Firefox vs. Internet Explorer - Which One I Like Better And Why
Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 3:47 PM in Computers
When Firefox 1.0 first surfaced and gained popularity, I wasn’t sold on it. This was namely because I was turned off by its lack of integrated embedded audio support, and whispers of the need for all these plug-ins and add-ons and widgets and this and that. It really didn’t seem so inviting.
Then with the release of Firefox 2.0, my younger brother Waasiq downloaded it onto one of our laptops. When he’d hand it over to me to use, I’d see the browser open, and get turned off by it.
But after using it for a bit, getting used to the tabbed browsing, MUCH quicker loading times, and seamless internet surfing, I was hooked. I, one of the biggest Firefox haters, was reeled in by Firefox 2.0, and became both an advocate and fan.
I find some people also hate on Firefox. Most people are afraid of the whole “change” thing, which is understandable. Others fear downloading another program on their already super slow and bugged up computers.
For me, the reason I liked it better was because it ended up making my computer faster and safer. How so from just a browser?
When I used Internet Explorer 6, my computer used to always get really buggy and slow. Sometimes it was trojan viruses that found their way on my computer through IE6, other times it was just, well I really don’t know. I found myself reformatted my hard drive ever 4 to 6 months with the amount of spam raging all over the internet.
Ever since I started using Firefox in early 2007, I have NEVER needed to reformat. It’s awesome, alhumdulillah. I had always heard Firefox was safer, but this was just proof in the digital pudding. My computer is running just as fine as it was out of the box, and I haven’t reformatted in almost two years. Since January 2007, I was sold on Firefox 2.0.
I know IE7 was released over a year ago and is supposed to be a massive overhaul of the now defunct IE6. But ask any Firefox user, it’s just Microsoft’s reaction to the wildly popular Firefox. I’m not saying it’s not good, it’s a LOT better than IE6. But it’s just not as solid as Firefox 2.0.
Check out the ratings from the CNET.com Prizefight between the two.
| Test | IE7 | Firefox 2.0 |
| Ease of Installation | 5 | 13 |
| Look and community | 12 | 15 |
| Tabbed browsing | 11 | 13 |
| Cool new features | 9 | 11 |
| Security and performance | 10 | 12 |
| TOTAL | 47 | 64 |
Firefox 2 still rules the browser roost for now, despite a much improved version of Internet Explorer. The most obvious new feature for IE 7 (tabs) has been in Firefox forever, and the security additions from Microsoft aren’t enough for us to allay concerns over new possible exploits. Lastly, the extensibility of Firefox 2 is its knockout punch, and IE’s add-ons cannot compare. The flexibility and customizability of Firefox might be best suited to more advanced Web users, but it has earned its spot at the top of the browsers. - CNET.com
In any case, to each his own. Some people just like IE better for just preference’s sake, which is totally cool. Others love Firefox and the awesomeness that it brings.
What about you guys? Which do you like and why? Got another browser you like better than Firefox or IE? Or are you just a blind hater and think all other browsers stink? Let’s hear what you guys have to say.
This post is dedicated to Saud Siddiqui and Yahya Youssef. Thanks for convincing me to make the switch!
As long as one follows one of the four browsers to surf the intarnat, one will be ok.
Internet Explorer
Firefox
Camino
Opera
But if you pick and choose vatever you want from the browsers, you will lead yourself into user-error.
Abdul Sattar | May 12, 2008 | Reply
As a website ‘developer’, I prefer Internet Explorer.
Mozilla Firefox still doesn’t follow CSS and other W3 Standards as closely as IE does. Most other website designers will agree that they design for IE first, then Firefox second.
PKPowerhouse | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Hell yeah firefox is the best ive been using it for years. Faiez is a loser he doesnt use it.
Atif | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Give up the browsing utility of my forefathers for a measely 17 points?!
Microsoft says they have the best browser and I believe them because they haven’t done me wrong so far.
Faiez | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Jah Rastafari agrees Firefox is good, but Opera’s for the Children.
Too bad web designers dont support it - but the whole internet experience is alot smoother then firefox - far more useful.
Jah Rastafari, however will say he is looking forward to Firefox 3.
Long Live the Open Source!
Jah_Rastafari | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Yeah, politics… I’ve actually had trouble with CSS design and Firefox, I have to admit. It really is an annoying problem. As for the casual internet user, though, Firefox is solid.
