Ask Greg and the forum - Internet Browser Recommendation

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Ask Greg and the forum - Internet Browser Recommendation

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Hi Greg

I hope you don't mind me picking your IT brain

I have received an email from Microsoft asking if I want to switch internet browser due to the recent EU ruling on unfair competition.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/38/20.....c422d.html

Do you know if one browser is better than the others?

Thank you so much for your time

16 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Vani

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

We have been using Google Chrome and really loving it. Not sure if that's an option for the UK.

16 years ago

Dawn

(website)

Active Member

I use Firefox as I find that it is more stable than IE for opening PDF files and is less prone to viruses, etc. I've used Chrome as well and while it is faster, I have also found that it really slows down the other processes on my laptop.

16 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I use firefox. It has a good selection of add-ons. The ones I am using are: Adblock plus and snap links plus (this was recommended by someone on the forum, I can't remember who, but thank you, thank you! It's the best add-on ever).
The first one allows me to block all advertisement. The second one allows me to open new tabs by clicking the right button. I love love love my combination and it works for me and I would not change it for anything in the world.

Hubby is using Google Chrome for the moment. It is faster but most add-ons don't work as well (at least for the moment), so I'm sticking with firefox at least until chrome is fully functional.

16 years ago

Ele

(website)

Active Member

I take it you're on a PC, Julie? I third Firefox in that case. Very stable and user-friendly- I sometimes use it myself when Safari isn't working with something/is acting up (shhh- don't tell).

16 years ago

Greg

Administrator

I don't think you can go wrong with Firefox or IE8. Chrome and Safari are a little less stable and web developers test less for them.

IE used to be a web developer's nightmare, but Microsoft has made massive improvements since IE6. I find that IE8 is much better than Firefox when it comes to flash content (e.g. youtube videos).

Firefox is fantastic for web development because it has some very useful plugins (e.g. Firebug). I think it renders web pages a little better than IE, but the gap has become very small with IE8.

BTW, there's nothing to stop you installing *both* Firefox and IE and trying them out. The differences are small enough that it will come down to personal preference.

Full disclosure: I worked at Microsoft for quite a few years and I know people who work(ed) on the IE team, but due to the development environments I use these days I spend most of my time on a Mac in Firefox and Safari.

16 years ago

Vani

Veteran

I'm a Firefox gal through and through. I love that it is just as flexible for me to use as a developer at work and as a demanding end user at home. I dabbled with Chrome, but as Dawn mentioned it is still a little buggy. There are some standard features in it that I do miss once in a while though.

Greg, I just installed Opera on my phone and I am amazed at the speed and ease of use, even on my Symbian Nokia. I have not tried the desktop version yet but for an end user, what is your opinion of Opera vs Firefox for Windows?

16 years ago

Greg

Administrator

Vani, I don't know Opera's desktop browser at all. Their main claim to fame are their mobile products, which I think are very good for what they do on constrained mobile devices. Web developers don't pay much attention to Opera because their footprint is so small. Over the last month, traffic to YLF has come from the following browsers...

- IE: 41%
- Firefox: 34%
- Safari: 19%
- Chrome: 5.5%
- Opera: 0.5%

So I think Firefox is a safer bet.

16 years ago

Louise

Veteran

I'm on IE 8 and have no complaints x

16 years ago

8or80

Member

I definitely recommend Firefox. It's stable and secure and speedy, and has an abundance of optional add-ins that make browsing so much easier/better. Chrome isn't just slower and more unstable (so far--I'm sure it'll get better!), there is also a privacy concern if you're in any way an advocate of corporate transparency, as a quick googling of "Google Chrome Privacy" will attest. It's probably nothing to be paranoid about, but it's worth noting and researching

In any case, I use Firefox (although not here at work, where I am stuck on IE). Or, as recommended above, you could just try a few and uninstall what doesn't work for you

16 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Okay, thank you so much to everyone who has commented. I have looked at how the family are using the internet and due to the high volume of flash I think we will be sticking with IE8 but I may try Firefox as well.

Thanks again

16 years ago

Vani

Veteran

Thanks for getting back to me Greg!

16 years ago

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