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#1 |
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Kasper's Automated Slave
Join Date: Nov 1997
Posts: 6,165
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IE8's JavaScript performance lags well behind Safari, Chrome
A release candidate of Microsoft's next-generation Internet Explorer browser made available this week has twice finished last in a five-browser benchmark competition.
Microsoft's overnight posting of the final Internet Explorer 8 pre-release build prompted ZDNet Australia to run it through some benchmark tests against its counterparts. On the Sunspider JavaScript performance test, despite all the performance improvements Microsoft says it's making, IE8 finished last by roughly 3,000ms. *It was narrowly bested by Opera 10 alpha, while bunched at the top of the performance ranks and separated by slight margins were Google Chrome 2.0.158.0, WebKit r40220, and Firefox 3.1 beta 1. *WebKit serves as the foundation of Apple's Safari browser. ZDNet was not surprised to find that Google's browser came in first on Google's own V8 JavaScript Benchmark, while WebKit finished a close second. *Opera and Firefox trailed well behind in third and fourth, while Internet Explorer was a distant last. Sunspider test results (shorter bars are better) and Google V8 v2 test results (longer bars are better). Although its appearance is mostly unchanged from IE7, IE8 has received some new features, including a private browsing mode Microsoft calls InPrivate, joining long-present similar features in Safari, Opera, and Chrome. The new Internet Explorer also has automatic crash recovery, domain highlighting for spotting phishers, and a safety filter. *New plug-ins called Accelerators are designed to speed access to information. *Users can choose from about 80 currently available for download, while pre-installed Accelerators include Windows Live functions like blogging, e-mail, mapping, and translating. Microsoft's IE8 webpage explains the new features | Photo Courtesy Microsoft. The browser, according to Microsoft, is virtually feature-complete, and users should expect little change between the release candidate and the upcoming final version. "The ecosystem should expect the final candidate to behave like the release candidate," said IE General Manager Dean Hachamovitch. IE8 is compatible with Windows XP SP2 and Vista, but not the Windows 7 beta. *Microsoft says it will build a version of IE8 into the final release of Windows 7 with "unique features and functionality" exclusive to the company's new operating system that will eventually succeed Vista. |
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 637
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You can expect more marketshare loss from IE in the coming years. Firefox, Safari, and Chrome are just more appealing.
Tory Hagen
Break the Wedge! |
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Reston, VA
Posts: 367
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I don't think Microsoft can get anything right these days. They just failing in almost everything. How is that GOOGLE is far advanced than Microsoft. That's just so ironic.
iWant new iProduct
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 334
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History Repeats?
<quote>IE8 is compatible with Windows XP SP2 and Vista, but not the Windows 7 beta. Microsoft says it will build a version of IE8 into the final release of Windows 7 with "unique features and functionality" exclusive to the company's new operating system that will eventually succeed Vista.</quote>
Didn't MS already get in trouble for things like this with IE 5 and monopolistic things with the SEC? And embedding Windows 7 OS only features with the browser? Perhaps I'm wrong, but something screams ill about this. No IE for OS X or Linux (not that I'm sad about that fact). I wish they would give up on IE, and let Firefox/Chrome take over on their platform. Separating the Browser from the OS from a security point of view is much safer anyways. I'd also like to see Apple drop Safari (or sell it to someone else) and focus only on their OS and creativity software to make them more stable and release a little faster.
openSuSe 11.2, 32 and 64 bit, for Mac and PC!
"Shiny capt'n. Everything thing is A-Okay." |
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: England
Posts: 557
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Tinton Falls, NJ
Posts: 702
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Quote:
Microsoft is the master of the "get good-enough in people's faces" strategy. |
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 39
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Chrome really is just such a better browser than anything out there. And is it just me or do all the little do-dads MS is throwing into IE8 just sound really clunky and awkward?
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Belgium
Posts: 351
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That seems awfull from a usability point of view. If MS ships an OS without a web browser, people can't go online unless they first install a seperate webbrowser from a USB stick or something like that. Who on earth would want that?
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#9 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,567
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IE8's JavaScript performance lags well behind Safari, Chrome
is ANYONE surprised at this news?
