# What keeps you using the browser you use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109 "2011-03-01T21:58:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/41 "2011-03-04T11:33:54Z")
I quit using IE and firefox because they both kept freezing/crashing, so far opera hasn’t had that problem which made it my main browser. But some websites do not open in opera, so I have to use firefox again. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/42 "2011-03-04T12:15:11Z")
> [@Crown\_Prince\_of\_Irony](#): > > I use FF for the addons, but **wow** is it a RAM hog - I regularly find it using 500-750MB of RAM when I have more than 5 tabs open. Try [SeaMonkey](http://www.seamonkey-project.org/), the successor to the Mozilla project. Firefox began life as a faster, stripped-down, user-friendly version of Mozilla. Ironically, Firefox is now slow and bloated, whereas SeaMonkey consumes fewer resources. The two browsers remain largely (but not completely) compatible when it comes to plugins and extensions. The most popular ones (AdBlock Plus, for example) tend to be fully compatible, or else provide a separate version for SeaMonkey. I use SeaMonkey myself, because I used to use Mozilla. When the project was split into Firefox and SeaMonkey, I went with SeaMonkey because it was more versatile and powerful, whereas the Firefox UI stripped out most of the advanced settings (many of which I actually used). IE I will never use, because it’s not [free](http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html), and because it has a long track record of willful noncompliance with standards (a failing which has already been mentioned by others here). ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/43 "2011-03-04T15:36:17Z")
I use Safari because it’s what I’ve got. I also use Firefox because it’s also what I’ve got. I have them set up to run basically identically. I can’t really discern any appreciable difference between them. I’ve tried other browsers like Opera and Chrome but didn’t like them because I couldn’t get them to look and function like Safari or Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/44 "2011-03-05T03:11:09Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Chrome and Firefox are very similar, but whenever I use Chrome I really miss reload all tabs. You have to “pin” them - that’s all. And it’s a better implementation IMHO, because it keeps the page not you were actually on when you closed the browser, not just the same stored URL. > [@suranyi](#): > > At work: We’re not allowed to install software on the computers ourselves. Chrome installs in the user space, so no admin privilege required. Nothing stopping you, unless you mean “not-allowed at-all-under-the-honor-system”-type policy. > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I blew Firefox off and went back to IE where I’ve never had a problem. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard someone say they never had a problem with IE. Guess there really is a first time for everything. > [@blindboyard](#): > > 10 seconds for FF to start and completely load 6 tabs, 8 seconds for Chromium but with only one tab open. This gives only a perception of time related to the relative speed of the network connections between you and the various hosts your tabs are pointed to combined with the speed of those hosts themselves. Nothing to do with the relative speed of the browser’s code itself. Set them both to open with with a single page on the local machine and run it again. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/45 "2011-03-05T03:34:36Z")
[My browser bar.](http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l438/AClockworkMelon/screenshot-1.jpg) I like how clean and sleek it is. The menus are super simple while still allowing me all the options I need. So it’s, imo, a powerful browser without any hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/46 "2011-03-05T03:54:52Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > [My browser bar.](http://i330.photobucket.com/albums/l438/AClockworkMelon/screenshot-1.jpg) I like how clean and sleek it is. The menus are super simple while still allowing me all the options I need. So it’s, imo, a powerful browser without any hassle. cool. what browser do you use? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/47 "2011-03-05T03:57:43Z")
Fire-fox Add-ons, fun, cuteness factor, tabs, reload and save tabs when closing…etc. Some of the others might have those, but with Microsoft coming out with a new, ever more crappy version of Office every coupla years, I’ve got enough searching for commands (NOW where did they put it, and what are they calling it now?, or worse, something that was actually GOOD that they did away with such as the old Windows search box) in Office 2010 and Windows 7. I’m not about to download something new that’s supposed to mainly be for fun, and have to do all that crap. And IE is horrible in all its versions, so I’m REALLY not going to use that one. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/48 "2011-03-05T04:16:49Z")
