The Long Version:

After discussions on this thread, I decided to try alternative browsers from my standard IE8 for one week each.  I used each browser without plug-ins as I don't use any normally with IE8.

The Default : IE8.  I use this because in most cases I prefer to use the default configuration of anything on the computer -- this makes it less of a struggle to work on a different PC as I'm already familiar with what's there.  Moving away from the default for me has a level of inertia; there must be a certain level of increased benefit for me to move.

Week 1: Firefox.  

Impression : Not much different from IE8.  Screen drawing seemed somewhat faster, but sites I visit tend to be text based anyway so there's not that much in it.

Week 2 : Chrome.

Impression : Speed is comparable to Firefox, but I really like the cleaner UI.  For a while I was concerned that I could not find a 'privacy mode' which is use for on-line banking, but then I Googled it and found that Ctrl-Shift-N starts 'incocnito' mode. So it has everything I need and a nicer UI. My original concerns about the EULA (Google own all data that you see) have gone as they revised it.

Week 3 : Opera

Impression : actually only lasted 10 minutes.  I visited the Coffeehouse first and saw a large gap of empty space between the page header and the first thread title.  As the Coffeehouse is my home-page, and this looks to me like a straightforward rendering layout, I decided that Opera fell at the first hurdle and un-installed it. Sorry Opera.  I'll try again after they release the next major update.

I got bored before trying Maxathon.

With every browser an individuals mileage may vary -- but for me Chrome was the best.

Herbie

Every other browser does not log me in automatically to applications running in our domain (Integrated Security). So as a result, I spend the whole day typing passwords,. I do not want that. Neither do I want some browser to remember my password.

And in the end, it's just a browser.

I really couldnt care less. And I really dont understand why all the nerd rage about it?

It's kinda like sex, don't talk about it, just do it!

Maddus Mattus said:

I always use IE 8, because I am lazy.

 

Every other browser does not log me in automatically to applications running in our domain (Integrated Security). So as a result, I spend the whole day typing passwords,. I do not want that. Neither do I want some browser to remember my password.

 

And in the end, it's just a browser.

 

I really couldnt care less. And I really dont understand why all the nerd rage about it?

 

It's kinda like sex, don't talk about it, just do it!

Yes, it is just a browser and not worthy of argument, but it is a matter of personal taste and 'comfort'.

It's like clothes -- they're just material to keep the weather off you, but we all make preference choices (even Einstein had to choose the style of suit that he had multiples of) based on comfort and aesthetics. Some people even get quite worked up about it.

Maybe we could do a make-over TV show but with software instead of clothes?

Herbie

Dr Herbie said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

Yes, it is just a browser and not worthy of argument, but it is a matter of personal taste and 'comfort'.

 

It's like clothes -- they're just material to keep the weather off you, but we all make preference choices (even Einstein had to choose the style of suit that he had multiples of) based on comfort and aesthetics. Some people even get quite worked up about it.

 

Maybe we could do a make-over TV show but with software instead of clothes?

 

Herbie

 

Personal taste is fine. I've nothing against free choice and all. But I am baffled about the amount of debate that is going on about browsers. Even in the EU we have the browser selection screen in Windows. 80% of the Windows users have no clue what a browser is! They have to make a selection and have no idea what the conequences are! And the nerds are actually flaming Microsoft about the randomisation routine! It's so completely off base.

When I vote, the parties and candidates are always in the same order. So actually, the browser selection screen is more democratic then the Dutch election process!

To come back to the clothes analogy, I am actually the same with browsers as with clothes; I just wear what's on top of the pile I cant be bothered with my looks (except my hair, dont freaking touch my hair, I kill you till you die from it!) (the only time I shave is when the wife complains, etc etc), like I cant be bothered with my browser. I wear clothes to keep me warm, I use a browser to look up stuff on the web.

Dr Herbie said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

Yes, it is just a browser and not worthy of argument, but it is a matter of personal taste and 'comfort'.

 

It's like clothes -- they're just material to keep the weather off you, but we all make preference choices (even Einstein had to choose the style of suit that he had multiples of) based on comfort and aesthetics. Some people even get quite worked up about it.

