Web Browser

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by jerseydevil

That's why IE is so far behind in fucntionality - they don't have to improve it because most people are happy to use it because it came with their computer. That's why so many companies took Microsoft to court to prevent them from loading up computers with their own software. People just don't download anything else - even if there are a ton of better browsers or other software out there.

That the power of monopoly, I guess. For me IE is good enough, I can work with it and I don't have much problems with it. Also the computers at home are used by the whole family. I can't decide alone to change and so I'll probably never change browser unless it's due to virus problems. If I'm not mistaken most virusses are aimed at holes in Windows and IE. (And let's face it, even the Windows patches come with holes at times. )

[Bombadillo]

I don't think IE needs improvements anyway. I have Firefox (Anglorfin insisted I try it) but I'm used to IE. No other browser is so easy with shortcut keys.

[jerseydevil]

This is funny - it was on cNet.com.

Dear IE, I'm leaving you for good
By Robert Vamosi
Senior editor, CNET Reviews
November 12, 2004


Dear Internet Explorer:

It's over. Our relationship just hasn't been working for a while, and now, this is it. I'm leaving you for another browser.

I know this isn't a good time--you're down with yet another virus. I do hope you feel better soon--really, I do--but I, too, have to move on with my life. Fact is, in the entire time I've known you, you seem to always have a virus or an occasional worm. You should really see a doctor.

That said, I just can't continue with this relationship any longer. I know you say you'll fix things, that next time it'll go better--but that's what you said the last time--and the time before that. Each time I believed you.

Well, not any longer.

You cheater!
The truth is there's nothing more you can say to make things better. I know about your secret marriage to Windows. You say you two are not seeing each other anymore, but I just don't believe it. You say you can live without Windows, and I've heard that Windows can live without you, but I know that's simply not true.

What about HTML e-mail in Outlook? Every time there's a new letter in the Inbox, you rush over to help Windows render it. And what about HTML within Word? There you go again. And don't get me started with those late nights you've spent rendering thumbnail images in Windows Explorer. You're all over Windows and, what, you just expect me to turn a blind eye?

You're no longer fit
For another thing, you've gone and gotten all lazy and out of shape on me. When was the last time you picked up a new feature? Two years ago? Three? While you rest on your laurels, while you spend your days slapping patches on the various flaws that seem to pour out as though your source code were a colander, the Internet has changed. A lot.

Last Christmas, I gave you a free RSS reader, Pluck, and you seemed to like it, with new feeds popping up from time to time keeping you fun and relevant. It gave me reason to think maybe you and I could work things out. But, in the end, it just wasn't a true fit; it wasn't really a part of you.

When I mentioned wanting to view more than one Web page at a time, you just laughed, said it couldn't be done. Well, I knew that wasn't true. Opera, Netscape, and now Firefox, they can all do it. You simply don't want to discuss change.

And when you do, it's only because of someone else. A certain someone else: Windows. Don't deny it. You didn't think twice when Windows XP SP2 offered you its shiny new pop-up blocker. Or gave you new firewall protection. I know Windows has promised to block buffer overflows, too--but I'll believe it when I see it.

Yet what have you done for me lately? I don't want to keep upgrading my operating system just to keep you around. Talk about baggage.

This is it
I know, I've tried breaking up before, and I've always come back, but that's because I couldn't find the right browser to move on with. I want an independent browser, one that stands on its own without a codependent operating system. What I want is a browser that's strong and secure, one that handles the latest content and won't crash. I want transparency. I want code that actually means something.

I have found just that.

With Mozilla Firefox, at least I know where I stand. The code is open source, built from the ground up, clean--not recycled. No more hidden agendas. At least when there's a flaw in Firefox, this browser alerts me on its toolbar. It doesn't try to hide its mistakes, waiting until the second Tuesday of the month to offer me a patch for some flaw that's been out there for six months already.

I can take my Firefox to my Mac and Linux friends, and everyone gets along just fine. You barely even talk to Macs anymore, and you always seem to walk out of the room whenever Linux stops by. Why? What are you afraid of? Honestly, a grown browser like you afraid of a little operating system? I think this snobby behavior speaks volumes about what's wrong with this relationship.

So this is it: Good-bye. I know you'll do fine without me; you always have. I'm sure there'll be someone who'll find you to be cute and interesting. It just won't be me.

Sometimes, breaking up can be easy. Care to write your own break-up letter to IE? Talk back to me.

It's so true too - one of the reasons I have never used IE except when forced too. IE has nothing to offer at all.

[Jonathan]

I've tried out Netscape, Firefox and Opera but I only end up going back to IE.

[BeardofPants]

My god man, how can you live without tabs?? In safari, you can close all of them either through short-cut keys/menu/close-tab - it's way easier than opening up a bazillion windows.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

My god man, how can you live without tabs?? In safari, you can close all of them either through short-cut keys/menu/close-tab - it's way easier than opening up a bazillion windows.

