IE7 vs Firefox

**the_ancient** · 10-17-2006, 08:35 AM

I finally got around to downloading ie7, so far it does not alook to be too bad....

It is certinly less memory intensive than FireFox,

Anyone else using ie7 yet?

**Vin DSL** · 10-17-2006, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by the_ancient

It is certinly less memory intensive than FireFox...

Memory is cheap!

I've never seen FX use over 260MB... so it's no big deal, in my book.

**Spathiphyllum** · 10-17-2006, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by the_ancient

I finally got around to downloading ie7...

They're still making browsers?

Originally Posted by the_ancient

It is certinly less memory intensive than FireFox...

I wonder how much of that application has core components "hidden" in the OS giving the illusion of a smaller memory footprint? Not that it matters that much given the cost of RAM as mentioned by Vin. Plus, the idea of Windows apps concerned about RAM bloat is a bit silly. MS is notorious for throwing caution to the wind here. Perhaps they are turning over a new leaf, just like their security initiatives, but I'm inclined to think any memory savings are serendipitous.

Originally Posted by the_ancient

Anyone else using ie7 yet?

Nope. I may try it in 2009. Or not.

Firefox is just too good and too innovative. MS cannot keep up and I have no legitimate reason to abandon a great project/product. Firefox is, like Netscape before it, a killer app.

**the_ancient** · 10-17-2006, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by Vin DSL

Memory is cheap!

I've never seen FX use over 260MB... so it's no big deal, in my book.

Depends my Laptop currently has a 512 chip, a replacment 1024 runs $150, I dont think that is "cheap" esp when IE is free

**the_ancient** · 10-17-2006, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by Spathiphyllum

They're still making browsers?

I wonder how much of that application has core components "hidden" in the OS giving the illusion of a smaller memory footprint? Not that it matters that much given the cost of RAM as mentioned by Vin. Plus, the idea of Windows apps concerned about RAM bloat is a bit silly. MS is notorious for throwing caution to the wind here. Perhaps they are turning over a new leaf, just like their security initiatives, but I'm inclined to think any memory savings are serendipitous.

That is the problem, with windows eating up more and more, haveing other programs eat it up as well put a haper on my laptops system. Esp when I try to multitask..

Often I will have 10 or more Tabs open and 10 or more other programs, FireFox is always the most ram intensive of the programs I use

Nope. I may try it in 2009. Or not.

Firefox is just too good and too innovative. MS cannot keep up and I have no legitimate reason to abandon a great project/product. Firefox is, like Netscape before it, a killer app.

Firefox is good, I will not be uninstalling it, but to not check out a competiting product purly on your basis is well stupid

**Connie** · 10-17-2006, 02:44 PM

I don't use IE often. I do not want to upgrade to IE 7, and loose IE 6. Is it possible to upgrade without loosing IE6?

**the_ancient** · 10-17-2006, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Connie

I don't use IE often. I do not want to upgrade to IE 7, and loose IE 6. Is it possible to upgrade without loosing IE6?

I am still looking in to that before I upgrade my desktop....

I am sure there is no "offical" way, but there has to be a work around for it....

I will let you know if I find something concrete

**mattsiegman** · 10-17-2006, 03:56 PM

I have been using IE7 for a few months, and I really like it. The only problem with the latest RC is that it likes to ramp up CPU usage every once in a while for no reason. It finally got unbearable and I switched back to FF, because I have lots of memory, but my CPU sucks.

(Plus I installed CacheStatus which really helps keep FF memory down)

**the_ancient** · 10-17-2006, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by mattsiegman

I have been using IE7 for a few months, and I really like it. The only problem with the latest RC is that it likes to ramp up CPU usage every once in a while for no reason. It finally got unbearable and I switched back to FF, because I have lots of memory, but my CPU sucks.

(Plus I installed CacheStatus which really helps keep FF memory down)

I have not had that problem yet.. we will see

**homoludens** · 10-18-2006, 10:48 AM

I've got a windows XP pro box here with nothing fancy going on and FF memory usage for 7 different web apps (70M) is comparable to IE6 (69M). And that's with a lot of FF extensions, and half of IE being hidden in the OS as Spathiphyllum points out (try putting IE on a key drive). In fact, if I open another 3 FF tabs, memory goes up to 78M. Opening 3 more IE windows, and the memory usage goes up to 110M.

In other words, I disagree with the "FF memory hog" meme.

Unless you're talking about KDE Linux (kubuntu in this case), when it does seem to hog resources. But then KDE's pretty good at that all by itself.

Maybe IE7's MDI fixes some of the resources problems that having multiple processes open causes, I don't know, I'm just denying that FF is such a resource hog.

How does IE7 compare to IE6?

As a final note, I do have FF's memory cache disabled which obviously works in FF's favour, but does IE give me such options? No. And that's one of the many reasons why it's an inferior browser. If anyone wants to disable the memory cache in FF (as opposed to the disk cache) enter about:config in the address bar and set browser.cache.memory.enable to false.

**Spathiphyllum** · 10-18-2006, 10:58 AM

More FF mem FYI.

**homoludens** · 10-18-2006, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the link.

"You can also disable the Firefox memory cache completely, however this is not recommended."

Although no reason is given for why it is not recommended.

The KB states:

"Caveats. Setting this preference to false causes less memory to be used but also increases the load time of previously visited pages and dialogs, especially those of secure sites."

Well duh.

Hmm, okay so SSL pages are stored in the disk cache not memory if browser.cache.disk_cache_ssl is set to true.

**Vin DSL** · 10-18-2006, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by the_ancient

Firefox is good, I will not be uninstalling it, but to not check out a competiting product purly on your basis is well stupid...

Heh!

Look, if it wasn't for FX there would be NO MSIE 7...

When was the last time MS upgraded their browser? 2001?

IE7 is just a catchup -- that's all. They had to do something...

**Vin DSL** · 10-18-2006, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by homoludens

Unless you're talking about KDE Linux (kubuntu in this case)...

There's the next MS killer... Ubuntu!

**Spathiphyllum** · 10-18-2006, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by mattsiegman

I have been using IE7 for a few months, and I really like it. The only problem with the latest RC is that it likes to ramp up CPU usage every once in a while for no reason. It finally got unbearable and I switched back to FF...

Heh. Kinda' like that Lotus coupe I once had. Man it looked great and hugged the rails at blistering speeds, but that was only while moving it from the mechanic's garage to his parking lot exit. Then it reverted to Renualt Alliance status... inoperative crap.

[This is a fake anecdote for illustrative purposes only. So, look at IE7 but don't touch it. In theory, it's a great engine.

]

As far as CPU, what are you using now? I'd kinda like to know how far behind the curve I am now with my workhorses.

Originally Posted by homoludens

Thanks for the link.

You're welcome. I inadvertently stumbled upon it looking for some plugin updates. Seemed timely.