 

Maybe we could do a make-over TV show but with software instead of clothes?

 

Herbie

 

Interesting I have a mental picture for users of the following:

Safari - Fasion Concious, Slightly pretentious and loud, likes to be seen at parties, maybe owns a sports car.

Firefox - Young and thrusting types who like to rebel a little (not too much though)

Chrome - Wouldn't be seen dead running Safari.

Opera - Well, its not your Dads browser, but ..?

IE - Sad old geeks who are more concerned with other things( as long as it gets the job done).

Grok One.

Ian2 said:

Dr Herbie said:

*snip*

Interesting I have a mental picture for users of the following:

 

Safari - Fasion Concious, Slightly pretentious and loud, likes to be seen at parties, maybe owns a sports car.

Firefox - Young and thrusting types who like to rebel a little (not too much though)

Chrome - Wouldn't be seen dead running Safari.

Opera - Well, its not your Dads browser, but ..?

IE - Sad old geeks who are more concerned with other things( as long as it gets the job done).

 

 

Grok One.

I think FF is young and like to cheat hehe. I mean, the cheater on Facebook games, who grabed all the goodies right away are the greasemonkey cheaters. Ok, I used a few times, but, normally I don't cheat.

Chrome, not too much experience, but I know it doesn't freeze tab, unlike FF and IE.

IE, very user "unfriendly". Haven't tried to compare with Chorme, but, it accept gifts on Facebook faster than FF with multiple open in new tabs followed by accept button clicks. And Flash is slower on IE8 than IE7, IE6, and FF.

Ian2 said:

Dr Herbie said:

*snip*

Interesting I have a mental picture for users of the following:

 

Safari - Fasion Concious, Slightly pretentious and loud, likes to be seen at parties, maybe owns a sports car.

Firefox - Young and thrusting types who like to rebel a little (not too much though)

Chrome - Wouldn't be seen dead running Safari.

Opera - Well, its not your Dads browser, but ..?

IE - Sad old geeks who are more concerned with other things( as long as it gets the job done).

 

 

Grok One.

There go the IT people again. Stop trying to classify people! You will end up with 4 billion classes!

And eh;

I am very pretentious (dont know what it means, but I want!), I am loud (very, even worse when on beer), I am the center of attention at parties (not in a good way), I drive a sportscar (sideskirts, alloys, phat tires, ulta low and hard suspension, turbo diesel!) and use IE 8!

So your clasification fails the first unit test!

What's up with people trying to identify themselves by the products they buy? Why not rely on your own strength instead of these symbols?

Maddus Mattus said:

Ian2 said:

*snip*

There go the IT people again. Stop trying to classify people! You will end up with 4 billion classes!

 

And eh;

 

I am very pretentious (dont know what it means, but I want!), I am loud (very, even worse when on beer), I am the center of attention at parties (not in a good way), I drive a sportscar (sideskirts, alloys, phat tires, ulta low and hard suspension, turbo diesel!) and use IE 8!

 

So your clasification fails the first unit test!

 

What's up with people trying to identify themselves by the products they buy? Why not rely on your own strength instead of these symbols?

Don't be ashamed of being a Safari Wannabe. 

Ian2 said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

Don't be ashamed of being a Safari Wannabe. 

I want nothing to do with Apple and their board of directors member Al Gore.

They are both hippocrites and lyars.

Match made in heaven.

Long, long, long ago we bought a Macintosh Classic. I absolutely loved it. I could do stuff on that thing that other people only dreamed of in Word Perfect. But they lost me when they started on this hip/smug trend. Telling people what to do and deciding what is best for them. Performing personal attacks against competitors, while claiming to be also hip and green while infact they use child labor and even Greenpeace say they should clean up their act.

The things I do have to give Apple credit for, is their drive to get stuff done. Not technically, but business wise. Getting large movie studios and record labels to see the advantage of an online store. Getting people exited about small applications and providing a good platform. That's something Microsoft can learn a lot from.

Maddus Mattus said:

Ian2 said:

*snip*

I want nothing to do with Apple and their board of directors member Al Gore.

