B-B-B-Browsers

[wolfgangbuster29]

Here we can discuss the pros and cons of the Web browsers that we choose to use and work well for us as well as those of which we have used in the past and why we got rid of them and of course those of which we have yet to try.

We can also exchange ideas and thoughts that could lead to solutions to common problems with Web browsers so in the end we all can have the best AW experience.

I'll start by throwing in my two-cent's worth about Firefox and though I have given it a fair try, I found it unuseable. The main thing I did not like about Firefox is that if you have multiple browsers up, i.e. logged into two or three websites and you go to log out and close only one of the browsers, ALL of them close and you lose connection to the other sites you were logged into. A terrible disadvantage because to be in the AW Forums you need to be logged into BOTH AW mainsite AND the Forums.

So I fell back to I.E. which allows me to stay logged into multiple sites and not be limited to just one logged-in site at-a-time.

But on occasion I.E. does experience connection slowdown or even a full-halt of connection and transfer of data when even just one browser going. This happens on a multitude of computers, on a multitude of ISPs and carriers and I even get calls from friends of mine asking me what might be going on as to why their broesers grind to a halt. This has happening a whole lot more just within this last 6 months and frankly it has me and so many others puzzled as to whet's going on. Any ideas, anyone?

[Frans]

Slow down in the browser itself? Suspect slow scripting on the site you're browsing or too many flash/embedded objects (IE doesn't like those in larger numbers).

If possible try the same site in another browser at the same time. That rules out all the not-browser possible issues.

[mrpinkeyes]

The issues you mentioned for IE was exactly what I was experiencing. Thus moved to Firefox.

I do use Google Chrome... when doing work stuff from my home computer... and I do find that rather slow for some reason. Not that is purely based on loading the home page.

I also have IE loaded on my computer... Just for the comparison purposes Frans spoke of but also I use it to view the tour pages of AW... when someone quotes of it on the boards and as I never log out from AW then I can't do that in Firefox.

Wolfie.... I'm logged into the forum and the website all the time and can do all that in the one tab... are you saying you open the Firefox browser up more than once??? Why do you choose to do this instead of opening in different tabs?? As I often have AW opened in 2 or 3 tabs... especially when doing links for the boards.

[wolfgangbuster29]

...Wolfie.... I'm logged into the forum and the website all the time and can do all that in the one tab... are you saying you open the Firefox browser up more than once??? Why do you choose to do this instead of opening in different tabs?? As I often have AW opened in 2 or 3 tabs... especially when doing links for the boards.

It's the way I and everyone else I know have done it.

Tabs are unfamiliar to me as yet, and since I didn't need them before I figure it was just an added feature, much like those silly 3rd party toolbars that no one needed in the first place so when I set up a new computer anywhere I usually turn off the Tabs feature so as to prevent confusion and questions in the future. Plus turning off those extra gimmicks, bells & whistles helps to unclutter the browser control areas. Too many bells & whistles, add-ons and gimmicks tend to slow a browser down so I find it's best to keep a clean work area and work with only the necessary controls of the browser.

I've been curious about Opera and whether anyone here has used and how well Opera works these days for people. I will be trying it too sometime.

[redlabka]

You should try to use tabs. It's a major innovation in web browsers.
You just have to middle click on every links that you want to read/watch. They load in the background and you can switch to them latter.

I've been using Opera for a long time and it's the best browser.
It has a lot of feature but if you aren't using tabs, I guess that you won't use them either.

[Frans]

If you just want tabs, stick with one of the browsers you already use as most have tabs as well. You can use Opera with AW but it's not 100% supported, so sticking with IE, FF or Chrome is easier. One step at a time

[tjsunray]

Frans...hope you don't mind this off-topic question: you say you never log -off AW's....do you shut down the computer in the evening before retiring ? If so, don't you have to log-on to the site again in the morning, unless you leave it on 24/7. Till this day i'm still not sure whether to shut the computer down or leave it running 24/7 ?...( i have a desktop ) I've had some conflicting suggestions in regards to - shut down vs leave it on - in the past.

