Anyone has 3 internet browsers installed?

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
91
Hi all,

I only have Internet Explorer 9 for web browsing and I am thinking of downloading the latest Firefox and Google Chrome.


Do we really need 3 of them for the internet?

For example,

IE9 for websites that act up and less restrictions.

FF15 for casual internet browsing and many good add ons.

Google Chrome for streaming video and videos? Youtube type sites?


What do you guys use and why?

Opinions welcomed.
 

Mr. Pedantic

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2010
5,027
0
76
Who doesn't?

I have Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and for a while I had Safari as well. Internet Explorer doesn't count because it's installed by default and i never use it anyway. Even on my phone I have Opera, Dolphin beta, and Chrome in addition to the SGS3 stock.

For both my phone and desktop Opera is my number 1 choice. Fast, reliable, cool features as default, and Turbo really makes a difference on 3G. Secondary browser for desktop is Chrome, it would be for mobile too if they fix the random freeze issue I'm having.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,959
10,439
126
IceWeasel(Firefox) - primary
Chromium - secondary. Works for certain network conditions
Midori - secondary. Lightweight. Works for certain network conditions
Elinks - console browser. Good for backup purposes
Links2 - Somewhat featureful, but very light. Keyboard friendly. A step above console browsing.
 

cl-scott

ASUS Support
Jul 5, 2012
457
0
0
I'd personally get rid of IE if I could, but unfortunately we're stuck with it using Windows.

Firefox is my primary browser, and then I do use Chrome for one or two sites in another language, so I can make use of the built-in access to Google Translate, even if it seems like 90% of the time it just gives me a "Server error, try again" message.
 

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
91
Should I get 32 bit or 64 bit versions of Chrome and Firefox?

I assume those with IE9 has 64 bit version?
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,959
10,439
126
I'd probably go with 32bit. AFAIK, Firefox doesn't have an official 64bit build. I don't know about Chrome. I wanted to see the download options for Windows, but it was using my user agent to only give me GNU/Linux options. I didn't feel like working around it. Anyway, it doesn't make much of a difference. 32bit's fine for a browser.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,526
13,774
126
www.anyf.ca
I usually have IE6, firefox, chrome and opera installed. I use FF as my primary browser but I tend to use the other browsers for testing stuff. I should probably install IE 7,8 and 9 as well for testing stuff. (each in their own VM, much easier)

For general usage, you only need one browser. Pick one you like and just use that. I'd stick with 32bit as there seems to be bugs with 64bit at times (ex: java, flash and all that junk) from what I heard.
 

cl-scott

ASUS Support
Jul 5, 2012
457
0
0
Should I get 32 bit or 64 bit versions of Chrome and Firefox?

I assume those with IE9 has 64 bit version?

Not sure that there really are official 64-bit builds of either, but even if there were, it wouldn't really gain you anything. There's pretty much nothing about web browsers that would benefit from a 64-bit architecture.
 

OVerLoRDI

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2006
5,490
4
81
I do on my work laptop. When working in an office environment you'll run into internal pages or security policies that don't work on anything but IE. I don't remember why I also have firefox installed, but yes I have 3.
 

Rayb

Member
Dec 31, 2008
122
1
76
For general usage, you only need one browser. Pick one you like and just use that. I'd stick with 32bit as there seems to be bugs with 64bit at times (ex: java, flash and all that junk) from what I heard.
I wouldn't throw a blanket statement like that if you haven't used a 64bit browser before. Those problems still exist in the 32bit versions, all it takes is an error in the coding for that release and you're no better off.
Not sure that there really are official 64-bit builds of either, but even if there were, it wouldn't really gain you anything. There's pretty much nothing about web browsers that would benefit from a 64-bit architecture.
Unless you're hardware limited I see no reason for not utilizing the resources given by the 64bit OS and still use a 32bit browser with memory restrictions. When most PCs come with 4GB/8GB of RAM standard now days, it makes a real difference even browsing the web without a preset memory limit.

Unofficially the support for 64bit browsers on windows has been growing, while it's true that there are no official releases. It doesn't indicate that there isn't performance to be gained by using one. Since the 64bit flash support became available "FF Nightly" has become my primary browser and haven't looked back.
 

Angel2

Banned
Oct 3, 2012
7
0
0
www.registryrecycler.com
I Used All Popular browsers Like Firefox,Google Chrome,Microsoft IE,Apple Safari And Opera.
In 2008 IE Is my Favorite Brower.
In 2010 Mozilla Firefox Becomes My Favorite Browers.
Now a days i prefer Google Chrome For its First Browsing Speed.
Apple Safari Is Also A Very Very Good Browser And I personally Like It as well
 

oynaz

Platinum Member
May 14, 2003
2,449
3
81
I have IE, Chrome and Firefox.

