Google Chrome vs. Firefox [Poll]

Firefox-vs-Chrome I am sure most of you have already heard about and even tried Google Chrome. Everyone was talking about it.

Last week Tina wrote an excellent article highlighting key features of this new web browser. If you haven’t read it yet, make sure to check it out.

When compared to the browser of choice, Chrome does offer a few new features like in-built browser task manager, tab processes, incognito browsing, different tab positioning, faster JavaScript engine and so on. On the other hand there is no community behind it and absolutely NO EXTENSIONS.

Now that you have tried it, what do YOU think about it?

Please vote!

Share your thoughts in comments. Are you planning to switch? Why? Why not? Let us know about it.


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Aibek Esengulov

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Hide 58 Comments

  • Nero September 9, 2008
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    @oktane: take a look at Chromifox: addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8782

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      you’re late mate, see 2′nd comment ;-)

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  • Marco September 8, 2008
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    I am staying with Firefox, though I really like the way tabs look/function on Chrome.

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    • Oktane September 9, 2008
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      Same, I like the look, but staying with firefox.

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    • amit May 9, 2009
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      Firefox Fast & Secure

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  • PeterD September 8, 2008
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    I tried Chrome, but for me it was slow, a little buggy and effectively life is too short, I am back using Firefox.

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  • Chris Saunders September 9, 2008
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    Currently using Flock from flock.com, build on Firefox 3 and integrates most of the major social networks (been using it for about a week now, was using Firefox 3 before hand).

    Three features I love:
    1. Icons alert you of new information; like new email or feed update.
    2. Media Stream (very cool), streams small images from different media streams; like flicker, youtube, and facebook.
    3. “My World” page, summaries most of your social networks on one page.

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  • doorknob60 September 9, 2008
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    Other, I’m a Linux user so I’m stick with Firefox until there’s a native version, then I’ll decide :)

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  • Abraham Kurp September 9, 2008
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    Frankly, I’m not particularly impressed with Chrome. I will gladly use it but first it has to prove itself. Until then, I’ll stick with Firefox, which has proven itself to me several times over. I tend to prefer the best software over the newest.

    Still, yet another free browser can’t hurt, especially if it converts even a handful of people away from Internet Explorer.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      yup, the fewere people we have on IE the better.

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      • CD September 17, 2008
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        Hmmm… Why?

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  • Dian September 9, 2008
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    I’m going to use chrome the moment that it has firebug, noscript, stumbleupon, adblock plus(but i’ll unblocked makeuseof.com :D ) and tabmix plus :)

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  • Jack September 9, 2008
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    Staying with Firefox.

    I tried Chrome. It was fun, exciting and new, but it just doesn’t do all the things that I’ve come to depend on from Firefox (especially through extensions). Though I do hope Firefox picks up on the concept of each tab being in its own process. There just wasn’t anything about it that would compel me to switch.

    Another major concern for me is privacy. I love Google products, but they just know too much. I use Gmail, Google Apps, and, until very recently, Google Search.

    I was already getting a little nervous about all the info they have. I decided to wait and see if they went after more info. Then I find out they are coming out with their own browser (when Firefox has served them so well), and the browser logs every key stroke, even if you don’t hit “enter”. It was too much for me. Even if it didn’t log un-entered key strokes, it was too much. I quit using Chrome and I switched the default search engine in Firefox to Yahoo.

    I love you, Google, but I can’t trust you with everything.

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  • Ross McKillop September 9, 2008
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    I’ll give it a more thorough try when it’s OS X native. But if they can do for the browser what they did for email (w/ Gmail) I’m sure I’ll be a convert eventually.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      “…if they can do for the browser what they did for email

      Unlike it was with email the browser field already got a really good browser, that is Firefox. So it’s going to be a lot harder for them to replicae the success of Gmail.

