Browsers??

[John Terefenko]

Right now I am using Google Chrome. Having some funky happenings and was thinking of changing browsers. So question is what is a good reliable browser these days?? How hard is it to switch browsers?? Had IE. Thanks.
Lately I have gone to a few sites and tried opening them and they are not allowing me to. Also some sites are not allowing me to see photos within the site. Is this a browser problem??

Is it a good idea to leave third party browser extensions box clicked as yes or should I disable this?? What would happen if I do disable?? Do I lose anything??

[Dan Bundy]

I use the Brave browser. Chrome engine, but doesn't track things unless you allow it to. Also blocks ads unless you tell it not too. I think most Chrome add-ons are compatible, but not sure because I don't have a lot of them. I've been pleased with it. Have used it for about 2 years now.

[roger wiegand]

Sometimes your ad and popup blockers will also block desired content.

I use Safari most of the time, Chrome sometimes. I don't think there's much difference between browsers these days. I use a few extensions like Ad Block Pro and my password vault that I wouldn't way to be without.

[Ed Aumiller]

Been using Firefox for many years and like it...

[Curt Harms]

I too use Firefox, have for years. I have noticed lately though that some sites like it better if I go there via private window or enable trouble shooting mode under the help menu on Firefox Linux. Privacy mode/Trouble shooting disables extensions and add-ons. I keep a Chromium based browser (Vivaldi in my case) as a 2nd option. I try to minimize my exposure to Google, they didn't get super rich by respecting their users privacy. I think that there is no such thing as free. There's always a price to pay, that price may or may not have a $ sign in front of it.

[glenn bradley]

Another Firefox preference here but, I keep a few browsers on my main machine. Some sites only function fully with certain browsers. If you regularly use one of those and it requires your less-than-favorite browser, install the browser they require and use it for that site. Some subject specific research, government and financial sites can be fussy for example.

Your specific "funky happenings" would drive your preference. Extensions can help smooth out your web use if things like ads or useless Pinterest search results are bothering you. Many extensions are written for only a few browsers so your desire to use something specific like grey scaling or black listing may drive your decision.

Firefox has been my main browser for the last several years. There is also a comfort in knowing where the pot holes are in the road so to speak. I know how to get FF to do what I want so it is comfortable for me right now. I have Edge and Chrome currently loaded as well. Chrome works better with a particular site I visit simply because they cannot seem to play nice with FF's security settings. This would be an example of a simple solution to a situation you cannot natively control . . . www.Blah-Blah.com requires or "works best with" Edge? Use it for that site.

[Lee DeRaud]

Sometimes your ad and popup blockers will also block desired content.And a growing number of sites can detect the ad-blocker and stop you from proceeding unless you disable it.
File that under "take business elsewhere".

[Frank Pratt]

I've used Chrome for many years, but am considering giving the new Edge a test drive. As far as ads go, I generally don't mind putting up with them because that's what pays the bills for all the free content.

[Alex Zeller]

I've used Firfox for years but use Chrome half the time. Firefox isn't what it use to be. Everyday I get a popup telling me that a newer version is out with Firefox. There's no way to turn it off. I really wish when they did upgrades they would offer the option of having the same layout as the previous version. Once I find the options I like I want to keep them.

[Bill Carey]

Another Brave user here. 6 months in and I like it a lot.

[John Terefenko]

I tried firefox and did not like it and now wanted to switch back to chrome but it keeps going back to IE. How do I switch back to chrome?? I deleted it and reinstalled. Not very good with computers.

[Kev Williams]

Used Firefox for ages. Ad blockers are off. Never any surprises that way, and sometimes I actually check out and buy from the ads... ;)

--and how does any browser go back to IE? My POS win10 laptop won't even run it, it's Edge or nothing...

[John Terefenko]

Used Firefox for ages. Ad blockers are off. Never any surprises that way, and sometimes I actually check out and buy from the ads... ;)

--and how does any browser go back to IE? My POS win10 laptop won't even run it, it's Edge or nothing...

old computer with XP everything is messed up now and I can not do a restore either.

I got it back to old again. Thank you. I will play around some more at a later date.

[glenn bradley]

My XP recall is kaput but this article should get you there. (https://www.dummies.com/computers/pcs/how-to-set-default-browser-and-e-mail-programs-in-windows-xp/)

[Jim Koepke]

My machine runs two browsers, often at the same time.

Some sites do not work well with Safari others do not like Chrome. If something isn't working right, the URL is copied and pasted into the other browser and that usually fixes the problem.

Firefox is on my machine but it doesn't seem to play nice with much of anything.

