IE9

[bucketmouth64]

I noticed that explorer 9 has come out. Should you always upgrade when they come out with a new version like other software programs? I've read that in the past some of the explorers weren't very good with some systems or something to that effect.

[BobT]

Been using it for over a week. Seems to work okay so far. Definitely faster than IE7 or IE8. Seems to be following Chrome on page layout, features, and functionality. I still rely on Chrome as my goto browser though. Still the fastest one I've found and I like the layout and features.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

No. You should just dump it and go with Chrome, or Firefox.

[Shack]

I really gave IE9 a run around this last time I did a fresh install of Win 7. The couple fresh installs I have done have been based around Google. This time it was Microsoft based with trying every feature offered. After about a week of muttering threw IE9 I had enough. IE9 still lacks multiple basic features of Chrome. I reinstalled Chrome and reloaded my settings. Life is much easier and especially when you integrate yourself heavy with Google.

[bucketmouth64]

Ok, can you tell me what's special with Chrome vs IE? I haven't had problems with IE, maybe I'm missing something all of you are noticing/experiencing. Is Chrome not part of MS like firefox?

[PurpleFloyd]

For me Chrome is faster and easier to use. That being said I have found that there are some issues with filling in forms and viewing some image formats with Chrome and that the Opera browser works great.

One added bonus with Opera on your desktop is if you have a smart phone you can load opera on that and remotely share your music and image files between the two as well as many other neat applications that are available.

Opera Mini on my smart phone is amazingly fast compared to any other phone browser I have tried.

[spearchucker]

Ok, can you tell me what's special with Chrome vs IE? I haven't had problems with IE, maybe I'm missing something all of you are noticing/experiencing. Is Chrome not part of MS like firefox?

Chrome and Firefox are not part of MS. Chrome is a Google product and Firefox is a Mozilla product. I have used all of them and use Chrome 80% and IE9 the other 20%. Firefox 4 is good now as well, but I have now gotten used to Chrome.

Its all personal preference and what you are used to. IMO IE9 is much better than IE7 or 8. Speed is comparable or faster at some things than Chrome. You need Vista or higher to run IE9, so it won;t work on XP.

[BobT]

Chrome and Firefox are not part of MS. Chrome is a Google product and Firefox is a Mozilla product. I have used all of them and use Chrome 80% and IE9 the other 20%. Firefox 4 is good now as well, but I have now gotten used to Chrome.

Its all personal preference and what you are used to. IMO IE9 is much better than IE7 or 8. Speed is comparable or faster at some things than Chrome. You need Vista or higher to run IE9, so it won;t work on XP.

Pretty much the same here. I rely on Chrome to a higher degree but still use IE9 on occasion. Haven't tried the new relese of Firefox but because I have become familiar with Chrome I have no desire to reinstall Firefox. Haven't tried Opera so can't say anything about that one.

I have found that I prefer to stick with one browser because easier to maintain my bookmarks. I haven't looked into the possibility of somehow synchronizing bookmarks between browsers or if there's a way to get all the browsers to share one reference file though so I don't know if that can be done or not.

[spearchucker]

I have found that I prefer to stick with one browser because easier to maintain my bookmarks. I haven't looked into the possibility of somehow synchronizing bookmarks between browsers or if there's a way to get all the browsers to share one reference file though so I don't know if that can be done or not.

Turn on Synchronization in Chrome and all your bookmarks, extensions, and settings can be synced across multiple PCs running Chrome. FF4 has a similar feature. For IE9 I have used Google Toolbar which has the Bookmark syncing available in it.

[pureinsanity]

Upon opening a newly installed FF it will ask you to import your bookmarks...

[spearchucker]

Upon opening a newly installed FF it will ask you to import your bookmarks...

That still doesn't sync them across other PCs though as he was asking.

[pureinsanity]

oh whoops!

then

Xmarks (formerly FoxMarks)

[Shack]

Ok, can you tell me what's special with Chrome vs IE? I haven't had problems with IE, maybe I'm missing something all of you are noticing/experiencing. Is Chrome not part of MS like firefox?

Number One: No installed or instant spell check. Maybe there has been an update released the last weeks, but Good Lord man! Maybe this is how they push the Office packs?

Number Two: The speed. Funny how milliseconds or fractions of a second can matter after using something faster for a period of time.