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  • Nelson Rocha September 9, 2008
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    I gess that every browser has its place. For work tasks I normally use FireFox (extension addiction :-) but there are applications where using Chrome (or Opera, or Safari for that matter) really makes more sense, e.g. Gmail in Chrome rocks!

    Although Chrome is a great look ahead in the future, for now it lacks some customization… and the bookmark management is really poor, to say the least….

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  • Madhav Tripathi September 9, 2008
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    I am staying with Firefox and waiting for next version of chrome.

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  • Rohan September 9, 2008
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    Chrome is speedy , the interface is good and neat. I prefer minimalist interfaces. I also like the fact that it doesn’t need a huge ammount of settings to get started with too.
    I’m primarily an Opera user, i do have Firefox installed as an alternative browser with a few add ons that makes it behave like Opera.
    Chrome came out of the box behaving a lot like Opera which was a nice surprise. (A lot of other browsers are only comfortable to use after they add Opera innovations)
    Well i’m keeping Chrome on my machine and will be watching it’s track record on browsing safety etc.
    At the moment i’m using it for Gmail and Google Reader now and then, it works great haven’t had any problems yet except when i tried to open 100 tabs + as an experiment and it duly crashed lol. Opening the same ammount of identical pages in Opera didn’t crash it….
    For now in my opinion Opera is still the browser to beat, and as for Internet Explorer that browser has always given me headaches.

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  • Satbir Singh September 9, 2008
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    For normal browsing, i prefer chrome due to its speedy interface. But for all other tasks like blogging, web development, connecting etc. i stick with Firefox.

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  • ryan September 9, 2008
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    I choose other because I would like to use Chrome (like the independent process feature especially) but I want to wait till the put more of the feature we’ve come accustomed to all along.

    Right now I just have the feeling they are focus (too much!) on devs. And that becomes a problem when they over engineer it. For example, most don’t need the “Inspect Element” overtly depth view (view source is sufficient for that), just a simple “Properties” box like FF so we can easily for basic properties like dimensions and tags.

    Also, since you’re making a button for bookmarks, why not have it able to be moved to the same line as all the other buttons? People do have wide-screen nowadays, you know.

    My nerd instincts also want a “about:config” in there.

    Overall, I use even in its BETA state for casual, but I suspect it’ll be a lot better once it “released” as version 1.0.

    I think it is great news. A lot of new features that will accelerate the much need revolution in Internet browsers. More competition too. I hope this doesn’t become a Chrome VS. Firefox battle. I’d rather see Open Source VS. Proprietary Software.

    … And more free stuff to boot. :)

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      I am afraid we might see “Chrome VS. Firefox” battle after all :-(

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  • Omar Abid September 9, 2008
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    I love Firefox more, but stick to chrome because it’s faster

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  • Peewee September 9, 2008
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    Safari is a much better webkit browser than chrome.

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  • kaly September 9, 2008
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    I like Firefox at the moment because I need my extensions. In terms of Chrome it all depends how versatile it is going to become.

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  • Mark O'Neill September 9, 2008
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    I’m sticking with Firefox as I agree with the German Federal Office for Information Security. It’s just too risky having all my user information with the same company. I already have my email with Gmail and my searching information with Google search. I’m just not comfortable having my browsing history with them too.

    I trust Google but they are indictible by law just like any other company and if a court forces them to hand over my internet user information, they will have EVERYTHING. Not that I am doing anything illegal online but I value my privacy and I don’t want the whole world knowing what sites I visit, what books I buy on Amazon, what online charities I donate to, what political websites I visit, and so on.

    So I’m staying with the Fox.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      I agree, the amount of data Google can gather on someone who is using Gmail and say Chrome is SCARY

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  • venkat September 9, 2008
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    I use firefox but still test chrome we can not judge its performance in a single day ,so I use Firefox as primary browser and Chrome as secondary

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  • Ben September 9, 2008
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    I’ll try Chrome again, but not until it supports extensions. I’ll wait until then to make my decision.

