Who Should You Choose When You're "Just Browsing"

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/opera-10.60-internet-explorer-9-safari-5,2680.html' target='_blank'>http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews...ari-5,2680.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"While this is a follow-up to our original Web browser Grand Prix, we have also included some standards compliance testing along with enhanced memory benchmarks. We feel that even though these tests do not directly affect speed, they are crucial to overall performance. But don't worry, we'll separate those benchmarks from our speed tests in the conclusion, so you'll still get to find out which Web browser is the fastest when judged purely on raw speed."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//dht/auto/1279205749.usr20447.png" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Web Browsers have definitely become one of the major components of our Internet connected life.&nbsp; The concept is great: A single application or platform through which you can access the largest communications network and one of the largest data repositories in the world.&nbsp; Of course, that vision is being challenged with the rise of apps on the iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone 7 (if it ever truly comes out) but for now, it remains one of the most important parts of computing.&nbsp; While we all have our own preferences, I am impressed that the web browser market is a five horse race.&nbsp; Yes, I know there are many other browsers to choose from, but there are five web browsers that have an appreciable amount of the market.&nbsp; I think it just demonstrates how cut throat the market is.&nbsp; In many ways, it is trivial to change browsers (with the exception of extensions) and that means that each browser has to compete fiercely to stay relevant.&nbsp; In another year or two, we might see a different landscape altogether.</p>

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Nice to see Opera getting a good review; been using it since... '98?

[Hooch Tan]

Nice to see Opera getting a good review; been using it since... '98?

I've tried it now and again, but the cost factor was an issue for me when it first came out. Since then, Firefox has been my defacto browser. However, for mobile browsing, as slow as my phone it, I find that Opera works really well.

[doogald]

I'd love to use Opera, but I have grown to love the xmarks bookmark syncing tool, and, with that, I can use Safari, Firefox, Chrome, or IE, fully knowing that my favorites are there. I've also adopted Laspass for password management, particularly now that they are on Android - but, no Opera (that one is easier due to the bookmarklets feature, but creating new passwords becomes more of a pain.) So long as Opera is not open to these cross-browser and cross-platform tools, I will not even try it.

[Reid Kistler]

Most often run Firefox - probably 70% of the time - with Opera getting about 20 - 25% of the total, and IE8 whatever is left, as that is required for some MS downloads.

Would probably use Opera more often, but it still seems more likely to have problems than Firefox on certain web pages.

(On my WinMo 6.1 device, Opera gets about 80% of browser usage, with Skyfire picking up nearly all of the remaining time...)

[Hooch Tan]

(On my WinMo 6.1 device, Opera gets about 80% of browser usage, with Skyfire picking up nearly all of the remaining time...)

I've tried using SkyFire on my WinMo device, but I've always found it a bit too "laggy" where Opera runs smoother, but still takes ages to download stuff, even with Turbo turned on. Of course, I've just upgraded to an Android 2.1 device, so that's all moot now. :)