Which web browser do you prefer and why?

[TopGun]

Stats indicate that IE is losing its dominance with Firefox, Chrome and Safari all making inroads amongst web users.

 

I usually use IE and do have IE9 as my normal browser, mainly because I'm used to the IE format of tools etc.

 

I do check the other browsers as sometimes I am asked to review how a website looks in each of them so I am aware of some of the potential issues that people cite about each one.

 

Which do you use and why?

Edited 13 June, 2012 by TopGun

[bridge too far]

Firefox because it's not IE - no complaints and easier to use IMO

[View From The Top]

Chrome.

 

Clean, crisp & portable.

[badgerx16]

Firefox, because it isn't from Micro$haft, but keep IE9 in reserve as one of work's VPN systems won't work properly with FF. Have looked at Chrome but didn't like it. Mind you, FF does have issues; it always seems to throw up incompatibility issues with plug-ins after upgrades, and I don't like the persistence it shows in trying to force you to accept the upgrades.

[Patrick Bateman]

Stats indicate that IE is losing its dominance with Firefox, Chrome and Safari all making inroads amongst web users.

 

I usually use IE and do have IE9 as my normal browser, mainly because I'm used to the IE format of tools etc.

 

I do check the other browsers as sometimes I am asked to review how a website looks in each of them so I am aware of some of the potential issues that people cite about each one.

 

Which do you use and why?

 

Stats show IE9 is the most used (already), followed by FF (all), Chrome, IE8, Safari, Opera and then IE7 and IE6 (!!).

 

At work, I use a Macbook Air with Safari and Chrome (Chrome is my fav) and I also run a Microsoft VM to run legacy web-based apps in IE and have IE9, Chrome, Firefox and Opera on there.

 

Chrome is easily the best browser for every day use. Firefox the best for developers where you can add in Firebug etc., for easy debugging.

[Patrick Bateman]

Firefox, because it isn't from Micro$haft, but keep IE9 in reserve as one of work's VPN systems won't work properly with FF. Have looked at Chrome but didn't like it. Mind you, FF does have issues; it always seems to throw up incompatibility issues with plug-ins after upgrades, and I don't like the persistence it shows in trying to force you to accept the upgrades.

 

On the contrary, most eCommerce companies DO like the insistance from Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera that you need to upgrade. That's why in the stats graph we see all those browsers as one block with IE6, 7, 8 and 9 as separate bloody lines as numpties haven't upgraded and Microsoft haven't "insisted"

[Thedelldays]

I have a MacBook pro. So use safari.

 

Would there be an advantage using anything else?

[badgerx16]

On the contrary, most eCommerce companies DO like the insistance from Firefox, Safari, Chrome and Opera that you need to upgrade. That's why in the stats graph we see all those browsers as one block with IE6, 7, 8 and 9 as separate bloody lines as numpties haven't upgraded and Microsoft haven't "insisted"

 

But I am not an eCommerce company, just somebody who has worked in IT since 1982 and who first encountered PCs when they had 640k max RAM and 8086 processors, and many lacked an HDD - using 2 FDDs instead. I can also remember CPM and Windows 1.

[dune]

safari, because I do. Had problems logging onto saintsplayer once so loaded up safari and it's been ok since.

[ART]

I am running 4 versions of Firefox ( 2 Portable FF 14 Beta 07, 1 Firefox 13 Final, FF Aurora 15) Google Chrome 21, Comodo Dragon and Iron Browser side by side. My favorite and best is the Portable Firefox 14 Download at http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

 

Comodo Dragon is similar to Chrome but uses less memory.

 

Portables are available for most software and don't hog memory

[Ex Ringwood Saint]

I had been a Firefox convert for ages, but as the other half shares our laptop decided to download chrome as well, so we could have different browsers and not have the hassles of multiple bookmarks and facebook log ins etc..Since seeing chrome i reckon it is more stable and cleaner than Firefox...so on that basis would say Chrome is the one to go for..

 

Use Safari on my ipad but not used it enough on my lap top to comment......

[scotty]

Firefox is very good, if only for the adblock plus feature. It also has a useful autoproxy plugin.

[Ohio Saint]

Firefox as a personal preference because of all the useful add-ons. I also use Firefox for work because it is mandatory.

[toofarnorth]

I use firefox on my laptop and Opera on my netbook. Opera seems to work faster and fits the screen better on the netbook.

[Saint J 77]

I've started using Chrome as I'd heard its meant to be the safest browser for avoiding a nasty computer virus.

[pedg]

Chrome.

 

Clean, crisp & portable.

 

This + fast + autocomplete in address/search box

[Gigersaint]

Always used to use Microsoft IE, but after a few problems with it I started using Google Chrome.

I've been using Chrome for at least two years now and IE in comparison is so slow and glitchy there is no way I'd go back to using it anymore. I even changed it over on my work PC as I found IE so slow.

When I first changed over to Chrome I found the new menus and tools took a while to get used to but after becoming familiar with them I wouldn't go back to IE unless there was a significant improvement.

[Saintandy666]

I used to be internet explorer, but for obvious reasons I switched to Firefox which at the time was miles ahead in terms of speed and UI. Then for some reason Firefox became ultra slow and used **** tonnes of memory after an update I think. Switched to Chrome and not looked back. The best I've used ever and the search bar thing is extremely helpful, though firefox's search by page name was just as good, if not better... but Chrome is faster. Really must have a look at IE9 at some point though. It looks like they have just copied Chrome.