I’m guessing that’s why it took so long to load just to the desktop on your laptop when you came over that one time. All that IE use seems to have done it well.
(did you get it fixed btw?)
Same here! It looks like it’s not too updated, unnoticeable changes, and just a few things here and there just from looking at it from the outside. Sounds like my kinda upgrade.
So does that mean the Sala… I mean the Safaris are outside the fold of Ahl-Surfing wa al-Intarnets???
SaqibSaab | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Firefox rocks. The load times are nonexistent. IE sucks!
maulanaMUSCLES | May 12, 2008 | Reply
abdulsattar - that comment is classic!!
ibnabeeomar | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Muaz, check this out (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Firefox#Version_3.0).
Acid2 and Acid3 are the kind of compliance tests developers like you are looking for. I hope Firefox 3 is as awesome as it looks to be.
SaqibSaab | May 12, 2008 | Reply
I don’t like Firefox. It’s the “other” in my internet love triangle.
Oh, and that point by point comparison wherein Firefox beat IE7, it pulled ahead primarily because of ease of installation. In all the other categories it made away with just two extra points! Not enough to convince me.
Ayesha | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Have fun trying to use IE7 when you move here.
SaqibSaab | May 12, 2008 | Reply
I will find a way to delete IE7. Or hide it so bad one must go to its program files (which will be hidden) to find it. If at all possible.
Also, (Directed at PK) it might be smarter for one to make CSS more applicable to Firefox, since polls usually have 40% of people using firefox, and the rest divided up.
I love Firefox for the little things like spell check and the find feature and Recently Closed Tabs. It is a little faster, but that doesn’t seem noticeable to me.
And Saqib Bhaiyah, I was just as avid as you in supporting SP2 IE6 (lol). Like, I would be the supporter of IE on S&V. But Firefox rox my sox now. [awesomevoice]Yay![/awesomevoice]
Waasiq | May 12, 2008 | Reply
It’s not that CSS makes things work for IE more than Firefox, it’s that IE does a better job of following CSS’ standards than does Firefox. The benchmark is CSS 2.0 (and soon 3.0), and the players are the browsers.
But yeah, spell check is sweet. Comes in handy a lot. Recently Closed Tabs I also find has saved me at times. I love the mouse shortcuts and keyboard shortcuts Firefox has. Scroll button clicking of links = open in new tab…
[awesomevoice]…totally rocks, bro![/awesomevoice]
SaqibSaab | May 12, 2008 | Reply
I love the speed of Firefox.
Asad | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Blasphemy! Well I can’t think of anymore browser-religion analogies, so yea, it’s probably IE that’s killing my computer. Killing it softly…
Will have to do some computer spring cleaning this summer.
Faiez | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Also, what was the rating scale they used to get these numbers? Just pulled numbers out of a hat or was there some actual credible science behind this huggoo?
Faiez | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Check the link; you can read the review to see. Assurance services, and in the realm of technology, CNET.com holds credibility.
SaqibSaab | May 12, 2008 | Reply
IE7 all the way. I go around uninstalling firefox on whoever’s laptop I work on.
Firefox is def. more secure but for me I guess its cuz of:
“Most people are afraid of the whole “change” thing..”
Mujeeb | May 12, 2008 | Reply
I’m actually more of IE guy and i like the new IE7 but i tried 2.0 fox and now I’m testing the 3.0 beta v. as I’m writing. Its a bit slower and just some of the scripts don’t load and does not support realplayer and other things. however, it corrects my sbelling mistakes, I mean spelling mistakes (just corrected it) and its user-friendly.
Rating out of 10:
IE= 6
F.Fox= 8
Yusuf | May 12, 2008 | Reply
Integrated Find function, better tabbed browsing, and fzami seal the deal.
bdr | May 12, 2008 | Reply
firefox.
Don’t listen to Mujeeb, I bet he secretly uses firefox in the confines of his secret cave.
Moeed | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Moeed, if anyone resides in a cave, it is YOU. Reading your books on the secret lives of Muslim youth struggling in America. Yes, your old friends have been keeping track of your ware abouts and are awaiting your return.
But fear not, for there is a light at the end of your tunnel, inshaAllah, as Allah (swt) says:
و كذلك بعثناهم ليتساءلوا بينهم قال قائ
منهم كم لبثتم قالوا لبثنا يوما أو بعض يوم
SaqibSaab | May 13, 2008 | Reply
I knew I should have used a pseudonym. Hey, I didn’t write the book but I did enjoy some of its stories. Perhaps we can talk about it- that’s if I ever find the exit to my cave!
