Lyle Lanley
July 12, 2012 / 13:30

IE user here.

It was there when I started this new laptop and I dare not mess with it!

So you could say it won by default.

Anonymous
July 12, 2012 / 13:44

Why not? It does the basics most people require.

Declan
July 12, 2012 / 13:47

Safari user here.

Real Mac bigots like myself use Safari.

Louis Lazaris
July 12, 2012 / 13:53

Why Are New Browsers Better?

Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera have a number of advantages over IE browsers, including:

Far fewer instances of crashing or freezing.
Much more secure from virus, malware, and browser hijacking attacks.

Much faster page-loading.
Larger page-viewing area.

A large variety of useful optional plugins and add-ons that add extra features to improve Web browsing.

Unlike IE9 and the upcoming IE10, they can be installed on Windows XP.

New browsers will automatically update to the latest version, or will notify you to download an update.

About Automatic Updating
The last point in the list above mentions the fact that new browsers will automatically notify you of an update-this is a good thing. When you have a browser that's kept up-to-date automatically, you get a number of important benefits in addition to those already mentioned. These include:

You'll rarely, if ever, come across a website that says "your browser cannot view this website."

If any known security vulnerabilities are present, they will be fixed automatically.

Every time your browser is upgraded, your browser becomes faster, meaning that the time you spend waiting for pages to load will be minimal.

Old browsers like IE7 and IE8 will not automatically notify you to update, so if you continue to use an old browser, your experience on the Web will become less secure (and less enjoyable as the months go by).

Extensions and Add-ons
As mentioned in the bullet list above, one of the features of new browsers is the ability to add extensions, plugins, and add-ons.

Cbab
July 12, 2012 / 13:57

I'm in QA, and IE is (unfortunately) the main browser our users have, IE8 being our minimum standard at present (actually that's not true - we're supporting IE7 in some cases). It's a horrible beast IMO. It's evolved for the better in later releases, but the number of times we have to re-work a feature just so that it plays nicely with IE (especially when it comes to CSS) is just insane.

Chrome is *my* main browser of choice though, and they'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Cbab
July 12, 2012 / 14:05

@Mike:

If you have an Android, you MUST MUST MUST check out the Chrome2Phone extension. One click info/link transfer to your phone for viewing later.

Colleen
July 12, 2012 / 14:11

Chrome all the way. But when working in our CMS, I unfortunately have to use IE.

@Cbab I am totally going to try that Chrome2Phone too!

Cbab
July 12, 2012 / 14:13

For those that asked:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oadboiipflhobonjjffjbfekfjcgkhco

:)

Ryan G
July 12, 2012 / 14:44

"I just took a snapshot of the browsers used by the last 100 visitors to this site."

This sentence made me feel a little dirty and violated.

Anonymous
July 12, 2012 / 15:04

I seldom use IE. Chrome works better, faster with fewer problems for the work and searches I perform.

Ryan G
July 12, 2012 / 15:15

@Toronto Mike.

Well you're partially correct.

I prefer xhamster because when you hover your cursor over the preview vid you get snapshots of what's to come, thereby making the process much more efficient. Excellent work Science!

Jason Patterson
July 12, 2012 / 16:00

IE and FF suck. Chrome or Safari all the way.

519 Rob
July 12, 2012 / 16:05

I use IE mostly because I am generally indifferent.
I have no choice at work, IE it is.
At home, I tried Chrome (you had to use it to watch a special Arcade Fire video).
I still use IE mostly because I am a creature of habit.

CQ
July 12, 2012 / 18:19

With the Blogger by Google update changes of this month, my Firefox 3.6 browser started giving fits at that site. I'll update my browser shortly. However when the log-in page failed a week ago (telling me my browser was out of date), I tried IE6. No Dice. But trusty old Netscape 7.2 still worked it way through! Netscape can still play videos without needing add-ons; it seemed to only get struck when loading certain Advert stuff (which is nearly everywhere now). Then I copied the Dashboard web address and pasted that into Firefox 3.6. Ta-da.
BTW, I still use the Netscape 7's E-mail program; Firefox and Netscape 8 did not include an e-mail program. At least IE 6 arrived, pre-loaded, with a companion Microsoft E-mail program.
Last Night Blogger's photo upload form page defaulted to its prior version. I assume they are getting various complaints daily about Google's overall changes of this year.
In the long run, I expect to see browser ownerships and major website ownerships forging together into competing proprietary sub-Internets. Like having specific cable channels only available through specific Satellite Services.

