Speeds

Technology Blogged rendering speed: 0.9 seconds

Download + install time: 50 seconds

Start up speed: 1 second

These speeds are very fast. Considering that IE8 has a TB rendering speed of 1.4 seconds, Firefox has a TB rendering speed of 1.2 seconds and Google Chrome has a TB rendering speed of 1.2 seconds, Opera 10.5 has these browsers firmly beaten when it comes to speed. This browser is running at default, with no skins and no gadgets to slow it down.

I Liked

The new UI is beautiful and vibrant, and the drop down tabs are a hugely welcome transfer from 10.1. Opera Turbo works a treat, and I loved the Opera Unite function which is built in. Highly community based, Opera also amazed me with its web page rendering speeds and download time, which destroyed Safari (the other ‘apparently’ fastest web browser in the world) at my speed tests. I also liked the latest widget support for Opera, which includes web developer tools, highly fun sketch books and the Google translator. Although not as vast as Firefox’s array of add ons, Opera’s ‘gadgets’ are as good as in some respects, and as such Opera could be considered a direct alternative for a web developers platform.

I disliked

To save space at the top of the browser, the actual tabs which are apparent on IE and Firefox, with navigation to bookmarks and history etc. is at the side – although it is not visible until the ‘panels’ button has been prompted. It seemed a little bit out of the way, and the bookmarks somewhat distant. Whats more, when clicking on the ‘get gadgets’ tab when the panel button has been prompted, the gadgets web page renders itself in place of the tab you were just viewing, which can be frustrating – this can be remedied by just opening a new tab before clicking the get gadgets tab.

Overall

Opera has made a big leap forward with their new browser. It is more modern, more visually appealing and 50 times more functional than the previous version. 10.5 is a welcome addition to the web browser line up, and if you are after speed then this web browser is the best possible option. Will it replace everyday use of Firefox or IE? Yeah, to an extent. Opera has always been a more ‘quick browsing session’ type browser than a hardcore power using browser, but this edition is different. Everything seems more polished and more shiny, and with the new array of gadgets available, a lot more practical too.

©2012 Technology Blogged, News. All Rights Reserved.

Below are five of the best internet browsers each reviewed and tested for page speed (on technology blogged), ease of use, add ons and download + install time. Each web browser was reviewed for one week along side one another, to compare features and user friendliness.

Internet Explorer 8

Load time of Technology Blogged home page; 1.4 seconds

IE8 Download + install time (once un-installed and re-installed, as it comes with PC’s); 3 minutes 2 seconds

Summary

IE has seen its overall global market share drop in the past year, with other competing browsers snatching up valuable percentages. Yet through all the mud, dust and grime IE still holds its own as the worlds most popular browser. The latest release, version 8, sees a lot of Firefox’s features enter the realm of the ‘explorers’ and shows that, despite a lot of things, MS can do what consumers want.

I liked

I liked the page load times, and I also liked the familiarity still incorporated from IE6 and other past versions which make this browser a joy to use. I loved the ‘compatibility view’ mode which made me able to see that Technology Blogged’s CSS was all mixed up and didn’t show at all well with past browsers (now being fixed). IE8 is also nice to look at, and the RSS subscriber button list was a nice pre-installed feature. I also liked the high level of support available for people, both from MS and third party forums.

I disliked

Honestly? I didn’t dislike anything. The whole browser is well polished, and shows people exactly how a browser should look. The only thing I would change about this browser, when freshly installed, is the ability to preview pages by hovering on tabs. This feature would also create a more visually appealing and interactive browsing experience.

Firefox

Load time of Technology Blogged home page; 1.2 seconds.

Firefox download + install time; 2 minutes 20 seconds

Summary

I am sure the majority of people reading this probably use Firefox. In fact, I would put a Fiver on the volume of the traffic I am recieving is 40% Firefox.  And that is a good choice – because amongst other things, Firefox gives you the highest amount of functionality of any web browser out there and also has a very high satisfaction rate with consumers for reliability.

