Mozilla FireFox vs. Google Chrome

[TBSN]

I started using Chrome when it was released, and I love it. I was never a huge fan of the many features most browsers have, so I was glad I didn't have too many buttons cluttering the toolbar (or lack there of). I also like how the default page shows your most visited websites, which are usually the ones I would go to anyway...

There are problems, however...

I can't load Me.com (the mac webmail service), and meebo.com won't load correctly either.

Firefox also has the advantage of having frequent updates and extensions, although I don't know anything about what browser is more secure.

Because of the strange bug with chrome not loading certain sites correctly, I've gone back to Firefox for now, but I love the direction chrome is trying to go. Then again, I never really figured out RSS readers and some of the advanced features firefox has, so maybe I just like it because it is simple.

The best part for me is definitely the "Omni-bar," although you can search directly from the firefox bar, I like how chrome's address bar is setup better.

What do you think?

 

[LuDaCriS66]

I like Firefox but I have different needs. I don't want a "simple" browser. I love to customize and have a variety of features and functions. That's why I use over 35 extensions.

Chrome loads a hell of a lot quicker than Firefox does and the individual process per tab feature is nice (when it actually works). That's all I can really think of that Chrome has over FF for my personal use.

Firefox fits my needs better. If you like simple then Chrome is great for that too.


Also, you can get extensions for a couple of those noted Chrome features you mentioned.


http://www.dailygyan.com/2008/...t-page-in-firefox.html

Cybersearch
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7931

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I love the speed and a few other things about Chrome but i love Firefox because it has many more add ons and customizations. So, firefox it is for me!

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
I like Firefox but I have different needs. I don't want a "simple" browser. I love to customize and have a variety of features and functions. That's why I use over 35 extensions.

Chrome loads a hell of a lot quicker than Firefox does and the individual process per tab feature is nice (when it actually works). That's all I can really think of that Chrome has over FF for my personal use.

Firefox fits my needs better. If you like simple then Chrome is great for that too.

My thoughts exactly. I uninstalled Chrome, and use Firefox as my primary browser, and IE8 as my secondary.

 

[Tempered81]

i love chrome, but afaik it doesn't have a smooth scrolling plugin like my 10yr old firefox has.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I find chrome pretty nice but like others have said I like the plug in ability in FF. Though I find since version 1 FF has been becoming heavier on system resources. I find it can take a while to load even with no extensions. Chrome is lightning fast. Opera is actually pretty quick too, I've even been debating on switching to it. Though I love the noscript extension in FF as it's 100% block against popups and other crappy adware stuff.

 

[Snapster]

Chrome brought some nice ideas to the table which maybe the other browsers will pick up (process per tab...although I'm very surprised this didn't already exist). Moz will pick up the ball by increasing JS speed to match.

Competition is good, even IE is doing stuff again!

 

[TBSN]

well, I do like Firefox. I'm curious, what kind of plugins do you all use, and what for?

I know there are some really inventive ones, like StumbleUpon, what else is popular/ useful?

 

[Onund]

Originally posted by: TBSN
I started using Chrome when it was released, and I love it. I was never a huge fan of the many features most browsers have, so I was glad I didn't have too many buttons cluttering the toolbar (or lack there of). I also like how the default page shows your most visited websites, which are usually the ones I would go to anyway...

You should try Opera then. Once it loads push F11 and you get fullscreen mode. 100% browser on the window. You may want to review the keyboard shortcuts for browsing though. I haven't used an address bar or any browser buttons in maybe 5 years.

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
I find chrome pretty nice but like others have said I like the plug in ability in FF. Though I find since version 1 FF has been becoming heavier on system resources. I find it can take a while to load even with no extensions. Chrome is lightning fast. Opera is actually pretty quick too, I've even been debating on switching to it. Though I love the noscript extension in FF as it's 100% block against popups and other crappy adware stuff.

In Opera under Tools->Quick Preferences (or push F12) you can play with javascript, java, plugin, pop-up, etc settings. I set everything off by default and edit site specific preferences to enable JS when needed.

I have never really given firefox a fair chance though. addons have me intrigued but the one thing that pisses me off about Firefox is the non-uniformity of the 'open in new tab' modifier. Hold alt in the address bar and quick search bar but ctrl click a link, wtf? Opera just requires shift for everything. Shift enter in the address bar, shift click links, hold shift while typing bookmark nicknames.

 

[TBSN]

Ironically, as I was searching around, reading about Chromium and some things about the web, Chrome crashed, entirely. I had a lot of tabs open, but the whole program crashed, not just one of the tabs, which is why they are set up as separate processes in the first place. Kinda reminded me of the "compartments" that were designed into the Titanic which supposedly made it the unsinkable ship by preventing one leak from bringing down the whole ship.

*edit* There should be an "internet" or "web" section on the forums, because it is (or has) become a beast in and of itself.

 

[zerogear]

Firefox launches just as fast without extensions But who uses FF without extensions.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: zerogear
Firefox launches just as fast without extensions But who uses FF without extensions.

Does not using Firefox at all count as using it without extensions?

