Best Browser For elementary?

michael diemer · 08-28-2016, 01:22 PM

Hi, I've been using Firefox, after looking at that "20 things to do after installing elementary" thread. However, it has become slow, so I'm back to using Midori. With other systems I have used Opera, Vivaldi, and Chromium. I wanted to try Pale Moon, but have never succeeded in installing it in any Linux OS. With Chromium, I find I am always having to fight off attempts to link me to the Chrome store. I always use Duck Duck as my search engine. So, anyone have any suggestions for the best browser in elementary?

Thanks,

Mike

John VV · 08-28-2016, 10:29 PM

there is always the updated old Mozilla " Seamonkey 2.40 "

frankbell · 08-28-2016, 10:46 PM

Beware of those "X Number of Things To Do after Installing Y" stories. They reflect the prejudices of the writer far more than they reflect the needs of the reader.

I used to use Opera--I had been using since it first became public with v. 3 [mumble] years ago--but stopped using it several years ago when it dumped its founder and changed direction. I saw what precisely their new direction was when they came out with the first new Windows version after their management shake-up and that was enough for me. (I hope that the Vivaldi browser, Opera's founder's new project, works out, but it's not there yet).

I have been using Seamonkey quite happily since then, but finally Mozilla's failure to get Seamonkey sync working again (as my first wife would have said) plucked my last nerve and I went to Firefox. Frankly, Firefox is nowhere nearly so clunky as I remember and I am using it quite happily (I have done some tweaking to clear history and cookies on exit and some other stuff that works for me).

If sync is not an issue for you, I second the recommendation to take a look at Seamonkey.

I won't use Chrome on principle and have no interest in a Chrome spin-off like Chromium. I know that Google probably knows everything there is to know about me, but, by heavens, I refuse to help them.

Timothy Miller · 08-28-2016, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I won't use Chrome on principle and have no interest in a Chrome spin-off like Chromium. I know that Google probably knows everything there is to know about me, but, by heavens, I refuse to help them.

Just to point out, chromium isn't a spin-off of chrome, it's what chrome is built off of. IMO, a very important difference.

For the OP, IMO palemoon makes the latest Firefox looks downright fast. I installed it on one of my Debian systems and on my Arch system, and the performance was abyssmally bad, worse than Firefox, which is saying something since I hate the performance of firefox.

However, if you don't use a ton of add-ons, you could try forcing electrolysis on in Firefox. I did this for a while in my Arch install, and it made a GARGANTUAN difference in performance. However, I use a lot of add-ons, and it also sadly made a fairly big difference in stability towards the negative. YMMV, however, can't hurt to try since it's easy enough to turn it back off it the stability does suffer.

As far as browsers, I actually do prefer Chromium. Uses the chrome plugins of which there are many good ones, it's fast, easy enough to get a working modern flash if you need/want it. Really the only weakness is lack of Java plugin if you need/want it. If you don't, then chromium is a really good browser IMO, with great performance.

frankbell · 08-28-2016, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Just to point out, chromium isn't a spin-off of chrome, it's what chrome is built off of. IMO, a very important difference.

Methinks a distinction without a difference. The edifice cannot be separated from its foundation.

In any event, my disinterest is bottomless.

Timothy Miller · 08-28-2016, 11:58 PM

To me I look at it like Debian & Ubuntu. Ubuntu is derived from Debian. I love Debian, not a fan of Ubuntu. I like Chromium, not a fan of Chrome which is derived from it. Maybe if there was something out there that was as fully featured and performed on the level of Chromium, I might feel differently. But everything I've tried is either lousy performance, lousy rendering of web-pages, or lacking features I want/need.

michael diemer · 08-29-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

Beware of those "X Number of Things To Do after Installing Y" stories. They reflect the prejudices of the writer far more than they reflect the needs of the reader.

{Agreed. On my first elementary install, I added the Tweak Tool. It may work fine with other computers, but I've learned that this one misbehaves when I mess around with the Desktop Environment. I now try to leave it as is.}

I used to use Opera--I had been using since it first became public with v. 3 [mumble] years ago--but stopped using it several years ago when it dumped its founder and changed direction. I saw what precisely their new direction was when they came out with the first new Windows version after their management shake-up and that was enough for me. (I hope that the Vivaldi browser, Opera's founder's new project, works out, but it's not there yet).

{I really like Opera. I hear there is a new version which is supposed to be like the old version, but I don't know where to find it.}

I have been using Seamonkey quite happily since then, but finally Mozilla's failure to get Seamonkey sync working again (as my first wife would have said) plucked my last nerve and I went to Firefox. Frankly, Firefox is nowhere nearly so clunky as I remember and I am using it quite happily (I have done some tweaking to clear history and cookies on exit and some other stuff that works for me).