Number Three: Third party apps that provide functionality above what the browser offers such as instant exif data, custom home book mark page, GPS and earth mapping, ability to customize how and what you browser saves and loads, down to URL and HTLM data and other customizing features. There are tons more.

I am sure there are a couple more but I would have to use IE9 again for a day or two.

Beyond this is the ease of use comes into play. WIth Google you have click, click and maybe one more click to display features and options of the browser. IE9 is click, drop down, click scroll, click, click, tab and then you have what you were looking for.

I used Firefox and avoided Chrome for at least 2 years. I tried Firefox last summer and just did not have the giddiness I did when I came to it from IE6 or IE7. Firefox is a browser and has the feel of a browser. Chrome has the feeling of an application plus I love how iGoogle integrates everything you use and have an account for. If you are on the web and get into developing or marketing, Google is and monopolizes the show. Thank Gosh they have a good browser to go along with this.

[BobT]

That still doesn't sync them across other PCs though as he was asking.

Actually, I'm not even talking about synching across PC's. I'm talking about somehow having all the browsers using the same bookmarks. Today I decide to use IE9 and while browsing I add a bookmark to the favorites bar. Later, I decide to open Chrome or Firefox and that new bookmark I added to the IE9 folder is not found in Chrome or Firefox because they store their own bookmarks.

[pureinsanity]

Actually, I'm not even talking about synching across PC's. I'm talking about somehow having all the browsers using the same bookmarks. Today I decide to use IE9 and while browsing I add a bookmark to the favorites bar. Later, I decide to open Chrome or Firefox and that new bookmark I added to the IE9 folder is not found in Chrome or Firefox because they store their own bookmarks.

Xmarks.....

Google it and download it

[Shack]

Oh I forgot one big issue. If you elect to have your input, sign in or password auto sign for you, IE9 had this feature but it works 70% of the time compared to Google's 100% of the time. Firefox was very good with this also. I honestly give Firefox 5 out of 5 stars. The good thing about Firefox is there is a plug in for it and easy to find. Google might take some more steps but now there is a plug in.

[spearchucker]

Firefox 5 is a Pre Alpha release, I would only use FF4 for now.

[Shack]

LOL SC nit sure if the above was directed towards my post but to clear myself up:

I still rate FireFox as a browser five out of five stars.

[spearchucker]

LOL SC nit sure if the above was directed towards my post but to clear myself up:

I still rate FireFox as a browser five out of five stars.

Sorry I misunderstood you. Once I re-read it, it made sense.

[PierBridge]

I'll tell ya that millisecond speed increase has me seriously considering switching to Chrome. And to think I could have saved 10 more seconds with-out having to install I-spell in IE for my spell check app.......WOW......

[Shack]

Dude I gave IE9 another last go around last night. I was being very polite with the millisecond difference. WHAT IS UP WITH THE DOWNLOAD round and round she goes and where she stops no one knows with IE? Once I get down, once again, the thin tan bar below the toolbar needs to be clicked so you can mouse over (without loosing the drop down) to the download this file link. OK! Got that? The next download, from the same site even, gets tossed in its own little browser window. Not that huge of an issue, but the window pops up behind the IE9 main browser window every time. Google you click the download link, boom, down on the bottom and downloading. This was on a totally, hours old, fresh install of Win 7 with all current updates done to IE9. I had to use it as the PC I was working on owner only knows IE. Just think of what these people are missing, but even the Pinto and Vega's still have a following.

At least they provide a nice green process bar to take up the time mid page switch or link click.

Man I am willing and trying, but that is it unless something is reported as far as a change. Microsoft is in the OS business and Google and Firefox are in the browser business. Google OS is not going to win me over if it is superior to Microsoft's platform. Why should it be the same when browsers are free?

[PierBridge]

No problem Dude and thanks for the detailed report on your findings....

[SledNeck]

I like ie9 except for the fact that they switched the favorites to the right side

[spearchucker]

Download speed is exactly the same between all browsers for me. No problem with IE9. I don't use it a lot but I don't see much difference in speed or anything between all 3 new browsers.

[BobT]

I've been giving IE9 a speed test run for a week or two and I'm going back to Chrome. I tested it side-by-side with Chrome and there is no comparison when I open the applications. I think I could open and close and open and close Chrome about a half-dozen times in the same time it takes IE9 to open. Once I'm past that and the browser is running, it is faster than previous revisions but Chrome is still on top. My OS is Vista Home Premium 32-bit.