Also, the only reason you don't use extensions is because you don't have them.
I never used extensions even when I used firefox (besides the stantard flash plug-ins and what not.) I want my browser to be as quick and efficient as possible. Loading it up with a bunch of extra stuff just annoys me. I still don't use adblock.
I never used extensions even when I used firefox (besides the stantard flash plug-ins and what not.) I want my browser to be as quick and efficient as possible. Loading it up with a bunch of extra stuff just annoys me. I still don't use adblock.
It's all psychological. Sure, some extensions can slow down the browser. For example, Firebug will noticeably slow things down if it is enabled because it is actively debugging all the JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
AdBlock Plus actually makes your browser quicker and more efficient because you aren't waiting for ads to load. Other ad blockers prevent ads from showing up, but your browser still takes time to request and download them. AdBlock makes it so your browser doesn't even ask for them. Remember, ad networks are a major bottleneck in site performance. FlashBlock helps this even more, as it only loads flash objects when you click on them. Thus, the page shows up immediately, and only takes the time to load the flash that you are actually going to use.
Also, even if it makes web pages load a tiny bit slower, good extensions add fucntionality that makes up for that loss. Take for example the Power Twitter extension which makes twitter.com not a piece of shit. Sure, the page might load a tiny bit more slowly, but I doubt you can tell without measuring. However, having a retweet button is priceless.
This was my biggest complaint about Safari! Sure, it launched faster, and seemed to display pages faster, but the lack of extensions meant my productivity was slashed. Just to navigate through the tabs was pain. Also Firefox loads 8 tabs for me as a multi-home page. Safari doesn't have this feature, so when I started I had to open all the pages separately. What a pain!
It's all psychological. Sure, some extensions can slow down the browser. For example, Firebug will noticeably slow things down if it is enabled because it is actively debugging all the JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
AdBlock Plus actually makes your browser quicker and more efficient because you aren't waiting for ads to load. Other ad blockers prevent ads from showing up, but your browser still takes time to request and download them. AdBlock makes it so your browser doesn't even ask for them. Remember,ad networks are a major bottleneck in site performance. FlashBlock helps this even more, as it only loads flash objects when you click on them. Thus, the page shows up immediately, and only takes the time to load the flash that you are actually going to use.
Also, even if it makes web pages load a tiny bit slower, good extensions add fucntionality that makes up for that loss. Take for example the Power Twitter extension which makes twitter.com not a piece of shit. Sure, the page might load a tiny bit more slowly, but I doubt you can tell without measuring. However, having a retweet button is priceless.
You have good points, I'll look into ablock if it ever gets ported to Chrome. For now though, Chrome is so much faster and better than the other browsers I've tried that I will not change.
I've been messing with Midori. It's bloody fast and is highly configurable. I wouldn't recommend it for anything other than playing around at the moment.
It's obvious you haven't even really tried the other browsers. Safari and Chrome both have speed dial equivalents. Firefox has it as an extension. Chrome and Safari are also way faster than Opera, and have better tab implementations.
Also, the only reason you don't use extensions is because you don't have them.
So what personal preference plays no part in decision making (I don't think its all just about that micro second differences)? Furthermore I do use Firefox when the option of Opera is not available (at Uni) it is good but without the need for extension it is not significantly better then Opera to warrant a change and I would have to rely on add-ons for functionality that I have built into Opera. Finally I feel that the tab implementation is no different then in Firefox.
I would have to rely on add-ons for functionality that I have built into Opera.
Yes, you would have to look around a bit to make your own personal browser instead of having a bazillion features jammed down your throat. Every Opera's the same, no Firefox is the same. (exaggerated of course, Opera still has Greasemonkey-like functionality)
Comments
AdBlock Plus actually makes your browser quicker and more efficient because you aren't waiting for ads to load. Other ad blockers prevent ads from showing up, but your browser still takes time to request and download them. AdBlock makes it so your browser doesn't even ask for them. Remember, ad networks are a major bottleneck in site performance. FlashBlock helps this even more, as it only loads flash objects when you click on them. Thus, the page shows up immediately, and only takes the time to load the flash that you are actually going to use.
Also, even if it makes web pages load a tiny bit slower, good extensions add fucntionality that makes up for that loss. Take for example the Power Twitter extension which makes twitter.com not a piece of shit. Sure, the page might load a tiny bit more slowly, but I doubt you can tell without measuring. However, having a retweet button is priceless.
Furthermore I do use Firefox when the option of Opera is not available (at Uni) it is good but without the need for extension it is not significantly better then Opera to warrant a change and I would have to rely on add-ons for functionality that I have built into Opera.
Finally I feel that the tab implementation is no different then in Firefox.