 

I think the whole browser wars stuff and competition was pretty good all in all. Internet Explorer was so so bad and needed a kick up the arse.

[pap]

Stats show IE9 is the most used (already), followed by FF (all), Chrome, IE8, Safari, Opera and then IE7 and IE6 (!!).

 

At work, I use a Macbook Air with Safari and Chrome (Chrome is my fav) and I also run a Microsoft VM to run legacy web-based apps in IE and have IE9, Chrome, Firefox and Opera on there.

 

Chrome is easily the best browser for every day use. Firefox the best for developers where you can add in Firebug etc., for easy debugging.

 

I used to use Firebug. I use Chrome's dev tools if I want to do any debugging these days - but that's all I tend to use Chrome for. General purpose use would be Firefox. I have to test everything in IE too, so that sees a lot of play.

 

For reading though, nothing beats Safari for me. I just really dig the font-smoothing in that browser.

[trousers]

It's Prestel every time for me

[Panda]

Chrome for me! I use Firefox, IE and Safari to make an alternative check on my website but for every day use its Chrome every time. I can't see the attraction of Firefox, it just seemed to be the trendy thing to use when it first came out as it was free and open source but the others are free too. Chrome is stable, fast and functional.

[Essruu]

Safari on Mac, MacBook, iPad and iPhone.

[pap]

Chrome for me! I use Firefox, IE and Safari to make an alternative check on my website but for every day use its Chrome every time. I can't see the attraction of Firefox, it just seemed to be the trendy thing to use when it first came out as it was free and open source but the others are free too. Chrome is stable, fast and functional.

 

Hehe. Trendy? Hardly

 

When Firefox ( formerly Firebird ) first launched it was a revelation. Tabbed browsing on a free browser. IE spent years playing catch-up. Now everyone seems to be emulating Chrome.

[ecuk268]

Chrome - faster than IE although I occasionally come across sites that will only properly work with IE.

[Trader]

Camino (I'd never heard of it either) on my old PowerPC mac laptop, Firefox on PC.

 

IE, as with all things microsoft, is carp.

[jasonb]

I used Firefox for years then tried the new kid on the block: Google's Chrome. I have been using it for a couple of years and find it really fast. Then I started to read stuff about Google and their data gathering strategies. I quit Facebook last year over similar concerns so it's back to Firefox for me.

 

I'm not naive enough to think my data isn't being tracked but why make it so easy is my take on it. I mean, I still search using Google and am comfortable that they are grabbing my search history but I don't want them seeing everything.

 

http://royal.pingdom.com/2010/01/08/how-google-collects-data-about-you-and-the-internet/

[buctootim]

I use IE9. People say its slow but I never experience a problem and I prefer the way many websites look on IE. Use Opera mini on my blackberry, which is good also.

[Weston Super Saint]

I have a MacBook pro. So use safari.

 

Would there be an advantage using anything else?

 

I have a macbook and an iMac and used to use Safari exclusively.

 

However, lately I've found that Safari is very slow - especially loading new web pages - so I've switched to Chrome on both machines. Have to say I find Chrome much quicker and easier to use.

[dingbattigger]

Chrome with IE as a backup.

[solentstars]

Firefox and then opera

 

Sent from my ZT ICS using Tapatalk 2

[Petersfield Saint]

Chrome with IE as a backup.

 

This. Used to be a big fan of FF but found it was getting slower and slower (especially when starting up) and the constant updates. I tried Chrome early on and wasn't convinced; went back about a year later and have used it almost non-stop since. Only use IE for a couple of badly-coded sites that won't accept anything else.

[Red Alert]

I too am a Chrome convert. Was always IE before but Chrome is much cleaner, faster and syncs with my android phone and tablet. Though at work I am still on IE6

[sotonjoe]

I have a macbook and an iMac and used to use Safari exclusively.

 

However, lately I've found that Safari is very slow - especially loading new web pages - so I've switched to Chrome on both machines. Have to say I find Chrome much quicker and easier to use.

 

 

When I tried it it didn't do the nice swipe gestures business though. Can it do it now?

[Mattio]

I use Firefox because I'm used to it, but I'm trying to get into using Chrome as I know its better, especially when coding CSS. The one thing that's keeping me with Firefox is the "star" feature, which I don't think chrome has

[pedg]

See google have just announced chrome for iphone from today with ipad version coming soon. Will be interesting to see what happens in terms of number of users for chome and safari on these.

[trousers]

See google have just announced chrome for iphone from today with ipad version coming soon. Will be interesting to see what happens in terms of number of users for chome and safari on these.

 

Have you got a linky doo-dah for the Chrome app? Just had a search in the app store and couldn't find it. Cheers

[pedg]

Have you got a linky doo-dah for the Chrome app? Just had a search in the app store and couldn't find it. Cheers

 

Bloke at US conference said releasing later today but given the time difference may not be out yet. (or apple have banned it in a huff!).

[itchen_dan]

Here you go guys

 

http://itunes.apple.com/app/chrome/id535886823?mt=8

[trousers]

Here you go guys

 

http://itunes.apple.com/app/chrome/id535886823?mt=8

 

Cheers