I don't see how an anti M$ stance can be seen as a bad thing on an Apple forum I really can't!
nagromme - According to Amazon: "SpongBob Typing Tutor" is outselling Windows |
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 2,558
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Quote:
Mac OS had browser bundled before Safari.
JLL
95% percent of the boat is owned by Microsoft, but the 5% Apple controls happens to be the rudder! |
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#11 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,415
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Quote:
IE8 is better than IE7 and faster etc. The problem is open source has found a way to leapfrog all those performance increases. The core of any browser is the rendering engine, all those other "fast" browsers are using WebKit, whereas Microsoft is sticking to it's proprietary code (for now). A large part of the perceived speed of web page loading is javascript performance and again, open source tweaking of Javascript performance is now leaps and bounds ahead of Microsofts proprietary approach. It's not that MS is 'failing," just that they have made only the same small incremental improvements that used to be common in browser iterations, whereas the rest of the pack is moving forward much faster. |
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#12 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 262
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Intentional?
Makes you wonder if Microsoft is intentionally crippling JavaScript to push and promote SilverLight as a better development platform.
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#13 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,415
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Quote:
This will never happen, but ... if OS vendors wanted to be totally fair, they could just have a screen as part of the first time start-up proceedure that had links to the four most common browsers for the platform and a short paragraph on each. The user could then choose to install one or all of these and set whichever one they want as the default. It's not hard to do this at all, it just requires the OS vendor to be fair and open. No one wants to go first however, and each OS vendor is also a browser vendor, so there is a definite conflict of interest there. In the absence of being legally compelled to do this it probably won't happen ever. |
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 27
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I'm a little disappointed that IE 7 wasn't included in the tests. I don't think IE 8 is going to steal many users away from the competition, but rather most IE 8 users will be upgrading from previous versions. It's easy to say that IE 8 is better and faster, but I'm still curious has to how much faster.
Also, If IE were to be unbundled from Windows, computer makers would still be able to bundle any web browser they wanted. We could also see a return of ISPs offering a CD with a browser and other useful software on it, like they used to do before bundling with the OS was common. |
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 117
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I kind of agree...
I would say Firefox and Chrome are more appealing. Chrome is a lot faster and simple. The tabbed browsing with chrome is far superior to any browser available. Fire Fox is also much more appealing because of the add on support from third parties. So many options and it seems no matter how much you add it doesn't slow down firefox. Safari on the other hand is a lag monster just like IE8, I heard rumors about the new Safari being much faster but as of today Safari is buggy and one of the worst I think. My vote goes to Chrome and to any who don't like Chrome my vote goes to Firefox. I would even say to go with Opera and/or Internet Explorer before Safari. Safari's UI is also the worst one of all. GO CHROME.
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#16 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,415
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Quote:
It's nice to know that you "don't like Safari" (a lot it seems!), and that you really, really, really, like the Chrome beta (apparently), but a single person's opinion is rather meaningless in the big scheme of things and without being backed up by anything, kind of irrelevant. |
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#17 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
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Google Chrome rocks!
IE is dead! Safari is okey, I guess... |
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#18 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
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Google Chrome has left beta status in December 2008. And it's already in version 2.0.156.1
I used Firefox, then Safari for windows came along, and there I went. I really enjoyed the design of Safari, it seemed leaps and bounds superior to Firefox. But when Chrome came along, I couldn't really look back. Every time I run Safari nowadays, it seems over-designed, ugly, dark and blurred. I have to agree with Daniel, Chrome is the best browser there is today. It's fast, streamlined, has a terrific design, simple, stylized and flexible, and yes, tabs are superior. Congrats, Google, for making such an excellent browser ![]() |
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#19 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13
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Just FYI to the author... Chrome is based on WebKit for the rendering engine (but uses its own V8 JavaScript engine)
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#20 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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#21 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 464
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Quote:
Here's hoping that the standards win ultimately. We don't need a proprietary web like so many of us were worried could happen just a few years ago. |
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#22 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 472
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BWAAAHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!