Moeed | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Oh I meant your book as in the ones you review. I saw the reviewer name in there and loved it! Haha.
In any case, my Firefox brother, let me know when you find that escape. You can come over and play some Goldeneye 007. Just for you, we’ll choose Stack since you happen to know all the respawn points.
SaqibSaab | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Safari
AbdelRahman Murphy | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Safari is fine, but I would probably use that on Macs over Firefox.
Murphy, you were just a supporter of Firefox two months ago saying it was so much better than Safari. lolwot?
Waasiq | May 13, 2008 | Reply
I am using Firefox as we ‘type’
Nabeel | May 13, 2008 | Reply
Safari!!!
Aatif Jaleel | May 15, 2008 | Reply
You’re just an Apple lover! jk…
Safari is solid, I got used to tabbed browsing on it while using Bhaiya’s iBook (which is now dead) before I tried out Firefox. Only thing I didn’t like about it was that it didn’t support rich text formatting in Gmail. I’m guessing with the new version of Gmail that came out in the past year, that’s fixed…
SaqibSaab | May 15, 2008 | Reply
Some kid in 3rd period Technology installed Firefox in the school network under the 3rd period Technology folder. People use it to go to their myspaces/facebook, play games, to be a rebel, etc. Even teachers use it to show videos to the class that the firewall would block. It’s amazing no ones found it yet. Someone’s gonna have to reinstall it next year…
Point being, it’s jawesome.
Waasiq | May 15, 2008 | Reply
After much debate, thought, inner-strife, and candy, I came to the conclusion that Firefox is hands down 10x better than IE7. Not only is my computer running faster but my gmail is running ALOT faster. alhamdulilah.
The truth has come and falsehood has perished, indeed falsehood was bound to perish.
Faiez | May 18, 2008 | Reply
SUBHANALLAH!
As Shaykh Ehab mentioned, the truth, when given presented on the correct platform and fairly, will always prevail and shine. I feel like I’m witnessing a conversion story from RSI camp.
Future post iA will be how I’ve customized my own Firefox to my liking.
SaqibSaab | May 19, 2008 | Reply
Camino, a Mac only Mozilla variant, is awful. After wanting so badly to believe in it for a year, hoping that one day it’d prove to me why all the Mac folks showered it with such high praise, I tossed it out of my dock in a fit of rage, replacing it with Safari.
So yeah, Safari Pwns!
Osman | Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
I would like a good and fair test made on the memory use from both… I have read alternated opinions and after about 1 day with constant of about 10 tabs they fit about 500mb of ram.
-> applies to both of them
a good test would be nice, maybe with 10 different tabs over time, a few wikipedias
a few google searches, an email thing… something flash heavy, java heavy… maybe a runsecape for the hell of it.
if someone could do a test and prove one is better than the other for total ram use I will switch
Eliot
Eliot | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
“As a website ‘developer’, I prefer Internet Explorer.
Mozilla Firefox still doesn’t follow CSS and other W3 Standards as closely as IE does. Most other website designers will agree that they design for IE first, then Firefox second.”
I think you may have gotten that backwards. I develop for FF first. If it works well in FF, it almost always cross-browser compliant with Netscape, Opera, Safari, and Konqueror. I then “tweak” the design so it displays properly in IE 7. IE 6 didn’t even support css 2.0 (or transparent .png’s)when the rest of the browsers offered did. IE handles margin, padding and fonts differently than the rest which makes developing for cross-browser compatibility a more time consuming task.
Microsoft said that IE8 will focus on standards compliance as part of their new “Interoperability Principles”. They initially said that developers would have to “opt-in” to compliance mode as opposed to “quirks” mode, but recently changed their mind and decided to follow web standards and make “compliance mode” default.
read more…
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/interoperability/default.mspx
Gus Johnson | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
since i use firefox almost exclusively, i will usually skip content that is IE specific. now, with prejudice
many sites i like now announce best viewed with firefox or what aren’t you on firefox… the main reason i tried it out and haven’t looked back
maud'dib | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Hey they just released a testing version of Firefox 3… go here http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-rc.html
Sam Paasch | Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
indeed
syphax | Jun 17, 2008 | Reply
Overall Firefox is nice but it is a lot lot slower dl a page…. To the point where I have gone back to to IE
Paul | Jul 6, 2008 | Reply