IE vs Firefox; which is better in XP?

[WillyW]

...
You sure will get a lot of suggestions.
I have enough to cover 10000 Firefox installations, hah.
The great thing is, just like Firefox, you can try out an extension, modification or theme, and easily undo it if you don;t like it.

Here's a question for you -

Isn't it true that as you add extensions,  at some point Firefox slows down?
Or is it just the loading of Firefox initially?
(I've never had it happen to me yet.... I only use a few extensions)

So in your experience, -  and this is not just a question for Calum only, but everyone -    where is the limit?     at how many installed extensions did you notice anything slowing down?      What speed processor and how much ram did you have too?

[Calum]

That is correct, it depends not only on the number of extensions and themes but on the add-ons themselves.
Both the loading and general usage of Firefox will at some point slow down due to add-ons.
To be pedantic and answer your question, it slows down at one add-on.
In real terms, any add-on you have installed and enabled will slow Firefox down.
I believe what you are asking is in fact at what point does this slow-down become noticeable.
I do notice a significant difference between a fresh install of Firefox and my personal profile with 11 extensions and 2 themes, but "significant" will be different for different people.
However, I have never had Firefox slowing down to the point that it's irritating because of add-ons.
CPU/RAM: 2GHz Turion 64 MT-37, 1Gb PC2700 DDR RAM.
Generally, it's a good idea to keep them to a minimum to avoid slow-downs, but unless you have a very large amount installed or a lower-spec machine, or one that is not well maintained, it's not usually something to worry about as long as you're happy with the performance.

[FilluX]

I also use firefox and love it.. i think it is slightly faster, because when i on msn messenger click on the mail thing it automaticly opens it up with ie 7 and it takes forever to get to the mail and when my friend got a new computer and some guy who was good with computers installed everything said that firefox is more safe than ie too...
Back to the msn-mail-ie thing, anyone know how to change that it opens the mail with firefoXX?
Filip

[Calum]

Not that I know of, that was one of the reasons I switched from MSN Messenger.
It always annoyed me that I had to open IE, which i detest, to get to my email.

[WillyW]

....
I believe what you are asking is in fact at what point does this slow-down become noticeable.

Yep.

I do notice a significant difference between a fresh install of Firefox and my personal profile with 11 extensions and 2 themes, but "significant" will be different for different people.

Thanks

However, I have never had Firefox slowing down to the point that it's irritating because of add-ons.

And that was with approximately how many extensions loading?   

What's the max you think you've installed?

CPU/RAM: 2GHz Turion 64 MT-37, 1Gb PC2700 DDR RAM.

Thanks for sharing the info.   Others using/considering Firefox will find it useful.

[Comp Guy]

Not that I know of, that was one of the reasons I switched from MSN Messenger.
It always annoyed me that I had to open IE, which i detest, to get to my email.

Actually, it isn't necessary to have a hotmail address to use Windows Live Messenger. I have a gmail address, and I use it to chat, recieve emails, and lots of other stuff.

[keithmacsd]

Okay, I'm convinced from two standpoints:(1) Nearly everyone who responded likes Firefox better than IE and (2) I've used Firefox for three days, and I'm already impressed with its speed and flexibility.  It will be my default browser as of today.
Thanks to everyone for their input.

[Comp Guy]

I guess I'll have to give it another try....

[Calum]

And that was with approximately how many extensions loading?   

What's the max you think you've installed?

I think at most I had 20 extensions installed and 0 extra themes at that time.
CPU/RAM on that PC: Sempron 2400+ 1.67GHz, 512Mb RAM.

Not that I know of, that was one of the reasons I switched from MSN Messenger.
It always annoyed me that I had to open IE, which i detest, to get to my email.

Actually, it isn't necessary to have a hotmail address to use Windows Live Messenger. I have a gmail address, and I use it to chat, recieve emails, and lots of other stuff.

I know it's not necessary.
The problem was that it opened my email in IE though - if you use a Gmail address, does it open in Firefox?
Anyway, I didn't like the interface of MSN Messenger, and I almost cried when I saw Windows Live Messenger.
I thought "finally, a new version, maybe it will look better" but I was sadly disappointed.
Been happily using Gaim/Pidgin for almost a year now and I'm very happy with it.
Back on the Firefox topic . . .

Okay, I'm convinced from two standpoints:(1) Nearly everyone who responded likes Firefox better than IE and (2) I've used Firefox for three days, and I'm already impressed with its speed and flexibility.  It will be my default browser as of today.
Thanks to everyone for their input.

You're welcome, and I'm glad you like it.  Need any help, just ask.

I guess I'll have to give it another try....

It's free, so you have nothing to lose.
And if you don't like the interface . . . make Firefox look like IE (if you really must . . .)

[Comp Guy]

Not that I know of, that was one of the reasons I switched from MSN Messenger.
It always annoyed me that I had to open IE, which i detest, to get to my email.

Actually, it isn't necessary to have a hotmail address to use Windows Live Messenger. I have a gmail address, and I use it to chat, recieve emails, and lots of other stuff.

I know it's not necessary.
The problem was that it opened my email in IE though - if you use a Gmail address, does it open in Firefox?
Anyway, I didn't like the interface of MSN Messenger, and I almost cried when I saw Windows Live Messenger.
I thought "finally, a new version, maybe it will look better" but I was sadly disappointed.
Been happily using Gaim/Pidgin for almost a year now and I'm very happy with it.

I use Windows Live Mail destop formy email. And I disagree, Windows Live Messenger has a much better interface than Yahoo! Messenger or AIM.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Windows Live Messenger does have some neat features but it takes forever to load (for me) and I don't like the GUI and how it looks.
I currently use MSN 7.5.

My MSN currently does not work so someone else would have to try this.
Since MSN messenger uses IE to open your inbox, try copying the firefox program files into the IE program files directory and rename firefox.exe to IEXPLORER.exe.

[FilluX]

Pretty smart ill try that! thanx

[patio]

My MSN currently does not work so someone else would have to try this.
Since MSN messenger uses IE to open your inbox, try copying the firefox program files into the IE program files directory and rename firefox.exe to IEXPLORER.exe.

This may cause havoc...IE is integrated heavily into the OS.

[flopeyeman]

I've been using Firefox for about two days and I'm hooked!!!

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

The magic of Firefox. Internet Explorer is helpless.....



Lol. Another picture I found.