Warp2Search.net » News » August 2006 » Firefox and Opera Fans Strike Back

We had a huge response to our browser comparison article last month, with lots of suggestions. Now we address readers' concerns and requests, looking at printing, community features, search, compatibility issues, and more.



People are passionate about their browsers. It's one of those subjects like operating systems, political parties, and motorcycles, that can get people worked up?in this case it's in support of the web browsing software for which they're partisans. So as you can guess, we received a huge response to our New Browser Comparison. We had supporters of Opera and Firefox write in to tell us "Unfair!"

There were very few letters in support of Internet Explorer; the few that we got were mostly from IT folk who like that it supports most web apps and interactive sites, resulting in fewer user complaints. Even here at Ziff Davis Media, we use proprietary business systems that require Internet Explorer to fully function.

Here we highlight some of the hate mail and polite suggestions we've received and try to address the concerns expressed by readers. Given time and space constraints, along with the vast load of options and features in these fairly mature software packages, we necessarily didn't discuss every aspect of every browser, and we certainly couldn't make that claim this time around, either. What follows is an attempt to fill some of the bigger voids in the original article.

ExtremeTech

PersianImmortal Unregistered

#65032 Posted on: 08/04/2006 04:54 AM I really, really fail to see why people get so worked up over an Internet browser. Quite frankly ExtremeTech got exactly the type of response they were looking for: i.e. hype. The usability of a browser is as much about personal choice and preference as it is about 'objective analysis'. Some people swear by IE, some by Firefox, some by Opera. I personally cannot see any of these browsers being a 'clear winner' in every respect.

Nemo Unregistered

#65034 Posted on: 08/04/2006 09:41 AM I have to say I think you are wrong, the only people who get worked up are the Firefox Fanboys and Extremetech are taking advantage of it by winding them up.

TNCS Unregistered

#65035 Posted on: 08/04/2006 05:37 PM Ah Nemo, you can get comment from any type of browser fan boys. As long as there are fans, there's gonna be the chit-chat groups, the emotional support forums, and the obvious - the debat. I've seen people argue over Opera is the best browser before. And I personally think if wasnt' for the W3C didn't change so many thing over the past year, I wouldn't be giving a damm about firefox nor Opera. IE is just fine, comes with the OS, no extra installation and not secure/friendly/whatever free. Just like any other browser which has it own pit!

TSThomas Junior Member Posts: 2 Joined: 2003-05-10

#65038 Posted on: 08/05/2006 08:50 AM No, you'll find zealots for all Browsers. If it comes down to it I'll use whatever works best for me in the particular situation. For me that means Firefox at home & Opera at work as 1 of the Intranet apps has some java issue with Firefox. Then again, when they roll IE7 out that'd solve my major reason for using Opera - tabs.

Nemo Unregistered

#65039 Posted on: 08/05/2006 10:32 AM Nah, the only ones you ever see start the shouting are the firefox fanboys. IE users all usually always quietly satisfied. The firefox hype had bred a bunch of "special" kid followers.

Jaybo Unregistered

#65041 Posted on: 08/05/2006 08:54 PM Apparently not, with you slinging mud it looks like you are on the defensive - and I take it you are an IE fan? IE7 does look great and I occasionally use it along with Opera and Firefox depending on mood, but it needs work.

Nemo Unregistered

#65042 Posted on: 08/06/2006 11:56 AM No mate I use both.... the observation was made from an un-biased perspective. Although I do often find myself sticking up for IE because the firefox fanboys do tend to distort the facts and go way over the top.

Yakumo Junior Member Posts: 2 Joined: 2004-05-27

#65043 Posted on: 08/06/2006 02:52 PM Nemo, unbiased? ahahahahahah funniest thing I've heard all week

Warp2Search.net » News » August 2006 » Firefox and Opera Fans Strike Back