For some reason, I use Chrome at work and Firefox at home. Don't ask me why.
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
I have IE, Firefox and Opera installed on my desktop, Chrome causes my computer to screw up (but only in Windows 8) even though I prefer it over the other options.

On my laptop I would usually have Safari and Chrome installed, but I really only ever used Safari (it's a Mac).
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
I have IE8 (for those odd sites that insist on IE), latest Firefox (which is my primary browser) and latest Opera (which does open faster and seems lighter than the others) but it is harder to ad block in it and some sites, just don't render 100% perfect in Opera. I did try Chrome once, but did not leave it installed long enough to play with proper customization. But it does seem to be very easy on the system.
 

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
I usually have IE6, firefox, chrome and opera installed. I use FF as my primary browser but I tend to use the other browsers for testing stuff. I should probably install IE 7,8 and 9 as well for testing stuff. (each in their own VM, much easier)

For general usage, you only need one browser. Pick one you like and just use that. I'd stick with 32bit as there seems to be bugs with 64bit at times (ex: java, flash and all that junk) from what I heard.

I would probablt install IE 7,8,9 if I were you too.
 

Dstoop

Member
Sep 2, 2012
151
0
0
I wouldn't throw a blanket statement like that if you haven't used a 64bit browser before. Those problems still exist in the 32bit versions, all it takes is an error in the coding for that release and you're no better off.
Unless you're hardware limited I see no reason for not utilizing the resources given by the 64bit OS and still use a 32bit browser with memory restrictions. When most PCs come with 4GB/8GB of RAM standard now days, it makes a real difference even browsing the web without a preset memory limit.

Unofficially the support for 64bit browsers on windows has been growing, while it's true that there are no official releases. It doesn't indicate that there isn't performance to be gained by using one. Since the 64bit flash support became available "FF Nightly" has become my primary browser and haven't looked back.

The question here is whether or not the potential for performance gains outweighs how totally broken websites can be using the 64 bit browser version. We use a lot of software-as-a-service stuff at work, and 9 times out of 10 when someone complains that XYZ website isnt working properly, the root cause is that it was opened in 64 bit IE9 instead of 32 bit IE9. Either a java applet doesnt load properly, or theres major javascript errors, or an activex plugin refuses to work right, the list goes on and on and on.

So yeah, there are benefits to using the 64 bit version of a browser especially if you're a power user who keeps dozens of tabs with videos/flash/etc open almost constantly. However, the odds of a website not loading properly because its using ancient javascript or flash applets or doesn't comply with best practice modern design standards is considerably higher. Its ultimately up to the end user whether the benefits outweigh all the broken websites.

From a business standpoint, I would steer clear of widespread 64 bit browser adoption. Hell, i'd uninstall 64 bit IE on every machine if I could.
 

Remobz

Platinum Member
Jun 9, 2005
2,564
37
91
The question here is whether or not the potential for performance gains outweighs how totally broken websites can be using the 64 bit browser version. We use a lot of software-as-a-service stuff at work, and 9 times out of 10 when someone complains that XYZ website isnt working properly, the root cause is that it was opened in 64 bit IE9 instead of 32 bit IE9. Either a java applet doesnt load properly, or theres major javascript errors, or an activex plugin refuses to work right, the list goes on and on and on.

So yeah, there are benefits to using the 64 bit version of a browser especially if you're a power user who keeps dozens of tabs with videos/flash/etc open almost constantly. However, the odds of a website not loading properly because its using ancient javascript or flash applets or doesn't comply with best practice modern design standards is considerably higher. Its ultimately up to the end user whether the benefits outweigh all the broken websites.

From a business standpoint, I would steer clear of widespread 64 bit browser adoption. Hell, i'd uninstall 64 bit IE on every machine if I could.

Ahhh...very interesting read.


I rather have a stable browser that can handle older websites as well. I am not a power user. I will stick with 32 bit for now.

I am patient and I can wait for 64bit browsers to mature:)
 

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,837
38
91
I'm suprised no one here uses Alternative browsers based on the Chrome/FF..etc. Like Iron Browser is chromium based..its almost exactly like Chrome but doesn't breach your privacy, has built in Adblocker which i read is supposed to actually NOT download the ads as apposed to just hiding them.

WaterFox is another good alternative to FF if you want a real 64bit browser. Dragon is good for security, they use their own DNS servers to block malicious sites and has a site scanner.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
i have 2
opera and IE
only reason i use IE is because one of my CCs says opera isnt a modern browser and recommends i upgrade t o IE6 or something newer