What is the best browser..??

[passnthru2]

what is the best windows browser if there is one..??

down loads are really slow.. how do i set up the browser conections my optomozer keeps telling me to limit..??

i am using Beta9.. dont they even run these OS systems to see if they work before they sell them for an arm and a leg..!!

 

[Mashed1316]

Hello there.

1st, there's no "BEST" browser, because what i could find amazing, another user could find it dull and boring and not good.

I'm personally using Firefox 3.6.13 (latest version) but there are users here who have Chrome or Opera or even IE9 (RC)

2nd, about your downloads, that could be an ISP issue, it doesn't mean that the browser is slowing things down.

Try http://www.speedtest.net and posts your results, try it with different browsers. If the download speed is the same, then it's an ISP issue.

 

[unifex]

I completely agree - there is no such thing as "the best" browser anymore. Some years ago people would claim that IE6 was "the worst" browser, but those times are gone now, IE9 (from which I am typing this post) is as good as any other browser on the market.

To be honest, the differences between browsers are rather small, at least from the viewpoint of an average user. Security is a tough one to judge precisely, one has to rely on various "labs" or tech magazine reviews and those currently claim that IE9 is as secure (some claim even more secure) than the latest Firefox or Chrome.

Personally, I use IE9 and Firefox 4 beta, both 64 bit. There is a tiny difference between them - Firefox has a slightly simpler and at the same time more advanced treatment of cookies -- one can white list those one wants to keep. Otherwise the two are pretty similar (I am not using many add-ons or extensions, Firefox is generally superior in this respect, but for the 64-bit version most add-ons don't work anyway) and competely satisfy my browsing needs. I don't see a reason to try others apart from curiosity.

Speed is another issue, but with modern fast computers almost all browsers are approaching the limit where further advances in speed are imperceptible for most sites. The download speed has more to do with the general network set-up, rather than with the actual browser - for me both IE9 and Firefox download larger files at comparable speeds. Speed would be different every time since it also depends on the server bandwidth, workload, the current network situation, etc.

As Punkster suggest, try some speed tests. There are many, your ISP most probably has one as well. Try several tests, run them in several browsers. Most likely the results will be similar and basically determined by your connection (i.e. your ISP) and your hardware. That is assuming that everything is set up correctly. If there is a huge gap between the advertised ISP speed and your actual results, then post back with details or call your ISP tech support.

 

[gregrocker]

Once of the nice surprises Win7 has brought is the perfection of Internet Explorer. In the past I tried to use any other browser besides IE.

Now the others seem amateurish compared to the rock-solid stability, flawless features like dicing your history five different ways or searching a single word in Start box to get back to any IE page.

I love the rightclick Accelerators that let me highlight any words to define, search, map, shop, translate.

With IE8 I can browse with greater efficiency and no bugs. I'll migrate to IE9 once I'm convinced it can compare to the best browser ever.

 

[stve]

Download Opera , Firefox & Chrome & decide for yourself what is the best browser. you can have them all installed at the same time.
Your Internet Service Provider might /probably is slow looking up your DNS requests.
You do not have to use the DNS servers provided by your ISP , Try an alternative provider try
Secure DNS or
https://store.opendns.com/get/basic
It can really speed up your surfing.

to optimize your internet connection go to
SpeedGuide.net :: TCP Optimizer / Downloads

 

[Prisoner]

I've switched between many different browsers, based on my current needs/wants. For instance, I'm using Chrome right now because I have limited system resources and Chrome is the most lightweight of the major browsers.

Each browser has its strong/weakpoints. You just have to find the one that suits your needs best.

 

[stve]

I've switched between many different browsers, based on my current needs/wants. For instance, I'm using Chrome right now because I have limited system resources and Chrome is the most lightweight of the major browsers.

Each browser has its strong/weakpoints. You just have to find the one that suits your needs best.

Never heard Chrome described as being light on system resources.
For limited System resources try Opera if you have dial up or slow broadband you can use Opera Turbo to speed up your connection works the same as Opera Mini on mobile phones.

