Features - QOTW: Which is the best desktop web browser?

[crossy]

At work, it's IE:FF:Chrome 70:20:10 - but that's only because CorpIT get shirty if you try and use anything other than IE (which if you're running a Linux desktop is ... "interesting").

At home, because I need cross-platform ability it's Chrome and Firefox. Chrome usually, but a NoScript/ABP'd/etc Firefox for any online banking etc. I keep my Windows-7 resident copy of IE up to date but, to me at least, it feels unwieldy and slow.

Although it's not "desktop" - so off-topic - on mobile, (phone and tablet), Chrome (again) plus Firefox and Opera. For me, Opera on a tablet just feels better than Firefox.

Honestly, I don't think that there is a "best" desktop browser, merely one that suits any particular person better than the alternatives.

[GeorgeStorm]

Firefox at work and Opera at home.

Started using Firefox at work since I saw some other people using it (and I wanted to avoid IE), might switch to Opera now though, since I don't think it would be an issue.

[Rad77]

Mostly firefox, sometimes chrome. It's the firefox add-ins that trump all else. Firefox loads and runs quickly enough on my PC not to give Chrome a real advantage there. The only negative for FF is that if one tab gets bogged down it will affect the whole browser - which presumably isn't the case with Chrome's process separation.

[Schern]

Chrome for most stuff but I do get the odd website that goes all weird in Chrome so use IE as a back up and then Firefox as a last resort.

[AEGIS]

Firefox because of all the add on but i prefer Opera browser.

[napster113]

Chrome because I can sync it across all my devices.

[slipthemonkey]

Used to be Firefox but now I'm a Chrome convert. Although IE has pulled it's socks up, I just can't bring myself to use it as it feels too bland.

[dcgregg]

I use Google Chrome, since I use Google's other products I.E. Youtube and android phone, it appealed to me more then Firefox. I find Chrome to be faster and more reliable, especially on my laptop. I converted to Chrome from Firefox and it seems faster and cleaner.

[virtuo]

I used to use Opera a fair bit, but stopped way before they switched to webkit (have they done that yet?). The built in mail client was particularly good.

These days it's Chrome, it's lightweight, simple and fast. I know there have been a few ballsups with the last few releases, but they are starting to get fixed. I stopped using FF as it's so bloated now, even without add-ons. I do wish there were more add-ons for Chrome, but it's got adblock and the built in developer tools rival firebug, so I'm happy enough for now.

I actually had a play with a chromebook a few weeks ago and was surprised at how good it was. Considering getting one as a dev machine I can play with in front of the TV.

[devBunny]

Palemoon. Firefox without the hideously unusable (let's replace controls with whitespace!) UI redesign.

Seconded. Pale Moon for the world (and its moon). Long may it protect us from the fop and frippery of unnecessary GUI fashions.

For apps on a PC, nothing beats MSHta with IE11 as the engine. Canvas comes to HTA, woohoo! But what a pity that it can't save a canvas directly to disk. :-/

IE11 itself though is such a bloody nanny that I can't stand it. Way too many "information" bars telling me what I can't do. Get outta my face, IE!

[ChinesePate]

started using Palemoon seeing it's been recommended here. Any significant advantages of 64bit one? Using 32bit and it seems stable enough

[satrow]

The Pale Moon x86 version should be enough for most users, very high compatibility with modern Firefox add-ons and plugins. The x64 excels at heavy-lifting, handles a lot of work per session, ideal for users with 100+ open tabs and big memory usage, not so compatible, especially with plugins - some plugins simply don't have a x64 version. There are also Netbook (Atom - optimised) and portable versions.

Pale Moon 24.4.0 was released earlier today

A major update with performance improvements, bugfixes, under-the-hood changes and security updates.

Release notes, etc. here: http://forum.palemoon.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4010

[mikerr]

Recently moved back to firefox - only thing I really miss from chrome is the tab sharing thing from desktop to mobile.
(I can open recent desktop tabs on android chrome)

[wasabi]

To me the browser itself is fairly irrelevant, it is the extensions and add-ons that make or break them. Thus no IE apart from some stuff at work.

Mostly Chrome for me - not used FF regularly in about 3 years since -most- of the extensions I want have a Chrome equivalent now.

Having said that, Android Chrome still ain't all that great. Could be talked into alternatives there.

[Stylin]

Google Chrome has been my primary for the last 6-7 months. I was always using Firefox before that but Chrome stole me away simply because I wanted something different. I still have FF for browsing on less secure sites as it is set to wipe everything on exit. I keep opera as a backup as sometimes if you get infected Opera can still browse even if Chrome, IE and FF are botched from Malware/Viruses.

Chrome is just a bit more shiny than FF and I like shiny things I guess lol.