What's the best browser now?

[napoleon1769]

While I was trying to find a browser that would allow me to easily sync my bookmarks from my PC and MAC, I found an article from NSSLABS that said that IE 8.0 is now the most secure browser. Is this true or is the testing flawed? What's the best browser now?

[CCCC3333]

http://www.opera.com/link/

[Oversized Rooster]

I don't know which is the most secure browser out there but I like Firefox 3.5 and IE8. I wouldn't bother considering Opera or Safari and certainly not Chrome.

[Dave98]

Firefox, IE8, and Safari are all capable of syncing bookmarks via the xmarks addon

Opera can sync bookmarks and other preferences via their link feature


and NSSLABS are sponsored by Microsoft btw

[Avatar]

http://www.opera.com/link/

+1
It's fast and secure. No activeX. I especially love the feature that it memorizes the pages when Windows/browser exits/crashes. In other words it will retain all pages even though you close Opera. And there's a trash you can recover the tabs you closed too. Not to mention the page displayed instantly when back button pressed. Also it's the only program that integrates mail (not plugin) and Bittorrent, widgets etc..

[chinese zzz]

Fire Fox>> Opera>> Internet 8 = NO MORE...:cheesygri
internet is no good anymore...:D

fire fox and opera is the answer...:rolleyes:

[stormy13]

The one you're most comfortable with.

[Lawcheehung]

firefox, just cause it's got tons and tons of addons

[dragon_drift]

IE8 is unreliable imo. It crashed on me several times and it doesn't bring back the pages I was viewing before it crashed.

Firefox is pretty good imo and it still is.

[TheFuteballer]

I pretty much use only FireFox however independent test and reviewer websites have shown that Safari is in fact the fastest browser. I have the reviews bookmarked at work, I was sending it around cuz I was shocked! I'll send it to you guys when I get back to work on monday.

p.s. I just found out there's an adblock for Safari too! hmm.. maybe time to switch?

[bembol]

Leopard and XP Pro

I love Firefox. It used to be Safari, until Apple released 3.0, even their latest sucks!!

[bauer4eva]

Google Chrome. Been using it since its release, and absolutely love it!

Firefox barely gets any action anymore

[RCGA]

Safari is soooo much faster than FF on my MBP

I use FF on my Dell 830 laptop just because I have all my sites and passwords already in there. Chrome works great too.

Haven't really give IE8 a shot. It still takes up too much horizontal space.

[Kwirky]

Anything but IE! Other than that, I actually can't decide which one I like best, so use Opera on my desktop, Chrome on my laptop, and Firefox on my Netbook. I think I'd use Lynx before opening up IE8! :razz:

Edit: as far as security goes, Firefox & Chrome are best:

But the bigger news is the insight Charlie Miller, a security researcher for Independent Security Evaluators who cracked a fully patched MacBook Air through Safari, gave ZDNet in an interview. Miller labeled Mac OS as the easiest of the bunch to exploit while naming Firefox on Windows machines one of the most difficult, and Chrome as almost impossible. http://www.securitypronews.com/insiderreports/insider/spn-49-20090324FirefoxonWindowsChromeToughNutstoCrack.htm l

[Spor 13]

I use Firefox mainly, and only use Chrome at work since its the only browser that I can install (I REFUSE to use IE6...). I like Chrome, but it lacks extensions - mainly adblock plus. If Chrome had AdBlock (I know there's a workaround..but I don't like it), I would have to give switching browsers some very serious consideration.

P.S I went to southparkstudios.com once at work with IE6, and was pleasantly suprised lol. We all had a good laugh, even if it was quite racist and offensive haha.

[Mercury048]

I use Opera. I used to use IE for a long time simply because procrastination prevented me from trying any other browser.

Tried Firefox for a while, but there were tons of little annoyances that I just couldn't get around or get used to, plus it was SLOW. I hear it's only gotten more bloated since then.

Tried Opera, and loved it. It isn't perfect, but the flaws it has I can live with.

Looked at Chrome briefly. Nice browser, but it failed to wow me in any way. Can't understand what the hype is about.

