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Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

What web browsers have you used? When did you use them? Thoughts on what you might be going to?

Before 1995 I recall using whatever AOL/CompuServe/Prodigy offered. Once hooked into an ISP in about 1994-1995 I remember using Netscape Navigator

Netscape was great as I moved away from the bundled services and went to regular ISPs. I remember using it heavily until IE 4 came out in 1997.

I stuck with IE all the way through IE6. Once Firefox 2.0 came out, I jumped ship.

Firefox has remained my primary browser now at version 3.6.8.

But I am strongly considering jumping again.

Chrome has been exceptionally strong and today just released version 6 of their browser. It is clean, runs fast, and has almost all of the same features as Firefox.

I should clarify that the browsers I mentioned are the ones I use for regular web browsing. I have used many more during those times and have been actively using IE, Chrome, Safari and Opera for many years now. I just think of my primary browser as the one that I do my general news reading and bookmarking with.

Posted: Sep 03 2010 12:55 pm

The first I recall using as a young lad was probably Prodigy. Then onto AOL.

Posted: Sep 03 2010 02:02 pm

I've been using Firefox for probably 6 years or so. I started using it because it blocked pop-ups, while whatever version of IE I had at the time did not.

I'm not particularly loyal to Firefox, though. I think it works fast enough for me. Are there any truly compelling reasons why I should switch to Chrome or something else?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

I've been using Firefox for probably 6 years or so. I started using it because it blocked pop-ups, while whatever version of IE I had at the time did not.

I'm not particularly loyal to Firefox, though. I think it works fast enough for me. Are there any truly compelling reasons why I should switch to Chrome or something else?

Chrome does have some compelling features.

* Fast releases with new features
* Fastest browsing experience
* Currently the cleanest Windows based browsing GUI

It is not as mature as Firefox, so it is not an equal on the extensions forefront. 99% of sites work equally with Firefox and Chrome, but some just render better on Firefox.

Posted: Sep 03 2010 05:01 pm

In order: Juno, AOL, Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Neoplanet, Firefox.

Posted: Sep 03 2010 06:19 pm

IE has been my main browser ever since I started using a computer. I used Firefox for a month period, Safari has been on like every Mac I have to use at school, so I have to use that some what frequently, and I tried Chrome for a couple days I believe. I don't plan on switching from IE anytime soon.

Posted: Sep 04 2010 01:34 am

Eh, I use whatever the computer I'm on has, although I prefer Firefox's download queue, flash blocker, etc.

Joined: May 29 2010 Posts: 168

First Ie, then Firefox, then Chrome, and now back to Firefox.
There was some Opera mixed in there too.

Posted: Sep 04 2010 07:46 am

Prodigy didn't have an in-house web browser, and I believe launched IE. You may have been able to make it launch Netscape.

AOL used Netscape for many years.

I used Netscape when AOL had it, otherwise mostly IE.

I currently use primarily IE, but I use Firefox if I'm going to sites that might have malware as it is less open to attacks, and I use Firefox to complement IE so that I can be logged into my personal and public accounts on sites like Facebook simultaneously.

Posted: Sep 04 2010 10:00 am

AOL, IE, Safari, Chrome, Safari

Posted: Sep 04 2010 11:08 am

Oh, I use Safari on my phone. Tried Chrome and Opera out on my PC, wasn't impressed.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd Lexia wrote:

Oh, I use Safari on my phone. Tried Chrome and Opera out on my PC, wasn't impressed.

Just make sure to keep trying the new versions. They are being rolled out very quickly now.

Posted: Sep 04 2010 11:56 am

AOL (1998-2001) IE (2001-2005) Firefox (2005-Present) Safari (2005-2007)

Thinking about going to Chrome, but I really have no reason to. It's like driving one type of new car vs. another.

Posted: Sep 04 2010 12:13 pm

Prodigy was so brutal.

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

I'm using firefox for now and I'm happy with it.

Joined: Jun 29 2010 Posts: 1818

I changed to Chrome recently because I share this PC with my brother, and I didn't want to stumble on his unforgivable porn site history (or risk him stumbling into mine). But it's actually very good, quite fast. It's still not quite compatible with EVERY site out there, but it's getting closer

Posted: Sep 04 2010 11:34 pm

Internet Explorer ('99-'07) even on Macs, and in tandem with AOL (2000-2002), until I discovered Firefox in '08. Been using it and installing it on /every/ friend of mine's computers... I've had no complaints.

Didn't know Chrome caught up so fast, though-- when I tried it around it's first release, it was unremarkable and played GIF's at a slower rate than Firefox (yes, I care about that), but the UI always did look slicker and cleaner.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Chrome v1.0 was a baby.

At about version 3 it became a real browser worthy of use.

Now at version 6 it is starting to really be a shining example of what other browsers should be.

Firefox is still my choice, but that is only because of extensions. It is slower... much slower. It renders each tab as a single unit, so when one crashes, they all do. I am getting very close to jumping ship.

Posted: Sep 05 2010 04:45 pm

Does Chrome have the private browsing feature as in Firefox? I find it useful for hiding my inappropriate web browsing history.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

Does Chrome have the private browsing feature as in Firefox? I find it useful for hiding my inappropriate web browsing history.

Yes,
Incognito mode (private browsing):
http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95464&hl=en-US

I am actually pretty sure that Chrome had this feature prior to IE 8's "In Private" and Firefox's "Private Browsing".

Posted: Sep 05 2010 05:26 pm

Netscape Communicator. What else did it have other than Navigator?

Posted: Sep 05 2010 07:17 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

Does Chrome have the private browsing feature as in Firefox? I find it useful for hiding my inappropriate web browsing history.

Yes,
Incognito mode (private browsing):
http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95464&hl=en-US

I am actually pretty sure that Chrome had this feature prior to IE 8's "In Private" and Firefox's "Private Browsing".

Cool, thanks.

I've downloaded Chrome and I'm playing around with it. Thus far I like it. It does seem to be a little bit quicker than Firefox. So far so good.

Title: Comic Author Joined: Dec 12 2008 Posts: 1179

I'm also playing around with Chrome now, and I'm with Ice, it's rather nice so far. I'm curious, though, is there anything that's the equivelant of Firefox's AdBlock Plus on Chrome? I'd prefer my Youtube videos to not have ads in the middle of them...

Posted: Sep 05 2010 07:37 pm

Had AOL for about a year when I got a Gateway back around 2000. After the free year ran out, and my brother left for his 2nd year of college, I used IE for a few years. Then went with Firefox, and now Chrome. Every once in awhile I'll use both, mainly because Firefox has an extension that notifies me when I have an email.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Fernin wrote:

I'm also playing around with Chrome now, and I'm with Ice, it's rather nice so far. I'm curious, though, is there anything that's the equivelant of Firefox's AdBlock Plus on Chrome? I'd prefer my Youtube videos to not have ads in the middle of them...

Does this do what you want?
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/gighmmpiobklfepjocnamgkkbiglidom