[timbo83]

I shut mine down and it stays logged in to AW, as in I never have to enter my password, just click AW on the pinned list and I'm signed in, I think this is what Frans is talking about, you just click the box that says "remember me" when you sign in, this avoids that popup ad people have been having trouble with

P.S. I'm using IE and everything works fine for me, I'm terible with computers and I would hate to have to change and learn somthing new, so it's good that everything runs well with what I'm used to

[Frans]

If you tick 'remember me' in the login box you can shutdown your computer and enter the site when you later power it on again. This assumes you do NOT clean/remove cookies on startup or shutdown (e.g. no CCcleaner, unless configured to leave AW cookies alone).

Desktops generally are not designed to run 24x7, esp. not the hard-disks in them. That's not to say it can't be done, but if you use your desktop say 2 hours/day you're prolly better of shutting it down.

[tjsunray]

Thanks for the reply....another question. I'm using FF 99% of the time currently and am very happy with it but also keep IE 8 just in case and have had to use it very sparingly. I'm also curious about Chrome though. If i download it, how will i transfer my favourites (as with IE 8 ) OR bookmarks ( as with FF ) into chrome ?...or will it be transferred automatically ?...as you can tell, i'm not computer savoy at all

[wolfgangbuster29]

I always log out of AW before I take off to work or something. I wouldn't want my daughter or beloved landlady to wander in here and pull up the site while I'm gone.

[bookmanz]

TJ, I'm trying out Chrome at work and at home. At work it transferred my favorites from IE just fine. At home it transferred my Firefox bookmarks just fine as well. I like Chrome, you might try it out and see what you think.

Wolfgang, tabs are great. In one application (your web browser) you can quickly tab between your favorite entertainment site, your favorite discussion boards, a news or sports site, your work, and your web based mai. It's all there an easy tab click away.

[wolfgangbuster29]

TJ, I'm trying out Chrome at work and at home. At work it transferred my favorites from IE just fine. At home it transferred my Firefox bookmarks just fine as well. I like Chrome, you might try it out and see what you think.

Wolfgang, tabs are great. In one application (your web browser) you can quickly tab between your favorite entertainment site, your favorite discussion boards, a news or sports site, your work, and your web based mai. It's all there an easy tab click away.

Actually I have used Chrome, with tabs. It's on one of the computers at work. It just feels awkward as some of the controls are in odd places and some of the other controls are just not there. The layout of it is so unusual that I've just never gotten used to it, though I do use it every day at work.

On another note, IE 9 bites the big one, as several months ago when I gave it a try, it seemed nothing in it worked properly if not at all and a rollback to IE 8 was the fix.

[tjsunray]

On another note, IE 9 bites the big one, as several months ago when I gave it a try, it seemed nothing in it worked properly if not at all and a rollback to IE 8 was the fix.

Last summer i had my spanking new computer built by a pro. techie and when i inquired about IE 9 vs IE 8 he strongly suggested to go with IE 8 as well...i just left it at that...i trust his expertise.

[mrpinkeyes]

Tabs are the bees knees....

That is all

[wolfgangbuster29]

I also noticed straightaway that IE9 was even more prone to crashing than 8.

[wolfgangbuster29]

So I am giving Opera a fair try now, as I had been intending to for some time now. It seems to be really fast. Drawback, though, it seems there you can only have two open at a time, it won't let you open a third, fourth, etc much like IE could. We'll see how it goes.

[wolfgangbuster29]

I'm taking Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 for a test-drive as I've just installed it. Straightaway I found that I couldn't login to the Abbywinters site using IE10 so I'm currently up and logged in using Opera. Hopefully that's an issue that can be fixed easilly so Frans, would you please ask AW site admins about this login issue with the new IE10? I express a concern because alot of folks out there getting Windows 8 and it has IE10 built-in and they might not be able to loginto AW as well. Meanwhile I'll check my settings here in my installation of IE10

[Frans]

What exactly didn't work when you tried to use IE10 with AW? Did you get a loginbox at all?

[wolfgangbuster29]

What exactly didn't work when you tried to use IE10 with AW? Did you get a loginbox at all?

Yep. I get the login box okay but nothing happens after I've proper entered my username and password and click the 'Login' button. It just sits there. The login box stays there too.

[Frans]

IE10 on a windows7 works fine for me, can login ok. See other tech-support thread you made for remaining questions/suggestions.

[wolfgangbuster29]

...See other tech-support thread you made for remaining questions/suggestions.

