What's so great about Firefox?

[Esotera]

The add-ons. Especially noscript, DownThemAll, and webmail notifier. Plus it's mostly open-source.

The only thing that sucks is the direction that they're taking with a 6-week release schedule. There is no noticeable difference between firefox 4 or 5. Development needs time.

 

[Qitz]

I love Firefox, specially as a Web Developer, because it's got a lot of Addons( Add Blocker+, Firebug, Fireftp, Noscript) it's also one of the easier browsers to code for, CSS wise anyways, I.E. is a ***** (screw you people and your IE6 I'ma smack you all) Chrome and Safari share the same CSS so that's not too bad but Firefox just wants to work.

The only bad thing is it can be a bit of a resource hog.

 

[Voodoomancer]

Chrome and FF are very similar. Both are customizable, FF having an advantage in that department; Both are fast, both are secure.

Personally I use Chrome because of the Bookmark sync feature and the fact that it segregates tabs as specific processes (so one tab crashing won't crash the browser).

 

[phYnc]

Ad-Block in Chrome doesn't block adverts in Flash videos such as 4OD.com. Thats the only reason I use Firefox instead of Chrome.

For Firefox in general though it is good because you do have alot of customisation and of course Addons which other browsers just can't compete with.

 

[Chad Hyou]

Honestly? I switched from IE to Firefox because I couldn't seem to avoid getting malware infections. Even after changing antivirus programs several times and TRYING my best to be careful, IE would continuously get hijacked and infect me with malware, which led to constant repairs and more often than not reformatting my computer.

Firefox along with Adblock and Noscript helped to put a stop to this problem, and I've been malware free ever since. Noscript tends to get very annoying at times, but it's a fair trade for the feeling of security.

My problem was I really loved the browser interface and functions of IE, so I was hesitant to make the switch. I don't use tabs for browsing and I didn't like most of the features in Firefox that apparantly couldn't be de-activated. Thankfully a computer-savy friend helped me to reconfigure Firefox to match that which I was more comfortable with.

At its core, I just really wanted a more secure browser, since IE has the defense of wet tissue paper. I'm glad I made the switch just in time, since shortly afterwards the newest version of IE came out and it is just HORRIBLE.

 

[Vrach]

Not sure what you are talking about here, Chrome allows you to use both tabs and individual windows for browsing.

Gah, quoted 4 times for the same crap. Serves me right for responding early to a thread.

What I meant is that Chrome doesn't give you the option of using a new window as a default for clicking a link, something pretty much every single other browser gives you the option for (and has indeed been the standard for over 10 years). It's something they're actively refusing to allow as they wanna push people towards tabbed browsing and something that pisses quite a few people off.

 

[TheBaron87]

It isn't Internet Explorer, that's pretty much the first thing I look for when choosing a browser.

 

[Continuity]

So Firefox users, what makes it your browser of choice? What are the great features I'm missing out on if I stick with Chrome?

I used FF for several years before switching to Opera for a year, then I switched to Chrome for a year... Now i'm back on FF.

Chrome is great, its fast, it renders pages really well, its good with java... but thats it. If you want a great "out of the box" browser look no further than chrome. However if you want to customise your web browsing experience and actually have some power over what you see and what the web pages you visit are doing, then you better get FF because if you try that stuff with chrome you will find that its extremely unfriendly to customisation and just gives you ugly sever not found images everywhere if you try and block web page elements.

So in summary chrome is the best browser by some margin if you don't want to tinker, if you want to tinker FF is pretty much the only way to go (adblock plus and noScript have my undying fanhood). PLus if you dont like something about the way FF works you just get and extension (there will be one) and bam, its doing what you want, with chrome you're pretty much stuck with what they give you.

ON the downside FF is a bit bloaty, sluggish and doesn't always render pages well. Small price to pay for the freedom.

 

[FalloutJack]

Nothing really. It's a different kind of shiny toy.

 

[lostlevel]

I used to be an Opera user, then for compatibility a Firefox user but Chrome is like the love child of both has the clean interface of Opera and most of the plugins from Firefox carried over. The only reason I don't used chrome more is that it for some reason crashes randomly and this makes me sad... the likely cause is probably the fact I still have all 4 web browsers installed. The only thing Chrome really needs to do is let you customise the interface more and copy Opera Turbo for the unfortunate situations when your internet slows to dial up speeds =]

 

[lacktheknack]

I'm too lazy to download anything else.

 

[BeerTent]

As I see it, the scoop on the browsers.

Firefox is infinitely customize-able, but still loaded with more shit than you can shake a stick at. Also has that memory leak issue that seems to plague me and nobody else. Go FF. The problem with Open Source is that when you give EVERYONE a chance to fuck something up, 80% of them will, or they'll make some useless garbage.

Opera is pretty sturdy and secure, but good luck trying to render your website for online banking. In fact, half of the pages I go to that are just a little more complex than a chat forum or webcomic site isn't shown properly or has errors. AcidII is a lie.

Chrome is... Well, it's basic, and I like that. But I find that keeping it open half as long as I would Opera would also invoke the famous Firefox Memory leak. Although, Chrome is considerably slower in chewing my RAM. Also, any random Joe blow can see your stored passwords in basic, unmasked text from within Chrome. Fuck that.

Internet Explorer... It feels like it lags behind on everything. Plus I use it at work. It's been so long since I've done anything other than Support Ticketing, data entry, and downloading another browser with it. It's almost to the point where I'm considering going back to the latest version of it.

Aaand, Safari. I've never used it. But It probably follows the Mac's draconian development laws.


Also, if your a web developer. Have IE6 for compatibility reasons. There's a very good reason why a lot of people are still using it and I assure you, it's not by choice. I'll understand if you want to keep off Opera.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

Skins for Firefox browser. That is pretty much it for me, like the customization.

Otherwise, I use Chrome for searches and multi-tab activities.

 

[CarlsonAndPeeters]

I never really liked it. Nathan Fillion always kind of bugged me and I'm not a big Josh Whedon fan. I liked Book and River though, and the Western feel was cool.

Oh, wait, Firefox? Nevermind...I don't really care about browsers, so I just use Chrome. Pretty simple.