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Which Internet Browser is Best?

Started by dew7, May 14, 2004, 10:47:44 PM

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dew7

I am finally sick of IE 6 sp1.  I agree with Jeysie that it is time for me to switch.  My browser was switched to msn.com by the Windows Upgrade Advisor and this is what made me decide to finally switch browsers.  I am really interested in a full reply by Jeysie since she seems to have a great deal of expertise in this area.  I am leaning towards downloading and running FireFox.  What is everyones opinion of FireFox, Mozilla, Opera, etc.  I appreciate everyones opinion because it will help me to determine which browser I should use in the future.  I am very content with 98SE as my operating system and plan to dual boot when XP Pro. SP2 is released.  Thank you for your time and have a great night.   ;-D
Carpe Diem  Trying to help all of us including myself understand the merry-go-round of life.

daventry

This is my advise.

Get Internet 5.0

Get Windows 98se

Get DirectX 9.0b

Get MSN 6.2

This is why i like too stay with the low stuff, the high stuff gives too much problems. Especially Windows XP and I.E6.0

Jeysie

My "capsule" opinions:

Firefox: Strikes me as sort of a "download and go" browser, for those who are sort of "casual" web surfers. The browser itself doesn't have a lot of features built-in, but you can download extensions. Downside is that there's no guarantee that extensions will work well with each other since AFAIK none of them are really "official". Also, AFAIK there's no automatic installer yet, it's a "unzip the zip file" sort of thing. Upside is that if you're a programmer, you can help tweak the browser code, or make your own extensions. And if you don't care much about tweaking, it's a fast, easy browser to get going with.

Opera: More of a "power web surfer" browser. Browser itself is packed full of features and customizing options. (And is smaller than FireFox and Mozilla, go figure.) Downside is that it takes a bit of time investment up front to tinker with and learn the features and get things set up the way you like. Also, the free version has an ad banner. Upside is that it's a very powerful browser if you do enough web surfing that tweaking a browser to suit your style is important. Great for web developing, too.

Mozilla: Somewhere in between FireFox and Opera, both in features and web surfer type consideration. Larger download than both. I think Mozilla might actually be started to phase out in favor of FireFox, but I'm not entirely sure.

All three browsers are about on the same level of HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc. support and rendering quality. Mozilla/Firefox is a bit better at Javascript and handling sites coded to be IE-only, Opera has slightly better pure standards-compliant HTML and CSS support, all IMHO.

I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with the other non-IE Windows browsers out there (well, except Lynx ;) ), but AFAIK most of them are based on the same Gecko engine as Mozilla anyway.

Peace & Luv, Liz

B'rrr

~Mary Jane supporter~
~Legend~

dew7

If you must use an instant messenging service -- Why not Trillian?  Also, I plan to try Firefox but I have not gotten around to trying it yet.  It intrigues me the most out of all the other browsers that are offered and it is free and free is good as long as you do not get unwelcome guests along with the free goodie. (meaning spyware, adware, viruses, malware, keyloggers, etc.)   ;)
Carpe Diem  Trying to help all of us including myself understand the merry-go-round of life.

Yonkey

According to Jeysie, Trillian no longer connects to the MSN network.  :-\
"A wish changes nothing. A decision changes everything."

Jeysie

Actually, AFAIK it does... provided you have Internet Explorer 5+ installed, which I don't. ;P Most Windows-running people won't have that issue.

Peace & Luv, Liz

Louisiana Night

#7
I think the Mozilla line is the opposite. It stops pop-ups,viruses,etc. Compared to normal Internet Explorer anyways(I haven't tried the newest version of it, so I might be wrong).

copycat

Quote from: Jeysie on May 15, 2004, 08:39:13 AMAlso, AFAIK there's no automatic installer yet, it's a "unzip the zip file" sort of thing.
Automatic installer is available on the newest version.
In Firefox I have yet to find the option to warn me when I send something over an unencrypted transfer method, such as on this forum. I think I saw it once (not on this forum though) but never again afterwards. :-\

Quote from: Jeysie on May 20, 2004, 02:46:01 PMActually, AFAIK it does... provided you have Internet Explorer 5+ installed, which I don't. ;P Most Windows-running people won't have that issue.
Due to my grudge against M$, I refuse to use anything that's using stuff from IE. >:( So I'm using GAIM on my XP Home machine too. :-X )

Quote from: Louisiana Night on May 20, 2004, 02:53:22 PMI think the Mozilla line is the opposite. It stops pop-ups,viruses,etc. Compared to normal Internet Explorer anyways(I haven't tryed the newest version of it, so I might be wrong).
I'm pretty sure IE stops pop-ups too, if you want. Stopping viruses is more a task for AV-programs, not browsers.
Fannatic of the cat team.
Official Manager of the TSL Asylum ©
Defender of all things against Connor. :stabs:
Grammar Police superintendant.
The Silver Lining rises from its ashes!

