INTERNET BROWSING

[JuNK512G]

Hope this is the correct forum to ask for help with my present dilemma as I am not particulary Internet literate ?
I am currently being bombarded with the sugestion that I should change my Browser from Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8 or the choice of 4 other top Browsers, however apparently IE 8 consumes masses of processing power, memory & is very slow.
I am reasonably happy with IE 6 although that is quite slow so I dread to think what IE 8 would be like, apparently IE 6 is now very insecure hence the change being recommended.
I would really appreciate hearing any advice or experience others have had please.

[aupickup]

i use firefox and its good

[MarkyB]

There is a half way house which is IE7.
If you reject IE8 from your Windows update and say don't show this again you will get offered 7.
IE6 is definately a bad security risk.

Firefox, Chrome and Opera are some other internet browsers you could try.
I'm a fan of Firefox myself as you can get add-ons to block adverts and zoom images.

[PSL184]

Yep, firefox for me everytime

[sgray]

The 'bombarding' that you're talking about is as a result of the European Union ruling against Microsoft bundling a browser with their operating systems. As a result of a Windows update last week everyone will get a box come up (when starting IE at some stage) to offer them a choice of all the available browsers.

In my experience, IE6 is lighter than IE8 - but Microsoft are right, it is less secure - the same argument applies for IE7. If you machine has enough memory that IE8 shouldn't slow you down. Personally I use Google Chrome most of the time and IE8 for some banking sites that don't like Chrome. Firefox is well regarded - I don't much like Safari or Opera.

Hope that helps

Simon

[bmcecosse]

I use Opera - and it's great! I do also have a bunch of sites on Chrome, and it seems to suit some - but not others (ie Hotmail for one example). So - it's up to you!

[bpr81a]

I use Firefox, but I also have IE6,IE8 and Chrome.
IE6 doesn't always follow the rules in the same way as other browsers, so Websites have to be designed with this in mind. Some things that work in Firefox and others don't work properly in IE6. A lot of websites are no longer bothering to check that their sites display properly with IE6, and some newer Web features just don't work.

[Jonah681]

Can you use more than one on the same computer? Didn't know that (I hark back to the days of room sized computers having data input by punched cards!)

[chickenjohn]

I use Safari, CAmino or Firefox- on a Mac- so no real security issues!!!

[sgray]

Can you use more than one on the same computer? Didn't know that

Yes, you can have several installed, though they will all want to be your favourite one..

[JuNK512G]

Thanks for the help & suggestions so far, the choice is all a bit confusing for this 'Silver Surfer', just to add to the fun, for the last few days emails have stopped coming through to Outlook Express, although they are held in Webmail, Virgin tell me that Google will sort it out in the next few days & that broadband will then work quicker also. Now where did I put that chalk & slate ? (believe it or not, that's what we had when I started school)

[Kevin]

Now where did I put that chalk & slate ? (believe it or not, that's what we had when I started school)

Hi Chas, its in the brief case you bring to committee meetings