Best Browser? Opera 10 vs Chrome 4 vs Firefox 3 vs Safari 4 vs Explorer (any)

First thing to know if you're not already aware - Internet Explorer is the worst browser period. This is not just opinion, this is proven fact, and countless tests have shown Internet Explorer to perform so much less, that most of the time it is not even included in ratings.It's a long and ongoing battle about which browser is best, but essentially, the choice is up to the top couple browsers and your personal preferences.

Here are a few speed tests taken from Lifehacker.net:







These speed tests generally indicate Chrome as the fastest browser; however, consider the fact that Chrome uses everything in a separate process, including add-ons (extensions). Hence, a user who likes the extra browser features will notice a heavy load on their computer, as compared with Firefox, which on the surface appears to be slower.

In addition, even though Opera rates high in the speed charts, consider the fact that it does not support add-ons or extensions at all. This means that certain must-have extensions, like for example LastPass, are unavailable for Opera users.

Initially, I had abandoned Firefox (after many years of loving and promoting it) and left for Opera, and later abandoned Opera seeing the lack of extensions, and left for Chrome. Later I began using Firefox once again, for at various instances either Firefox or Chrome is best for the job.

I dislike the lack of variety of features of Chrome, along with the lack of features or customization. With Chrome you can't move things around like you can in Firefox or (especially) Opera.

When it comes to spacial customization, such as the ability to move around and create new toolbars, Opera wins hands-down.

However, when it comes to maximizing desktop space, with Firefox 3.6's full-screen mode (press F11), Firefox wins.

When it comes to visual customization, Firefox wins hands-down.

When it comes to being supported on Windows operating systems, Safari loses.

When it comes to being the slowest, most malicious, and most unsafe browser, then Internet Explorer wins without a thought.

When it comes to speed, it depends on your type of processor and how much you are multitasking with other programs - as well as your operating system. At different times, Firefox, Chrome, or Opera are the fastest. If you cannot live without certain extensions, then the tie is between Firefox and Chrome, even though Chrome technically wins the benchmark tests.

When it comes to usability, Firefox has the most features, is the most user-friendly, and is the most widely supported. In my opinion, Firefox is also the most stable, even though at the time of writing I am using Chrome 4.

And lastly, when it comes to not having a utilitarian dictatorship monopoly running all your daily internet tasks, then Google Chrome is out of the running. On the other hand, besides taking away a certain amount of control and freedom, Google has provided us with a large amount of awesome and top-of-the-line services, which are more importantly free, even if it does mean we lose our customer service and privacy. For this reason I cannot completely hate Google for being a masked tyrannical dictatorship.

In conclusion, my opinion actually sways toward Firefox as being the best browser overall, with the runner-up being Google Chrome. Even so, I do still use Chrome as a primary browser, maybe because I depend on so many Google services for my daily life already.