I liked

I liked Firefox on the whole. I loved the amount of add-ons available for FF, which include webmaster tools, SEO tools, on page image editing and Foxtab – which brings 3D to your web browser. I also loved the fact Firefox was skinnable, and the plug-in ‘Personas’ gives you a fantastic array of themes. The add-ons are what really sell this browser, there is just about an add on for anything you will ever need from a web browser – whats more, Firefox was one of fastest loading browsers of the five reviewed.

I disliked

There is only one thing I would change about this browser – and that is, similar to IE, the ability to preview pages by hovering on tabs. But that is not a problem once installed – because guess what? There is an add-on for that. It would just be nice to see this feature pre installed so there is no faffing about.

Google Chrome

Load time of Technology Blogged home page; 1.2 seconds

Google Chrome download + install time; 2 minutes 4 seconds

Summary

Google Chrome is considered the new kid on the block when it comes to web browsers – whether this is down to its release date or baby-faced minimalistic user interface I am not too sure – but what I am sure of is Chrome’s ability to load web pages. Fast is one word for it. Very fast.

I liked

I liked Chrome’s load time – and the way it did it. Rather than render Technology Blogged in stages, so flash first then main body, it did it in one lump seamlessly. And yes, web page cache was turned off. I also liked the clean feel to it, and the fact it too, like Firefox (albeit not as much), is customisable. I also liked that hardly any room was taken up by the top section of the browser, which gave me extra space too see the actual web page. The uninstall time was also lightning fast, taking a mere 0.3 seconds.

I disliked

Though very fast and minimalistic, Google Chrome felt a little bit buggy. It occasionally crashed with more than 10 tabs open at the same time, so I did it again, and it crashed again. Chrome also felt a little bit empty and featureless once installed. I also, though through preference, hated the desktop icon for Chrome. It reminded me of an eyeball, which, when looking at it, gave me the creeps.

Safari 4.0

Load time of Technology Blogged home page; 1 second

Safari 4.0 Download + install time; 2 minutes 17 seconds

Summary

Apple claims Safari is the worlds fastest web browser. I found no dispute in this fact, apart from Safari is by far not the fastest  browser to download and install. Faster than Chrome at browsing, and faster than Firefox, Safari is your best bet for browsing speed. But most definitely not your best bet for if you work on the internet. Not particularly feature rich, and as minimalistic as Chrome, Safari is a good browser for speed only.

I liked

I liked the web page rendering speeds, which are something Apple should be proud of. I also like the ‘top sites’ page which is dedicated to showing, rather visually, your most frequently visited websites – a sort of favourites if you like. I also liked the overall simplicity of the browser, as it is very good for what it does.

I disliked

Just like Chrome, Safari is pretty much featureless. It also, though this could be with the amount of software already on my laptop, started to slow down a fair bit when launching after one weeks worth of use. Tabs also froze randomly, although not frequently, and the overall design of the browser – having switched over from Chrome, was a little dated. There are no fancy polishing effects pre-installed in to this browser, which for some, is a bummer < as nobody wants an ugly browser.

Opera 10.10

Load time of Technology Blogged home page; 1 second

Opera 10.10 Download + install time; 1 minute 50 seconds

Summary

Opera is a well tuned and highly visual web browser. It is also the best web browser if you want eye candy. Of course, eye candy is not all Opera offers though – as web page rendering was lightning fast and on par with Safari. With visual tabs (no browser is complete without them) and Opera Unite, Opera 10.10 is a browser for the masses.

I liked

I loved the visual drag down tabs, as well as the left column bar down the side which is accessable through a click. I liked the add-ons available, and loved the speed of Opera. It was also the fastest browser to launch, and so very fast for overall use. I also liked the overall concept of Opera, with it being very much community based, which appealed to me vastly. Built with the future in mind, Opera is a very modern looking web browser with a fantastic user friendly UI.

I disliked

Nothing. Opera never stalled, never crashed, never froze and never faltered throughout its week worth of use. I became vastly accustomed to the UI, and had no gripes with this browser at all.

©2012 Technology Blogged, News. All Rights Reserved.