What do you look for in choosing a Web browser? I have a set of criteria that are important to me, but my criteria for choosing a browser may be quite different than yours, though. I’m interested to know what other people look for in a Web browser, and what features may not be that important.
Here’s what I look for:
- Stability
- Compatibility with Web sites (less of an issue these days…)
- Specific extensions (xmarks, Evernote, It’s All Text)
- Stability
- Desktop integration
- Speed
Yes, I put stability in twice. And I meant it. Both times. 
That’s because there’s nothing that annoys me quite so much as having a browser crash mid-way through editing a page on a wiki or typing an email or doing something else in a Web-based application. Yes, GMail and other Web-based applications have come a long way in terms of auto-saving work so less work will be lost — but I can type pretty darn quick and a crash can cost me several paragraphs, not to mention breaking train of thought. (And it’s a slow train, and I prefer not to have it derailed once it picks up steam!)
As I said, these are my criteria. I know there are others. Like extensibility, or ease of writing extensions/add-ons. Or maybe you prefer a suite of applications like SeaMonkey or Opera.
Maybe the most important thing is the support community. Or developer tools.
I’d love to hear what you think the most important features are. Are there categories I’ve missed entirely?
I look for the ressources he need to. Firefox was to hungry for my system,I looked after an alternative and since then I use opera.
Most of the things like mail, rss reader etc. there are build in, I have never used.
my three things are. ressources, speed and Compatibility with Web sites
I’m unable to surf the net without a proper adblocking feature. This narrows it down to Firefox for my part, Adblock plus is the best adblocking I’ve used.
Some other key features that I (and a lot of people I work with) looks for is Flash blocking, Javascript blocking (NoScript for FF as an ex.)
In addition to website compatibility, stability, speed, and desktop integration, I look for: resource utilization (especially with flash, maybe this falls under speed?), ad-blocking, and ideally, different “profiles” like firefox offers and javascript/flash blocking options (ex. NoScript).
Google Chrome has extensions (including ad blockers, Xmarks) now, all of which is very appealing, especially with its speed. However, I stick with Firefox because Chrome does not follow gtk or qt themes and because it uses an absurd amount of memory.
Two things:
1. Firebug.
2. Speed.
Everything else should be included by default on every browser I see or it’s not a contender.
I am looking for a proper interpretation of HTML, speed (not only loading webpages but also starting the application)… and Opera just wins on all of those for me. I also used Opera Mini on my Palm Centro, so syncing my bookmarks via Opera was a blast – and I did not have to install anything.
Since Opera 10 I have also started to use their E-Mail component and so far I am quite happy with it as Thunderbird was kind of buggy for me (killed some of my mail once, so I dumped him, may try it again in the new version).
Unless you are still using a 56k connection, Speed should be the least important part of a Browser. If your time is that budgeted you shouldn’t be browsing the internet anyway.
Stability is the most important issue.
Compatibility with websites is second. Chrome does not yet work with most forum websites without editing the useragent. Firefox works with all websites.
@The Reign – Speed means different things to different people. What I was referring to was the speed a browser has in terms of rendering pages and executing JavaScript — and also the general speed of the interface.
As a netbook user, I base my selection on essentially the same criteria as you with speed being very important.
I have found by working with all the major browsers (including a number of lesser known alternatives) that Opera is the best choice for me.
It’s much faster than Firefox in all areas currently and performs better than Chrome (issues redrawing pages on multiple tabs).
I have had no issues with websites using Opera but I really did miss adBlocking until I came across an ad blocking solution here:
http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/
It works great. I have also recently found out that Opera also supports GreaseMonkey, GreaseKit Scripts out of the box, apparently – but have not tested this yet.
Right now I’m surfing, accessing pages as fast and reliably as I would on any fully powered desktop machine.
I highly recommend Opera for netbook users.
@Pax Thanks – hadn’t really been thinking about Netbooks, though I suppose I should be, hmm? I own netbooks, but use them sparingly. Mostly on planes or light browsing on the couch while watching TV. Will have to give Opera a try on Netbooks. That’s a good idea for an article, actually.
Freedom.
I’m not looking for speed as most modern browsers perform well (unless you are into splitting hairs). What I want is the best overall browsing experience.
I use 4 browsers – Firefox, IE, Konqueror and Opera but of these, in my opinion, Opera delivers the best (and overall fastest, easiest) browsing experience. Mouse gestures and Opera link being ‘killer’ features.
I’m not too bothered about other apps or extensions because specialised s/w usually does a better job.
Stability and Compatibility (rarely) an issue.
Cross platform yes, so points to Firefox and Opera.
Opera here!
due to stability, low resource utilization, and delivers every feature I need.
I am really surprised to see so many opera users around.
Simple: desktop (KDE) integration!
I personally *hate* the GTK file dialogs, and I’m soooo happy that you’ve fixed that in 11.2. However…. if you do the same trick in Chrome/Chromium I switch in a heartbeat. Fast, clean interface, separate processes… awesome.
The only alternative on KDE *could* be Rekonq, if they change the name
Regards, Harry
Speed, stability and ease of use. I have firefox, chrome and opera on my desktop and I simply always end up using Opera. Speed dial, magic wand, mouse gestures, previews on the tabs, Link sync. I know many can be done with plugins in other browsers but the feel/look/use is just not as fluid or normal as in Opera. And although things like Unite are maybe to much for a browser they can easily turned off
Like Artur I am surprised to see so many Opera users here as it has a very small market share.