Very true. I usually end up having a bazillion browsers open anyway - I usually have so many tabs that it becomes a pain and as websites (such as entmoot) open up new browser windows - I use those too.

[edit] Right now I have 7 netscape browsers open and 4 Firefox browsers.

[BeardofPants]

Truly, tabs are the new god.

Right now I have only the one safari browser window open, and six tabs. It's really fun toggling between them. ... I'm such a nerd.

[BeardofPants]

aaaand.... random screenshot of safari - you can see the cute lil' close buttons on each tab

Er, change that to a url, the image is feckin' huge....

[Mercutio]

I use Mozilla Firebird on this computer (apparently firebird was already taken or trademarked or something so it got changed to firefox). Its version 5.0, I believe. The only problems I've had are with flash player. They don't seem to mix, so I use IE or Netscape instead when I need it.

p.s. yay tabs!

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

My god man, how can you live without tabs?? In safari, you can close all of them either through short-cut keys/menu/close-tab - it's way easier than opening up a bazillion windows.

Believe me, it's not easy. I'd love if IE introduced tabs.

Haven't tried out Safari yet. Think I'll do that now.
[edit]Wait a minute - is Safari even compatible with Windows? Damn!

[Nurvingiel]

I've just installed Mozilla. This thread reminded me that it existed, and that I liked in on my old computer, so thanks guys!

Reasons why Mozilla Rules and IE is average.

Mozilla rules because...
- There are many cool themes, including O Canada, which of course I'm using
- Managing bookmarks is much more user friendly
- Tabs! I'm all about the tabs.
- Personal Toolbar - it's a useful toolbar where you can easily add all your favourite links. I think IE has it too, but I never figured out how to set it.

EDIT: The only downside is on my mouse, clicking the centre wheel that lets you whoosh to the top of a page doesn't work. But the wheel still works... whee!

EDIT2: The only thing I couldn't figure out is how to set your homepage to something new. Well I'm sure I will... I've only had Mozilla for about 10 minutes...

[Linaewen]

Aren't all your tabs grouped together in the taskbar anyway, when you have two or more of the same browser window opened? Though I guess with tabs it's a bit easier to switch windows.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Linaewen

Aren't all your tabs grouped together in the taskbar anyway, when you have two or more of the same browser window opened? Though I guess with tabs it's a bit easier to switch windows.

First that's only if you are using XP and second it's a pain. I don't have XP anyway.

[Linaewen]

Oh yeah, I forgot.

I've got Firefox now. Ah, what a delight! It's got those features I've gotten used to in IE and it looks more like it too. But it has tabs. Woohoo. I was worried Firefox wouldn't work because my Mozilla wouldn't anymore after I formatted my computer.

[Millane]

i use IE, i dont know what tabs are so i probably dont deserve them

[BeardofPants]

Millicent - tabs are basically just new windows, but all in one browser window. Each tab represents a different open page, and you can view the pages by selecting the appropriate tab (it works basically like a filing system).

I'm using firefox now... it's pretty good, but it doesn't have some of things I like on safari (like spell-check, and close-buttons on each tab). Has a nice loading time though!

[Millane]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Millicent - tabs are basically just new windows, but all in one browser window. Each tab represents a different open page, and you can view the pages by selecting the appropriate tab (it works basically like a filing system).

if thats all it is whats so special about it, why wouldnt you just have more new windows
so its just like in windows where you have a couple of documents open but only one windows thing open, dont laugh

[BeardofPants]

Because it's easier to navigate between tabs - you don't have to keep clicking between different open browser windows. You just push a coupla buttons to cycle through the tabs. Quicker and easier than cycling through multiple windows. Great for bulletin boards, cos you can open all the tabs directly from the search page, and it'll open them all up on the same browser, right behind the current frame that you're viewing - unlike IE which opens up a new window right in front of you, and you have to keep re-clicking back to the new-search window.

[Fat middle]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

Because it's easier to navigate between tabs - you don't have to keep clicking between different open browser windows. You just push a coupla buttons to cycle through the tabs. Quicker and easier than cycling through multiple windows. Great for bulletin boards, cos you can open all the tabs directly from the search page, and it'll open them all up on the same browser, right behind the current frame that you're viewing - unlike IE which opens up a new window right in front of you, and you have to keep re-clicking back to the new-search window.

I must be a bit slow today, because after so many tabs relating posts I still don't see theit vantage

I use to have lots of windows opened. I don't switch between them by clicking, but by the alt-tab keys, and that's a very quick good system I love to switch windows with alt-tab. One think that annoys me is when I'm in a computer (PC) that has the MSWord set to open docs in the same window, because that doesn't allow me to switch easily between the

BoP (if not sleeping) or whoever, can you switch tabs in Netscape or Mozilla by alt-tab?

[Nurvingiel]

You sure can! Alt-tab is a feature of Windows, and it will switch between your browser and other programs as well. You can't switch between tabs with Alt-tab, but who needs to... they're just so handy! Tabs in Mozilla are just an option anyway, you can open several windows and tab between them too.