Internet Explorer 8 Versus Firefox - Comments Page 2

Why use one browser? Almost everyday, I use four. IE is good for putting the new tabs next to the tab where I clicked the link. Firefox loads additional tabs much faster. It also gives the option to load all my favorite sites when I open it. I've had up to 70 tabs open in Firefox without crashing my system.Chrome is very fast and loads pages more quickly. It also open the browser automatically to where I was when I quit. Safari for Windows prints things better than the other browsers. I used to also use Opera, but I'm finding too many sites that are incompatible with this browser.

Regardless of which is a bit faster, Firefox has so much more flexibility than IE that comparison is futile. Ever forget a website password? In Firefox, you can display all your saved user ID's and passwords. Priceless. And Firefox has the AdBlock Plus plugin. With that installed, news websites come up much faster than even Chrome, with no annoying ads. Again, priceless. There are more reasons, but just with these two, that's enough to use Firefox.

A primary factor in many firefox accusations as being slow is due to Microsoft's addons. The very first thing I do on a new build with a fresh install of Fox is disable any and all Microsoft “DRM” addons.

Firefox > tools > addons > also disable “.net assistant” and “Win Presentation Foundation.” Additionally, disable prefetching. In fox type “about:config" You will get this message “This might void your warranty!" Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue to the about:config page.

In the about:config page, search for
Observe the Value column of the network.prefetch-next row. If it is set to false then do nothing.
If it is set to true, double-click on it to set it to false.

Restart Fox. You will be surprised just how FAST fox really is without MS addons slowing your surfing! Works on all versions of Windows.

I've been an Opera user since it fit on a diskette but lately I'm using Firefox more often largely because of the NoScript add on. The timely updates are also an important factor. Once a month for security updates just doesn't cut it.
As for sites that don't render properly in Firefox, too bad. A mistake on the designers part does not warrant extra effort on mine.

X-marks, formerly known as Foxmarks is the selling point for me. I love having all my bookmarks be the same on my laptop, desktop and work computer. I am a longtime Netscape to FF user. Never much like IE, regardless of speed.

A long-time Firefox(/Mozilla) user, I've been dragged across to IE8 for one reason (which probably won't apply to most of you) - support for my new dual-touch screen, something that I couldn't get working properly on Firefox. As a non-power user there aren't too many Firefox Features I miss, but I wouldn't have said that about IE7. I miss the added confidence of surfing with a program that isn't deeply integrated with my operating system, but the convenience of dragging, flicking and spinning stuff on my laptop has won out.

I prefer Opera. Especially as both IE and FF still have security issues.

I've always found IE slow, though IE8 has improved. I far prefer Opera (my default browser), which makes browsing an easier and more comfortable experience for me, Chrome or Firefox. However, Firefox has a better ability to cover web sites that aren't geared for Opera, and it's my second preference. I only use IE for sites that are only rendered for IE, or for MS downloads.

Firefox is by far my browser of choice given only the 2 options.
IE Tab is the extension for viewing pages that only fully load in IE - like most microsoft.com pages.
My favorite add-on is from codefisher.org which makes icon/links for my most viewed pages, allowing me to have the address bar, search engine & direct links to all my favorites in a single (1 line) toolbar instead of a third of my screen's real estate being taken up by multiple toolbars.

I prefer Opera, but many of the pages I deal with render best in IE and some can get by with Firefox. I'm going to try the IE View feature to see if it will give me full functionality in Firefox, which will make my life considerably easier.

I've installed Chrome but haven't played with it much.

Good article.

But, like other commenters, my preferred browser is Opera: fast, cross-platform, safe (best record, sp. compared to IE), and like a fine restaurant instead of an cafeteria where you have to serve yourself (Firefox and its unendingly upgrade-in add-ons).

If you are of the tweaking type, Opera can handle customized CSS AND user JavaScript (including GreaseMonkey), with ease and grace.

Also, if you use IMAP for email, takes care from any platform all your email needs.

"Second tier"? "[L]ack many handy features that IE 8 and Firefox v3.5 pack"? Opera has routinely pioneered most of the features later emphasized by reviewers in other browsers, and indeed in email services. (Think GMail's labels.)

Thanks nonetheless, but I'm sticking with Opera, keeping IE and FF as a second tier for testing and when unavoidable due to non-standards compliant sites.

I prefer Firefox but I do use both browsers. For MS downloads and updates I use IE8 and for pretty much everything else its Firefox. I really like all the addons available for the fox and although it doesn't launch as quickly as IE I think it does a faster page rendering job. IE8 is certainly the best version of the MS browser to date however.

I have IE, Firefox & Chrome on my PC. I use IE rarely, if ever. Firefox's IE tab does the job for Windows updates & any page that doesn't render on Firefox. My main browser is Chrome for the speed of it. The only time I have to switch to Firefox is online banking at WaMu (actually, I believe the new Chase site doesn't have that problem) when I try to click a calendar date to initiate the transaction I doesn't change the default (today's) date on the billpay page. So looks like Chrome wins. If they ever offer a IE tab option in Chrome neither IE nor Firefox will get any use on my computer. Except that Chrome doesn't show up for my wife on her start menu- haven't figured out that one yet. Probably a simple fix?

I usually use Firefox because it is more stable on my computer than are IE and Chrome. For whatever reasons, my computer is more likely to freeze up when using IE or Chrome. I do like the speed of Chrome.

After reading www.nsslabs.com browser reports I stay with IE8

Up until now I've always used IE in its many forms, largely 'because it's there'. I recently upgraded to Win 7 from Vista, and after that IE8 was all over the place - slow, pages flicking between sizes, unscheduled errors of all kinds. A friend suggested that I try Firefox, which I did, and everything has been fine. A lot quicker to load and faultless in operation.

FIREFOX is most desirable 4 me--"hands-down!"
IE 7 is better than IE 8 (from what I read..)

I think, IE 8 is the most secure web browser and i use it. I used Firefox and Google Chrome. But the security of Firefox and Google Chrome is lower than IE 8. So, I think it is good to use the most secure browser to browse safely. IE 8 is the perfect web browser for that.

EDITOR'S NOTE: "The security of Firefox and Google Chrome is lower than IE 8" -- because you say so? Is that just an opinion, or do you have some study you can cite?

I have been using Firefox for quite some time now and like it very much. It seems to be a lot safer than IE. I just read that IE is going to release fixes for another 17 (yes, 17) security problems and it seems that this has to be done quite often with them, so No Thanks IE, I am sticking with Firefox!!

I had so many crashing,freezing screen problems with IE, so when Firefox was suggested, I went for it. Not ONE crash/freeze since! I LOVE FF brings up more websites than Google searches and it isnt picky about spelling. NOW I am bummed to see it's security is low..Oh, what to do... Maybe beef up my anti-virus program? or have them both?...Dont know, I hate the idea of having crashing/freezing sites again. Such a waste of time to restart/...