If sync is not an issue for you, I second the recommendation to take a look at Seamonkey.

{I don't do any syncing. I'll have a look at Seamonkey.}

I won't use Chrome on principle and have no interest in a Chrome spin-off like Chromium. I know that Google probably knows everything there is to know about me, but, by heavens, I refuse to help them.

Agree again. Down with Google, and anything related to it.

(Sorry about messing up with my replies. I can never figure out how to reply to quotes properly).

michael diemer · 08-29-2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

Just to point out, chromium isn't a spin-off of chrome, it's what chrome is built off of. IMO, a very important difference.

For the OP, IMO palemoon makes the latest Firefox looks downright fast. I installed it on one of my Debian systems and on my Arch system, and the performance was abyssmally bad, worse than Firefox, which is saying something since I hate the performance of firefox.

However, if you don't use a ton of add-ons, you could try forcing electrolysis on in Firefox. I did this for a while in my Arch install, and it made a GARGANTUAN difference in performance. However, I use a lot of add-ons, and it also sadly made a fairly big difference in stability towards the negative. YMMV, however, can't hurt to try since it's easy enough to turn it back off it the stability does suffer.

As far as browsers, I actually do prefer Chromium. Uses the chrome plugins of which there are many good ones, it's fast, easy enough to get a working modern flash if you need/want it. Really the only weakness is lack of Java plugin if you need/want it. If you don't, then chromium is a really good browser IMO, with great performance.

Thanks for that tip on Palemoon. Now I won't waste any more time trying to install it.

I actually did like Chromium, apart from its' being a cousin to Chrome. It was fast. But it does have that Chrome connection. Too close for comfort for me.

Timothy Miller · 08-29-2016, 11:09 AM

If you're using the "stable" Firfox and not "ESR", I'd try force enabling electrolysis then. It really does make it feel like a totally different browser with the improvement in performance.

michael diemer · 08-29-2016, 07:56 PM

I'm currently trying Qupzilla. It is very fast, so far no crashes. I tried Epiphany but was not impressed. If Qupzilla continues to be this fastr and stable, I think it's the answer for me.

ondoho · 08-31-2016, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Miller

If you're using the "stable" Firfox and not "ESR", I'd try force enabling electrolysis then. It really does make it feel like a totally different browser with the improvement in performance.

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Electrolysis#Testing
here's how to enable it if anyone's wondering.
i just did it (it wasn't enabled on my archlinux firefox 48.0.2), have yet to restart the browser.
we will see...

michael diemer · 09-23-2016, 07:20 PM

I'm reopening this thread to discussion. I recently saw that Deepin has Palemoon in their software store, so I couldn't resist installing it, as I've heard a lot about it, but could never get it installed. So far, it is pretty fast, and seems to be a decent browser. The one thing I'm wondering about is its connection with start.me. It reminds me of My Way, which I used a while back, but then I heard it might be a type of malware, so I ditched it (it was very hard to disentangle myself from it). I'm wondering if anyone has opinions on start.me (or My Way for that matter).

ondoho · 09-24-2016, 04:20 AM

i don't like start.me (or any cloud-based homepage for that matter) and i'm not using it.
preferences => when palemoon starts, show a blank page.
same for new tab.

i don't think palemoon is affiliated with start.me on a deeper level, phoning home and such (like chromium and google, for example).

but i don't know for sure.

michael diemer · 09-29-2016, 02:28 PM

To sum up my experiences of late with various browsers, in various distros:

I have decided I like Vivaldi the best. It's gorgeous and very stable. Palemoon is intriguing, but it has that Start.me connection, of which I'm a bit suspicious. Opera is also gorgeous and fast, but they ousted the founder (who then went on to create Vivaldi). Firefox is reliable but occasionally crashes on me. Qupzilla is very impressive, but crashes even more. Midori is slow. Chromium, too close to Chrome for comfort. So Vivaldi it is, on Elementary and every other distro.

ondoho · 09-30-2016, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael diemer

I have decided I like Vivaldi the best. It's gorgeous and very stable.

and not open source.
https://vivaldi.net/en-US/forum/viva...ng-open-source
https://opensource.com/life/16/4/you...cues-community
just saying.

Quote:

Palemoon is intriguing, but it has that Start.me connection, of which I'm a bit suspicious.

that really got your knickers in a twist. just don't use it!
palemoon certainly isn't the only browser to use a commercial homepage, and what's wrong with that. it's easy to just not use.
i would be much more worried about the google connection that most browser out there have, incl. firefox!

Quote:

Opera is also gorgeous and fast, but they ousted the founder (who then went on to create Vivaldi).

and based on chromium, these days.