Firefox takes the lead 2
Posted by: Nizar on: October 12, 2007
- In: Discussion| Internet| Technology
- Comment!
An interesting discussion started on the previous post that I wrote about some stats from isohunt.com showing the tipping point of the browser stats between Firefox and IE, I have decided to reply to the comments and continue the discussion in this post.
I will start with the speed of the different browsers:
Speed:
Html test:
JavaScript test:
Application launch test:
So without any doubt the Internet explorer is the slowest internet browser out there meanwhile the fastest in all the tests is safari 3 which is twice as fast as IE. Source for the test here. Watch the test video here.
Security:
Well, when it comes to security it’s hard to judge which browser is the most secure browser for many different reasons, one of the reasons is that it’s pretty hard to put them to test another reason is that the security of the browser is defined by how the user is browsing the internet.
Here are some of the security updates for the different browsers:
Firefox: http://www.mozilla.org/projects/security/known-vulnerabilities.html#Firefox
IE: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS04-025.mspx
Opera: http://www.opera.com/support/service/security/
Safari: http://search.info.apple.com/?search=Go&lr=lang_any&kword=&type
Some are clear about their security update history and some aren’t because obviously they are all trying to show that they are the most secure.
Most reviews show that safari is the world’s most secure web browser.
After all, They are all pretty secure if not as secure and it is the user behind the screen that really decides how secure will his browsing be.
Customization:
When it comes to customization it is very obvious that Firefox is the most customizable internet browser so far, it has a vast assortment of add-ons for your browser.
Other internet browsers like IE, Safari and Opera have hardly any add-ons.
Here are the different browsers available extensions :
Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/recommended
IE Pro: http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=388&tabid=1
Opera: Couldn’t find any!
Safari: Couldn’t find any!
Conclusion:
Safari is the world’s fastest internet browser, Opera is the world’s most secure internet browser as most reviews show, Firefox is the world’s most customizable internet browser and IE is the world’s most used internet browser today.
Choosing your web browser depends on what you use the internet for and what operating system you have.
Stats also show that users from different ages and different parts of the world prefer different internet browsers.
After all it’s a matter of what you qualities you need the most in your browser.
Comments:
Eyad: Never mind, I won’t tell anybody 
Adel: well, Firefox is another IE (Internet explorer) of course, but it’s a more faster and more customizable internet explorer.
Shawn: True, and that’s what the stats are exactly showing.
Qwaider: it’s a matter of taste, you might not feel the speed difference if you don’t have a descent internet connection nor understand it’s customizablity if you don’t give it’s add-ons a try.
Kriks: Agree 
Qwaider: Show me your browser stats for a previous month and I will prove to you that IE users are decreasing meanwhile Firefox users are increasing.
Here are some recent stats for the world’s internet browsers stats :
It’s not surprising to me that IE has more users out there, but the point I am making is that IE users are decreasing meanwhile Firefox users are increasing, that’s why we saw a tipping point in the browser stats in Isohunt.com which is mostly visited by young and into IT users as Hani said as well.
Hani: I agree with you about the age and internet usage relation to the browser.
11 Responses to "Firefox takes the lead 2"
October 12, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Oh by the way, I’m in no way saying IE is better or promoting the use of IE.
Just use whatever makes you feel good. And don’t believe everything you read!
Especially things that will give you a false sense of security
October 13, 2007 at 3:05 am
Actually, Opera does have a bunch of skins and widgets available for it (the previous commenter left a link to many of them). When comparing web browsers, there is another factor to consider besides the benchmarks above: usability. Some web sites flat out won’t work correctly with certain browsers. I have a Mac, and it frustrates me to no end that writing blog posts on WordPress.com won’t work right in Safari 3, which is noticeably the fastest loading and running browser on this platform. Paragraphs don’t break properly, nor does rich text formatting work properly, in the post composition box. As a result, I wind up using Firefox most of the time, even though it’s noticeably slower. Then, there’s the fact that a lot of companies that allow you to access your work email through Microsoft Outlook Web Access pretty much force you to use a PC with Internet Explorer if you want full functionality, to provide another example. Sometimes you’re just stuck having to go with a certain browser whether you like it or not, preferred qualities aside.
October 15, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Qwaider:
Man , you almost convinced me over there, almost, you are right about Compatibility, accessibility, system requirement and globalization..
But to me speed and customization is far more important, I am not saying that globalization is not important, it is, but not as important for me atleast.
by the way, there is a strong relation between IT users and firefox.
I want to see what do you think about macs because I’m thinking of buying a macbook soon, I will write a seperate post about that soon.
October 15, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Maher: yeah, same here.
Opit: I saw them but they looked more like OS’s widgets than and internet explorer’s widgets, plus that I didn’t give them a try so I didn’t include them in my post because I wasn’t sure about them.
October 15, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Ian: I have tested safari last night and I have to admit, I have never seen a browser as fast as it, but when you can’t edit rich-text text fields it’s really pointless, plus that it doesn’t brows arabic text correctly, in arabic we have the letters connected, cursive like, but on opera they get separated from each other which makes it really painful to read arabic texts.
October 15, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I want to see what do you think about macs because I’m thinking of buying a macbook soon, I will write a separate post about that soon
I recently wrote an article about this very subject. So, yes, Why not a mac?
February 5, 2008 at 12:26 am
Ttroll? Angry? Who!!? Me?
There’s no anger or hate here.. I’m just pretty much stating the obvious and sharing with the folks ..
Anyway 
Smile
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October 12, 2007 at 3:54 pm
You know, allow me to call a huge bullshit on that one.
speed:
Speed is highly dependant on many factors. IE, is well known to be one of the fastest (I have no idea where you got those numbers from) mainly because it runs part of it’s code in Kernel mode. While all others run their code in User mode. Couple speed measure I don’t see: Boot-up time (try this one yourself) and XML time (almost 400% faster)
Customizability:
It’s a really HUGE Bullshit to say that firefox is the most customizable. Internet explorer has way more Add-Ons, and plugins. We just don’t get “it7ammal jamayel” the “XYZ” is installing “flash add on”
But there are quite a number of really good community developed add ons for Firefox!
Security:
All are equally as bad! Seriously, anyone claiming to be better is CRAZY! Because it’s just a matter of time. It’s a matter of time and all the mistakes they made will be exploited! IE still appears to be the easier target so far!
Accessibility!
No one dares add this one to the list of criteria. IE is the only one who even THINKS about people with special needs. Everyone else, they’re too busy worrying about “getting to the lead”
Compatibility:
Yeah, no body talks about this one either.
System requirements:
Shall I continue?
Policing standards:
IE is the most loose on the interpretation. Allowing PURE CRAP To render and display without complaining about the stupid strict HTML code
And here’s the killer:
GLOBALIZATION!
Safari doesn’t even support Arabic (Last time I tried it on PC and iPhone)
Opera has some, but goes nuts in RTL-LTR
Firefox is way better, but still lacking because other languages are second class citizens!
The only fully arabized (min bait ahlo) is IE! At least microsoft respects us in our native markets!
That site you used to cite the numbers is piece of junk for pirates to trade their crap. It’s not even a reputable or a respectable “regular” site! So it doesn’t count! These people are mostly fanboys! And would just follow any thing!
The cool factor has been probably driving Firefox since it was embraced by geeks. But is it really way better .. or far superior …. I think not!
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