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Although the original WHIP! plug-in predated its Internet Explorer ActiveX
counterpart, I don't really see Autodesk developing anything that will be
browser independent. Though Firefox/Mozilla work perfectly in your
organization, there are not enough organizations like yours to make
undertaking an effort like this worthwhile. Non-Internet Explorers are the
minority. Even something as prevalent as the Macintosh is not on an equal
footing with the PC. So I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

"JLatta" wrote in message
news:8599678.1097256555687.JavaMail.jive@jiveforum2.autodesk.com...

The data we collect suggests that Internet Explorer is still widely
prevalent. Based on Autodesk's partnership with Microsoft, the Autodesk DWF
Viewer and Autodesk DWF Composer leverage the latest and greatest
technologies from Internet Explorer. Although it is possible for Autodesk to
support other browsers, it does involve a fair amount of work. For example,
Autodesk and Apple are undertaking that work for the Macintosh. There are a
fair number of Macintosh users who wish to view DWF files. The
Firefox/Moxilla customer base has not yet reached a similar critical mass.

wrote in message news:4908438@discussion.autodesk.com...


What about now, in 2005, and with Firefox rapidly making headway into IE
territory?

Implicit in the tone of your reply is that I have some kind of anti-Firefox
bias. I have Firefox 1.0.6 installed on my computer. Most of the Autodesk
DWF Viewer software developers, who like to be hip and cool, have it
installed on their systems. Despite the fact that some of us early adopters
are using it, and although the developers would actually enjoy porting the
viewer to this browser, that alone does not yet make the business case for
doing so. When the data we collect shows that the 80 million people who have
downloaded Firefox are interested in the DWF Viewer on that browser,
Autodesk will consider it. If there is money to be made, directly or
indirectly, we will consider it. We like money. :-) Autodesk is driven by
satisfying customer needs and is always interested in helping the industry
move in more productive directions.

wrote in message news:4939396@discussion.autodesk.com...
"The Data we collect..."

Well, it sounds like you need to re-collect data. I am like 1 of thousands,
in that I don't use (and have no intention to use) Internet Explorer again.

I use AutoDesk products from AutoCAD to Arch. Desktop, and Map. and dozens
of other software tools. I realize, with (cough, cough), AutoCAD "Today",
and the like... that AutoDesk has been "arm-twisted" into joining forces
with Microsoft, but the Web is, and will hopefully ever more so, NOT be
owned by Microsoft.

Dozens of plugins/extensions are available for Mozilla (& Firefox), thus a
DWF viewer shouldn't be hard to put together.

I think your stats, however they may have been gathered, are not focusing on
the real issues.

Ask your clients... how many offices have BANNED the use of Internet
Explorer, (except for windows update)... in our office, getting caught using
IE, is grounds for dismisal.

Ask your clients... how many of them have Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/Alternative
browsers installed at work, AND at home, AND on USB or portable CD/DVDs

Ask your clients... how many of them have suffered from a
virus/malware/spyware/hijack/popup issue in the past 5 years... (then ask
the Firefox users how many they have seen since nov. 2004) [Hint, the answer
is ZERO]

Ask your clients... how many are using Open Office now...

Ask your clients... how many are using Thunderbird for email, because they
got sick of Outlook?

I think you will be surprised. Remember, if you don't ask the *right*
questions, you won't get the *right* answers.

Oh, and for fun... ask this one...

If AutoCAD 200{x] did not have a Command Line... would you Stop upgrading...
I know of thousands that would stop on a dime. Users want power, and
options... Internet Explorer, provides neither. In the last 5 years, TIMES
HAVE CHANGED!!!!

Thanks.

I think these are great questions. You have peaked my curiosity. No
promises, but I will see if conducting such a survey is possible. My
truthful but negative response on this thread got picked up by several
internet news sites. Eventually one made its way to my college daughter. She
read the article and sent me an email:

"You're the bad guy. That's not cool man. You need to support Firefox."

Kids - what are ya gonna do?

Autodesk is always interested in serving the needs of our customers and we
do leave our options open. We continue to pay attention to the industry and
respond to customer needs.

wrote in message news:4946995@discussion.autodesk.com...
Scott,

If you could, since the stats currently collected are woefully inacurate,
post a survey, similar to the following, such that you *can* collect the
true info.
[_] = checkbox button
(_) = radio button

(Sample survey)
"Please fill in your responses as best as possible. Please also include any
comments at the end, should you wish to share additional info."

