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  • IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera....Battle of Web Browsers!

During the early stages of accessing the web, I used Internet Explorer. Then I tried Firefox since its Faster. However, when Chrome was released it was a new experience to browser the web, and rapid-release process makes users want more from the next version.

Before I brought my Mac last summer, I tried Safari when Safari 5 was released. I was the first Browsers with HTML 5.


This year, we are witnessing Browsers Battle. Every company is working hard to came up with new features, to bring new users.

From my experience so far, I have concluded the following:

1-Internet Explorer: It is too basic and SLOW! and limited to Windows, but compatible with most websites. (5th)

2-Firefox is faster than IE, and brings more features. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux. There is a big Add-On gallery. Firefox following Rapid release process attracted more users, but companies are pissed-off. Also, till now, Firefox misses some basic features like Speed Dial ( or Recent and Most Visited Sites) out of box, even in Firefox 5. In addition , the Sync Feature is limited to bookmarks (3th)

3-Google Chrome: It is the fastest. Offering built-in Flash Player, Java, and Adobe Reader, so that Google will update them when releasing its newer version. After singing up for Gmail, I found out that th best way to browser Gmail and other Google Sites is by using Google Chrome. Chrome Extension and Apps Gallery is better than Firefox, and developers are much interested to update them. In Firefox, many Add-Ons become not compatible with the new release. ( 1st )

4- Safari: It is the most elegant among them. It is the most stable browser, and offers decent extension gallery enough for a "normal user". Although its built available for both Mac and PC, the PC version is not as good as the Mac version. Apple is not following a rapid-release process with Safari. Its slower than Chrome and Firefox, but its more stable. Right now, sync feature is limited to MobilMe users, lets wait and see what iCloud holds ( 4th )

5- Opera: Today, a new version (11.50) was released. Offers the best Sync Feature among all, called "Opera Link". Its built in Email client makes users stick with Opera for a longer time, no need to use another software, like Mozilla making another software for emails, Thunderbird. Built in sharing features easy to use and offers wide range of utility, called "Opera Unite". Another interesting feature is browsing with "Turbo Mode" for slow connections (a.k.a Lebanese Mode :P ). Its Extension Gallery is GREAT! Some extensions are similar to Google Chrome, and most of them are useful. Although its a great web browser, but still developers are not interested a lot for making extensions and Apps for it. I use WiseStamp for Email Signatures and Xmarks for Bookmarks sync, unfortunately, they are not available for Opera. ( 2nd )


As a final conclusion, all these browsers are good, but you cannot rely just one and only one of them, and this depends on what sites/services you browse...

Which one do you prefer? and Why?
One thing to note about Chrome is that Google offers certain features on their sites that only work in Chrome. For example, on youtube, there are buttons that only appear in chrome.

I have been using chrome more and more recently, mainly because I have _possibly mistakenly_ noticed that Chrome has better support for streaming videos. I noticed that the streamed video is cached and when you open the same video again it is loaded from the cache. I am not sure (did not bother to check) if it is just chrome.
MSD wroteOne thing to note about Chrome is that Google offers certain features on their sites that only work in Chrome. For example, on youtube, there are buttons that only appear in chrome.

I have been using chrome more and more recently, mainly because I have _possibly mistakenly_ noticed that Chrome has better support for streaming videos. I noticed that the streamed video is cached and when you open the same video again it is loaded from the cache. I am not sure (did not bother to check) if it is just chrome.
Yeah there are some sites, like Gmail, works best with Chrome, especially if you install the Gmail App.
But, some other buttons may appear if you install an extension for YouTube (like YouTube Downloader ).

Chrome has the best JavaScript Engine and one of the best browsers to make use of the GPU to browse the web, thats why Videos may load faster.
AMDeeb wrote
MSD wroteOne thing to note about Chrome is that Google offers certain features on their sites that only work in Chrome. For example, on youtube, there are buttons that only appear in chrome.