Compresses webpages up to 80%
Opera Turbo uses compression technology that provides significant improvements in browsing speeds over limited-bandwidth connections, for example, when using a crowded Wi-Fi in a cafe or browsing through your mobile phone while commuting.

 

[Darician]

"Best browser" as most here have echoed is quite subjective. I could tell you that browser X is the best thing since sliced bread and someone else can come along say "Damn it, you're crazy, browser Y is the best, everyone knows that!"

Personally I like Internet Explorer. I used Chrome for some time and thought it was okay but its performance wore me down as it did not perform all that quickly for me. I've tried Firefox and find it way too slow on start-up and in use it hogs memory like there's no tomorrow. I also like Opera as it's a relatively lightweight browser and works well although some pages have trouble with it but that's more coding issues on the pages than Opera issues.

I currently use IE 9 RC as it performs well and has a UI that I like. I also use Opera occassinally when a website has trouble in IE as it is speedy and has a nice UI as well. If I were to select a best browser it would be Internet Explorer as version 8 although being slower than other modern browsers loaded most websites without issues and all around was rather stable. Opera would be second for me.

 

[kristalsoldier]

"Best browser" as most here have echoed is quite subjective. I could tell you that browser X is the best thing since sliced bread and someone else can come along say "Damn it, you're crazy, browser Y is the best, everyone knows that!"

Personally I like Internet Explorer. I used Chrome for some time and thought it was okay but its performance wore me down as it did not perform all that quickly for me. I've tried Firefox and find it way too slow on start-up and in use it hogs memory like there's no tomorrow. I also like Opera as it's a relatively lightweight browser and works well although some pages have trouble with it but that's more coding issues on the pages than Opera issues.

I currently use IE 9 RC as it performs well and has a UI that I like. I also use Opera occassinally when a website has trouble in IE as it is speedy and has a nice UI as well. If I were to select a best browser it would be Internet Explorer as version 8 although being slower than other modern browsers loaded most websites without issues and all around was rather stable. Opera would be second for me.

Well said! I fully agree. Couldn't have said it better!

 

[Dwarf]

This is a subjective topic and the best browser is what the user feels most comfortable with using. I myself prefer IE (although I must admit that I haven't tried any of the others, save for FF in Ubuntu). Each browser has its plus and minus points, its advantages and disadvantages, when compared to its rivals. In some cases, these are merely cosmetic. With others, it might be a slight change in functionality. Whatever the differences between browsers, it still boils down to user preference. Whichever browser you choose to use, make sure that you keep it up to date. Is it worth putting the security of your system (and potentially others) at risk just because you don't like the changes implemented in the updated version of your chosen browser?

 

[nitroman84]

This question kinda reminds me of back when I was turning wrenches for a living. People would always ask me what the best vehicle manufacturer was. I just told them if they were'nt all junk I wouldn't have a job. I kind of miss being the smart a## mechanic. Just pick one you like, they all have advantages and dis advantages.

 

[SB10]

Firefox because of the addons.

For me it's Firefox, running 3.6.13 (newest).

If you want to test out Firefox, Opera, and Chrome without really installing it, I would download and install Sandboxie. It runs them in a sandbox and won't clutter up your registry.

I like Firefox because of the Addons. My main ones are Tab Mix Plus, NoScript, CookieSafe, AdBlock Plus, DownThemAll!, Highlighter, SearchWP, IETab 2, and Scrapbook. You can also run many different profiles in Firefox, so can use different users for different bookmarks and Addons to see what works best.

I love Tab Mix Plus, it saves the last 2 sessions (or crashed session, if applicable) or you can save any session permanently for later use. I usually have 15-20 windows with 55-75 tabs that I always like starting up. There is no way I can read everything that I open up, most of the time I read a little bit here and there and check back 1-5 days later to see if any new updates. Some pages I always like to come up. You can also set the tab your on to a different color, bold it so it stands out more and you know what tab your on if you go to another program or come back later.

