OT: Favorite web browser?

maddoc1979 · Post by **maddoc1979** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:37 pm

Just wondering what you all are using for web browsing. I've been using Opera for over a year now and love it...the tabbed browsing, popup block, and really quick interface are awesome. The only downside is that a few of the web pages I frequent don't display perfectly as-designed. Anybody using Firefox? I'm awaiting the official release this week before I try it, but I think it might be the way to go now.

Doc

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:41 pm

Firefox is good, but you'll run into the same problem that you get with Opera. I personally use both Firefox the Avant Browser. Avant is using the IE engine, but it's got all the good stuff: tabbed browsing, popup blocking and a great interface itself.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:47 pm

I use Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) which, like Avant Browser, uses the IE engine but offers all the essentials like tabbed browsing, popup blocking, etc.

Firefox is my 2nd choice, especially for sites like OS where there are alot of ActiveX ads. The final 1.0 version of Firefox is due on Nov. 9th, although that release may be overshadowed by a certain XBox release on the same day.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:54 pm

I switched to FireFox about a month ago and I love it. Crushes IE.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 1:55 pm

Doesn't XP SR2 have at least popup blocking for IE?

I like Safari a lot but in the Anandtech review, the guy liked it but noted that IE is still the fastest rendering browser out there.

Still I can't imagine not having tabs any more.

If you think about it, browsers haven't come that far since Mosaic.

I do like the scroll wheel in mice.

But you know what trumps the scroll wheels and tabs?

A big screen where you could put at least two full web pages side by side.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:03 pm

wco81 wrote:Doesn't XP SR2 have at least popup blocking for IE?

Yes it does, but it still doesn't support tabbed browsing!?!?!? I don't know how anyone can use a browser without tabbed browsing.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:44 pm

Is this a loaded question? Who will be the first to be individual enough to say "IE is actually my favorite browser" and risk flames from all of the anti-M$ crowd??

I'm very familiar with Firefox from using a lot of Linux machines, but as wco noted IE is hands-down faster at rendering than Firefox, plus all of the integration that IE has with XP is handy. But should M$ be given points for having the advantage of XP? Probably not. Still, when using XP I just tend to deal with IE for speed and just put up with trying to instinctively open up another tab with the mouse wheel. It eventually goes away.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:51 pm

Of course, that brings up the issue of having to put up with XP

IE running on XP is really slow on my old PC. And when it hits a site which spawns windows, it doesn't help.

If you go to OS, a pop-up blocker is a must.

Now the "big" thing, at least among geeks, is suppose to be RSS.

I haven't really given it a good workout. I suppose it could be a better paradigm than bookmarks. It's true that my surfing habits is to go to the same number of sites, in contrast to the early days of the web when everything was more fluid and you would surf around to a wider assortment of sites.

vraknari · Post by **vraknari** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:51 pm

wco81 wrote:But you know what trumps the scroll wheels and tabs?

A big screen where you could put at least two full web pages side by side.

dual monitors is the way to go.

had it at work about 4 years ago and i've never even thought about going back to a single display.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:07 pm

Mozilla Firefox

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:20 pm

Kazuya wrote:Is this a loaded question? Who will be the first to be individual enough to say "IE is actually my favorite browser" and risk flames from all of the anti-M$ crowd??

I was the first. Avant is basically IE with tabbed browsing and a popup blocker. It's my browser of choice. Does ANYONE still use regular IE?

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:38 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Kazuya wrote:Is this a loaded question? Who will be the first to be individual enough to say "IE is actually my favorite browser" and risk flames from all of the anti-M$ crowd??
I was the first. Avant is basically IE with tabbed browsing and a popup blocker. It's my browser of choice. Does ANYONE still use regular IE?

Actually, a better question might be does anyone NOT use IE. IE has 91-93% of the market, depending on which news source you cite. PC Authority is claiming 92.9%, although that figure is down from 93.7% for the previous month.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:42 pm

That market share corresponds with Windows market share.

That was one of the points of the antitrust case, that being bundled with the OS was key to market share for the browsers. That is why MS strong-armed companies like Compaq into not bundling Netscape.

Despite more broadband connections, most people are too lazy to download other browsers, if they even know other options exist.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 3:49 pm

wco81 wrote: if they even know other options exist.

That would be my guess. Why would average Joe even think about using another browser? The recent surge in Firefox's popularity has been attributed to security, which doesn't affect everyone. Most people just have no idea there is better stuff out there (or at least better technology wise).

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:29 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
Kazuya wrote:Is this a loaded question? Who will be the first to be individual enough to say "IE is actually my favorite browser" and risk flames from all of the anti-M$ crowd??
I was the first. Avant is basically IE with tabbed browsing and a popup blocker. It's my browser of choice. Does ANYONE still use regular IE?

Me. It's what's loaded on my machine, which is owned by work. And we're not supposed to put any external software on these machines.

But since I broke that rule long ago, I downloaded Avant after Mass this morning. Count me among the crowd that never knew it existed.

Avant is very, very fast and very, very intuitive for this longtime IE user. But I sure miss that Google Toolbar. I use that thing constantly for work and play.

Thanks for the tip on Avant!

Take care,
PK

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:39 pm

Firefox at home, IE at work. I'm pretty happy with Firefox, it's worked with nearly every Web page without problems.

The main reason I got it was for pop-up blocking, but even with the updated IE, I won't go back.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:42 pm

Speaking of Google, has anyone tried that Desktop search thing?

I can't believe how much of Google's stock price was driven by that.

How would Google make money searching files on your hard disk? Do they show links to transaction opportunities like they do with web search?

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:51 pm

wco81 wrote:Speaking of Google, has anyone tried that Desktop search thing?

I can't believe how much of Google's stock price was driven by that.

How would Google make money searching files on your hard disk? Do they show links to transaction opportunities like they do with web search?

It's pretty neat... it works like you might think, Google hashes your hard drive. Some of my friends who have used it more than me say it's pretty addicting. I can't remember if they show links on the side or not... even if they don't, I suppose they could justify the expense just as further promoting the use of Google's web services, which is thoroughly integrated with Google Desktop.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 5:20 pm

I just use Safari for OS X. Seems pretty quick, is stable, blocks a good number of popups, and has a google search built-in. Stuck with IE at work though.

I'd definitely say that most people don't know of other options.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:22 pm

Wow, the more I paw around Avant, the more I like it. Take my moan about no Google toolbar and throw it out the window: You can switch the default Yahoo! search toolbar to Google or any other search engine.

Avant kicks ass. Thanks again, DB!

Take care,
PK

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 8:46 pm

I use IE. I never have problems with pop-ups. Don't know why anyone else does.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 9:56 pm

Mozilla Firefox most of the time and sparingly use IE.

blueduke · Post by **blueduke** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:00 pm

Used Mozilla Firefox until now. After reading the props for Avant I downloaded it and really like it. Still playing around with it some to get used to some of it's features. Whoever suggested it thanks a million

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:45 pm

Safari.

The best browser.

But if you MUST use a PC. Avant or Firefox tie in my book.

ProvoAnC · Post by **ProvoAnC** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 1:08 am

I'm gonna have to +1 Avant. I always used IE. I knew there were other browsers, but never gave it a second thought until this thread. I d/l'ed it and have used it for the past couple hours. I like it a lot better than IE. Would I die without it? No, but it does making browsing more convenient