 

They are both hippocrites and lyars.

 

Match made in heaven.

 

Long, long, long ago we bought a Macintosh Classic. I absolutely loved it. I could do stuff on that thing that other people only dreamed of in Word Perfect. But they lost me when they started on this hip/smug trend. Telling people what to do and deciding what is best for them. Performing personal attacks against competitors, while claiming to be also hip and green while infact they use child labor and even Greenpeace say they should clean up their act.

 

The things I do have to give Apple credit for, is their drive to get stuff done. Not technically, but business wise. Getting large movie studios and record labels to see the advantage of an online store. Getting people exited about small applications and providing a good platform. That's something Microsoft can learn a lot from.

I've gone through a few phases with Apple - I bought an iPhone when it first came out and that was/is a superb product (only just recently replaced my original 2G iPhone with an HTC HD2).  Dislike the whole cool thing but being old I'm out of that loop anyway.  Then went on an Apple downer - got pissed off when my MacBook battery died, spoke to Apple, who admitted it was a faulty batch and a known issue, but refused to replace it (cost me GBP70 to replace if I recollect correctly). 

Like the look of the iPad but don't want to learn that SDK so probably won't bother with it.

Damn, what was this topic about again? 

Ian2 said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

I've gone through a few phases with Apple - I bought an iPhone when it first came out and that was/is a superb product (only just recently replaced my original 2G iPhone with an HTC HD2).  Dislike the whole cool thing but being old I'm out of that loop anyway.  Then went on an Apple downer - got pissed off when my MacBook battery died, spoke to Apple, who admitted it was a faulty batch and a known issue, but refused to replace it (cost me GBP70 to replace if I recollect correctly). 

 

Like the look of the iPad but don't want to learn that SDK so probably won't bother with it.

 

Damn, what was this topic about again? 

I can't reproduce your Opera results (I user opera all the time at work, don't care too much at home, but used it enough that my wife now complains about having to use other browsers!). Plus your results for opera are probably worth re-visiting as it's all new and shiny as of today.

Although I did used to have occasional problems posting on C9 from opera, I wonder if 10.50 has fixed that?

Too bad, sure Chrome is quick, i had a temporary affair with chrome, but Opera is where my heart is

Ian2 said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

I've gone through a few phases with Apple - I bought an iPhone when it first came out and that was/is a superb product (only just recently replaced my original 2G iPhone with an HTC HD2).  Dislike the whole cool thing but being old I'm out of that loop anyway.  Then went on an Apple downer - got pissed off when my MacBook battery died, spoke to Apple, who admitted it was a faulty batch and a known issue, but refused to replace it (cost me GBP70 to replace if I recollect correctly). 

 

Like the look of the iPad but don't want to learn that SDK so probably won't bother with it.

 

Damn, what was this topic about again? 

Browsers!

How we all love IE 8 and when we are having a Chrome, Firefox and Safari deinstallation party!

I'll bring the beer and the Internet Explorer 8 CD's!

My only thought - as an IE8/FF user - is that FF w/o the UX and Productivity enhancing add-on is like a car without the wheels - not much of a driving experience but, I get your point. Thanks again!

Maddus Mattus said:

Ian2 said:

*snip*

Browsers!

 

How we all love IE 8 and when we are having a Chrome, Firefox and Safari deinstallation party!

 

I'll bring the beer and the Internet Explorer 8 CD's!

Be careful about uninstalling chrome. A friend of mine was having trouble with her internet connection, and when she called the ISP, they told her to install Chrome. Well, she didn't like chrome. So she uninstalled it. After she uninstalled it, IE was broken. So, I used FTP to download Firefox, Firefox to update to IE8, and now everybody is happy again.

CreamFilling512 said:

Does Opera still have funky UI and modal dialogs everywhere?  Haven't tried it in years.

Yes sadly they do

Week 3 : Opera Impression : actually only lasted 10 minutes. I visited the Coffeehouse first and saw a large gap of empty space between the page header and the first thread title. As the Coffeehouse is my home-page, and this looks to me like a straightforward rendering layout, I decided that Opera fell at the first hurdle and un-installed it. Sorry Opera. I'll try again after they release the next major update.