[arm2000]

I use IE8 at home and it's pretty good. It's faster than Firefox 3.0x. FireFox also has a big problem: it crashes if no PDF add-on installed and I try to open a PDF doc which happens quite a lot. Also if u have multiple instances of FF open and one of them crashes, all of them will be closed when u force close the crashed one.
The biggest problem with IE8 (but with Firefox also) is that some sites don't work well.

[chroma_cg]

used firefox before but stopped using it when 3.1 took too long to load the program and load my bookmark list for the first time (i have a really long bookmark list), no idea if 3.5 has fixed the issue

then gave chrome a try not bad but the thing that broke the deal is poor javascript support, try going to pcvonline.com and see if it can still display the menu rollovers correctly. no idea if they have fixed it yet in newer releases

then tried opera but the dealbreaker for that is it cannot display ebay listings correctly (cannot even click on any of the listing options such as sorting, # of items per page, or even page 1 page 2 page 3)

so went back to ie8. it seems to not respond well if you have too many sessions open but i can live with it

[angekfire]

used firefox before but stopped using it when 3.1 took too long to load the program and load my bookmark list for the first time (i have a really long bookmark list), no idea if 3.5 has fixed the issue

It hasn't. FF used to be fast, I used to love it over IE. However lately, it has been so damned slow to load, and I only have like, maybe a grand total of 30 bookmarks to load? It takes like 20-30 seconds to load, and I am not running a slow machine by any means. I mostly just still use it out of habit. I just can't get used to Chrome. I tried. I might just have to switch back to IE, because the tabs was what was big for me, but now that IE can do it too, it really doesn't bother me.

[stevelam]

firefox is still #1 for me. the addons alone are what makes it the best browser. if all you do in your browser is visit websites and check email then i'd stick with chrome or safari.

[chroma_cg]

It hasn't. FF used to be fast, I used to love it over IE. However lately, it has been so damned slow to load, and I only have like, maybe a grand total of 30 bookmarks to load? It takes like 20-30 seconds to load, and I am not running a slow machine by any means. I mostly just still use it out of habit. I just can't get used to Chrome. I tried. I might just have to switch back to IE, because the tabs was what was big for me, but now that IE can do it too, it really doesn't bother me.

what i notice is that this lag problem does not happen with my acer aspire one netbook, but happens with my laptop and desktop....and technically the latter 2 should run faster, but they both have 4gb ram (acer has 1.5)....i wonder if it has to do with too much ram (just a wild guess)

[fitbrit]

I use Chrome and occasionally FF.

[CodecX81]

Should've made a poll ;)

Firefox for me!
Opera..maybe. Its great for my Blackberry, but not a fan of it on my PC.

[saltyvinegar]

Until Chrome matures Firefox is still my #1 browser. I use IE for windowsupdates, thats all. I keep trying Opera and Chrome and keep being happier with Chrome but I only trust Firefox for secure tasks.

[Dave98]

Using Firefox 3.5 here with about 35 extensions.

Yeah, it could start up quicker... and yeah it could use fewer resources but nothing matches it in terms of features and customization yet.

I'd always give other browsers a try and miss being able to do certain things that I could do with Firefox. Even if they're just minor.


so in my opinion

Chrome is for those who prefer speed over everything else
Opera for those all-in-one users
Firefox for those who like to customize

IE is for those who just don't give a crap

[hagbard]

I'm going back to Netscape Navigator 7. :D

[dstefan]

hmmm www.browzar.com :D

[jake_ie8team]

Add-ons like accelerators and web slices make browsing faster in IE 8. If you use the Define with Bing accelerator, for instance, you can simply scroll over a word that you are unfamiliar with and read the definition that pops up similar to a scrolldown menu after a left click. Here's an overview of this stuff - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx

Also, security has been improved since previous versions - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/safer.aspx

- Jake

MSFT Internet Explorer Outreach Team

[lookingforstufffff]

Add-ons like accelerators and web slices make browsing faster in IE 8. If you use the Define with Bing accelerator, for instance, you can simply scroll over a word that you are unfamiliar with and read the definition that pops up similar to a scrolldown menu after a left click. Here's an overview of this stuff - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx

Also, security has been improved since previous versions - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/safer.aspx

- Jake

MSFT Internet Explorer Outreach Team

lol what?

