FF vs IE: 1:0

Microsoft’s Popup Blocking is only available with SP2 for Windows XP. With half the business world still using Windows 2000, that leaves half the business world as SOL. Who knows about the home user.

Microsoft’s Tabbed Browsing as a feature called “”taskbar grouping” in Windows XP is not the same thing. This is like apples and oranges. The only thing in common is the grouping. After that, functionality goes in the way of tabs.

Privacy and Security – Service Pack 2 added numerous improvements to the Internet Explorer. This is true, however the latest and greatest IE has 19 unpatched security flaws with the worst rated as “Highly Critical” where as Firefox has 3 unpatched security flaws with the worst rated as “Less Critical”. (Sources: Secunia – Vulnerability Report – Mozilla Firefox 1.x and Secunia – Vulnerability Report – Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x) Also, some of IE’s bigger holes are over a year old.

Smarter Search – If you need a Microsoft knowledgebase article on how to configure IE’s search behavior, either it is too complicated for the average user or they don’t even know it exists.

Live Bookmarks – RSS is expected in IE7 under a new name. Since Firefox put it in the browser and people like and want it. It forced Microsoft to upgrade the aged IE 6.

Hassle-Free Downloading – Prompts never bothered me. I can only guess here is that the sooner the download starts, the sooner it is done. I do like the Firefox has a built in download manager. Helps in tracking what was downloaded.

Fits Like a Glove – “Firefox has all the functions you’re used to – Bookmarks, History, Full Screen, Text Zooming,” the functions you first saw in Internet Explorer 6, three years ago. Firefox used to be called Phoenix, as in rising from the ashes of Netscape. Thinking that way, IE got these items from Netscape. They are nothing new and special. basically a tie.

S, M, L or XL-You Choose – Extensions are for the most are a tie. Firefox has the better extension manager, but with fewer extensions. IE has more extensions, but the quality of the manager is limited to the IE version and beyond.

Setup’s a Snap – With Internet Explorer, there’s no setup required. You just have it, with your Windows installation! True and that is how Netscape got killed off. However, Firefox installation is very easy to install. It even lets you transfer IE settings to Firefox at any time.

A Developer’s Best Friend – I am not a developer so I can not comment on this.

You also talk about loading speed. IE should start faster than Firefox because it is already like 3/4 of the way loaded when Windows starts. That is because it is a part of the OS. This is great for starting speed, but terrible for security. For the XP users, add “/Prefetch:1″ to the end of the Target line in the shortcut. This will cut Firefox load times in half.

Your page load test on Google is about a month before the official release of Firefox. Firefox 1.0 came out November 9 2004, your test is October 4, 2004. I would test it again.

I would bet your memory test is the same thing. I would also like to remind you that since IE is a part of the OS, its true memory size is hidden with the OS.

IE is not standards compliant in any any way shape or form compared to Firefox. You can Google that and get hundreds of posts stating that.

IE isn’t exactly free. If you want the latest and greatest IE and you don’t have Windows XP, expect to shell out a few hundred dollars to get the OS to get it. IE7 will be the same way. IE7 for EP is only a subset of the whole thing. If you want the Full IE7, again expect to shell out a few hundred dollars to get the latest OS to get it. Also, the next OS is due out in late 2006.

In short, IE is only a shadow of Firefox. Microsoft wasn’t going to release IE7 until the next OS in late 2006, but because of everything that Firefox has to offer and the number of people switching to it, they had to change plans for IE. Now, Microsoft is releasing a subset of IE7 early to compete and catch up with Firefox. Basically, Firefox is the better product and Microsoft knows it.

Sort of like Mac vs. Win. Both sides may be correct, and I’m sure that their products have valid applications that the user would find most convenient. But the fact is, most casual readers really DON’T CARE. You like Mac? Well, go ahead then(, you poor incompatible wretch! . You like Windows? Go ahead. Use it.
And every now and then spout off in your blog about your superior product, just to get under the skin of those who seem to be opposed to you.

You like Firefox? By all means, use it. You like IE? USE IT!

I use Firefox on a Windows computer. There, I said it.
I use IE only for FTP uploads, when I’m not at work or home.

If the shoe fits…