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  • Andrew September 9, 2008
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    Firefox. I see no point in going to a new browser with bugs, no community support, etc. Nice try Google, but you’re going to need to offer a lot more to get me to switch over. That said, I’ll keep Chrome on my box, just incase Firefox has trouble with a site.

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  • another google failure September 9, 2008
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    Its almost good news to Mozilla and Microsoft that Google is moving into this market because they’re on a pretty consecutive streak of failures lately. Anyone here using Knol or Lively?

    That’s just the point, how long did it take them to come up with this mediocre browser? Embarrassing. Google stick to what you know, because browser technology sure ain’t it.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      Hey, I almost forgot about Knol :-)

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  • Robin September 9, 2008
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    I am using both. I really like Chrome, but there are several FF extensions I refuse to do without.
    However, for somethings like reading my gmail, I like how simple and fast Chrome works.

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  • Mona September 9, 2008
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    I am torn! I’m a hardcore Googlaholic, but I’m also a die-hard Mozilla loyal! (I was going to get a sweet version of the firefox logo tattooed on my back!) I have known that Google was going to eventually release a browser, but I guess I didn’t realize what a tough spot it would put me in when it finally happened! Both are great. I can’t pick. I’m using them both, half and half. I never thought I would have to pick sides between Google and Mozilla. So I guess I refuse to.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      Btw, if you get that Tattoo made make sure to send us a screenshot. We’ll feature it o Geeky Fun ;-)

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  • Charles September 9, 2008
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    Without things like the firebug extention, chrome is never going to be able to replace firefox as a development tool, however as a platform for web apps, it’s looking strong and I can see myself using it for specific tasks, although from what I can tell there may be a long delay before the linux version works.

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  • Steve September 9, 2008
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    I like the look and feel of Chrome… but I’m visiting this site using Firefox. The question you asked could just as well be “What browser are you using to read this?”

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  • Ken Burkes September 9, 2008
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    I won’t be using Chrome anytime soon, considering the fact that I have every useful feature of Chrome by using Firefox extensions. Maybe Version 2.0 Mister Chrome.

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    • Aibek September 10, 2008
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      Wha about treatig each tab as a separate process, is there an extension for that? :-)

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  • g September 9, 2008
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    I voted other because I’m using both for now. prefer FF for now ’til chrome evolves. i really like the chrome incognito mode so i can read two gmail accts at once.

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  • Nick September 9, 2008
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    As much as I like Google’s Products I am going to have to stick with Firefox on this one or atleast until Google Chrome supports extenstions and or plugins like Firefox does. I really like Chrome, It really isnt all that bad. It is nice and has a great feel to it, also its very fast. And I liked that when I installed Google Chrome, It imported all my bookmarks and a few settings from Firefox into Chrome, That was a really nice feature! Also, Why did I call it “Chrome?” o_O

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  • Adam September 10, 2008
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    I’ve switched to Chrome as my default browser for normal use. I still use Firefox for its better handling of downloads though, and as a 3rd route for sites that don’t like either FF or Chrome I use IE8 beta 2.

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  • Naveen September 11, 2008
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    I tried Chrome and I really loved it, but as Im using Ubuntu/Linux I’m still using FF and cudnt switch over to Chrome. Once Chrome supports multi OS with extensions I will fully make use of GChrome!

    Naveen. V

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  • Dougal September 11, 2008
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    I have tried Chrome and I like the way it shows my most visited site that was until I found Fast Dail for Firefox. Chrome is a little buggy when it comes to video watching. So I am staying with Firefox.

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  • daya September 15, 2008
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    People please!. Chrome is just no match for Firefox. I don’t even know where to start. It’s just insane!! Google is great…I give you that. Chrome is not bad. But there are many many many many!!, reasons why we should not even compare them.Firefox is way, ahead.

