Internet browser, which to use? [Archive]

Navid

07-27-2006, 03:52 PM

I have been looking around and there are many great ones out there now, many with thier ups and downs my question is...which is the best? Is firefox really the best?

Here are a few I have looking at
IE7 - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx
Firefox - http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Opera - http://www.opera.com/
Avant - http://www.avantbrowser.com/

Which is the best and why.

Thank you in advance

JAdams

07-27-2006, 04:08 PM

I've been using firefox for several years, and I love it. Best thing about it, I think, is the extentions; they really allow you to configure your browser the way you want it.

Fozzik

07-27-2006, 04:42 PM

Here's an article comparing three out of the four -
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1990859,00.asp

I like Firefox best as well. ;)

DCpunk

07-27-2006, 06:58 PM

Fozzik

07-27-2006, 07:40 PM

Yes, no browser is faster than IE...at getting you infected with malware. :eek: :p

The only web pages that display correctly in IE and incorrectly in other browsers are those which include MS's carefully engineered incompatibility. I've done some html and xml programming (simple stuff), and I find that Firefox always acts the way I expect it to when I use standard html...IE does not.

I find fireferret to be plenty fast...and the extensions available (and the ease of use) give it the edge of the other choices. The Extensions interface is just really simple and sweet, and makes managing/updating a breeze. Extensions like adblock, chatzilla, and tabbed browsing are just flat out awesome.

As you can see, Navid...opinions vary, and there are pros/cons to each choice. Best thing is to try them out and pick the one you like best.

Giftmacher

07-27-2006, 07:45 PM

Firefox all the way (for me), good support for RSS feeds (I use Wizz RSS), integrated search bar for almost anything you can want (even surprisingly, for me, Pubmed), Chatzilla is good for basic IRC support, tabbed browing etc. etc. Quite simply I can do more "stuff" without leaving my broswer, or installing whole new apps and I like that.

And Fozz is right, incompatable web pages are not Firefox's fault.

Gift.

Snake

07-27-2006, 08:00 PM

In all of my surfing ive only found 3 or 4 that are IE only.

The extensions is what makes firefox, to me, better than the rest. The top right hand corner searches, greasemonkey and platypus to make no-ad webpages, sweet tabbed browsing with session restore incase firefox crashes.

Also, just get firefox with the IE tab extension for those few silly websites that need it, its great.

I also find all-in-one-gestures to be a nice extension and id recommend people check it out if you dont mind trying to use it in other windows that arent firefox (itll happen if you use it enough)

Razorwire

07-28-2006, 07:40 AM

I use firefox for most things but there are a few place that i need to use IE for work

Sakkath

07-28-2006, 07:43 AM

I use firefox at home, but am considering dropping it and going to IE7
The main reason being the seriously crap performance of FF when you have a few pages open, with memory usage running into the hundreds of MB (and seemingly never going down).

I used to use opera, and found that much more lightweight - but eventually got pissed off with the number of websites that didn't display/operate correctly using Opera.

Miron

07-28-2006, 07:45 AM

I use Maxthon (http://www.maxthon.com/). Tabbed browsing and mouse gestures on top of IE's rendering. IE vs. Firefox has become a religious war -- I'm going to steer clear from arguing about that -- and poor Opera, which follows HTML/CSS standards (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1990855,00.asp#acid2) better than either, gets left in obscurity on the sideline.

Razorwire

07-28-2006, 07:49 AM

btw I can't find the IE Tab extension can someone link it?

JAdams

07-28-2006, 12:35 PM

Linkage to IE Tab (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/) :)

My only real problem with firefox is that it can take it a fair bit to load. I use it on a pretty good comp, so it doesn't relly bother me that much...

DCpunk

07-28-2006, 01:01 PM

Yes, no browser is faster than IE...at getting you infected with malware. :eek: :p

Not a problem if you have a good antivirus solution. The only infections I've had over the last 2 years have been from files I've downloaded - nothing from a browser.

Traldan

07-31-2006, 11:27 AM

Personally, I can't stand Firefox. It's slow, clunky, and doesn't display many web pages well. People who use it regularly would be surprised how much content they're missing.

I used to be a big Netscape/Mozilla fan (back when Netscape used Mozilla), but they created a browser at one point that was incompatable with AMD cpus, so I left them in the dust and started using IE exclusively. Since then, I've come to love the speed and ease of use of IE. It's fast, it never crashes, and the interface is one you're familiar with because it follows the same pattern as ever other M-soft interface.

Couldn't be more wrong. ;)

IE has a very slow, dated rendering engine that actually is a good deal slower than the Gecko engine used in Firefox. As an added bonus, you can tweak Firefox to work even better with a broadband connection, by increasing number of connection pipelines and several other things. As for slow and clunky, I very much disagree. I find Firefox to be responsive, quick, and very modular - I can install themes to change the look (which I have, but in the end prefer the default), extensions to give me virtually any functionality I need - what's not to like?

