[PCWorld]

Post your comments for The Firefox 3.5 vs. IE8 Deathmatch here

[Deadhacker]

I also load two browsers - at work. I have to have IE, because MS SharePoint won't work with standards-based browsers; I use FireFox for everything else because, well, it actually works and has a decent amount of respect for standards. At home, I load Firefox and Chrome, because Chrome is fast when all I need is a Google lookup, but Firefox has all my plugins.

[capstorm]

I'm using mostly Firefox on my Mac and PC because of extensions which can expand usability beyond one found in other browsers. And when I need IE, I open it with IEtab extension never leaving Firefox.
I don't think other browsers will ever have that many variety of features and be so flexible without extensions like Firefox is.

[rfennimore]

Not to mention MSIE's horrible history of having the worst security exploits known to man because it's so tightly integrated into the underlying operating system, and incorporating one of the worst bits of proprietary code ever invented ... ActiveX! Sorry, but I dumped MSIE a long time ago.

Things may have improved, and may continue to improve, with Windows Vista / Windows 7 and IE7 / IE8, but I've dumped Windows for a Mac now anyway. If I need Windows for anything, I will run it in a virtual machine, but I will still use Firefox as a default browser.

In a nutshell, Windows XP + MSIE equals disaster. Anyone doing banking with XP and MSIE is just looking for trouble.

I've used Firefox for so long now on Windows and Linux, that it's my preferred browser on my Mac now too.

[hchandless]

Regarding the tab feature comparison, Firefox has a very easy way to open a new tab that is not readily apparent. If you have the option selected to always show the Tab bar, to open a new tab you can simply double click anywhere on the tab bar to create a new one. Even easier than the plus sign, in my opinion.

[SteveB2005]

I highly recommend the Chrome web browser. Not only has it won in many speed tests against IE, Firefox, Safari, and Opera, but it also has great security (search for the Pwn2Own competition, Chrome left the competition unscathed). The "tabs on top" interface is very intuitive, and the browser maximizes web page real estate, which is handy for laptops. Give it a try; I've been pleased with Chrome since its launch.

[d13vk]

I also highly recommend google chrome. I use three browsers as I need to be signed in on multiple accounts and the different browser trick solves that issue. Out of the 3, I have come to love Google Chrome, next FF, and last IE.

[Tappy]

ctrl+t is faster than clicking a little button for a new tab any day.

[Skaperen]

I use multiple accounts but I do it with just Firefox alone. What would you do if you needed to be signed in on twelve accounts all at the same time? Would you want 12 different browsers?

I suspect Windows is your problem. You can only be logged in on one user at a time in Windows (at least I haven't found a way to login to two or more at once). On Linux, I can log in as multiple users on the same desktop. Each Firefox instance runs as a different user, so each has its own set of bookmarks, cookies, and login states. I'm currently logged in on 5 Gmail accounts in the same desktop.

[kostasan]

You don't mention that Javascript speed of Firefox 3.5 is about 5x-10x times faster than IE 8.

Also the extensions of Firefox are not mentioned.



All in all, very bad article...

[yankeeDDL]

I'm glad I don't need to use 2 browser.
The comfort, power and flexibility of Firefox plug-ins is beyond reach of any other browser.
NoScript places a solid security lock around your browser and makes web surfing a peace-of-mind experience.
I had to switch to IE in the past when some websites did not render properly in Firefox. It hasn't happened anymore in years now. Fortunately, I don't have to deal with MS web apps that work only on IE. Even my exchange email account can be perfectly functional through Firefox.
And with Firefox 3.5 the speed is just incredible.
In short: no reasons, whatsoever, to use IE. None. Niet. Nix.
BTW: did anybody see this:
http://www.tomshardw...r-IE7-Microsoft,7361.html
or this:
Karspersky asked people to revert back to IE7 due to too many security flaws on IE8:
http://www.theinquir...t-calls-roll-ie

[shekharc]

"Firefox opens my Yahoo and Gmail mail accounts. Internet Explorer is aimed at my banking and stock trading accounts."
You must be a fool then and surely, u don't have any idea of security. Nowadays, even ordinary users (leave the experts alone) use Firefox with the "noscript" add-on to stop all those unwanted phishing out....and u, claiming to be an expert, ditched the Firefox for IE?!
Or, possibly, u r handsomely paid by the Micro$oft to create this FUD.
The features you described for IE-8 as a plus over the Firefox, all of them + thousands more are available for the Firefox as an add-on. Go and take a look and stop creating this FUD to scare innocent people who don't know much of the details.

[yankeeDDL]

Kudos Shekharc. A bit harsh, but right on the money.

My only remark on your comment is that for some unexplicable reason there are quite a few Microsoft fanboys around that would do just about anything to be able to pay for using their software.

