Internet browsers - should I abandon IE?

Audiovista · « **on:** 16 Dec 2008, 11:23 pm »

In light of the the news:

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/111811

It looks like it may make sense to switch from IE... but to what? Considering that I want to minimize my playtime with PC and software (there is more interesting stuff to do), a stable platform would be nice.

What do you use and/or recommend?

Thanks,
Boris

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 11:37 pm »

I've used IE for many years with acceptable results. Mainly out of boredom, and wandering what else there was, I switched to Mozilla FireFox.
Have had good results so far........Well, there is this one thing that drives me up a wall, but that's a story for another day.
Overall, I like FireFox.

Bob

p.s. By the way, I'll move this over to the 'Magnetic Core' where all the PC guys hang out.
You'll get more traffic there.

JohnR · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 11:48 pm »

That's ironic, I recently removed FireFox and Chrome from my work laptop because it's "against company IT policy" and they were "a security risk"

Cacophonix · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 11:49 pm »

I use Firefox 3
On and off, i do come across some apps that seem to work only on IE, and that's the only time i use IE.

Only negative that i have experienced are the memory leaks ... Everyday i have restart the application, or else it'll it can slow the PC down considerably. The adblock add-on is a mega plus!

Rashiki · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 12:11 am »

Yes, please stop using IE. In fact, you should stop using all Microsoft products and move to Linux.

I use Firefox. If a website doesn't work with Firefox, I complain until it's fixed or find an alternative website.

I have had a bias against Microsoft for many many years, but I feel that their idea to make the browser part of the operating system was one of the biggest blunders in the history of computing. It's almost like they planned on making it easier for viruses to infect your computer. More likely, they saw a way to use their monopoly to crush their competitors, but didn't think of the ramifications.

Save the internet. Stop using Internet Explorer.

-Rob

brj · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 12:46 am »

Quote from: Cacophonix

I use Firefox 3

Only negative that i have experienced are the memory leaks ... Everyday i have restart the application, or else it'll it can slow the PC down considerably.

With FF3? I had leaks with FF2, but FF3 is massively improved in that regard. I have it running continuously on 3 different machines, including both Windows XP and Linux, with dozens of open tabs and have no problems.

Quote from: Cacophonix

The adblock add-on is a mega plus!

Absolutely! Every time I'm forced to use IE on someone else's computer, I find out just how wonderful the Adblock Plus plugin really is. Cutting out all of the graphics ads really cleans up the Internet browsing experience - and speeds up pages loads rather noticeably on some sites.

Audiovista · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:05 am »

Bob - thanks for moving it, I wasn't sure where exactly the thread belongs...

Quote from: Rashiki on 17 Dec 2008, 12:11 am

Yes, please stop using IE. In fact, you should stop using all Microsoft products and move to Linux.
-Rob

Rob, you're probably right, but my SCH and PCB design software, along with Circuit simulator does not work with anything else

Please don't ask me to change those... it's a steep learning curve till you master all the intricacies...

Hypothetical question: If everybody switches to FF, isn't it going to become more interesting for hackers and prone to more attacks?

And a real one: If you use both, IE and FF - how do you handle Favorites? Can they be shared by both programs?

Crimson · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:29 am »

There's Firefox, Opera, and now Safari (for windows). I use Firefox 99% of the time.

WGH · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:30 am »

Quote from: Audiovista on 17 Dec 2008, 01:05 am

Hypothetical question: If everybody switches to FF, isn't it going to become more interesting for hackers and prone to more attacks?

Not really because Firefox does not have Active X support, one of the main reasons IE is much less secure.

Rashiki · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:36 am »

Quote from: Audiovista on 17 Dec 2008, 01:05 am

Rob, you're probably right, but my SCH and PCB design software, along with Circuit simulator does not work with anything else Please don't ask me to change those... it's a steep learning curve till you master all the intricacies...

That's what VMWare or VirtualBox are for. They let you run Windows and Windows apps under Mac OS or Linux. VMWare has a free version that works reasonably well and VirtualBox is free. Another alternative is WINE, which implements most of the Windows funtionality on top of Linux and lets you run many Windows apps directly under Linux.

Quote from: Audiovista on 17 Dec 2008, 01:05 am

Hypothetical question: If everybody switches to FF, isn't it going to become more interesting for hackers and prone to more attacks?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Quote from: Audiovista on 17 Dec 2008, 01:05 am

And a real one: If you use both, IE and FF - how do you handle Favorites? Can they be shared by both programs?

I use the Yahoo toolbar to share my bookmarks across multiple computers. You can use it with both IE and Firefox. Import your bookmarks/favorites to the Yahoo service and then use the toolbar to add new bookmarks.

-Rob

whubbard · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:39 am »

I have used Internet Explorer until a few weeks ago. I personally liked it better than Firefox(1,2 or 3). I believe that it has much higher functionality than Firefox, and to be honest I think the user interface in IE7 is just plain better. Especially with bookmarks & history. But thats all personal.

