Browser Choice 2005

[saturnotaku]

I use Firefox for 99% of my web surfing duty. I love how I can tell the browser to prohibit Java scrips from changing/resizing my browser window. My bank has such a script, and if I try to access my accounts with IE, the page maximizes the window. It doesn't happen with Firefox.

I also like the adblocker extension - it helps get rid of those annoying Flash ads on Fileplanet.

About my only issue with the browser is that it has problems with AT&T Webmail. But this will be a non-issue once I fully migrate over to Gmail.

[JRepin]

My signature says it all :) Firefox just rocks :)

[BioHazZarD]

IE it works solid as a rock.

[Subtestube]

Firefox...! I used to tolerate IE, but now that I've experienced the joy of minimal fast integrated tabbed browsing I can't go back. I'd probably use Opera if not for that ad banner... And before anyone suggests MyIE or Avant or Crazybrowser... NO!

[netviper13]

Only time I use IE anymore is for Windows Update.

[SH64]

Firefox taking 1st place so far .

why do you people prefer Firefox over IE anyway ??

[netviper13]

Firefox taking 1st place so far .

why do you people prefer Firefox over IE anyway ??

1. Tabbed browsing.

2. Efficient pop-up blocker.

3. Built-in RSS feed.

4. 0 hits of spyware since dropping IE.

5. Meets all official W3C standards (IE doesn't).

6. Has a version for each major OS (Windows, OSX, & Linux), so you feel at home no matter which you're using.

[JRepin]

What netviper13 said. And Firefox loads faster and renders pages faster. I also love password/image/cookies/form manager a lot. And the new Find toolbar is great. Bookmarks system is also more advanced. And download manager is also nicer. Oh and Firefox is regularly translated into my language.

[msxyz]

Proud user of Opera since release 5. :) Fast and sleek although some nasty bugs persist (mostly in the underdeveloped javascript engine)

I have thrown Explorer out of the Window(s) since the Win98 days with 98lite and now under Win2000/XP with nLite.

[Riptide]

Opera has been more stable for me after the 7.12 release. These newer versions don't seem to crash as often for some reason. I love the skins you can get for opera, especially the Blue XP skin.

[SmrtSkoso]

I use only Firefox now. No more problems with spyware I had when I was still using IE. I highly recommend using Firefox for modern and safe browsing.

[saturnotaku]

These newer versions don't seem to crash as often for some reason.

This is true, but I still get the odd, random crash with Opera. It's something I can't explain or nail down to a particular site or action that I do and that's the most infuriating part of all. Prior to 0.8, any crashes with Firefox I could pretty easily reproduce. But with the latest versions, Firefox has not crashed for me even once.

[SteveL]

Only time I use IE anymore is for Windows Update.

Same here. Was an IE user for years until about 3 weeks ago, when some site installed a load of different spyware and favourites and documents, the list goes on and on. Ad-aware, Spy-bot and a few others did nothing to fix it or even know there was a problem.

Everything about Firefox seems better, faster and more secure IMHO :)

[majortom]

how much mem does it take up? if its no more than ie then i'm seriously considering switching. way too many security holes in ie.

[majortom]

a little update: just installed firefox. it seems to load a little slower, but its very stable, and doesnt use any more mem than ie. no more ie for me!!!!!

[JRepin]

Shouldn't be slower then IE. Firefox is quite a bit faster for me here. What exatly is slower for you? Maybe it is only now that you have just installed Firefox and it has to fetch everything from the internet for the first time. When all gets cached it should be faster. You can also try to increase cache (in Tools > Options > Privacy > Cache).

[majortom]

its mostly images. and its true. once it caches, it loads instantly. and i LOVE the tabs : no more multi windows!

[holmes]

Using good 'ol Mozilla here...

[EMunEeE]

I love Firefox. I was a long time user of IE until this summer then I made the switch. I have not seen a pop up or had spyware on my computer since I switched. I will not be going back.

Now if only a certain company (*cough* Logitech *cough*) would make their iTouch software compatible with Firefox, I'll be set.

[LiquidX]

Still useing good ole IE, never gave me any problems to change it. Tried Firefox however and IMO is way over rated. IE even got better with the pop-up blocker.

[Smokey]

Those using IE, can you try something for me? When you first load windows, open task manager and see if IEXPLORER.EXE is running, or even if you open task manager with all IE windows closed (for those that never reboot ;) )

[NightFire]

Its not running for me. But that's just because I did it right now, so I don't know.

[BioHazZarD]

yes its running dammit.

[nVidi0t]

I was really into Firefox but I couldn't handle that god-awful downloader and the way it would fail to display pages properly on occasion. So I'm back on IE SP2, the first time I've used IE in years, and it seems good. I miss tabbed browsing but it seems pretty solid.

[Dodga UK]

Opera v7.54. Rocks. No Broken Transfers, a popup blocker that works, customisable favourites, don't seem to suffer with spyware as much and it's fast. Sorry did I mention it's fast? I don't know what IE does before downloading pages but god it's slow.

Oh and the magic wand feature that remebers your username and password for individual websites is a big bonus.

Give IE & Netscape the boot and give another 3rd party browser a try, you woin't regret it.

Minor downside is that the parsing of flash appelets is a little screwy and certain upload managers (eBay picture manager for instance) only works with IE. But in General Opera is music to my poota!