I just like Firefox. Great extensions, usability and convenience. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/49 "2011-03-05T04:48:58Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I can put _everything_ I need on a single ‘line’. back,forward,stop,refresh buttons, url bar, bookmark toolbar items. It’s one of the reasons I like the Fox, too: [http://i52.tinypic.com/352madx.png](http://i52.tinypic.com/352madx.png) As you can see, I got rid of most of the buttons in favor of the keyboard shortcuts. Found an extension to combine all the menus into one button. Found another extension to call up the bookmarks tab when needed. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/50 "2011-03-05T04:59:17Z")
> [@Maiira](#): > > I like Chrome because it’s easy, and because there aren’t a million toolbars. I do miss the “reload all tabs” feature, though. I’m also mildly annoyed that Chrome apparently doesn’t have the ability to use ctrl+I for italics. Other than that, it’s a browser, and I use it. There is. After you close the window with multiple tabs, there’s [this](http://awesomescreenshot.com/0158nste4). If you hover over it, it’ll tell you what the tabs are. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/51 "2011-03-05T09:38:20Z")
Extensions–particularly zoom support. Chrome sucks for that particular extension, while IE has only plugins, not extensions, and Opera has what are essentially widgets. Extensions are the ability to modify the program to your liking. It’s my computer, and my web browser, and I should be able to use it how I want. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/52 "2011-03-05T09:57:19Z")
Several others mentioned apathy, inertia and laziness. That’s me, too. I’ve started using Firefox because of all the people calling me an idiot for using IE, but notice almost no difference (although Firefox displays some pages IE won’t). What really irritates me far more than the exact location of an icon is software that behaves like malware. In the last few days, clicking Firefox has immediately led to “Installing Updates” (and a directive to install Adobe updates as well). There was no “Please, pretty please”, no request for permission, just “Now Installing.” A day may come when the courage of Men fails, when we forsake our friends and let machines tell us what to do, but I’d hoped that it is yet not this day. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/53 "2011-03-05T10:41:24Z")
> [@Nadir](#): > > You have to “pin” them - that’s all. And it’s a better implementation IMHO, because it keeps the page not you were actually on when you closed the browser, not just the same stored URL. I have Firefox to do just this. Nil-score draw! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/54 "2011-03-06T13:57:23Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > cool. what browser do you use? Oops, sorry about that. I’m using Google Chrome. ---
**Author:** ![Gymnopithys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/55 "2011-03-06T21:40:30Z")
I was just about to give up Firefox because of this recurrent glitch (ever since I have Windows 7) “Firefox is already running… to open a new windows you must stop the processus…” It’s really annoying. Any way to remedy ? ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/56 "2011-03-07T02:59:33Z")
I had always used IE with no gripes (well, not too many). I installed the IE9 beta, and I had too many problems with site compatibility issues. I got fed up and I switched to Chrome a few months ago, and I like it just fine. It\* is\* faster than IE, the interface is clean and uncluttered, and it’s highly customizable. It imported all my bookmarks too. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/57 "2011-03-07T05:45:43Z")
I am just not into spending a bunch of time moving from browser to browser. I was fine with IE but tried Firefox mostly because of the number of people here that raved about it. I was underwhelmed (maybe because I am not interested enough to look for add-ons, or write my own doo-dads or whatever you can do) and moved back to IE. When IE 8 came along I started getting hangs. I tried Chrome and the hangs went away and it is quicker than IE. However, I still have to use IE when I come across sites that do not support Chrome. Maybe one day I will try something else, but at the moment I can’t be bothered. It’s a browser, I can see web sites with it, and that’s really all I need. ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/58 "2011-03-07T20:15:43Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > It’s a browser, I can see web sites with it, and that’s really all I need. ..🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/59 "2011-03-07T20:34:20Z")
If your job and to some extent your life involves daily internet usage you tend to get a bit pickier than that. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109/60 "2011-03-07T23:21:01Z")
Firefox has particular extensions I’m fond of which don’t (to my imperfect knowledge) have equivalents in Opera or Chrome: Browse Images and DownThemAll. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-using-the-browser-you-use/573109.md?page=4)