I have been using chrome more and more recently, mainly because I have _possibly mistakenly_ noticed that Chrome has better support for streaming videos. I noticed that the streamed video is cached and when you open the same video again it is loaded from the cache. I am not sure (did not bother to check) if it is just chrome.
Yeah there are some sites, like Gmail, works best with Chrome, especially if you install the Gmail App.
But, some other buttons may appear if you install an extension for YouTube (like YouTube Downloader ).

Chrome has the best JavaScript Engine and one of the best browsers to make use of the GPU to browse the web, thats why Videos may load faster.
I don't think that the faster streaming has anything to do with GPU utilization, it is dependent on how the browser downloads the content (using a single vs. multiple threads). Also, something useful is whether it caches what has been downloaded so far so that you would not have to redownload in case of disconnection or other problems.
I use a combination of Chrome and Firefox. I have found Firefox to be more compliant and predictable then Chrome in some cases. Plus I like the extensions. But Chrome is good to open tens of tabs - it handles it real well. Safari is pretty much Chrome with a different "body" (if we use the car analogy), and it seems to be slower and heavier at start-up. I'm not very much at ease with Opera's interface, plus it seemed to have some stability and memory issues under heavy use. I don't know about the newer versions, though. IE has been doing lots of progress but still somehow feels like (and, I guess, is) low-quality software and outdated technology; and the countless "security features" are a huge turn off.
Xmarks for Bookmarks sync, unfortunately, they are not available for Opera. ( 2nd )
You don't need Xmarks. Check out Opera Link.
I'm not very much at ease with Opera's interface
Try updating to today's release (11.50), the UI was polished and looks much better (under OS X at least).
samer wrote
Xmarks for Bookmarks sync, unfortunately, they are not available for Opera. ( 2nd )
You don't need Xmarks. Check out Opera Link.
I'm not very much at ease with Opera's interface
Try updating to today's release (11.50), the UI was polished and looks much better (under OS X at least).
I want to Sync Bookmarks between different Browsers, Xmarks does this perfectly. Its only available for IE, Firefox, Chrome and Safari(Mac). The good news is that i discovered that there is a basic extension opens a pop-up similar to Xmarks for iPhone, just to access the bookmarks from sever, but without the syncing ability.
rolf wroteI use a combination of Chrome and Firefox. I have found Firefox to be more compliant and predictable then Chrome in some cases. Plus I like the extensions. But Chrome is good to open tens of tabs - it handles it real well. Safari is pretty much Chrome with a different "body" (if we use the car analogy), and it seems to be slower and heavier at start-up. I'm not very much at ease with Opera's interface, plus it seemed to have some stability and memory issues under heavy use. I don't know about the newer versions, though. IE has been doing lots of progress but still somehow feels like (and, I guess, is) low-quality software and outdated technology; and the countless "security features" are a huge turn off.
What I found is that Firefox 5 is the only Web Browser that runs in 64-bit mode in Mac OSX Snow Leopard.

Unlike Chrome, Opera does not go memory hungry. It consumes only about 180 MB with 6 Extensions, Opera Link and Turbo Mode Enabled. Each Extension and Plug-in in Chrome, is treated as a separate task in Mac OS. On my Mac, there are about 20 task, about 500 MB of Total Memory Consumption! This is crazy! If you are running it on a laptop, the battery life will be affected.
Still sticking with Firefox due to all the add-ons I rely on. Plus, Tab Panorama is pretty damn great.
Sadly, FF4 is even more memory-hungry than 3.6, if that were even possible. It's like molasses.

And Chrome's not much better. It eats RAM like crazy, but distributed across several processes so it seems lighter.

I use FF for 99% of my browsing; I keep a Chrome shortcut nearby, with an "incognito" command line parametre, for website testing. (No caching!)

Another reason I stick with Firefox 4 is because it plays nice with Windows 7 touch, unlike Chrome.