But I am posting this reply from Opera 10.5, and Channel 9 looks great and haven't noticed any problem yet.

exoteric said:

I pretty much agree with you. As for Opera, I'm actually very impressed with it and am a bit surprised that the company hasn't been bought by another major company like Google, Yahoo, Apple or even Microsoft, heh.

I think Opera do quite nicely from their licensing deals on Opera-Mini, with companies such as Nokia.

elmer said:

exoteric said:

*snip*

I think Opera do quite nicely from their licensing deals on Opera-Mini, with companies such as Nokia.

Uh with OEMs who ship WinMo. Microsoft might actually make a decent mobile web browser, so Opera might have some problems with their primary revenue source.

However, that doesn't mean I think IE8 is a good browser, it's just not bad enough to make me want to switch.

I don't particularly like Firefox's UI, and its update process is (or was at the time) poorly suited to standard user accounts. Chrome's UI, while sleek, didn't fit my workflow at all. I use my favourites a lot, and Chrome's UI just isn't designed with that in mind. I also didn't like the background updater process constantly running, and the lack of an RSS reader. Opera I liked most, but it didn't render Channel 9 correctly (same issue that Herbie described) which wasn't acceptable for me.

Fortunately, IE8 cleaned up its act before final release so I stuck with that. It's also the only browser (as far as I'm aware) where I can subscribe to an RSS feed and have it automatically show up in Outlook, which I rather like.

Dr Herbie said:

Maddus Mattus said:

*snip*

Yes, it is just a browser and not worthy of argument, but it is a matter of personal taste and 'comfort'.

 

It's like clothes -- they're just material to keep the weather off you, but we all make preference choices (even Einstein had to choose the style of suit that he had multiples of) based on comfort and aesthetics. Some people even get quite worked up about it.

 

Maybe we could do a make-over TV show but with software instead of clothes?

 

Herbie

 

I've wanted to do that for a while actually, do a techy makeover - Tech Eye for the Regular Guy, pimp out someone with new hardware (Xbox, Home Server, Home Automation, CAT 6) & software (touch PCs, multi-monitors, configure streaming, new apps,wifi, etc

Dan said:

Dr Herbie said:

*snip*

I've wanted to do that for a while actually, do a techy makeover - Tech Eye for the Regular Guy, pimp out someone with new hardware (Xbox, Home Server, Home Automation, CAT 6) & software (touch PCs, multi-monitors, configure streaming, new apps,wifi, etc

In that case I volunteer to be the first subject.  Come over to Shropshire whenever you're ready

Herbie

algorith said:

 I use Chrome because it's the fastest. Searching from the same bar used for websites is very convenient. It has a very slick, doesn't get in your way, GUI. 

Except that it does get in my way. Putting tabs across the tops makes it so that I can't use Aero Snap. I like being able to blindly grab a window and whip it onto another monitor. I spent a weekend helping somebody transfer files, email and whatnot onto a new laptop. Somebody had told them to use Chrome. It was so hard, I almost had to scream.

Herbie

Dan said:

Dr Herbie said:

*snip*

I've wanted to do that for a while actually, do a techy makeover - Tech Eye for the Regular Guy, pimp out someone with new hardware (Xbox, Home Server, Home Automation, CAT 6) & software (touch PCs, multi-monitors, configure streaming, new apps,wifi, etc

Pick me Oprah!

I want a makeover!

I am so unhappy with my current shoes. I just know that more stuff will make my life complete!

Yes,.... I am that shallow!

Dan said:

Dr Herbie said:

*snip*

I've wanted to do that for a while actually, do a techy makeover - Tech Eye for the Regular Guy, pimp out someone with new hardware (Xbox, Home Server, Home Automation, CAT 6) & software (touch PCs, multi-monitors, configure streaming, new apps,wifi, etc

I'm not so selfish that I would ask for such a thing for myself. However, I would love to see you do that for my twin brother who lives with me. He's in desperate need of some new tech.