Opera users are smart, Internet Explorer users are dumb

According to a new survey by consulting company AptiQuant, Internet Explorer users scored lower than other browser users on a standard IQ test.

The group tested 100,000 participants while monitoring what browser they used.

A "population average" for IQ tests is 100, but Internet Explorer users scored below average. IE 6 users scored the worst of all, at just over 80. IE6 was released in 2001.

Users of Opera, Camino and Explorer with Chrome Frame scored the highest, with over 110. Opera users scored over 120.

Chrome, Firefox and Safari users were slightly above average.

Internet Explorer remains the world's most popular browser, since it comes pre-installed in new Windows builds. The browser has 43 percent market share, according to StatCounter, ahead of Firefox at 29 percent and Chrome at 19 percent.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Jul 2011 23:15

Dmite30

Last time i took an IQ test, I tested at 127. 3 points aways from genius. Guess what browser i use? OPERA! Woo, go OPERA, Microsoft windows Internet Explorer 8 and 9 both stink, Slow and can get many and many of malicious scripts. I just don't like Microsoft, I would rather have Ubuntu or some sort of Linux command line, but my computer is to slow to run. All well. If you haven't notice yet, i'm very bored. Till next time, y'all enjoy!

##Im here now. Now lets get the Party Going##

29.7.2011 23:35 #1

lupine25

So I guess this includes those of us who use IE in a professional setting because we have software that requires it? Then again, I don't believe hokie "studies" and "polls." I guess that makes me stupid. Oh well, stupid is as stupid does and I'll keep chugging away with IE as my only browser because I can't stand opera, the fox, or chrome. Oh yeah, and I can keep doing my work too. :)

29.7.2011 23:43 #2

hikaricor

Kanye West, is that you?

29.7.2011 23:44 #3

ROMaster2

Superiority complexes...

30.7.2011 00:33 #4

KillerBug

Originally posted by lupine25: So I guess this includes those of us who use IE in a professional setting because we have software that requires it? Then again, I don't believe hokie "studies" and "polls." I guess that makes me stupid. Oh well, stupid is as stupid does and I'll keep chugging away with IE as my only browser because I can't stand opera, the fox, or chrome. Oh yeah, and I can keep doing my work too. :) No, it does not. Because smart people don't use IE for browsing. I too need IE for business...but I only use it for the specific sites that it is needed for...not for general browsing.

The thing that gets me about this article is the following:
Quote:Users of Opera, Camino and Explorer with Chrome Frame scored the highest, with over 110. Opera users scored over 120. People with Chrome Frame scored high? Logically they should have scored lower than IE users because they are still using IE for general browsing in spite of preferring the Opera.

I'm also not sure why Opera did better than Firefox...it seems a bit ignorant to use a closed-source browser from a company that built themselves on data mining.

...But the really odd part about all this is the source...most of the people who take tests from this company are required to in order to get a job. In many cases, they are taking these tests from an office computer before they are even hired, so they don't make any choices about the browser. This makes all the results add up...COMPANIES THAT ADOPT NEW TECH TEND TO HIRE SMART PEOPLE, AND SMART IT MANAGERS TEND TO PUT BROWSERS LIKE OPERA ON PUBLIC TERMINALS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

30.7.2011 00:55 #5

xboxdvl2

the company that did the study are biased for starters.2nd there would be plenty of people out here that dont have the internet or even a computer and could pass an iq tests with higher results.i use firefox personally.never used opera.i do know someone who used opera on a laptop but apparently it had trouble connecting to the university website.They switched back to firefox.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

30.7.2011 01:36 #6

NHS2008

Well, I use Opera and I scored 128, but that was 10 yrs ago, when I was in sixth grade! When I didn't have Internet that much, no smartphones and no google to make me dumb! I don't dare to take that test anymore..I will stick with my ten year old I.Q.! :D

30.7.2011 03:18 #7

xboxdvl2

i took an iq test in 2000 and got 142.i took an iq test in 2005 and got 136.both times i took the test i was using internet explorer.i dont plan on taking the test again anytime soon.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

30.7.2011 05:11 #8

marcusj0015

Originally posted by Dmite30: Last time i took an IQ test, I tested at 127. 3 points aways from genius. Guess what browser i use? OPERA! Woo, go OPERA, Microsoft windows Internet Explorer 8 and 9 both stink, Slow and can get many and many of malicious scripts. I just don't like Microsoft, I would rather have Ubuntu or some sort of Linux command line, but my computer is to slow to run. All well. If you haven't notice yet, i'm very bored. Till next time, y'all enjoy! hey edited by ddp, Genius level is 140. i scored 140 in the 8th grade.

