Web Browser comparison

Have to say testing browsers in a lab type invoroment while gives some results but really is not a real world test that users can apprieciate as many will not disable the items that they did in the test as its not a real world senario, to be honest tests on browsers and other softwares and hardware are all to be taken with a pinch of salt as in the real world setup of your own PC and its HW and SW you will not see what benchmark tests see for a few reasons.

That test is is 6 months old and some updates to browser have been released so test could be different now.

You dont have same hardware
You dont run same software.. ie the extra stuff you have running in the background
You dont run same security apps
Your internet is not same speed

and while meta tag or title the story with IE9 and then state they dont test beta developement builds, Oh yeah to gain website hits!

I would rather go on real world dedicated reviews from users of the browsers and I use them all and find.

Opera 11.56 - is a fast starter and good all around browser a winner.
IE8 - its fine, long in the tooth but a stable old hecter
IE9b - is in the latest build (9.0.7930.16406) is really good, if you have a meaty GFX card it will use the GPU to aid web imaging, download manager and AV integration is good.
FF3 - dont use
Minefield AKA FF4 - Superb browser, not as quick to start as Opera or IE9b and its x64 version is unstable, the x86 is stable and works well.
Safari - never liked it on my iPhone and still dont personally, messy browser
Chrome - Installs a few background tasks that eat resources, or do on my x64 PC, looks pleasing but not for me.


a browser is like underwear you find a nice fitting pair and you stick with them, thats fine and great but testing for speed, well..... not a great real world test and we all know IE and Fx can eat ram up and Fx memory leaks are well documented.

 

+1 for Pale Moon. I was a FF user and now I'm exclusive to Pale Moon.

Chrome might run great, but I hate the look and can't get past that.

 

Yeah I agree, if you know about Pale Moon then your half way to actually knowing what a browser does, but its based off the Mozilla code so liek the othe rmyriad of browsers based off that code a test cannot always take all variables in, the list would get too long.

Also in part many folk hear about a specific browser like Pale Moon and that woooo I must have this as its best thing since sliced bread, BUT is it!? have to think that an open source project may have more holes that swiss cheese.

While Mozilla and its clones have at present less attacks on them, they are gaining momentum and the vunrabilities are starting to surface, have to as I mention alot think of those in our malware removal forum who state "I use Fiefox and why am I infected?" well... simple, its not the browser in the main thats the issue, its public perception of what is safe and what is not, sadly Firefox is touted by many as being a safe option, while yes it is in part, its not a 100% deterent and its the numbscull behind the keyboard whos downloading porn or warez thats the issue.

Seems may forget about this aspect of computing, security and the internet.

I like Mozilla and especially Minefield (aka Fx 4) as its a superb browser but its not a security tool/application.