Best Browser? Opera?

[Claeren]

Hey,

What are peoples thoughts on the best browser?

I have used IE for a long time but have gotten the impression i might be missing out on certain benefits by not testing out some others. I have recently loaded Opera and am using it now and it is pretty slick i think.

The other big one is Firefox obviously. And there are some smaller ones of course...


Thoughts? Impressions? Why should i try Firefox v. IE and Opera?



Claeren.

[SarichFan]

Nothing has even threatened my use of Firefox since 2003

[llama64]

Try em all and find one that works for you.

I personally am attached to Firefox due to it's simplicity, security and some addons (i <8 NoScript).

I've tried Opera a few times and despite many attempts to like it, I just can't force my brain to escape the Firefox/IE way of doing things.

IE destroyed my computer too many times for me to forget. I will never again use that browser (well... till MS releases IE8).

A good comparison of the browsers:
- Firefox (no addons)
- Firefox (addons)
- Opera
- Internet Explorer

[4X4]

Originally Posted by SarichFan

Nothing has even threatened my use of Firefox since 2003

Ditto. I hate using other computers that don't have firefox. I've downloaded it onto my parents' computers, friends', sisters'... Just for me for whenever I'm at their houses.

[FlamesKickAss]

I use firefox at home and love it. At work I am stuck with IE.

[Claeren]

The thing i thought was cool about Opera is that apparently there is a BitTorrent app built in now - although i have yet to test it. I am guessing there is something like that for Firefox though?

The Opera browser is faster than the IE7, but it sometimes loads pages funny (more so than IE). CalgaryPuck is MUCH faster than IE7, especially in terms of posting though. That alone is worth the change.

Still figuring things out though....

My initial impresison though is that i will eventually try Firefox.



Claeren.

[Kipper is King]

I like how firefox incorporates RSS feeds. Handy!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Ditto. I hate using other computers that don't have firefox. I've downloaded it onto my parents' computers, friends', sisters'... Just for me for whenever I'm at their houses.

In those cases, I just installed Portable Firefox on a flash drive.

Then I have all my addons and bookmarks and don't need to install anything on someone else's system.

[metallicat]

Safari

[Claeren]

IF i have portable firefox on a USB-key drive, can i also have the 'flash' up to date as well?

The computers at work don't allow us to update our flash and it is driving me nuts as more and more apps are moving beyond the version they do have on them...



Claeren.

[Barnes]

For those of you that use Firefox, download and try Firetune.

http://www.totalidea.com/content/fir...une-index.html

Firefox is setup for slower connections and this will allow you to tweak it for broadband.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally Posted by Barnes

For those of you that use Firefox, download and try Firetune.

http://www.totalidea.com/content/fir...une-index.html

Firefox is setup for slower connections and this will allow you to tweak it for broadband.

Oh man, I never knew this program existed... just installed it and it is a lot faster! Thanks!

[Hack&Lube]

Count me as a devoted Opera fan. I've tried Firefox a lot and I never liked it. Opera has everything you need inside the package and still most customizable. Opera has the most inuitive layout for me and in many tests, it is the fastest browser. I also prefer Opera's keyboard shortcuts mouse gestures and all the viewing modes. It just much faster to browse if you know it well than other browsers.

The main reason however is that Opera is brilliant in that when you zoom in on a page (CTRL + mousewheel up and down), it will resize EVERYTHING instead of simply the text or standard pictures like in Firefox and IE. This means animations and flash movies will also resize. There's no need for me to bother with fullscreening Youtube, I just zoom the movie up to whatever size I want with CTRL + mousewheel. This also works with flash games and many other things that you can never zoom in other browsers.

I used to keep Opera on a USB memorystick at work yes, but sadly, like all things, the version of flash on your computer is usually what the administrator has installed and therefore, you won't be able to have this updated nomatter what you do unless the system admin does it to the entire network.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Claeren

IF i have portable firefox on a USB-key drive, can i also have the 'flash' up to date as well?

The computers at work don't allow us to update our flash and it is driving me nuts as more and more apps are moving beyond the version they do have on them...



Claeren.

I've bever had an issue with flash, so I'm not really sure, but looking at the Portable Firefox site, it seems like you can use any version.

http://portableapps.com/support/fire...rtable#plugins

[McG]

ie and firefox. depends upon what i am working on. but ie is mandated at work.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

I like how firefox incorporates RSS feeds. Handy!

Except the CP RSS feed, when you get threads from the CP Hockey league! You get threads that say Iginla traded! I freak out and look at it and its a thread from the hockey league, boooooo!

Other RSS feeds are great, news, browse the headlines.

[Claeren]

This is slightly off topic but...

I am trying to get the torrents thing to work in Opera and it is not letting me use the port it specifies (18768)? How do i make it work?

It prompted me at the beginning about allowing outside access for users on this port or something like that and i accidently slicked 'no' and now i find out that only offer that option the first time you load it. How do i do it manually? I tried a few things i thought should work but no luck so far...


Ack!

Claeren.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Claeren

This is slightly off topic but...

I am trying to get the torrents thing to work in Opera and it is not letting me use the port it specifies (18768)? How do i make it work?

It prompted me at the beginning about allowing outside access for users on this port or something like that and i accidently slicked 'no' and now i find out that only offer that option the first time you load it. How do i do it manually? I tried a few things i thought should work but no luck so far...


Ack!

Claeren.

This is a somewhat confusing part of opera if you've never encountered it before.

Are you using the built in opera torrent software (boo) or a utorrent (what you should be using)?

[Hack&Lube]

The thing is Opera is that for the hardcore...there are a lot of undocumented features. Often I hit a random keystroke and it does something or brings up a menu and I never knew those things were even there. I mostly stick to browser even though Opera has built in apps for everything from e-mail to bittorrent which are actually well designed. I chose not to install e-mail or bittorrent app last time around or I would open them up and check it out for you.

[Claeren]

I am using the built-in torrent app?


I am finding that (complicated/undocumented system/features) with Opera too. I am realizing how lazy i have been in the almost 10 years since high school. I used to have such a high aptitude for this stuff, you know like as a kid where you just know stuff, and now i struggle over every problem. But i am trying to be more pro-active and not just give up. I think in school you just ask your friends but then as an adult you feel stupid having to ask, even though doing it just once correctly is all it takes to know the right answer forever. So basically, i am trying not to be afraid to ask the simple questions...


Claeren.