Also, in nearly 2 years of using exclusively Firefox, I've encountered only a handful of pages that have trouble with Firefox. Even then, most of those were long ago and they're now updated to be STANDARDS compliant - rather than relying on proprietary and non-standards compliant things that Microsoft put in IE.

As for Opera, I really like that too, but just am used to Firefox and enjoy my extensions, so I haven't switched. For a new user, I'd almost recommend the new Opera over FF, simply because of the features and slick UI it has.

DCpunk

07-31-2006, 04:04 PM

Couldn't be more wrong. ;)

IE has a very slow, dated rendering engine that actually is a good deal slower than the Gecko engine used in Firefox. As an added bonus, you can tweak Firefox to work even better with a broadband connection, by increasing number of connection pipelines and several other things. As for slow and clunky, I very much disagree. I find Firefox to be responsive, quick, and very modular - I can install themes to change the look (which I have, but in the end prefer the default), extensions to give me virtually any functionality I need - what's not to like?

Also, in nearly 2 years of using exclusively Firefox, I've encountered only a handful of pages that have trouble with Firefox. Even then, most of those were long ago and they're now updated to be STANDARDS compliant - rather than relying on proprietary and non-standards compliant things that Microsoft put in IE.

As for Opera, I really like that too, but just am used to Firefox and enjoy my extensions, so I haven't switched. For a new user, I'd almost recommend the new Opera over FF, simply because of the features and slick UI it has.

I've done time comparisons on my machine:

Firefox is decidely slower by up to about 2 to 3 times in loading pages. And the interface sucks balls. Also, it's no wonder that you haven't found problems with many pages that don't work with Firefox. You certainly won't miss what you never see. There are some page parts that Firefox simply will NOT render. Especially java related stuff.

Fozzik

07-31-2006, 04:18 PM

I would be interested in checking out some examples of that, if you could point me at them. I'd like to see what I've been missing. :D

JAdams

07-31-2006, 06:29 PM

I'm with Fozzik, what pages are you having trouble with?

The only pages I have trouble with on a regular basis are those that have a wmv embedded, and when I run into those, I use IE Tab :D

Traldan

08-01-2006, 12:04 AM

I've done time comparisons on my machine:

Firefox is decidely slower by up to about 2 to 3 times in loading pages. And the interface sucks balls. Also, it's no wonder that you haven't found problems with many pages that don't work with Firefox. You certainly won't miss what you never see. There are some page parts that Firefox simply will NOT render. Especially java related stuff.

Point me specifically to things I'm 'missing', and I'll believe you. Until then, I'll live in my little fantasy world that the majority of websites on the web are standards compliant.

As for speed, I don't know where you'd get that idea. IE has used the 'Trident' rendering engine since version FOUR, and which was last updated in 2001. I don't know about you, but I'm inclined to believe the web has changed a little since 2001. In addition to speed, Gecko is also updated frequently to include support for newer web features (and some forthcoming in future versions of Firefox, such as full SVG support).

But then again, Opera smokes them both in terms of speed, so if you really want fast page loading, use that. ;)

Fozzik

08-01-2006, 06:37 AM

I hate fast page loading. I just want my adblock. :p

I've been meaning to give Opera another try...but I seriously doubt it's going to take over Firefox's spot in my heart.

Giftmacher

08-01-2006, 08:09 AM

On the subject on no-workie web pages, I've just had to revert from IE7 to 6 at work. We've a web ordering system that only IE6 can use and even IE7 doesn't appear to be backwards compatable with that particular (critical) site. :rolleyes:

Why oh why can't people stick with the standards? :rolleyes:

Gift.

Fozzik

08-01-2006, 11:25 AM

Microsoft has carefully engineered incompatibility into their products for years... exactly because it locks people in. Once you get into the mindset that the browser is wrong and not the webpage, or the word processor is wrong and not the document... MS wins. It's the reason they have Direct X, the reason they have their own version of XML, and Java, and html... the list goes on.

Giftmacher

08-01-2006, 11:50 AM

Yes I know, the question was rhetorical. ;) I just find it irritating that their new browser can’t deal with the old browser’s warped standards.

Gift.

Dillgaar

08-01-2006, 12:17 PM

As a professional web developer I can tell you thatthere are MANY companies that can give a rip less about firefox and will specifically only force compatability with IE... this is unfortunate and it makes the firefox browsing experience crappy...

I like both IE and firefox... I absolutely hate the IE popup blocker as it blocks other contwent that I do want and there is no way to tell it what content i want and dont want it will just run and i have to click every time...

I prefer to leave adware and virus protection to apps that are specifically meant for that and then keep my browsing to my browser... unfortunately IE thinks it should be everythign to everyone

Fozzik

08-01-2006, 04:20 PM

Yes I know, the question was rhetorical. ;) I just find it irritating that their new browser can’t deal with the old browser’s warped standards.

Gift.