btw, apparently you guys think Internet IQ Tests count, they don't there just random number generators. my score was taken professionally, because of my behavior

30.7.2011 07:50 #9

Jeffrey_P

I have tried Opera time and time again.
Just not my cup of tea. Even when I was an Engineer at SLAC I used FF. Had to get permission from the computer center to do so. Corporations and universities like consistence with browsers and other software. Although Stanford gave me an administrator account they limit permission with standard accounts for most users.

Haven't used IE in years.

Maybe I'm just more comfortable using Firefox. Still the UI has changed dramatically with different versions.

Jeff

30.7.2011 08:05 #10

blueboy09

Guys, listen to what you are saying here. It really doesn't make who made a score higher or lower. The study was never a controlled study, but voluntary. This by itself makes it by itself irrelevant. To say that when you use IE instead of Opera, you are dumb, is stupid by the least. Last time I checked, everybody would be dumb because at some point some time we all have used this browser to take some test, IQ or not. To me, taking an IQ test in any browser shouldn't matter, it's the score when you complete the test that should matter. My question is this: What if you scored a lower test score on Opera than on IE? What does that make you? Like everyone else or just average? - BLUEBOY

Chance prepares the favored mind. Look up once in a while and you might learn something. - BLUEBOY

30.7.2011 09:04 #11

buxtahuda

Originally posted by marcusj0015: Originally posted by Dmite30: Last time i took an IQ test, I tested at 127. 3 points aways from genius. Guess what browser i use? OPERA! Woo, go OPERA, Microsoft windows Internet Explorer 8 and 9 both stink, Slow and can get many and many of malicious scripts. I just don't like Microsoft, I would rather have Ubuntu or some sort of Linux command line, but my computer is to slow to run. All well. If you haven't notice yet, i'm very bored. Till next time, y'all enjoy! hey edited by ddp, Genius level is 140. i scored 140 in the 8th grade.

btw, apparently you guys think Internet IQ Tests count, they don't there just random number generators. my score was taken professionally, because of my behavior Well aren't you just specially dandy? I can see all those points adding up rather nicely there, you're doing some real good with that, I'm glad for you... </sarcasm>

Anyway, (sadly) he's correct. I couldn't trust any "test" on the internet, especially dealing with something as subjective as IQ. And I don't know about the reliability of this firm; I doubt it is.

I've used all the major browsers: Opera, Firefox, Chrome, IE, Maxthon, Safari, and some I don't even remember names to. IE is required for most of the sites built by the vendors my company uses, so I use it steadily throughout the day. But Chrome and Firefox stay open at all times; Chrome is my research browser - it's quicker in my experience and is perfect when combined with AdBlock Plus and BetterPopUpBlocker - and Firefox is my recreational browser - also with BPUB and ABP, but adding Stumbleupon, and it works well to that end because of its overall better compatibility with different sites (again, in my experience). Maxthon, Opera, and Safari aren't all bad, but I never could have a stream-lined positive session on them; though it has been quite a while since I've tried these three.

It's also unfair to assume lesser intelligence of an IE user as the majority of them that I know are like my mother/co-workers; not dumb by any means, just out of their element and a number of years late. Not stupid, just knowledgeable about older technologies.

*Oh, and now that I stop and notice, that's a pretty bad/blunt headline isn't it? Maybe mention it's a study, something

30.7.2011 09:11 #12

SomeBozo

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: i took an iq test in 2000 and got 142.i took an iq test in 2005 and got 136.both times i took the test i was using internet explorer.i dont plan on taking the test again anytime soon. Hehehe, would be funny if you took the test using Opera and got 53 for an IQ :)

30.7.2011 13:37 #13

LordRuss

Originally posted by marcusj0015: hey dipshit, Genius level is 140. i scored 140 in the 8th grade. Then they should shave a few points for your proper use or There, Their & They're... IQ means squat if you can't apply it.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

30.7.2011 13:39 #14

Jeffrey_P

"Then they should shave a few points for your proper use or There, Their & They're... IQ means squat if you can't apply it."

