5 replies to this topic

[marko]

A while ago I wrote about how Firefox had became my browser of choice early on in my computing life.   However, recently with one problem and another, FF had began to show signs of lag and wasn't anywhere near as responsive as it used to be.   I'd put this down mainly to a few add-ons I'd installed, although after removing said add-ons and starting a fresh with FF the problems have re-emerged causing me concern.

I've since created a brand new profile on FF and resisted the temptation to re-install any add-ons at all other than those needed for my everyday browsing such as flash, java, etc, these obviously coming from the developers own websites.

To my amazement, yet again I'm noticing a slight lag in web page loads, transitions and everyday use of Firefox.   I've since began comparing them to both Internet Explorer and Chrome and almost unconsciously I've found myself drawn closer to Chrome.   When I first installed Chrome, most of the add-ons I used weren't available, but they soon became available and so are now installed - even so, there is no difference between load times with them installed!.

Having had a chance to test all 3 browsers for around 3 weeks now I can honestly say I'm almost to the point of making Chrome my default, therefore it is my favourite at the moment!.   Question is, which is yours?

[James (Jim) Hillier]

Some interesting statistics re browser market share. Figures show changes between market share as at May 2009 and March 2010:

Internet Explorer:  From 68.10%  to  60.65%
Firefox:                 From 22.75%  to  24.52%
Chrome:               From   2.18%  to   6.13%

As you can see; even though Chrome still remains a relatively minor player, its market share has almost tripled in the 10 month period. Chrome is now ahead of both Safari and Opera.

Now that add-ons are available for Chrome, I expect that percentage to continue rising substantially....especially as more and more add-ons are introduced.

Cheers....Jim

[marko]

That is interesting Jim, IE and Firefox account for over 60% of the traffic here at FreewareBB also so similar results all round

[TheRaven]

James :: Excellent point!

Google Chrome Browser sandboxes every instance of itself. Each instance that it replicates is solely to provide for every web page that you open seriously reducing the risk of cross site scripting where the client machine is used as a weapon by the offending hacker. The security methodology has really opened the eyes of leading browser publishers to this technique which has won Google Chrome Browser the "most secure browser" award for the last two years running.

Google Chrome is, pretty much, opensource code as well so you can always make your own version like Comodo Internet Security Systems did. Comodo's version of Chrome is even more intensely aware of security issues and scans the crap out of sites before it will even load the page.


Google Chrome is also touted as being the fastest over-all browser second to only Opera. Chrome uses the "web-kit" open source rendering engine that's primarily designed for drawing web page content but, has been known to be modified in order to render other types of static and dynamic content.

There's allot to Chrome as it has its own Javascript parsing engine as well; I think the importance of the browser's impact on the web and its community may better serve the individual on the individual level of inspection. Try it, read about it, decide for yourself.

[TheRaven]

On a separate not from my previous post on Google's Chrome Browser on this thread I think Opera needs agood write up as well.

The Opera browser has come along way on security fronts as well as usability for the end user on many levels. The browser publisher constantly strives to make Opera cross platform as it has been working on versions from Windows, Linux, and BSD all the way through to iPhone, and Android operating systems. These guys and gals are work-aholics and their efforts show.

What's even less evident of their efforts is the fact that also provide Dynamic DNS services for their Opera user-base free of charge. You can literally link an Apache web server on your local system to the browser via an official Opera browser plug in and serve content from you machine over the web/WAN with a qualified web address. You register at Opera's home site for a user account and the publisher's web servers take care of everything else leaving only the installation of the plug in as remainder for the end user.

I've used the service and it's simple -- more simple than the Dynamic DNS service that I have previously paid a subscription for from a third party solution provider. You download the browser, you register an account with the Opera Web Site, you opt to install the necessary plug in, start the plug in, go through a wizard style configuration procedure, and serve up your content -- that simple. It's fun too but, it's definitely fun due to the simplicity and the lack of needed constant user based maintenance. It's all free of charge as well and that definitely screams for attention as far as I'm concerned.

Having a "favorite" browser has never been this difficult for me in last 21 years as it is right now.

[James (Jim) Hillier]

Hey Raven - Nice posts mate!!

It's difficult for me though to guage the accuracy of some of your info, simply because much of what you said is just a tad over my head.      

You certainly sound like you know what you're talking about so I'll take it all on face value.

I have actually tried Chrome, several times in fact. It is a very good browser. Problem is, we are dealing here with the familiarity factor. I've been using Firefox for so long and know it so well I'm reluctant to change....silly I know but that's human nature.

Never tried Opera but I know it has a very loyal following and by all accounts is also very good.

One of these days.....maybe!!  

Thanks for your input,
  Cheers...Jim

P.S. On another note: Google has just very recently acquired full rights to the BumpTop 3D Desktop software. Wonder were that might be utlilised......a new operating system perhaps!!