Browser Wars: Firefox 2 and 3, Opera, Safari, Flock, Explorer

[Uncle Sinister]

I know this isn't really a science question, but there's no tech forum here.

Curious about what browsers peeps use.

For me, Explorer is off the table, it's lame, bug-ridden, and shot through with security holes.

Since I'm on a PC laptop, Safari is off the table, but it sounds good (except for compatibility)

I started with Firefox a few years ago, light-years better than IE.

I wanted to love Opera, I really did. They've got the best ideas and most interesting projects, I root for them. But I can't use it.

Firefox 2 is my workhorse browser, it's reasonably stable, reasonably fast, reasonably secure, and infinitely customizable.

FF3 is the Queen's Tit, except that it's still a beta project, not completely stable, and has very few extensions yet. When they get it ready for prime-time, no doubt this will be my browser (the new location bar alone should make you cream your shorts)

Flock is fun, (and based on FF2)and has huge potential, but will it survive? It's new and shiny, but where's the beef?

FWIW, I'm sticking with FF2 for now, but open to be converted

[mth44sc]

1. Opera

have since the OS/2 days...

[mike_c]

2. firefox 2, hands down for now-- the extensions alone make it the best browser...

...on the planet, IMO.

[Uncle Sinister]

10. but have you tasted the goodness of FF3 yet?

It is so much better than 2, that it's almost orgazmic.

The address bar alone will rock your s0x0r.
but... few extensions work with it yet

and it has a bad habit of crashing during anything involving javascript

I've gone back to FF2, reluctantly, because it works everywhere, all the time.

and my fav. extensions are rock solid.
extensions I can't live without: noscripts, greasemonkey, delicious, better gmail 2,
customize google, clipmarks

right now only noscripts and clipmarks work reliably with FF3.

but when they get it out of beta, it will blow your sh*t away.

I'm sticking, reluctantly, with FF2 right now.

But I know something better is right around the corner.

[HeraldSquare212]

3. Foxfire 2. I also use Open Office - works fine with MS Word.

I don't use Excel so much so I don't know how compatible it is with Excel.

[Uncle Sinister]

11. I use Open Office as well., Calc is the spreadsheet prog..-->

It's pretty compatible with Excel, but don't try to transfer charts and graphs then it gets hosed

[rawtribe]

4. You can run Safari on your PC

http://www.apple.com/safari/

[bluerum]

5. Why can't you use Opera???

[Uncle Sinister]

12. I can use Opera, just fine, it just doesn't...-->

do it for me. I really REALLY wanted Opera to be my browser of choice, I love the mind-set behind it. I'm a huge open-source fan (I dual boot with linux mint)

But most of the Opera widgets are jokey toys, whereas with firefox2, 1/2 dozen extensions turn it in to MONDOBROWSER

[Lennon]

6. I use Opera

A great browser, fast and stable. :)

Firefox has always been by far the most crash happy browser I have ever used. :(

[tridim]

7. I use IE almost exclusively, IMO it's the fastest and best.

FF is okay, but I don't like some minor things about it. I do use it for debugging javascript.

I have to develop for all browsers so I have them all installed.

[wtmusic]

8. From a developer's standpoint IE is a pain in the ass

If you want to see websites the way they were intended to look, and not the way Bill Gates wished they would sorta look if his programming team wasn't so awful, Firefox is a good choice.

[Uncle Sinister]

13. "and not the way Bill Gates wished they would sorta look"

best line I've heard tonight. Next beer is on me!

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Opera-- been using it since v3.x and it does...

almost everything I want it to without fuss, bother, or extensions. I have Firefox for the occasional site that it works a little better on, but don't use it much. I use IE when there's some Microsoft download or tech site that uses ActiveX, but that's about it for IE.

(Adding spellcheck to Opera's mail client a few versions ago really tempted me to dump Eudora, but I still don't have the guts for that change.)

[caraher]

14. Firefox with a side of Safari

I've given Opera a few brief looks, but never really took to it.

I have found that downloads of software seems more seamless in Safari than Firefox (I'm using Macs).

Firefox does crash sometimes, but it's at least kind enough to let you resume your session upon restarting.

[tinrobot]

15. SeaMonkey

I started with the Netscape browser many many years ago, and it has eventually evolved into SeaMonkey. It works great and is very stable. I like that it has a bundled email client.

[Lithos]

16. FF 2 and Konqueror

At home. Work, it's FF2 and IE 5.5 (yeah, you read that correctly, our Desktop IT is behind the times).

L-

[RL3AO]

17. IE 5.5?

Does your 28k modem not allow you to download the new software? :)

[Lithos]

18. LOL

I work for a very large corporation and the LAN speeds are fine. The issue is that they've set a company standard on 5.5. Yes, I have local admin rights on my box and could upgrade, but I develop applications for our intranet which means that I have to see the effects on the company standard.

L-

[hunter]

19. Iceweasel. I like the name.

It's the Debian version of Firefox.

I've been using Opera for a long, long time, since the "fits on one floppy disk" days. Opera used to cost $35 and it was worth it to me.

I usually install most every browser Debian will run (native or using wine) but for now Opera and Iceweasel are my workhorses. I've never used IE as my regular browser, and when I have to use it I don't like it.

[mainegreen]

20. I use FF2. Two big reasons: Flashblock and Firebug.

Especially Firebug. Most useful add-on EVER!

[lynnertic]

21. tell me more about firebug

I'm off to get flashblock NOW.

Thanks for the tip!

[Meldread]

22. I use Opera.

It does almost everything I need a browser to do, so in that sense it is perfect. No complaints. As far as I am concerned, the only leg up Firefox has are the extensions, but really those do not tempt me much. I only use Firefox for downloading Flash Videos to my PC, well the ones that I want to save anyway. If Opera had that ability, I would have no need for Firefox. Additionally, I believe Opera is more secure.