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  • film fan September 16, 2008
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    i keep learning about more and more little advantages and quirks with Chrome, with security, for example; now if only they would take care of it’s cookie management glitches…

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  • Sriniani September 16, 2008
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    Although Firefox stays as my default browser, I find myself using Chrome more and more these days. It’s very fast but I miss the extensions of firefox.

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  • CD September 17, 2008
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    Miss the Awesome Bar access to bookmarks with tags.

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  • Firefox4life September 29, 2008
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    well, where to start. First Firefox is approximately 1,000,000,000 times BETTER THAN CHROME!!!!!!!
    Firefox may use more memory, but that is because you can do so much more with it so much safer. I installed Chrome 2 weeks after it was released, giving google plenty of time fix all of the most common errors with their first release. When i ran it it wouldn’t let me visit a lot of web pages, and then it would crash, again and again. Then when i tried to go back to firefox, all of a sudden firefox starts crashing like crazy. The only thing I can say was good about Chrome is that google made it very easy to uninstall, literally took seconds, which shows how little there was to Chrome in the first place!

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  • ADMIN October 25, 2008
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    First of all, Google Chrome Beta (yes, it’s still in beta) which was released not long ago should not be compared with any browser because it has been released for a short while and this is there first browser and it’s just a Beta (not the completed version) unlike Firefox, and yet it still manages to challenge Firefox. Wait until Google releases 1-3 more updates/upgrades/newer versions to Google chrome and then try it again and most of you would like it (or since i’m now posting this, try the latest version of Google Chrome) but if you want add-ons/extensions that don’t slow down your browser or cause other issues like with Firefox, give Google 5 months – 1 year. Also, Google Chrome, believe it or not, is much faster, has a cleaner interface, uses less memory, crashes less than Firefox (with me) and is more secure and Google releases 10-30 nightly builds of Google Chrome everyday and also has a Developers/Testers channel which has newer versions of Google Chrome every 1-2 weeks (with a change log and new features etc) which are tested before they are publicly released.

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    • Matt Ryan October 27, 2008
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      This is in response to the last comment about Google Chrome being in beta and as such shouldn’t be compared to other browsers. I hate to say it, but Google Chrome has every bit as much reason to be respected as a serious browser worthy of comparison and critique for many reasons.

      First, let’s take a look at the beta aspect. It’s safe to say that everything Google does is in beta for years. This creates a safety cushion for Google in the event something does go wrong. Google mail for example had that beta tag for many years.

      Second, Google is staffed with a group of the most elite programmers in the industry. They are the company people work towards being hired by, and they do not let up for even a moment on their attempts to draw in the best of the best pays off in a lot of cases. There is no denying the brilliance of Google’s staff and their extreme attention to quality. A release made by this company should be taken quite seriously.

      This brings me to the third point. Google has advertised this browser to millions of people on their main site. They are pushing this browser out to everyone and anyone using their website and that makes this an instant competitor to Firefox and IE in terms of market share. Because of this, Google Chrome needs to be compared if even for the simple fact of giving everyday users the ability to learn exactly what they are getting in to when they download this infant browser.

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      • Aibek October 27, 2008
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        Excellent point!… I agree, Google Chrome has no excuse for being a new comer and should be compraed to Firefox in its current state. I suppose it might get some updates over time but so is Firefox.

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  • Billigflüge November 18, 2008
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    I stick with FF as well. I like many of the Chrome’s feature’s but it still has a long way to go to catch up with FF, as Mozilla is not sleeping as well.

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  • Svedanth December 20, 2008
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    Have tried Explorer, Firefox, Opera and off late Chrome. FF has been default browser, though. I am happy with FF and continue to be with it.

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  • steve December 28, 2008
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    google chrome owns !

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  • Versicherung November 4, 2009
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    Sticking with flock 2 beta. Is like firefox code with most of the useful extensions already built in.

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  • safsdf November 25, 2009
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    google chrome taking 60 to 100 % cpu usage,pain in as*

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