To be fair I know physicists that can barely spell their name, cannot construct a decent sentence, completely out of sync with people in general and came to work with wrinkled close that never matched.

I'm just a lowly engineer. Have no idea what my IQ is and I don not want to know.

IQ does not translate to grammar issues at all.

My wife keeps me well aware of does and don't.

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

30.7.2011 14:19 #15

NHS2008

Actually Internet tests have their positives, I remember I was shy when I took the test and the counsellor didn't bother making me comfortable, hence, I was bit held back during the test..Certainly that won't happen on online tests.

30.7.2011 14:29 #16

LordRuss

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: I'm just a lowly engineer. Have no idea what my IQ is and I don not want to know. - IQ does not translate to grammar issues at all. - My wife keeps me well aware of does and don't. - Jeff I also hold several degrees & haven't a clue (other than the military's ASVAB, which scores all over the place) what my IQ is either.

My scornful remark stems from the childish, incestual innuendos & pissing contests that stem from a clear UN-understanding of the very comments you made. I look like an overweight drummer from a metal band, but not for spell check I too would have the appearance of a buffoon. So showing up to tout a numbered figure given from a purely speculative & grossly manipulative statistical informational source with foul name calling & chide toward other folks perceived to be ignorance is a huge peeve of mine. That & torturing small animals.

I too have a barometer for my intelligence (wife) & have more than adequately stated (here & blogged) that I'm an over educated idiot. So I don't take offense for myself, but for others. Not that I'm trying to be a hero either. I'm a firm believer in practicing what I preach.

Yet I have to humbly disagree, IQ is the culmination of ALL experiences - sensory & learned - that make up such a score. Thus another reason for not placing much value in some of the testing community's statistics. I would consider your IQ much higher than mine, simply because your education was in the advanced sciences & your ability to force an advanced stage of learning from within yourself (being able to learn how to learn). Some mentally handicapped folks can't do this, yet some tests are reporting autistic people as having Mensa Society level IQs. Basically undermining your statements.

No one wants to be singled out for having a deficiency, especially one in intelligence (be it book or street knowledge). Opera wants a new foot hold into some form of the current market & what better way than to challenge your intelligence? This type of add campaign has worked wonders for the Marine corps for decades.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

30.7.2011 14:52 #17

R01010100

i find this article amusing after having read the following two articles from maximumpc.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/internet_explorer_9_skips_ahead_opera_browser_usage

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/internet_explorer_9%E2%80%99s_new_malware_blocking_features_leave_competition_dust

30.7.2011 14:54 #18

lupine25

@KillerBug, Smart people don't use IE for browsing? Sounds like you're buying into the garbage of this study. You know what they say, 76% of statistics are completely made up. Like that one....uh oh? Maybe due to the fact that I'm typing this using IE9 I'm too stupid to come up with an under-the-table paid, Opera, Mozilla, and Google-sponsored study that takes only a small slice of the world's internet-browsing population to make a conclusion on the intelligence of people who use Hotpoint toasters vs Black and Decker?

It's the same deal...Firefox boys vs, Chrome boys...Chrysler guys, vs. Chevy Guys. Mac Guys vs. PC Guys.....

Anywho, I'm done with fanboyz. Why don't you people just go and have a cardboard tube duel somewhere until the last man standing's favorite browser is reigned king. :)

30.7.2011 15:31 #19

SomeBozo

Originally posted by lupine25: @KillerBug, Smart people don't use IE for browsing? Sounds like you're buying into the garbage of this study. You know what they say, 76% of statistics are completely made up. Like that one....uh oh? Maybe due to the fact that I'm typing this using IE9 I'm too stupid to come up with an under-the-table paid, Opera, Mozilla, and Google-sponsored study that takes only a small slice of the world's internet-browsing population to make a conclusion on the intelligence of people who use Hotpoint toasters vs Black and Decker?

It's the same deal...Firefox boys vs, Chrome boys...Chrysler guys, vs. Chevy Guys. Mac Guys vs. PC Guys.....

Anywho, I'm done with fanboyz. Why don't you people just go and have a cardboard tube duel somewhere until the last man standing's favorite browser is reigned king. :) One problem raised with many of the tests for testing IQ's is they are geared towards people who have obtained college degrees and the information you learn there in... Meaning it is very hard to develop a test that can actually test everyone of IQ. In contrast take your har4rd or y4le graduate that has never touched a screwdriver, assume for example car maintenance to them has only benn to follow the instructional section in their car manual, now give them an IQ test geared toward what a mechanic would only know. Thus we can all surely see where the fault of a generic IQ's test is.