1a.) What is your preferred Web Browser?
[_] Internet Explorer
[_] A specialized version of IE (e.g. Maxthon, Crazy Browser)
[_] Mozilla
[_] Mozilla Firefox
[_] Netscape (7 or below)
[_] Netscape 8
[_] Opera
[_] A non-windows based Browser, like Konqueror, Safari, Camino

1b.) Why is it your preferred Web Browser?
+---------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+

2a.) At work, are you allowed to use your preferred Browser?
(_) No
(_) Yes


2b.) If you answered "No" to the question above, indicate your IT
departments position.
[_] They plan to give access in the next 3 months
[_] They plan to give access in the next 6 months
[_] They plan to give access in the next 12 months
[_] They have no plan at this time
[_] They won't listen to our requests for better software

3.) If you answered "No" to question 2a, Are you sometimes frustrated with
your IT departments speed to roll out new technology?
(_) No
(_) Yes

4.) Does it anoy you, that some web sites are only accessible/useable by
certain Browsers?
(_) I didn't know that any problems existed
(_) No
(_) Yes

5.) Are there any sites (related to the design industry) that currently do
not work properly in your prefered Browser?
(_) No
(_) Yes (indicate which below)
+---------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+
6a.) In general, are you concerned about viruses, spyware, dialers, adware,
and malware infecting your Browser, and / or Operating System?
(_) No
(_) Yes

6b.) If you could switch Web Browsers today (and all sites would work fine),
which browser would you choose?
[_] Internet Explorer
[_] A specialized version of IE (e.g. Maxthon, Crazy Browser)
[_] Mozilla
[_] Mozilla Firefox
[_] Netscape (7 or below)
[_] Netscape 8
[_] Opera

7.) Do you use other Operating Systems at work or home, other than MS
Windows?
(_) No
(_) Yes (indicate which below)
+---------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+

8a.) At work, does your IT department have a ban on the use of certain
software?
(_) No
(_) Yes

8b.) If you answered yes to question 8a, please indicate which software, for
what reason, and if you think that the ban is fair.
Software | Banned Reason | Is the Ban fair?
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|[MSIE_______]|[Viruses,Spyware,____]|[Yes, we use Firefox_]| (example)
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|[___________]|[____________________]|[____________________]|
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|[___________]|[____________________]|[____________________]|
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|[___________]|[____________________]|[____________________]|
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|[___________]|[____________________]|[____________________]|
+-------------+----------------------+----------------------+

9.) AutoDesk currently make their plugins available only for Internet
Explorer. If they made them available for other Browsers, would you use
them?
(_) No
(_) Yes (indicate why below)
+---------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+

10.) Do you have any other comments for AutoDesk?
+---------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+

Cheers,
Steve

Some people believe Internet Explorer has some security holes. Some people
prefer to use a browser with a reduced risk of the unscrupulous exploiting
these holes. On the other hand, Microsoft provides software developers with
a platform to base their developments on. This base makes development faster
and less expensive. Software companies take advantage of this base instead
of reinventing the wheel with home grown software. Later when customers
request support for other browsers, they are disappointed that software
developers cannot immediately respond.

wrote in message news:4973174@discussion.autodesk.com...
MS vs Anti-MS.. every thread in this world has this fight..
Why?


"Users want power, and options... Internet Explorer, provides neither"
this has nothing to do with mozilla/firefox dwf-plugin..

I know. I tried to use Firefox to view interest rates at my bank. Out of the
box, Firefox did not know how to handle a cfm file.

wrote in message news:4940226@discussion.autodesk.com...
I would suggest that maybe the data is skewed. Many, like myself, have and
use IE because we have to There are several web sites that I need access to
because of my job that require me to have ActiveX available. Our local
Municipalities using your AutoCAD based mapping system being one of them.

Makes for sort of a catch 22 situation. I can't get away from IE because of
the ActiveX requiring sites, but because I'm using IE, the data shows IE
being prevalent.

I think ActiveX was one of the worst things ever foisted on the public.

I'll put a vote in for Autodesk developing this!