I have now switched over to Google Chrome for one reason: speed. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I find that it has a very pretty interface, and I really don't miss anything for IE7. I've also found that it is compatible with pretty much every website (I am yet to run into a problem), with Firefox I ran into many. The download setup is nice, but I have my own download manager and its a little disappointing that Chrome seems to have taken over, but on a whole I still prefer it a bit to IE7, but I should say I keep IE7 on my computer. Chrome speed just makes everything easier to browse, seems small but the difference is big in my opinion.

Now for all those out there who keep screaming about IE7 viruses and Windows viruses, I'm sick of it. Look, I have Linux machines and if someone wanted to hack into them it would be MUCH easier, it just that: they don't! It the same with Macs, its just not worth there time. I use Kaspersky security and I have never even had the slightest problem with a virus, EVER. Everyone I know with Macs their machines seem to crap out on them [but it always some 'user' fault' whereas my windows machine (Vista or XP I use both) I don't have any issues! Also, there is just so much more available in terms of plug-ins for Windows and IE7, probably the only place where Chrome is lacking, but I never really liked toolbars anyways. Oh, and Safari for windows: terrible. I am yet to hear otherwise from anyone, including die hard mac fans forced to use windows, even they don't use it.

Mac/Safari & Firefox [Let the wars begin].

Ok, I'll be honest I wind up using Macs too, and I don't really mind them, I just find windows more useful. WIth teh right knowledge of computers you windows machine will last you much longer than your Mac.

To sum up in terms of browsers, which is what this was meant to be about....

1) Google Chrome
2) Internet Explorer 7
3) Firefox
4) Safari

-West
Edit: About ActiveX, just don't be an idiot an install one thats not coming from a reputable website.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #11 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:48 am »

Count me among the recent Firefox converts.

Admittedly there are some quirks that I'm not particularly fond of (eg. clicking on download links doesn't let me select specific locations to save files), but overall the experience has been good. Note that I'm primarily a Mac user coming from Safari...but I recently moved to Firefox from IE on my Windows XP machine as well...

I've also used Google Chrome, and while I like it, I'm not yet convinced. They just came out of beta, so I'm expecting some improvements over the next few months...

avta · « **Reply #12 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 01:50 am »

I use Opera and like it.

WGH · « **Reply #13 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:10 am »

Quote from: PhilNYC on 17 Dec 2008, 01:48 am

Count me among the recent Firefox converts. Admittedly there are some quirks that I'm not particularly fond of (eg. clicking on download links doesn't let me select specific locations to save files)

That can be fixed:

Click on Tools - Options...
Under Downloads on the Main page just check the first box, and Always Ask Me Where to Save Files.

Audiovista · « **Reply #14 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:12 am »

Hmmm... all the good stuff... thanks to all who participate...

Now, if I want to experiment (big IF, considering the lack of interest to play with software), are there any drawbacks to installing FF, Safari, Opera, Chrome... run it for a week or two and then uninstalling. We know that most of windows s/w leaves stuff behind even when uninstalled, but how about these alternate browsers?

Once again, many thanks!
Boris

jmc207 · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:26 am »

I've never had any real problems with multiple browser installations on my computers. I use Firefox for 97% of my web browsing, using IE only for some sites and web applications that only work right with IE. The Firefox install will ask if you want to copy your IE Favorites over to FireFox bookmarks. Other bookmark managers such as the Yahoo one mentioned earlier, Google, or others can help with the multiple browser issue. Firefox doesn't include full Adobe Flash compatibility with the default install. If you have any problem with Flash, you can get it manually here: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/#fp

jmc207 · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:31 am »

Occasionally, one or the other browser may reset itself as the default browser. Usually it's IE that does this. If this happens, Firefox will notify you the next time you run it and ask if you want to change this back. This default browser behavior controls which browser opens when you click on a URL in an email message or other link. That's the only problem I've run across.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:37 am »

I knew this guy who was incredibly savvy with computers. He suggested that to some extent it is the anti virus companies who are constantly creating new viruses to maintain a need for newer versions of their product. Call it a lesson from tobacco marketing strategy 101.

Because the almighty dollar is the bottom line, it wouldn't surprise in the least if it was MS jealous competitors who are attacking IE in an attempt to get a bigger piece of the action for themselves. Just a thought, cynical but not entirely implausible.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 02:53 am »

Quote from: Wind Chaser on 17 Dec 2008, 02:37 am

I knew this guy who was incredibly savvy with computers. He suggested that to some extent it is the anti virus companies who are constantly creating new viruses to maintain a need for newer versions of their product. Call it a lesson from tobacco marketing strategy 101.

Because the almighty dollar is the bottom line, it wouldn't surprise in the least if it was MS jealous competitors who are attacking IE in an attempt to get a bigger piece of the action for themselves. Just a thought, cynical but not entirely implausible.

He may believe that, but I think he is paranoid. It would be corporate suicide if anything like that existed and came to light. Not worth the risk.
Kinda reminds me of the conspiracy theorists who believe the big, bad oil companies have bought up all the high-mileage fuel-saving gadgets to ensure that they continue to sell us fuel. Or that the Apollo missions were all a big PR fraud.
This is a medical diagnosis of those jerks, not a political statement, right? No politics here.

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Dec 2008, 03:01 am »

No, it's not a political statement.

Neither is it a conspiracy theory.