Additionally IQ is not really a true indicator of much except it might show how well someone can memorize an regurgitate some information. Some of the IQ test questions i've seen make me wonder what they are really testing.... This shape is to this shape as this number is to this letter... HUH? Really how does that test someone IQ. I can see they are trying to see if you might get the association from one thing to another. And some of they "This is like this as ? is to ?" use words they might not be common in today's vocabulary... Anyone here know what peck measure is without looking it up?

Furthermore, i would argue we all have specific gifts,insights and skills we all come to the table with. Depending on one skill or another, one might be more useful, but the way i see it all are needed. Someone might be a great programmer, and another a great cook... I wouldn't want a programmer now matter how much spaghetti code they write fixing and cooking my meals, nor the cook baking up a computer program/solution that is half baked :) Both have their place, the developer might be more important or valued in some ways and the cook in others. Bottom line we all have value, i could find cooks making 10x the salary of some programmers and visa versa...

30.7.2011 16:28 #20

DXR88

IQ tests are generally Useless, they never take into situation where real life actions or the ever elusive common sense plays a key.

as for opera users being smarter. well they have to be, as opera is one of the most incompatible browser on the web. Opera's coding regulations are far to strict to do Joe Blow any good.

30.7.2011 16:48 #21

Interestx

What if you have Opera, Firefox, IE8 & IE9?

30.7.2011 18:47 #22

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by Interestx: What if you have Opera, Firefox, IE8 & IE9? Then you are a rocket scientist!
Jeff

30.7.2011 19:00 #23

Mez

Originally posted by Dmite30: Last time i took an IQ test, I tested at 127. 3 points aways from genius. Guess what browser i use? OPERA! Woo, go OPERA, Microsoft windows Internet Explorer 8 and 9 both stink, Slow and can get many and many of malicious scripts. I just don't like Microsoft, I would rather have Ubuntu or some sort of Linux command line, but my computer is to slow to run. All well. If you haven't notice yet, i'm very bored. Till next time, y'all enjoy! Where you come from they sure lower the bar. Here in the US 140 is very gifted and 160 is genius. 1287 is a far cry from 140. You wouldn't be smart enough to be a serious programmer here. Still, you are too smart to be a middle manager.

Only cattle use iE. They are not smart enough to install anything better and probably iE is more than they need.

30.7.2011 19:28 #24

bobiroc

What is the purpose of this survey? It serves no purpose other than to start a flame war. I use both IE and Firefox and I scored a 124 on the IQ Test that I took in early college. These surveys serve no practical purpose except to get the fanboys panties in a bunch.

AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 300GB 10,000RPM Raptor, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

http://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices

30.7.2011 20:16 #25

DXR88

Originally posted by Mez: Only cattle use iE. They are not smart enough to install anything better and probably iE is more than they need. unfortunately its not the fact they don't know how to install, its more along the reasons of why bother, and what a pain. why bother because as far as Joe Blow is concerned it works fine what Joe don't know is that its one of the most vulnerable browsers to date, and why would he joe ain't a tecky.

and lets not forget the IT Security firms who dare not slander the name OF THE BIG IE!!

then you have integration issues lets say Joe reads this post here and he says i'll go get fire-fox or opera, and he does he downloads it and installs it. he's used it and liked it now he closes it.

low and behold there on the task bar ever so baiting is the BIG blue e not to be replace by a fox covering the the world or a big red O. he cant find it now so he opens his start menu thinking to himself its gotta be there right....wrong!! its not so where did it go oh there it is along with his other 100+ shortcuts scattered about his desktop.

Microshaft does not make it easy to replace there monopolizing browser. it requires a moderate level of understanding how windows works in order to clean up IE and disable it. even then you simply cant get rid of it the most you can do is hide it forever.

to say every one is to stupid to install a new browser is naive at best it.