Honestly, I use Windows at work and for gaming at home, so I am content with IE for what little internetting i do in those 2 places. When at home and surfing, I use Safari on my Mac which gets the job done just fine for me.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: TBSN
well, I do like Firefox. I'm curious, what kind of plugins do you all use, and what for?

I know there are some really inventive ones, like StumbleUpon, what else is popular/ useful?

http://www.killertechtips.com/...fox-extensions-addons/
http://www.lesliefranke.com/files/firefoxyourway/

Personal favs are adblock plus, fast dial, download bar, and foxmarks.

With Foxmarks being the most useful and fast dial being most used lol. I have a few others installed like a ftp manager.

 

[Gooberlx2]

At home I'm using google chrome right now. The only thing I need to really be happy is mouse gestures.

 

[BigToque]

I just started using Firefox with AdBlock Plus and NoScript... I don't think I could ever go back.

Browsing the internet with no ads is amazing.

 

[filterstb]

I've been wanting to try Chrome for a while now. I read the Google comic that talks about it, and I think the main feature that interests me is the tabbing. But I've been putting off exploring it because I don't want to waste too much time with bugs or delays. Do you guys know when is a "safe" time to give it a try? Like when more problems are sorted out, or where to get updates on that?

 

[CuriousMike]

I love the "ForecastFox" plugin from accuweather.

 

[TBSN]

Originally posted by: filterstb
I've been wanting to try Chrome for a while now. I read the Google comic that talks about it, and I think the main feature that interests me is the tabbing. But I've been putting off exploring it because I don't want to waste too much time with bugs or delays. Do you guys know when is a "safe" time to give it a try? Like when more problems are sorted out, or where to get updates on that?

Just download it and try it out. There is no danger in that, and a lot of people are already using it. If you don't like it, just uninstall it.

 

[randomlinh]

I really like how chrome is laid out. I need to go find a theme for FF that gets at the simple look. The everything bar needs to come to FF as well. And the speed.

Not too sure on the separate processes... if they make it more efficient maybe, but as it is now, with the number of tabs i end up with, it consumes more resources than FF.

I was using it exclusively for gmail and google reader for the speed, but it's a bit too buggy still. And I now use Better Gmail 2 w/ greasemonkey, so FF it is for me.

 

[TBSN]

What is grease monkey? I've heard about it but I still don't really understand what it is...

 

[chronodekar]

Me too. Anyone out here can explain WHAT grease monkey is all about? I keep hearing about it often, but for the life of me, I just can't figure it out. I've gone to the help pages and came back confused.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Originally posted by: TBSN
Ironically, as I was searching around, reading about Chromium and some things about the web, Chrome crashed, entirely. I had a lot of tabs open, but the whole program crashed, not just one of the tabs, which is why they are set up as separate processes in the first place. Kinda reminded me of the "compartments" that were designed into the Titanic which supposedly made it the unsinkable ship by preventing one leak from bringing down the whole ship.

*edit* There should be an "internet" or "web" section on the forums, because it is (or has) become a beast in and of itself.

That's funny because that's exactly why I said "when it works" in my original post about the separate process feature. Yes, I know the browser is still in beta but it just shows that this feature may not be all it's cracked up to be.



As for Greasemonkey... well, I'd recommend you install it and then browse www.userscripts.org, try some scripts and see for yourself

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: chronodekar
Me too. Anyone out here can explain WHAT grease monkey is all about? I keep hearing about it often, but for the life of me, I just can't figure it out. I've gone to the help pages and came back confused.

greasemonkey is an expansion of client-side style sheets. it allows you to customize the appearance and functionality of specific websites, to such a degree that you can do a number of things you wouldnt have had a chance at before.

awhile ago, there used to be a script passed around anandtech that was a client side style sheet for anandtech forums. it'd make the forums go fullscreen, disable all adds, and really clean up the appearance of the forums.

greasemonkey script replaced that, making it easier to do those kind of modifications.

 

[TBSN]

Originally posted by: Fayd

Originally posted by: chronodekar
Me too. Anyone out here can explain WHAT grease monkey is all about? I keep hearing about it often, but for the life of me, I just can't figure it out. I've gone to the help pages and came back confused.

greasemonkey is an expansion of client-side style sheets. it allows you to customize the appearance and functionality of specific websites, to such a degree that you can do a number of things you wouldnt have had a chance at before.

awhile ago, there used to be a script passed around anandtech that was a client side style sheet for anandtech forums. it'd make the forums go fullscreen, disable all adds, and really clean up the appearance of the forums.

greasemonkey script replaced that, making it easier to do those kind of modifications.

So, it's grease monkey that allows customizing a site (like the anandtech forums) like that? Is it specific to certain browsers?

 

[Fayd]

greasemonkey is a plugin for the firefox browser, and it is a scripting plugin that allows for customization of websites.
ig
for instance, one of the scripts for greasemonkey allows for one to "completely ignore" any posts on a forum by a user, about a user, quoting a user..such that with it installed, the person with the greasemonkey script can simply forget that user even exists.