Whenever I have checked to download a copy of Google Chrome (often when I'm at another PC), they refuse to inform me of how large their actual download is, and what its system requirements are. That's the same as my trying to order services from Rogers; they never mention a regular price, or other hidden fees - and refuse to do so. They always have a special dealer, or a special offer. They just will not state their price levels and product details.

Cheryl
July 12, 2012 / 20:42

I use IE because I'm used to it. I know it works and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Rick C in Oakville
July 12, 2012 / 20:43

I got rid of IE a few years ago when one of my kids downloaded some music from napster and it gave my PC a venereal disease which took more than penicillin to cleanse. Firefox has been fairly rock steady, but the constant updates has disabled some toolbar functions i use to have for convenience.

Jody Thornton
July 12, 2012 / 20:54

I enjoy Seamonkey. Yes the interface is a bit Netscape-like by default, but I've tweaked with a Firefox v2 skin. Plus I only run a single toolbar for everything. So I have the speed and appearance of a classic older looking browser, but the updates to the Firefox Gecko engine as soon as they are released.

Blind Dave
July 12, 2012 / 21:37

I was using Netscape back at the turn of the century (man, that seems a long time ago!) along with their emailer, and over time I moved to Firefox and Thunderbird. I like Firefox because it has text zoom, so I don't have to scroll left and right when I blow up the font on a webpage.

I've never warmed to IE, and I am not an anti-microsoft snob. I'll give credit where credit is due. I have a new computer at work, and I actually have no idea which version of IE is running, because I just installed Firefox and use that as my default browser.

Sammi
July 13, 2012 / 05:43

This whole post reeks of tech snobs. But I guess you are all so `cool` for not using IE.

Roshan
July 13, 2012 / 09:04

First thing I did when I joined my new job and was assigned a new system was check the browser - which was Explorer- and asked the tech team guys if it was ok to download Firefox & Chrome. He did one better - he copied the installation files to my system in the next couple of minutes.

headsup
July 13, 2012 / 16:16

I use IE because that is what works best with my screen reading software. Firefox works alright, but IE is less clunky for me.

Gump
July 13, 2012 / 19:34

Gopher for the gold!

Jason from Sudbury
July 13, 2012 / 20:01

I also use IE because I'm a creature of habbit. Using IE8 though. Really don't like IE9. But used IE10 at my friend's house a few days ago and it's not bad.

Wulv
July 13, 2012 / 21:12

Any computer I set up gets both Firefox and Chrome set up on it, I am responsible for about 300 computers (not counting servers) and I can't imagine anyone with a choice using IE in any way. There are just way too many support incidents I have run into where IE is the culprit. Saying "it just works" is incorrect, it doesn't. All of our websites we develop are completely standards based and they never work quite right without a ton of tweaking.

Jacob
July 14, 2012 / 00:25

It's 2012.

Anyone who develops a website that only works in IE needs to be publicly shamed and have their computer access taken away.

Neville Ross
July 14, 2012 / 03:29

I use Opera, Rock Melt, Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Avant, and Orca (the brother browser of Avant.)

MrFascination
July 14, 2012 / 08:48

IE Users simply don't know better.. Really because if they used FireFox or Chrome they would realize how crap IE is.

Plain and simple...

Nothing wrong with it that..

Neville Ross
July 14, 2012 / 12:38

(continued....) I don't ever use IE, and I have it disabled (my official browser is now Rock Melt, but sometimes I will used the others I've mentioned.)

Mike from Lowville
July 17, 2012 / 18:12

Winsock. Remember that? How about Netscape? Those were my first after BBS. I use G-Chrome on my lap-T. EI on my desk-T. EI at work 'cause corporate says so.