30.7.2011 21:02 #26

xboxdvl2

i know someone who is considered a genius with university degrees but i can barely read his writing.His spelling and grammer is perfect just his writing style is impossible to read.i have done a mechanical aptitute test.i passed a practise test then a few months later i did one for motor traders association that involves 3 tests which were suppose to be year 12 equivalent.i got 87 out of 120 on the tests all up.

as for the heading and the article it is slandering I.E users.its labelling people stupid based on what computer software they use.*start of sarcasm* maybe we should label everyone that drives an old car stupid or label people stupid cause they dont have an apple product or cause they do have an apple product,or label them stupid based on what religion they are.label them stupid based on what kinda house they live in *end of sarcasm*.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

30.7.2011 23:03 #27

KillerBug

30.7.2011 23:52 #28

aldan

i to wouldnt put much stock in these online iq tests.in grade six {almost 40 years ago}i scored 143.in the last year i took online tests three times and scored 80,124,and 100 respectively.in other words all over the board.i do,however think that some who use ie may be,like me,older and not inclined to change.my preference tho is firefox.

31.7.2011 00:41 #29

SomeBozo

Originally posted by aldan: i to wouldnt put much stock in these online iq tests.in grade six {almost 40 years ago}i scored 143.in the last year i took online tests three times and scored 80,124,and 100 respectively.in other words all over the board.i do,however think that some who use ie may be,like me,older and not inclined to change.my preference tho is firefox. Or how about another way of looking at this....

The people with the highest IQ use the browser that best suits their own needs, whatever it is.

Crazy saying one browser is better for you because it is simply better for someone else. A few on here mentioned they must use the piece of crap IE because of work. For anyone to infer they aren't as smart as others because they need to do it because of some requirement at work, will they would be stupid or unemployed if they didn't use IE. No way does this make anyone more or less intelligent. As a developer, i've seen some of the most ridiculous arguments over which editor, compiler, operating system, yada, yada, yada, blah, blah, blah... Bottom line most thing related with computers, i look at them as tools, use the tool(s) that best fit your own needs.

31.7.2011 03:57 #30

KillerBug

Once again...if you have to use IE for work, then there is nothing wrong with using it FOR WORK. To use it for general browsing simply because a work-related site requires a browser with lax security is not smart. You can use laziness or ignorance as an excuse, but you can't claim that using an insecure browser knowingly is a smart thing to do...not unless you work for an AV company and you are actually trying to get infected.

This applies double to Chrome Frame...as you have the security holes of IE, but you don't have the features usually offered by the many security holes in IE.

This does not necessarily indicate IQ; smart people do dumb things...if you need proof of that, Einstein smoked, Pierre Curie was run over while crossing the street, and Von Braun supported the Nazi party.

31.7.2011 04:37 #31

Mez

Originally posted by DXR88: Originally posted by Mez: Only cattle use iE. They are not smart enough to install anything better and probably iE is more than they need. unfortunately its not the fact they don't know how to install, its more along the reasons of why bother, and what a pain. why bother because as far as Joe Blow is concerned it works fine what Joe don't know is that its one of the most vulnerable browsers to date, and why would he joe ain't a tecky.

Why bother is good enough for me. I believe in good enough.

I need to use IE at work and I need to use IE at home if I am streaming DRMed training videos.

31.7.2011 08:33 #32

ddp

marcusj0015, post edited.

31.7.2011 13:23 #33

klassic

AD, you may want to update this article as it appears the company behind this "research" is a sham. Very newly formed website with images stolen from other companies.

I wanna devise a virus and bring dire straights to your environments. Crush your corporations with a mild touch, trash the whole computer systems and revert you to papyrus - Deltron 3030

3.8.2011 10:00 #34

bobiroc

This story turned out to be an elaborate hoax

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/that-internet-explorer-iq-test-was-a-hoax/3642

AMD Phenom II 965 @ 3.67Ghz, 8GB DDR3, ATI Radeon 5770HD, 300GB 10,000RPM Raptor, 2TB Additional HDD, Windows 7 Ultimate.

http://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices

3.8.2011 10:20 #35

LordRuss

Originally posted by bobiroc: This story turned out to be an elaborate hoax I kinda had a feeling this was going to be the case. Too many journalists jump at the chance to be #1 that they refuse to do their homework.

You can beat a man half to death & he'll still try to stand, but challenge the intellect of his dog & you get this mess.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

3.8.2011 10:54 #36

KillerBug

Originally posted by LordRuss:
You can beat a man half to death & he'll still try to stand, but challenge the intellect of his dog & you get this mess. That is why I like cats...no intellect whatsoever...and she sure loves Fox News.

4.8.2011 22:48 #37

AfterDawn: News