Official member of the Kelsey Fanclub :thumbsup:
Official TSL: Shadows Beta Tester (ret.) :yes:
Official Cognition: An Erica Reed Mystery Episode 1 QA.

Jeysie

#9
IE doesn't natively block pop-ups. The only way to block pop-ups in IE is:

1. Download one of those IE shells like MyIE2.
2. Download a separate pop-up/ad blocker program.
3. Do some mucking about with setting up the Internet Security Zones to disable javascript on some sites.

IMHO, if you're going to the route of 1 or 2 you're better off just downloading Mozilla or Opera anyway... then you can block pop-ups/ads *and* get a better all-around browser experience. And 3 is just a pain in the butt. (Not to mention that you'll likely end up disabling a lot of basic functionality other than pop-ups that way, thanks to non-saavy webmasters.)

Peace & Luv, Liz

dew7

Thanks for your input, Jeysie.  What do you think about XP Service Pack II that will have IE updates at least for XP users.  As I am a 98SE user, I will probably go the FireFox route.  However, I have heard that it is still in beta.  Any idea when version 1.0 will come out?  :>
Carpe Diem  Trying to help all of us including myself understand the merry-go-round of life.

Jeysie

Quote from: dew7 on May 24, 2004, 09:55:58 AMAs I am a 98SE user, I will probably go the FireFox route.  However, I have heard that it is still in beta.  Any idea when version 1.0 will come out?  :>

Well, I suppose technically it's in beta, but it's still a stable enough browser to use now. (Besides, AFAIK it doesn't install to system files or the registry or anything, so it's not like it can corrupt your system.) As for when they'll hit 1.0, your best bet is to keep tabs on their website, or ask the question there. :)

Peace & Luv, Liz

dew7

Thanks, Liz.  I appreciate the information.  Do you know if FireFox contains any spyware, malware, viruses, or anything else.  Also, could you post the official website.  I do not want to be phised.  Thanks again!  :>
Carpe Diem  Trying to help all of us including myself understand the merry-go-round of life.

Jeysie

Nope, FireFox just has pure, wholesome, yummy browser goodness. ;)

Official site is: http://www.mozilla.org/

Peace & Luv, Liz

copycat

Quote from: Jeysie on May 23, 2004, 03:18:12 PMIE doesn't natively block pop-ups.
*wakes up his work laptop nearby, looks at the IE-options and fails to locate anything relating to pop-ups*
Hmmm, you seem to be right. But I don't have the most recent browser available :o
(dang, that's the second time he refuses to shut down/go to sleep again!)
Anyway, I think I'm going to try the 'pure' Mozilla shortly. My download manager doesn't register FireFox as Mozilla-type. :-\
Fannatic of the cat team.
Official Manager of the TSL Asylum ©
Defender of all things against Connor. :stabs:
Grammar Police superintendant.
The Silver Lining rises from its ashes!

Official member of the Kelsey Fanclub :thumbsup:
Official TSL: Shadows Beta Tester (ret.) :yes:
Official Cognition: An Erica Reed Mystery Episode 1 QA.

Louisiana Night

Okay, I found out what the confusion is about. Firefox went under different names(trademark problems?), in older versions. In order of version(oldest, to latest)Phoenix, Firebird, Firefox.

Johnmichael

http://www.avantbrowser.com/

Thats what i use lets me open multiple websites in one window, and has a popup blocker that actually works.
Now everything is clear
I erase the fear
I can disappear
(please) I don't ever want to make it stop

Louisiana Night

I'll try it, although I doubt I'll want to make it my main browser.

P.S. Do you need Internet Explorer to use it?

Jeysie

Yeah, Avant's an IE-shell, IIRC. It needs IE to run. Bah, I say. :D

Peace & Luv, Liz

Louisiana Night

So...

It's like(or is) one of those freeware upgrades to IE?