[TheRaven]

Well, what's your browser of choice?

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I have several myself: Internet Explorer 9 Beta Preview, Google Chrome, Opera, and Apple Safari.
I like to dabble in web design and stuff like that so, I generally need a couple of browsers for testing and layout.

[James (Jim) Hillier]

Hey Raven - Good idea for a poll.

Perhaps I may be so bold as to pick your brain a little. I've never used Opera and know very little about the browser. Opera is an enigma to me, simply because its market share is so tiny yet I have never read a bad thing about it. In fact, only ever read glowing reviews and very favourable comments.......yet, incongruously, Opera's market share is just above 2.00%.

Seems, despite glowing testimonials, Opera is not so popular among the masses. I was wondering if you might be able to shed some light on why that may be.

Cheers mate....Jim

[jjj]

Google Chrome
Was on Firefox (after IE 6 - i think) but moved to Chrome after a problem with an upgrade ( from Firefox v2 to v3 ?) At first still had to use IE for some pages.
A few months back tried Opera ( V 10beta and 11 alpha) after encountering problems with Chrome ( processes still running after closing -cache not being deleted by CCleaner)
The transition from Chrome to Opera was easy , both being very similar, did notice a fraction of a lag in opening pages at first but this faded in a couple of days.
Opera is OK and a good escape from being Googalised.
The problem with chrome was corrected in later versions ( I only noticed it because I go to chrome cache to save any flash or videos- simpler than installing a program to do so)
and have migrated fully back to it from Opera.
We have a number of computers and users at home and they all use Chrome, even the drop ins with only IE experience quickly switch over once introduced.
The opening page in Opera (Speed Dial) I liked, so have installed the Speed Dial Ext to Chrome.
This computer is the first I have not installed MS Word on - Google docs instead - so Chrome has another benefit - and have given GoogleVoice a trial so can see Skype going soon as well.
I hope this Helps.

[marko]

Has to be FireFox for me, call me predictable if you will, but I guess it comes down to useability - I've probably tried most browsers on my quest for the perfect one and if I were to list my top 3 it would probably be FF first, Chrome second then IE

Like you Jim, I've little experience with Opera although my son has used it often in the past simply because he stumbled upon it and just liked it. At the end of the day we can consider browser choice in a similar way to freeware, it's always been available but some choose not to use it because they don't know enough about it, doesn't make it any less useful, in fact some examples out-perform the best commercial products, but without exposure it's often the case that it retains the minority share of the market.
Marko