IE is and will likely remain the most "used" browser until it keeps shipping with Windows. There are tons of people who don't know better and "eat what they're fed". I understand that. What I don't understand is how can "experts" do the same.

[darkhelmet]

I agree - poorly written assessment of probably one of the safest Web browsers. The author is apparently sleeping with MS execs since there is no mention of the one aspect that sets Firefox apart from any other browser - its humongus add-on community. Let me sum it up another way...

I have not done a Windows XP update (except SP3) in 3 years.

I am still using version 5 of ZoneAlarm.

Since I develop Web sites IE6, IE7 and Firefox are installed. I only use IE when testing the development process of a Web site, because people like you insist on using this crappy browser. In mine and the majority of Web developer's opinion still not a Web standards complient browser, even at version 8!

I have done online banking and shopping exclusively through Firefox since version 1. I have 3 addons installed; Adblock, NoScript and Roboform (to encrypt all Web site passwords).

With these few things, I have never had one instrusion, one piece of malware installed on any of my 3 computers, and never had my identity stolen.

My computers have crashed, my monitors have been covered with goofy popups, pages have been redirected, and my identity was stolen once, when using IE.

Why in the world would anyone want to use IE again?

[etaripami]

I've been using Firefox almost exclusively for a few years now. I started for the speed and tabbed browsing, but the security features are what counts most these days. I only use IE for secure sites that are not properly designed for Firefox.
I stopped reading this article after this part: "I like that IE has a tab waiting for you to click to open. Google Chrome has that as well. Firefox now has a little plus sign to allow the same functionality". Firefox has had the plus sign for opening a new tab for a long time - I even went back to the top to check the date of the article, thinking I had been somehow routed to an ancient archived write-up by mistake.
Did some desktop support guy install the author's Firefox and the author used it without even customizing the toolbars? It's the only explanation I can think of.
IE continues to be counter-intuitive and is progressing backwards: Since IE 7 you can no longer move the toolbars onto a single bar, which results in a reduction of the real estate available on your screen. Not an improvement, no matter how you present it.
Microsoft has been losing ground to Firefox for a long time and for good reason. IE 7 and IE 8 are simply desperate attempts to stop the bleeding. The sleazy addition of the "private browsing" targeted at the porn viewing users is an indication of the level of desperation.
And please, do not allow J. Peter to ever use the word cool in an article again. It's like having your grandfather greet you with "Yo, 'Sup, homes?". It's just wrong.

[yankeeDDL]

@etaripami,

FireFox 3.0.10 (or previous versions) does not have the "+" sign to add a tab. You can just bouble click on teh tab areas to create a new one.
In Firefox 3.5 the "+" is visible (and you need 1 click, no double click).

Apart from this, I totally agree with you.

[itproandteacher]

[quote name='Tappy']ctrlt is faster than clicking a little button for a new tab any day.Exactly! Keyboard shortcuts tend to be quicker and more universal across applications. CtrlT works the same in BOTH browsers.

[TechieXP]

I have been doing banking using IE since IE6SP1. I shop online as well...isn't that a form of banking online? Because there are only 2 ways to buy online...credit card or ACH draft from your checking account. Even bill payment online is a form of banking. It si safer to use a credit card online at home...then to pull it out at a resturant or retail store.If I lose my card at home...i'll find it...i don't have to owrry about someone else finding it and using it.

And if something does go wrong..Visa and Mastercard has protection against charges I didn't make. All these years and I haven't had a problem. IE is no less secure than any other browser. How secure a browser is...IMHO, based on who is using it. A gun in the wrong hands surely isn't safe...a browser isn't either.

As long as your browser offers 128 bit encryption...and you only visit trust sites...which most banking sites always will be...then you're protected. If something happens the banks have protection for you if someone get a hold of your data and uses it against you...like steal you money.

You're either just paranoid...or biased against IE.

[TechieXP]

CTRL + T works on both browsers...just as fast as 2 clicks of a mouse. maybe faster.

[TechieXP]

Also the fact that IE code is directly tied to the OS is actually better. It has been proven that hackers have a harder time trying to backdoor and operating system...that is ALL of them. So that means you can't backdoor IE since its integrated into the OS. Unlike Safari, Chrome and Opera.

Hacking IE would require the user to run the exploitation...either buy clinking on a link or installing bogus software. THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY with any browser. It requires user confirmation. SO if a user is visiting a untrusted site...he's in trouble. The Falsh exploit was a perfect example. I have gone to several sites that told e I need teh most recent flash player, yet I alreay had teh ost recent verison of 10 install. Most people simply click they they don't have it. Thats dumb. Before you click you can simply verify you ave it by going to Adobe's website. Anytime I go to a site and it asks be to download something...unless I asked for the download...I simply move on. ost people don't do this and that is why they have problems.