It shouldn't come as a shock that Google Chrome recently moved into the number three position in the Internet web browser wars. Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) is number one, followed by Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and then Apple Safari. When Chrome passed Safari, I wasn't surprised since they're based on the same underlying code, with the difference being in the front end interface. That difference, of course, makes all the difference in the world.
MSIE's Edge
Whether you want to call it unfair or not, it doesn't matter. MSIE has a built in edge against all the other web browsers. It's bundled with every version of Microsoft Windows and most new computer users will use it until they find a better web browser. Sure, it can be uninstalled but uninstalling it removes the ability to get automatic updates from Microsoft. Let's face it: More computers are sold with Windows installed than any other operating system.
If Macs were dominant in the PC market, then Safari would probably be the number one browser, but it's hardly the case. While there's a huge crowd of loyal Mac users, their numbers are dwarfed by the Windows users worldwide.
Chrome vs. Firefox
When Firefox first came onto the scene, it quickly developed a following and mostly from the tech community. It was better at following web standards and was extensible in more ways than MSIE ever was and was helped along by the fact that Microsoft appeared reluctant to make a web browser better than MSIE 6. The horror!
Over time, Firefox has become bloated and cumbersome. It doesn't take much to turn it into a memory hog. You can make it behave, but it requires you to follow some specific instructions to tweak the configuration parameters. Chrome showed up just as Firefox started getting bloated (slower) and the tech community is now rallying around Chrome because it behaves like Firefox used to behave. Chrome is faster, complies with the same web standards and is just as extensible. And it's still a beta!
In 2009, I questioned the infatuation with Google Chrome infatuation on another of my blogs but I no longer question it. After using multiple web browsers on both Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux, I'm confident that Google Chrome is now the best web browser there is and that it can only get better.
Windows vs. Mac vs. Everything Else
As long as Windows remains the dominant operating system in the world, MSIE will remain the dominant web browser. Of course, just because it's installed doesn't mean it has to be used for anything other than Microsoft updates. Unfortunately, trying to tell the new computer user that anything (any web browser) is better than MSIE is usually like talking to a tree. You have to show them the difference in speed, stability and extensibility to win them over.
Because MSIE usually has more holes in it (security holes) than Swiss cheese, I consider it the worst web browser there is and there's nothing Microsoft can do to make it more secure. Of course, this is the difference between proprietary browsers like MSIE and Opera and open source web browsers life Firefox and Chrome – you have to wait until they fix it while the open source community fixes anything that breaks almost immediately.
I understand the Mac's OS X is extremely stable and that the Safari web browser works well with it. I've never been able to check it out for myself, but I'm not surprised because the front end is built on top of a UNIX back end. UNIX has been around a long, long time (preceding any kind of GUI operating system). The problem is that the user base is extremely small compared to other operating systems, including Linux. Safari should work well on the operating system it was initially designed for and it does. Chrome, on the other hand, works well on Windows and Linux. I have no idea if it even works on a Mac.
Since I recently had to reinstall Windows XP on my aging computer, I opted not to reinstall Firefox – I'm now using Chrome exclusively and I'm extremely happy about it.
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This article is published as: Why the Best Internet Web Browser isn't the Number One Web Browser
Been using firefox as my primary all this time. I have chrome too but I only use it in case I cant use firefox. Which never happen :)
I am a firefox user.. But looks like chrome worth a try
We have Google Chrome and we like it.
I agree… I have been using Chrome for 2 years now, previously I was was a do or die IE fan. IE started getting 'heavy' and some features of some websites just didn't work unless you took a hammer to it. I tried firefox, although it performed well, I didn't like the UI. Chrome was released and I took to it like a glove… it works.. it is quick and some of the UI features are great. Thumbs up.
Hmmm I wrote a long comment but it disappeared!! :-(
Chrome is great… IE is not..
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The Akismet spam filter got you.
I have tried all three: IE, FireFox and Chrome. I tend to favor FireFox because of performance and Plug-In support. Chrome would come in second place for me.
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I've used most browsers and I like both Chrome, Firefox and Opera. Out of them all, I like Opera the best, but I find myself using Firefox the most. It's just a habit thing really.
I am not terribly impressed with Chrome, it seems slightly faster, but I can't tell with the slow DNS of the Mac.
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I seriously hate MSIE. Didn't Microsoft buyout Mosaic and just changed the name to MSIE. Strange though some websites dont work unless it is opened with MSIE. Anyone else have this experience?
I always use Firefox but I also have Chrome installed. I think Chrome is a little bit faster but I'm more comfortable using Firefox.
http://windforenergy.info/
Completely agree – Chrome does seem to be the best of the browsers.
That said, I still use Firefox, since it has the plug-ins I am used to. However, I see that Chrome now actually has a version of Firebug, so unless Firefox do something about the speed issue soon, then I think a change is in order.
@Aspen – do you have any examples of the websites you mention that only work in IE?
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