Highlighter Addon is nice, you can highlight 5 different colors within a page. For instance I use it for Excite TV and use yellow for ones I'm recording, green ones for ones I might want to watch in real time and blue ones for might watch on OnDemand.
The Scrapbook Addon is nice because you can save the whole page and take notes on it and save it to your hard drive. It also can be used with the Highlighter Addon, but Scrapbook also has it's own different color highlighting and the option to save a page and you can take notes on it and save it on your hard drive for research.

The SearchWP Addon is very nice, if you want to search for multiple words you can. For instance want to search for multiple terms that are the same but different spellings: win7, "win 7" "win7 updates" all of these can show up in different colors and you can click them and they go to the next and next. Very helpful.

DownThemAll! is very nice for downloading numerous podcasts on the same web page, saves a lot of time.
NoScript, AdBlock Plus and CookieSafe, you can almost go to any website and not get malware or a virus, especially if you have it running in Sandboxie. But with Sandboxie you really don't need these safe browsing Addons anyways.

I use IETab 2 because some websites are too lazy to write good code and you have to use IE. But you still use your Firefox bookmarks with it and RoboForm still works with IETab 2.

I've tried them all recently and I'll say that Chrome was fast. But with my 3 safe browsing Addons, there is no way it could be faster than Chrome. Chrome had a NoScript option workaround IIRC a few months ago but I didn't like it at all.
I also tried Opera in Sandboxie and I liked it, but really no Addons to speak of. IE7 and IE8 I don't like at all, I hate many things about it and especially how they handle bookmarks. Firefox's bookmark manager is very, very nice to use.

I would say install Firefox and look into some Addons. Others I use are CNExtend for Cyber Nations and Mouseless Browsing with Dragon Naturally Speaking. There are so many for so many occasions it can get confusing, but over time you will find that you don't need some at all and others will be very handy. Firefox also is easy for making TOR work. A must is having NoScript and/or TorButton because without fully stopping Java, Silverlight and Flash, being anonymous is impossible.

Again I would install all 3 of the others in Sandboxie and pick one works best for you. I personally installed another separate Firefox with Sandboxie for TOR use and another profile to test out new Addons. Firefox can also be used on a flash drive as a portable app and you can save all the settings on your desktop or laptop just like you were there. Case in point I copied my profile settings (all Addons, extensions and bookmarks), so when I went to my cousins house and used his PC, all my windows and tabs I had at home were exactly the same, like I never left my PC.


For me it's:

1. Firefox
2. Opera (was just chosen in Jan '11 by Sony for their TV's and BluRay players with internet access)
3. Chrome
4. IE8

 

[Ciara]

For me its ... the one I like using

 

[wds7]

This question kinda reminds me of back when I was turning wrenches for a living. People would always ask me what the best vehicle manufacturer was. I just told them if they were'nt all junk I wouldn't have a job. I kind of miss being the smart a## mechanic. Just pick one you like, they all have advantages and dis advantages.

Here is my anwser ..: The BEST browser is the one you like the most ..../.
Try them all ...and pick the 1 you like .

For My taste i have IE9 RC and back up with Chrome ..

 

[Prisoner]

Never heard Chrome described as being light on system resources.
For limited System resources try Opera if you have dial up or slow broadband you can use Opera Turbo to speed up your connection works the same as Opera Mini on mobile phones.

Opera used to be my primary browser, but it seems too slow for me.
From how I've tested (Firefox, Chrome, and Opera on XP, 7, and various Linux distros) Chrome was lightest on resources, as well as fastest.

But compared to Safari on my iPod, Opera's still winning there.

 

[mickey megabyte]

what's the best colour?

i quite like #141e59, but others find it too dark...



...although it doesn't seem quite so dark if viewed against a dark background. :huh:

 

[Prisoner]

You, sir, are possibly the most clever person I've seen on these forums. +1 to you.