Firefox most popular on wilders.

After looking through the forum it would appear firefox is the main browser to use if some of the polls are taken into consideration.

Is there any particular reasons for this please.?

Thanks.

 

configurability, add ons, customization

The bookmarks function alone would be enough reason for me to use Firefox

 

I think the simplest answer is that Firefox is highly customizable. Some other points:
(1) familiarity: Mozilla was my escape from internet explorer (Microsoft's infection/pop-up/toolbar riddled nightmare) and it's been with me long enough that I haven't seen a need to switch browsers until more recently. I'm still looking for a suitable replacement, but its hard to find a browser that meets all of my needs including: compatibility with sandboxie, support for my add-ons, and the same degree of customization as firefox when it comes to modifying the config file.

(2) clean/simple menus: Horizontal or Vertical don't matter to me, but (file, edit, view, bookmarks, history, help) is a lot cleaner than what early chrome and later internet explorer have setup. Icon navigation does not compute in my brain except: bluetooth, gear or wrench, home, or printer icons. The cut, copy, and paste icons can get confusing across different software. I still like the classic menu in Firefox, but I've slowly learned to deal with the UI changes while I continue looking for another browser.

(3)performance impact: Chrome felt like a resource hog back when it was first introduced. So I ended up removing the browser and going back to Firefox. Today, I keep a portable version of chrome on a flash stick now, as a backup, in case portable Firefox can't be utilized.

(4) Aesthetics: I've voiced my dislike and hatred for the new UI change in Firefox. But my dislike stems back to my first experiences with chrome way back when. One of the most immediately differences that I noticed was that chrome conserves screen space when it comes to themes. I can see why some people might like that, but I felt it defeated the purpose of customizing your browser. You wouldn't stick a vase of flowers on your table if you planned to cover it with a cloth rag so that only the vase or stems of the flowers are showing. I want to open my browser and see something that is very much me. Early chrome just didn't appeal to me for this reason and other design elements including the curved tabs don't sit well with me. Everyone has their own taste when it comes to design. My just happens to disagree with what has become a popular trend amongst software designers. Another good example is my dislike for the metro UI style. In applications like Comodo, I like the Modern Theme, but dislike the flat tile theme. Both themes are very similiar, but I honestly can't say why I prefer one over the other. Perhaps, my dislike for chrome is similar. It just doesn't look right.

 

+1

 

If it wasn't for the privacy issues or the missing Bookmarks sidebar, i would have switched to Chrome already, but I'm quite happy with Firefox although they start to add commercial garbage nobody ain't interested in.

 

Probably because Chrome and IE suck, and Opera Presto is dead.

This has to be one of the worst bookmarking systems ever, with no ability to add a URL alias straight away. And for some reason, new bookmarks end up in the "recently made bookmarks" folder. I freaking hate it.

 

The reason I like Chrome is, all my settings, bookmarks, passwords and extensions are on one gmail login. I can go to any computer, log in with my gmail and Chrome automatically updates itself to my browser settings that I had before.

 

I guess the popularity boils down to being accustomed to how Firefox works and certain favorite or required add-ons that users may not find an alternative to in other browsers.

For some, it may also be a matter of choosing a mainstream browser that is not from Google or Microsoft.

 

Because I can't stop Chrome from crashing.

 

I use Firefox because it just works, where most of the others like Chrome etc I have issues with, bugs, whatnot. Firefox consistently works for me, no hassles....

 

I have noticed myself that firefox performs a lot better on my linux system than it ever did when i used windows.I suppose the one thing which has put me off chrome is the constant privacy issues propaganda which seems to float around a lot,

 

Yes, Firefox runs really well on Linux and is my default browser on Ubuntu, although I'm more likely to be in Chromium on Linux these days. I use it on Windows rarely now though, it just doesn't have the speed of Maxthon and breaks some pages, although that may be NoScript.

 

I use it for the following reasons:

1. Portable version - Seems to be the most stable portable browser out there (Had problems with Chrome and other portable browsers)

2. Memory usage is light on the system

3. Maintenance service is optional and doesn't list itself everywhere (Cough, Google Update - Service, chrome://plugins, Task Scheduler).

4. The most customizable browser (Through extensions and about:config)

5. Seems to be more privacy oriented than other browsers.

6. The interface is simple, clean and easy to navigate through.

7. Bookmark manager is pretty solid (I like it better than other browsers)

 

For my taste, Firefox is number 1. There are many reasons for that but being able to set tabs not on top and having my bookmarks open as a sidebar with one click are the options that are essential to me. That, and being able to use NoScript, makes Firefox the browser of choice for me.

Bo

 

Firefox is better than using anything from google and better than the bloated IE last i checked.
my browser of choice is still Opera 12 though.

 

No matter how many browsers I try,
I have always come back to Firefox!

 

http://s11.postimg.org/4cucj3y5v/Screen_Shot_07_16_15_at_06_17_AM.png
...and extensions!

 

Firefox Sync offers similar functionality.

 

Yes, I just have all my stuff on Chrome lol. But I've seen that. I do use Waterfox from time to time.

 

Excellent replies and thank you.
This kind of confirms what i have always thought was the case that in totality and customisation firefox is the better browser.

Mark Shuttleworth the founder of ubuntu however seems to favour chrome and is considering using chrome as the default browser in ubuntu.

 

I thought that was ages ago. Chrome isn't even in the Ubuntu repo, although Chromium is. I can't see Ubuntu switching from Firefox, but even if they did, it would be more likely to Chromium or SeaMonkey. SeaMonkey works well on Linux and has many of the same extensions as Firefox.

 

Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on mr shuttleworths behalf lol

 

I have used Firefox for years it ability to be so customizable is unparallelled by any browser, themes are better than any other browser, wider selection of addons
.I used to use Opera but that was years ago, at that time Opera had no addons and very few themes

I export my Bookmarks to my....documents folder as a .html file with a date in the title(because the Bookmarks list can grow or shrink in size} I save it off my computer to so I will always have a current copy.

 

I've never liked FireFox, and ws using tabbed browsers long before FireFox existed. I don't care about addons, I want a browser that can be customised do everything I need without having to download any addons. For that reason, I don't use FireFox, Chrome or Internet Explorer.

 

In a world populated by billions i find the idea of a browser which can cater for all a bit of a utopia .
Everyone is unique and has their own idea of what should be in a browser and this is the true power of the add-on to achieve this goal.
Forgive me im not being sarcastic but in terms of customisation firefox is a clear victor.