That is all. |
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#23 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
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#24 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The Ansible
Posts: 11,885
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Quote:
(sent from my iPhone so editing the rest is a bitch)
Do your part to clean up AppleInsider forums: User CP » Edit Ignore List » Teckstud
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#25 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,415
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Quote:
I find simpler is better and thus gravitate towards Safari, but my partner uses Firefox with all the associated extensions and ugliness that would drive me up the wall if I had to use it. I think Safari could use a few more options in the preferences dialogue though and be a bit more configurable. The extensibility provided by plug-ins are a good idea IMO and while Safari supports this, it's not "official," most people don't know about it, and the number of plug-ins is minimal indeed. So, in the end different browsers for different preferences and for me, something simple and attractively elegant like Safari is best, but perhaps with a few more (well hidden) configuration options like Firefox. I have been around since before there were web browsers though so I have had the pleasure of using them all from Mosaic on up and based on that I would argue that for the "average" user of the Internet, the more junk and features, the more they like the product. I would also argue that one of the main reasons Firefox is popular is because people can use plug-ins and themes to turn it into the browser equivalent of a MySpace page. This (unfortunately) is what the average joe or jane in the street actually likes. I would think that Chrome would eventually be the browser of choice for a lot of people but only *after* plug-in craziness has ensured that every user is able to put a puffy cloud background on their Windows, Hello Kitty buttons on the button bar, and an assortment of moving, whirling gadgets that don't do much of anything. |
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#26 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 404
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IE8 will continue to dominate the same places Office, Outlook, and Exchange do: Corporations, government, and people who don't know any better.
I suspect/fully expect MS to update Sharepoint to use some IE8 only features and thus drive mass upgrades of back end and desktop machines. - Jasen. |
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#27 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: GB
Posts: 97
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the interface in IE7 & 8 is just awful. cluttered and disoranised toolbar and wheres the menu bar gone?
microsoft dont seem to get it...its not what you put in its what you leave out. |
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#28 | ||||
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
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Quote:
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#29 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
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Quote:
As for Browsers, I think obviously Chrome is the best and what other browsers should strive to copy and excel in certain areas. Though Firefox or IE are much more feature rich browsers. One big thing for me moving from IE on Windows to Safari on Mac was #1) Lack of proper popup controls. In IE I can allow certain sites the privalege. With Safari its an all or nothing approach. I also find that IE tends to pull info and then render in much more smoothly than all other browsers (though Chrome does very well, though oddly not Safari with the same engine). Thats why I always hated Netscape and Mozilla, was it has always seemed a bit jerkey. Perhaps IE is slower because of this, IDK. But when it comes time for non technical users to choose a browser, of course the one that is there is easy but it also comes with what they are familar. So I think Opera is foolish to think that if somehow IE is removed from Windows that tons of people won't download it. In addition it won't force IE6 users to upgrade (please upgrade). My mother in law had Firefox and IE installed on her computer. I guess her Job recommned Firefox, probably an anti-MS IT staff. Because, I asked her, "What do you prefer?" and guess what... IE. So it does boil down to what people are familar with, how well they perceive the browser to deal with the sites they visit. And what features they use (and no they are not gonna search for plugins). In that respect, IE8 may however be a Vista. Good for the future in breaking bad web design but might annoy IE8 users (unless the Compatibility mode is markted well). I think most users could care less about 'standards'. And while I think standards are great, the ones everyone makes a fuss about today in regards to IE 6 and somewhat IE 7 just didn't exist when IE6 was created. Thats another aspect of Opera's complaint with the EU which I find funny do the fact they more than anyone else created the new CSS standards, basically the 1% marketshare browser telling the large one what to do and oddly Opera is the worst at being a forgiving browser and will butcher sites not made to Opera's standards. Webkit does a much better job than Opera at being standards compliant but still working great with sites designed for IE6 and does so better than IE8. So oddly, the marketing platform might be at those who view IE8 as a Vista or rendering sites badly and Webkit (via Safari or Chrome) could market that they are new but still do the old better than IE8. |
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#30 | ||
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 57
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Quote:
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IMO, this is all nonsensical. If every browser tried to comply with standards, then every browser would majorly compete for speed, flexibility, GUI and usability. This way, we have MS rigging the game once again. And if there's something I'd like to disappear in Windows, it was probably IE. |
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#31 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 90
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While IE still is the worse browser of all, MS has made great progress especially when it comes to web standard compliance and security. So because IE8 will become an important automatic update for IE users (=hundreds of millions), this all is good news for the whole web.