Update: Just tried Firefox and decided to remove it from my dock.

jtk

[Frank Pratt]

old computer with XP everything is messed up now and I can not do a restore either.

I got it back to old again. Thank you. I will play around some more at a later date.

You really should look at upgrading from XP. It's been unsupported by MS for years & is now very unsecure. You'd be surprised by what will run XP. I have a 14 year old laptop that runs way better on Win 10 than it ever did on Win XP. In fact, I just installed an SSD on it & it goes from fully powered off to the desktop in 13 seconds now.

[glenn bradley]

You really should look at upgrading from XP. It's been unsupported by MS for years & is now very unsecure. You'd be surprised by what will run XP. I have a 14 year old laptop that runs way better on Win 10 than it ever did on Win XP. In fact, I just installed an SSD on it & it goes from fully powered off to the desktop in 13 seconds now.


Speaking to that, Win 10 was very hardware picky when first rolled out. I have a 2005 Pentium D that runs it fine and a 2014 laptop that will not. I think this has smoothed out some but, since retiring I do not see near the variation of machines I used to . . . it's nice BTW ;-)

[John Terefenko]

Isn't windows 12 going to be rolled out soon?? All money making schemes.

[Mike Henderson]

Isn't windows 12 going to be rolled out soon?? All money making schemes.

That's Windows 11, not 12. The big difference in hardware is that the hardware has to have a Trusted Platform Module. A lot of computers won't be able to run Win 11.

No announcement on price, may be a free upgrade from Win 10.

Mike

[Lee DeRaud]

That's Windows 11, not 12. The big difference in hardware is that the hardware has to have a Trusted Platform Module. A lot of computers won't be able to run Win 11.They tried requiring TPM1.2 on Win8.1, got a LOT of push-back, and made it optional. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened with Win11, given that the TPM2.0 spec is barely two years old.

[Jim Koepke]

They tried requiring TPM1.2 on Win8.1, got a LOT of push-back, and made it optional. I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened with Win11, given that the TPM2.0 spec is barely two years old.

The language in many public agency contracts for new equipment is it has to be proven for at least five years in actual use.

That is one reason why a lot of government systems seem antiquated.

jtk

[John Terefenko]

That's Windows 11, not 12. The big difference in hardware is that the hardware has to have a Trusted Platform Module. A lot of computers won't be able to run Win 11.

No announcement on price, may be a free upgrade from Win 10.

Mike
I am reading it is windows 12 and not 11. No 11.

[Frank Pratt]

I am reading it is windows 12 and not 11. No 11.

Windows 11 is the next version, though that isn't its official name yet.

[Anuj Prateek]

Right now I am using Google Chrome. Having some funky happenings and was thinking of changing browsers. So question is what is a good reliable browser these days?? How hard is it to switch browsers?? Had IE. Thanks.
Lately I have gone to a few sites and tried opening them and they are not allowing me to. Also some sites are not allowing me to see photos within the site. Is this a browser problem??

Is it a good idea to leave third party browser extensions box clicked as yes or should I disable this?? What would happen if I do disable?? Do I lose anything??

My primary browser is Firefox and fallback is Chrome. Both browsers are equally good. It comes down to interface and any specific website compatibility problems.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Speaking to that, Win 10 was very hardware picky when first rolled out. I have a 2005 Pentium D that runs it fine and a 2014 laptop that will not. I think this has smoothed out some but, since retiring I do not see near the variation of machines I used to . . . it's nice BTW ;-)When I retired back in 2011, I vowed I would forget at least one computer related thing every day.
It's working out well and I'm so happy I can't even begin to tell people what's wrong with their computers anymore! :)

[Bill Carey]

When I retired back in 2011, I vowed I would forget at least one computer related thing every day.It's working out well and I'm so happy I can't even begin to tell people what's wrong with their computers anymore! :)LOL - excellent plan.

[Doug Garson]

Isn't windows 12 going to be rolled out soon?? All money making schemes.
Last time I checked, Microsoft was a for profit company, so yes they introduce new products to make money. Kinda how business works.

[Doug Garson]

I recently had an issue with Chrome my usual browser. I tried to download a music file and the link wouldn't work, tried to download using Microsoft Edge and same result. Then tried Firefox and it downloaded immediately, no problem.

[Curt Harms]

One trick to make Firefox play nice with some web sites. Open a window in troubleshooting mode. I'm not sure where that's found on Firefox Windows, it may be under "Tools". Firefox Linux it's under Help. Another way to accomplish the same thing (I think) is to use Firefox's privacy mode. If you want the old style menu, click on the 'hamburger' menu then More Tools then Customize Toolbar. Look at the bottom of the page under Toolbars.