Which thread is that? Would you please provide a link? I've searched through all the threads I've created for the Technical Support section but didn't find anything recent in those related to this topic. Thanks.

[Frans]

...See other tech-support thread you made for remaining questions/suggestions.

Which thread is that? Would you please provide a link? I've searched through all the threads I've created for the Technical Support section but didn't find anything recent in those related to this topic. Thanks.

It's in the Tech Support/PC section, here http://forums.abbywinters.com/vbulle...ad.php?t=13397

[wolfgangbuster29]

I just thought I'd pass along that the new IE10 browser isn't able to access the Adobe website. At all. This is a real problem since the Adobe site is the source for downloading and updating the Adobe Flash player that is needed for most sites.

Now at present I am able to stream video from the AW site as well as use YouTube and other, similar sites, but just thinking it might be a wise idea to make sure the Flash player was up-to-date, I have no access to the Adobe site thru IE10. I still have installed Opera on this new computer in case I do run into some compatibility issues.

Any Safari users out there, and what have been your experiences with Safari?

[Frans]

I just thought I'd pass along that the new IE10 browser isn't able to access the Adobe website. At all. This is a real problem since the Adobe site is the source for downloading and updating the Adobe Flash player that is needed for most sites.

I can access it just fine. There is a way to automate and do those updates without visiting the website though, look here: https://ninite.com/

[wolfgangbuster29]

Shoot, they want me to pay for that.

I tried again this morning to access the Adobe site with IE10 and I almost had it but it froze up during the download process. Then after that and after closing and restarting IE10 I was unable to log into the AW site again. Same problem as before so I had to switch back to Opera. This of course after a full re-boot of my modem, router and (new) computer. Now I'm in with Opera. I'd be happy to stay with Opera if only it worked just as well with all other sites but it doesn't. The computer itself is about a year old but now with a new hard drive and new installation of Win7 with Service Pack 1. All device drivers are up-to-date.

[Frans]

If both IE and Firefox give you such problems it does sound like something is wrong in your win7 install somehow. It's probably not feasable but it would be interesting to see if a clean install of win7+sp1 without doing ANYTHING more works better for you. And ninite has a free version, get this http://ninite.com/flash-flashie/ it will let you download an installer which will update the Flash plugins if needed. It will not correct *corrupt* Flash plugins (which I'm suspecting on your system).

[wolfgangbuster29]

If both IE and Firefox give you such problems it does sound like something is wrong in your win7 install somehow. It's probably not feasable but it would be interesting to see if a clean install of win7+sp1 without doing ANYTHING more works better for you. And ninite has a free version, get this http://ninite.com/flash-flashie/ it will let you download an installer which will update the Flash plugins if needed. It will not correct *corrupt* Flash plugins (which I'm suspecting on your system).

IE10 problems was the main reason for the clean install of Win7 to a brand new hard drive so that in itsself can be ruled out. I too was thinking the problem could be either OS-related or faulty hard drive.

[Frans]

You can remove both Flash players (one for IE and one for the other browsers) from Add/Remove programs. Then test logging into AW, playing flash obviously won't work but the rest should.

You could then use the ninite link to re-install them and hopefully that fixes it.

[wolfgangbuster29]

To help supplement the discussions on browsers that've been going on over in the thread about the AW forums seeming to run slow in IE and other browsers, I would like to share my findings that Microsoft has drastically changed the way it stores information pertaining to all of one's Web browsing sessions and saves this information in a different file configuration and location that is much tougher to manage than previous versions of IE. Since IE10 in Windows 7 and later, no longer is all the browser cache stored in the 'Temporary Internet Files' folder and easily deletable so as to recover disk space from all that cache piling up over time. Now IE stores all the user's Web surfing cache and history of pages visited in one file that simply grows and grows and cannot be deleted or overwritten unless the user happens to be a real computer expert and has the knowhow to manage that cache file which could otherwise be scooped up by a hacker or other, unwelcome and prying eyes.

While it would seem readily understandable why the very thought of this newer caching configuration and the discovery of the inability to essentially manage the Internet caching process when using IE would tend to cause concern among IE users, it's just the more reason to turn away from using IE altogether and choose another browser whose caching process can be more effectively managed by the user while maintaining more security against nosy information hackers and identity thieves out there.

Just sharing my recent findings on this subject.