Safari 4 all the way!!!

[luthair]

Tried Firefox for a while, but there were tons of little annoyances that I just couldn't get around or get used to, plus it was SLOW. I hear it's only gotten more bloated since then.

Eh? I've been using Firefox since ~2002 when it was known as Phoenix (later Firebird before finally Firefox) and I can't recall a time when Internet Explorer was faster. Opera had a slight advantage at one point but that was a while back, at this time Firefox and webkit browsers (Konqueror/Chrome/Safari) are much faster.

Chrome has an advantage with Javascript, but otherwise its a wash.

It hasn't. FF used to be fast, I used to love it over IE. However lately, it has been so damned slow to load, and I only have like, maybe a grand total of 30 bookmarks to load? It takes like 20-30 seconds to load, and I am not running a slow machine by any means. I mostly just still use it out of habit. I just can't get used to Chrome. I tried. I might just have to switch back to IE, because the tabs was what was big for me, but now that IE can do it too, it really doesn't bother me.

This link may help: https://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?comments_parentId=381674&forumId=1

Using Firefox 3.5 here with about 35 extensions.

Yeah, it could start up quicker... and yeah it could use fewer resources but nothing matches it in terms of features and customization yet.

I'd always give other browsers a try and miss being able to do certain things that I could do with Firefox. Even if they're just minor.


so in my opinion

Chrome is for those who prefer speed over everything else
Opera for those all-in-one users
Firefox for those who like to customize

IE is for those who just don't give a crap

The 35 extensions are probably why Firefox starts so slowly ;) Thought you could try the above as well.

[brunes]

Chrome is much faster than Firefox 3.5 or opera or IE8. It also has a ton of cool features, and the Google awesome bar is, well, awesome (way better and faster than the awesome bar in Firefox).

However, until the new version with extension support comes out, Firefox 3.5 is still my main browser, as I have a few extensions I can't live without (Shareaholic and TwitterFox and AdBlock).

EDIT: RE other posters.

It hasn't. FF used to be fast, I used to love it over IE. However lately, it has been so damned slow to load, and I only have like, maybe a grand total of 30 bookmarks to load? It takes like 20-30 seconds to load, and I am not running a slow machine by any means. Wow, something is wrong with your install. I just timed it and my FF 3.5 takes under 2 seconds to open. no no previous instances are loaded nor do I have a quick loader or anything like that. And this is on a laptop with only a 5400 RPM drive.

used firefox before but stopped using it when 3.1 took too long to load the program and load my bookmark list for the first time (i have a really long bookmark list), no idea if 3.5 has fixed the issue

See above

then gave chrome a try not bad but the thing that broke the deal is poor javascript support, try going to pcvonline.com and see if it can still display the menu rollovers correctly. no idea if they have fixed it yet in newer releases

I took a look at the page source. The page itself is severely broken. It is heavily coded specifically to IE. Whoever the web developer is for this site should be unemployed.

Add-ons like accelerators and web slices make browsing faster in IE 8. If you use the Define with Bing accelerator, for instance, you can simply scroll over a word that you are unfamiliar with and read the definition that pops up similar to a scrolldown menu after a left click. Here's an overview of this stuff - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/faster.aspx

This stuff has been available in Firefox for years via various addons. It is a near direct copy of keyword selection and select search.

Also, security has been improved since previous versions - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/features/safer.aspx

Hrm interesting, security experts say otherwise.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135499/Attacks_against_unpatched_Microsoft_bug_multiply

Not to mention when is IE going to get with the times and support things like the Canvas tag and Video tag, which every other mainstream browser supports? It is quickly being left in the dust. With sites like DailyMotion and YouTube being enhanced for HTML5, people stuck with IE are going to start seeing a more and more restricted view of the web in the future.

Why doesn't Microsoft just ditch Trident and adopt Webkit for IE? I seriously so not understand why they keep investing manpower and resources on this sinking ship.