Ok, this question has to be asked following the recent server/browser issues. Why do so many people treat you like a leper for using Internet Explorer?

For those of us who use MS Windows, surf the wbe, click links, read content and don’t do much else what's wrong with it? I know it has security flaws but I keep my security stuff up to date and haven’t (touch wood) had a problem.

So what would I, basic user, get out of changing to some other browser?

(We can do this all again next week, pc vs. mac )

I just find mozilla or google chrome much more user friendly!

I just find mozilla or google chrome much more user friendly!

But how is it more user friendly? All I do is click in a few places and occasionally type. What am I missing?

well google chrome saves your 9 most used pages on the front page. No need to type full addresses, ie type in Briskoda and it will bring you straight to http :// www . briskoda . net without having to go through a search engine. Main reason I switched in the first place was the option of multiple tabs which internet explorer didn't have at the time. Generally they run slightly faster too.

Just use the browser that's the friendliest for you, let those die-hard proselytes or enemies of messrs. Gates, Jobs, Thorvalds, or the Mozilla/Opera communities get themselves a life

I started using FF a few years ago while IE (5 IIRC, or was it 6?) was considered less secure and our IT techs at the uni recommended other browsers. Now I'm used to it, find all buttons/menus, no need to change. But I can use IE if I have to.

Opera sucks. At least for me. It's overloaded with fancy gadgets I don't need, and now and then web pages just doesn't work with Opera.

Internet explorer lets all sorts of nasties onto your computer without you ever knowing. This is even with your antivirus, anti-spyware and patches being up to date.

It's because IE is part of the rest of windows. When you use another browser like Firefox they are not so closely linked into the rest of windows and the nasties find it harder to make the jump onto your machine.

FF also has a lot of useful features and security add ons that make things even better.

Even for simple use a browser like Opera is faster than IE so might just be looking at simple pages but Opera will get them for you much faster.

well google chrome saves your 9 most used pages on the front page. No need to type full addresses, ie type in Briskoda and it will bring you straight to http :// www . briskoda . net without having to go through a search engine.

IE does the a similar thing, but references your favourites instead.

It's interesting that Firefox, etc. is perceived to be more secure than IE - am sure I've seen just as many exploits for open source browsers as I have for IE...

Rob.

IE does the a similar thing, but references your favourites instead.

last time i used it was IE5 I think....

Our objection isn't with you using Internet Explorer, it's an objection to most IE users' stubborn reluctance to upgrade to the most recent version of Internet Explorer despite Microsoft encouraging you to do so through windows updates.

My gripe is with people using Internet Explorer 6, not people using Internet Explorer. I actually quite like Internet Explorer 8

I use firefox for my general browsing and I do use Opera.

FF can save passwords and you only need to remember the one master password.

I havent found it downloads a lot of crud you don't need. I think it's a slick browser that works really well.

IE I only really use on sites that dont render on FF/Opera because of the ActiveX content.

As a basic user you prob won't gain anything from changing apart from experiencing a new browser.

Have you tried IE based browsers like Maxathon and Avant?

since they are all free and you're curious it cant hurt to try a few, unless you just want to stick with IE.

I am currently running Linux due to my hate of

all things MS......

My problem with Internet Explorer was Microsofts reluctance to follow so called 'web standards'. Because of this it makes life as a web designer extremely tiresome having to create 'fixes' for all of the bugs in IE6/7, I dont even bother with IE5. By bugs i mean a page that is coded to look right in firefox, opera, safari etc will look completely wrong in IE6/7.

Its because people wont upgrade and use a different browser that we still have to do this mundane task, to keep everyone happy.

On a personal level, i find FF much nicer to use and tabbed browsing is the best thing since sliced bread! I also have plenty of FF plugins that means i have crafted FF exactly how i like it. I have never got on with Opera but i have it installed for testing.

Here are some sites with some reasons why you should switch;

Top 5 Reasons to Use Firefox

Firefox - Switch - Why Switch

Special: Top Ten Reasons to Switch to Firefox

It's worth mentioning that there were more FF security flaws than IE last year although FF managed to clear them up far quicker than IE. SOURCE.

It's worth mentioning that there were more FF security flaws than IE last year although FF managed to clear them up far quicker than IE. SOURCE.

Not really a fair comparison, as I believe the article you linked refers to reported and fixed issues. MS may of have many more venerability that were either not reported or fixed... who knows

I know which I prefer to use, and its the one where you can add adblock and nosripts extensions The searching of previous webpages from the address bar is very handy in FF - I imagine this is now available in IE8 too

...and nosripts extensions...

The spell check feature is pretty handy too

well google chrome saves your 9 most used pages on the front page. No need to type full addresses, ie type in Briskoda and it will bring you straight to http :// www . briskoda . net without having to go through a search engine. Main reason I switched in the first place was the option of multiple tabs which internet explorer didn't have at the time. Generally they run slightly faster too.

FF does this too. type br and up pops http://briskoda.net/search.php?do=getnew

I have only ever used IE, right back through all its incarnations since Windows 95 which is 14 years old now.

I do have firefox installed at home and work, but only so I can test various office related things.

I now have IE8 installed at home and work, and find the new IE8 faster than firefox for page loading and far less resource hungary.

That's ok then, doesn't look like I'm missing out

Tabs is good in IE7 on Vista as its so slow otherwise but lots of IE6 windows in XP runs fine even on my 512mb RAM pc. Otherwise I just use favouites, the odd shortcut and autocomplete in the address bar.

Usually the only problems I have with IE is at work and I'm not able to do anything about that.

I like ff as you can clear all saved data on exit automatically. That's what switched me over. Gets rid off all the porno links so swmbo doesn't find out and all my banking cookies, etc.

I like ff as you can clear all saved data on exit automatically. That's what switched me over. Gets rid off all the porno links so swmbo doesn't find out and all my banking cookies, etc.

Gets rid off all the porno links so swmbo doesn't find out and all my banking cookies, etc.

Did you mean to hit "b" when type banking? :P

I have just gone up to IE8 and it's fine for me. I just cannot be bothered to put anything else on this PC. The less I put on it the better it runs.

Not really a fair comparison, as I believe the article you linked refers to reported and fixed issues. MS may of have many more venerability that were either not reported or fixed... who knows

True, but so may FF - as you said who knows - all I wanted to do was to highlight the article

I like ff as you can clear all saved data on exit automatically. That's what switched me over. Gets rid off all the porno links so swmbo doesn't find out and all my banking cookies, etc.

IE8 has a new feature called "InPrivate" with this switched on IE runs in a mode where nothing is cached in temp internet files, history, cookies etc. So, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

FWIW been using Internet Explorer for years - but with Avant Browser 'sitting atop' it.

A superb addon - the only fault is it is poor at stopping (rare) some pop-under / over stuff.

Avast Pro makes sure nothing nasty gets though.

Avant Browser is well worth trying - and freeware. And, yes, I've tried everything else under the sun and IMO nothing beats it (and my web usage is very very heavy).

Failing that Avant have produced Orca Browser - very very similar but runs atop Mozilla. There is nothing to choose between them i.e. identical in most respects and you can even transfer Group, Popup, AddBlocker and more data between them.

IE8 has a new feature called "InPrivate" with this switched on IE runs in a mode where nothing is cached in temp internet files, history, cookies etc. So, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Will give it a try, Cheers.