. I doubt they will ever offer it for desktops though and I doubt I'll get that fire or whatever.

**punjabi212** · 10-01-2011, 01:18 PM

Windows 7, xp sp3, chrome, firefox

**luvmytj** · 10-01-2011, 02:03 PM

I am using Safari almost exclusively since Lion uses gestures and the others don't yet. I do use Firefox for some task such as moderating since I can install add-ons to check links. I sure wish Safari would allow the use of custom add-ons like FF.

**MetallicaFan1991** · 10-01-2011, 02:06 PM

I use Mac OS X and use Chrome.For iPhone I use Safari.

**that_girl** · 10-01-2011, 02:58 PM

10.1" netbook that uses Windows 7: Chrome
Mac Mini: Firefox
iPhone: Safari

**mortopher** · 10-01-2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by luvmytj

I am using Safari almost exclusively since Lion uses gestures and the others don't yet. I do use Firefox for some task such as moderating since I can install add-ons to check links. I sure wish Safari would allow the use of custom add-ons like FF.

Chrome allows gestures now at least.

**arghwhymustiregister** · 10-01-2011, 03:48 PM

Using Iron on my Mac[SnowLeo] (It's Chrome without the spying stuff..)
Opera on myPhone

**ChSchuldiner** · 10-01-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by mortopher

Chrome allows gestures now at least.

Chrome's gestures don't have Apple's 'bounce' to it. The tactile response has a lot to be desired in comparison to that of Safari.

**iPod** · 10-01-2011, 04:26 PM

I dont understand why people use internet explorer. ITS SO SLOW! Especially IE9 its killing me! I think Chrome is the best, its far more lightweight than Firefox or IE.

**ChSchuldiner** · 10-01-2011, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by ipodtouchman77

I dont understand why people use internet explorer. ITS SO SLOW! Especially IE9 its killing me! I think Chrome is the best, its far more lightweight than Firefox or IE.

I prefer firefox because it has more to offer add-on-wise. The recent release (7) is less memory intensive, but it doesn't matter anyway because I upgraded to 16GB of ram in my iMac last week. To me, Chrome is annoying. I would pick safari over chrome.

**iPod** · 10-01-2011, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by ChSchuldiner

I prefer firefox because it has more to offer add-on-wise. The recent release (7) is less memory intensive, but it doesn't matter anyway because I upgraded to 16GB of ram in my iMac last week. To me, Chrome is annoying. I would pick safari over chrome.

Chrome is growing fast with addons...especially games and addons like adblock plus is killer-it kills all YouTube ads

**wii1i** · 10-01-2011, 08:20 PM

never used ie for years... on win 7 i use chrome n firefox. mac os x use safari n firefox. ubuntu use safari n firefox. iphone mobile safari n opera

**Anthony Bouchard** · 10-01-2011, 08:42 PM

Personally I like to use Safari on Mac OS and Firefox on Windows.

**thekirbylover** · 10-02-2011, 12:09 AM

I use Chrome stable on my XP laptop, and the Canary version on my Server 2008. I also use Chrome Portable on my 7 PC. IE9 seems to finally be a decent browser to me, so when I don't have my external hard drive with me, I use that. Also a Safari user on iOS, but only because of its JavaScript console and it doesn't try to Google "localhost" when I type it in the address bar :P

**Caseablee** · 10-02-2011, 10:13 AM

Internet Explorer is the best browser to download another browser to make your default.

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Safari's Desktop Browser Share Hits 5% for the First Time

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General Apple/Mac

Safari is Apple's renowned native desktop and mobile browser. Safari comes pre-installed on all Macs and iDevices right out of the box. For the month of September, NetMarketShare reports that