IE8 development wasn't focused on performance, BTW. I think they try to make the rendering engine first more compatible with common web standards and then later improve the performance. I also don't use IE anymore but after testing IE8 I have to say that it really is a good browser for most users. It offers some great deal of features you would have to manually install on Firefox or aren't available for Chrome and Safari. While Chrome feels fresh and is fast, it also lacks some important features, IMO. Firefox on the other hand needs the knowledge of the user what extension is helpful (not a big deal but still). |
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#32 | ||
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,415
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Quote:
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I'm an artist that also used to be a practising designer for some years. I have two degrees and a lot of experience in that regard even though I don't do so much of it now. I just find the UI to be ugly and poorly designed as minimal as it is. The tabs in particular are hideous, they are either the wrong way up or bounded by a box for no apparent reason, and too large in general. These probably sound like picky things to you and perhaps they are, but every time I see it I can't resist a tiny shudder. It's just so obvious that no one with any design experience has gone over this product. |
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#33 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 4
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Microsoft should get out of the browser business and rename Internet Explorer 8 to "Windows 7 Software Updater."
IE still sucks, or does it blow? http://dougitdesign.com/blog_1_21_09.html |
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#34 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 39
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Google Chrome is the best browser out there; pure and simple. It's fast, the design is simple yet effective and it has some nice functionalities such as making an application shortcut or flexibility of moving tabs anywhere. It also uses separate processes for each tab so it is also very stable (IE8 is using this approach as well). It also has its own task manager which can be very handy
Firefox is okay. I always found it to be a memory hog both on PC and Mac. What saves firefox is the extensions available Opera is okay. It's light and fast, but the UI sucks and I dont like how the window/tab works in firefox IE7 is simply garbage Safari is also a piece of garbage (cant wait for Chrome on Mac) IE8 is okay. It feels faster than IE7, but the UI is very cluttered and it feels bloated compare to Chrome |
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#35 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 664
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Firefox best browser
Firefox is the best browser because it's the most mature (longest history), cross-platform, supports the most extensions, and most importantly, has the best features.
IE could have been a more mature browser, but IE decided to let it rot for several years. Obviously, the Windows version of Firefox is the best, because it's the most used, tested, and developed version. The Linux version used GTK+, which is not ideal, but gets the job done. The Mac version was originally developed with Carbon, but is now moving rapidly to Cocoa, as much of the rendering engine (Gecko) is now written in Cocoa. Once Firefox is fully Cocoa, it will develop much more quickly and leave Safari even further behind. The biggest advantage Safari has right now is its superior integration into OS X. As for Chrome, well, at present it's only available on Windows and doesn't yet have enough features or extensions to make it usable. |
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#36 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 27
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The one thing Safari really needs is to integrate WebKit updates more frequently. You could download a WebKit nightly that passed Acid 3 all the way back in March of '08. Ten months later and the current shipping Safari still gets only 75, last I heard. The cynic in me says that even when Safari 4 ships, it will be at least six months behind the WebKit nightly.
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#37 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 4
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Quote:
That is such Micro-speak it is funny. "The ecosystem," indeed!I worked at MSFT back in the mid-nineties. At the time, the company was a pretty cool place, certainly less corporate. In fact, they saw themselves as having a very different and more vibrant culture than the corporate old-guard like IBM. Funny how much they have become that for which what they once professed disdain. |
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#38 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 14
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hah!
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#39 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 123
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Quote:
I like Chrome a lot, however, when opening more than four tabs or so and when you want to close a tab it just sits there like locked up for the next 2 minutes and then closes it. Doesn't happen all the time, but enough to annoy. It's also, not compatible with very large PDF files. The problem with Google is they take way too long to update their products... I still have to stick with Firefox especially due to it's extensions. I like having Ad Blocker and Flash blocker. Maybe it's not worth to some, but I get tired of all those ads and flash screens in my face all the time. That makes FF hands down the winner for me, for now. |
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#40 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 30
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