IE ActiveX Comparisons

Commenters frequently compare a current browser or software integration proposal to Microsoft's historical bundling of Internet Explorer and ActiveX with Windows, highlighting antitrust issues, legacy enterprise dependencies, and tight OS-browser coupling.

📉 Falling 0.4x Web Development
2,568
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#1181
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
11
2008
42
2009
106
2010
170
2011
203
2012
177
2013
169
2014
150
2015
173
2016
78
2017
108
2018
96
2019
150
2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
8

Keywords

RAM MS US JavasScript HTML3 HR XML XMLHTTP BTW MANY internet explorer explorer windows browser internet microsoft browsers controls chrome apps

Sample Comments

fgonzag Oct 2, 2020 View on HN

You probably didn't suffer through IE and active X

sukuriant Feb 17, 2012 View on HN

If true, didn't Microsoft do that a long time ago... with Internet Exporer?

josefx Dec 10, 2020 View on HN

Basic functionality like windows update was implemented using websites and activex components. You couldn't run that with any other browser.

sharemywin Feb 18, 2014 View on HN

wonder if microsoft can do that in Internet explorer?

dmillar May 18, 2010 View on HN

Never gonna happen. Too many enterprise apps depend on IEs render engine and ActiveX.

HPsquared Jan 6, 2026 View on HN

Sounds like how Internet Explorer used to be integrated in Windows. That was quite contentious at the time!

wvenable Jan 23, 2020 View on HN

IE is an OS component; it's not merely a browser.

calgoo Sep 25, 2019 View on HN

I had to use it today to connect to some old activeX iLo console for a server. Our internal HR module also only works with IE.

mbrumlow Jul 15, 2019 View on HN

Microsoft said the same thing about internet exploror and it's operating system..

lomase Sep 25, 2025 View on HN

Back to Internet Explorer ActiveX times.