Sorry. ;) I've had some bad experiences that scarred me, involving people's Access databases and upgrades of Microsoft office. *shudder*

DCpunk

08-01-2006, 04:56 PM

Point me specifically to things I'm 'missing', and I'll believe you. Until then, I'll live in my little fantasy world that the majority of websites on the web are standards compliant.

I know I've come across half a hundred examples over the past year and change, but the only one that I can think of off the top of my head is a tool I use here at work, so I can't really point you to it. I really don't care if you believe me or not. There is no question at all that I have seen it firsthand.

As for speed, I don't know where you'd get that idea. IE has used the 'Trident' rendering engine since version FOUR, and which was last updated in 2001. I don't know about you, but I'm inclined to believe the web has changed a little since 2001. In addition to speed, Gecko is also updated frequently to include support for newer web features (and some forthcoming in future versions of Firefox, such as full SVG support).

Again, I could care less whether or not you believe me. I've done side by side comparison and IE unquestionably loads pages faster. Most often in less than half the time it takes Firefox.

Navid

08-01-2006, 05:25 PM

I have also expercienced slower loads with FF as well (with faster fox)

So i can back up what he said. However, is it worth the extra secs of waiting for a good browser?

Fozzik

08-01-2006, 06:11 PM

I think we should all put on some gloves out back and throw hands. Only real way to decide which browser is best.

Giftmacher

08-02-2006, 03:34 AM

LOL or we could just agree that "the best browser" = best for you.

I've explained why FF does it for me, so people looking for similar things know why I like it, but not everyone wants what I do.

Gift.

DCpunk

08-02-2006, 03:52 PM

I have also expercienced slower loads with FF as well (with faster fox)

So i can back up what he said. However, is it worth the extra secs of waiting for a good browser?

If I ever had a problem with IE, I would switch. Since I never do, then I see no reason to switch. I don't like tabbed browsing, and IE is faster. I really can't fathom why I would ever want to use something else.

Snake

08-02-2006, 04:45 PM

Lawl :P its not just all about tabbed browsing. Though i do use it alot when im checking out my game news (tons of tabs open). The extensions are the main thing, you should look around at some of the extensions they have for it, and if they dont interest you..and you have a good protector against things that IE is really insecure for then you should keep IE.

DCpunk

08-03-2006, 03:39 PM

Snake

08-03-2006, 04:42 PM

:D Most to me are really unuseful too. At first with your reply i thought you were gonna say you liked em :p .

To me atleast firefox is faster, i compared it to IE just a minute ago and there is a noticeable difference to me.

With the gestures i can have IGN and silky opened up in less than a second (great for my laziness).

JAdams

08-03-2006, 05:47 PM

I couldn't live without my extentions; they're the best part of Firefix, IMHO.

Also, when I first started using Firefox, I didn't think I would be interested in tabs. Now, I use them all the time. Go figure :)

DCpunk

08-04-2006, 03:31 PM

Navid

08-05-2006, 04:31 PM

I have tabs in IE. They appear as little buttons on my taskbar. :D

Lol i never got why that was such a cool feature, whats the diffence between tabs up top and tabs on your taskbar? lol

Snake

08-05-2006, 07:23 PM

Well, the next IE has tabbed browsing so it must be somethin :P.

Plus, if you have 10 windows open and it scales them down to one which you can click and go to, that takes alot more time than just clicking a tab.

Navid

08-07-2006, 05:14 PM

I guess i dont like it becuase I always loose them, i can never find them in there, LOL

Crimson

08-08-2006, 09:58 AM

Which is the best and why.
There isn't a best browser out there, which is a good thing(TM).:pirate: Keeps the developement running ;)

I'm using FF since early beta stages (since Firebird 0.3, I think) but still would like to sent you to Firefox Myths (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html) which is an interesting read for the open minded FF fanboy :D

C.

Giftmacher

08-08-2006, 10:44 AM

Hehe Some one has a bee in their bonnet about FF, but that web page is pretty accurate especially regarding Opera; poor Opera always seems to get forgotton in the browser wars.

Seriously though, got to love some of those myths, some were new even to me and I love all claims to "secure code" :rolleyes:

Gift.

Navid

08-08-2006, 01:45 PM

wow that post was very helpful

I also used all of them and i came to the same concusion. Avant is best.

Snake

08-08-2006, 11:40 PM

There isn't a best browser out there, which is a good thing(TM).:pirate: Keeps the developement running ;)

I'm using FF since early beta stages (since Firebird 0.3, I think) but still would like to sent you to Firefox Myths (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/FirefoxMyths.html) which is an interesting read for the open minded FF fanboy :D

C.

Link...so...biased...hurts..head...

Crimson

08-11-2006, 04:57 AM

Link...so...biased...hurts..head...
*hands over some painkiller* :)
Actually it isn't biased so badly. In contrast to most other pages the author is giving sources for all claims. And the most recent security patches for the FF had to fix some severe bugs (http://www.mozilla.org/projects/security/known-vulnerabilities.html#Firefox).

Also I still use firefox so the reading doesn't really hurt ;)

C.