Tech: What browser?

Subject: Tech: What browser?
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 07:51 PM

My ISP tells me that I should upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer. Are the old vulnerabilities still a concern with IE? Looking for recommendations.

Thanks,
Michael

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 07:52 PM

I suppose I should add: I'm in the US using Windows XP.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Nick E
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 09:39 PM

For what it is worth, which aint much, I'd upgrade the browser

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: open mike
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 09:44 PM

I'd recommend: switch to firefox instead.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Bill D
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 10:12 PM

Firefox or Opera.....preferably BOTH, so one can use the special benefits of each at appropriate times. 'Maybe' Google Chrome, or better yet, the version called "Iron", which has a lot of security stuff disabled.

I will not use IE for anything....

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 10:38 PM

I normally use Firefox, but I still occasionally run into a site that is "optimized" (HA!) for IE, so I have a Firefox add-on that let's me click to shift from one to the other w/o reloading the page. Otherwise, I also avoid IE. But by all means, keep the most recent version up...some of the older ones were both very buggy and easy to compromise.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Sep 10 - 11:35 PM

another vote for Firefox

sandra

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:02 AM

"...preferably BOTH, so one can use the special benefits of each at appropriate times"

Bill, would you mind detailing briefly what those benefits are? It'll help me decide.

Thanks,
Michael

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Mick Woods
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:10 AM

The new IE9 is not compatible with XP!

It will only work with Windows 7 or Vista.

So there you go stick with firefox - What has it to do with your ISP anyway unless they are providing you with a free upgrade to Windows 7!

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:17 AM

Some ISPs only have their help desk info set up for a few possibilities - that reduces their costs of setting up help web pages and training staff who work for peanuts and may not even know anything technical more than turning on a light switch, they just read the scripts off the screen - many Aussie ISPs used to refuse any help with ANY Linux/nonIE browser setup. They are slowly waking up....

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:41 AM

I find the Firefox is more ponderous than it used to be. I use Chrome most of the time. IE for things like downloading Microsoft stuff and I have to use it to get the secure connection to my office email.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 12:45 AM

I noticed that FF was getting slower and eating more resources on the Linux box - but a recent upgrade to 3.6.10 has sped things up noticeably.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: GUEST,Mick Woods
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 02:21 AM

Yeah, I find FF is a lot more cramped these days - I may give IE9 a go - I won't knock it til I try it!

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: treewind
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:04 AM

I use SRWare Iron for regular browsing. That's Chrome with some dubious "phone home" code removed from it.
Chrome on my main home PC because last time I looked there wasn't a 64 bit Linux version or Iron.

Firefox when I need the functionality of one of its extensions.
IE, Opera and Konqueror when I'm testing web sites for compatibility with all browsers, but ideally that needs early versions of IE, back to IE6 which some people are still using, $DEITY help them.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:16 AM

Another tip with FF - it is easy to get far too many add ons, which can slow things down... :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:03 PM

A few months back In Europe the EEC tried to address concern about Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer as "The only choice of Browser" by forcing them to tell Windoze customers that there are others available.
The following web site http://www.browserchoice.eu/BrowserChoice/browserchoice_en.htm contains info about a whole bunch of alternatives.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:27 PM

"Bill, would you mind detailing briefly what those benefits are? "

Opera has, for me, the most useful tricks in internal navigation and control over toolbars and bookmarks...etc.

look here to see what folks have created to making the 'user interface' more interesting and personalizable.

In addition there are 'keyboard shortcuts' one can enable to tab thru links, tabs, etc....

Firefox has the advantage of many, many add-ons and some fancy security features...and a lot of sites are designed to 'fit' only Firefox & IE....(my bank used to refuse to work with Opera..)

So....with computers having so much space & power these days, I have no problems having several browsers installed....plus, I just enjoy experimenting with them.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:32 PM

I use Conkeror, a keyboard-oriented Mozilla browser. It allows me to avoid the trackball most of the time

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Gurney
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:34 PM

For a long time I used only Opera, after a IE update wrecked IE, but recently an Opera update wrecked that, so I now have IE, Opera, and Firefox on board, with my 'favourites' in all of them, so Bill D's advice sounds right to me. As usual.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 03:54 PM

The latest Opera updates changed some of the menu organization, but it's not bad once you adjust... (and I keep, I think, 6 versions of Opera available, because of different ways the cache & menus are set up.)...at least Opera allows you to run multiple versions...Firefox seems to wish to overwrite any previous versions when you update. I don't really care for IT deciding what I'm allowed to run.\\

(thanks, Gurney)

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Tootler
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 05:26 PM

I'm quite happy with Firefox. don't have a large number of addons so I don't have problems with load speeds.

I did try Google Chrome in the early days, but I was not that keen on its very stripped down format.

I don't have IE as I'm on Linux, but even before I changed to Linux I almost never used IE. If I came across a site that said I had to use IE I would navigate away from it unless for some reason I absolutely had to use the site.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 07:13 PM

I did try Google Chrome in the early days, but I was not that keen on its very stripped down format

The stripped down format is what I love about Chrome. Curious to know what features you find missing?

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 07:42 PM

I think it's just a subjective preference...like those who like everything in a room 'put away' and neat, while others like everything 'out' and visible/accessible.

I can use Chrome, but using the address box for searches and having very few menu items makes ME uneasy. I like being able to control the visible parts of my browsers, and I have quite a batch of personalized toolbars and colors and 'themes'. (My Firefox and Opera versions have woodgrain themes)

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 07:49 PM

I'm sure you're right, Bill. Can't be doing with themes, myself. Prefer plain white. As you say, each to their own...

Thanks for the heads up about 'Iron' btw. Had not heard of it before.

Ed

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 08:13 PM

You're welcome...

(and ever hear of K-Meleon browser? I know people who use it as their default.) Lots of choices out there.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: michaelr
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 09:16 PM

Thank you all for your help.

Subject: RE: Tech: What browser?
From: GUEST,andrew
Date: 28 Sep 10 - 10:32 PM

On a Mac

Camino and Safari