Web Browser Grand Prix 3: IE9 Enters The Race

[Guest]

They couldn't wait one more day for FF4? Tomorrow this comparison will be invalid. Way to go Tom's

 

[phuzi0n]

With the Kraken score, maybe IE is using DirectCompute for some JavaScript built in functions, like math, etc... Can anyone verify that they have a capable GPU with the newest drivers?

Literally every other review/benchmarking of modern browsers has shown IE9 to be 2-3 times slower on Kraken than Chrome 10 and FF4. It's a blatant error plain and simple, it shows that the author has absolutely no idea about the current state of browsers as does releasing this review without FF4 results. They've had all day to fix the Kraken results and haven't even said a word about looking into it. This entire article needs to be redone, even though it's written by someone that likes linux, there is a clear bias in favor of IE9.

 

[illuminatuz]

can someone help me!! Is anyone facing the same problem!!
I am using IE 9 and the "submit my comment" button below here is not working!! I am forced to use chrome for it.. can tomshardware fix it please? thank you!!
P.S. sorry for going offtopic..

 

[dimar]

I tried using IE9, but something didn't feel right, I didn't like the way it zooms-in, not as smooth as Chrome. I'm back to Chrome for now, but will be watching IE9.

 

[oldbluekid]

I've never minded that toms seems a little slower (1 or 2 days) publishing news and stuff than other technology sites, because I value credibility the most. This review is harming tom's credibility.
I hope you DO KNOW how important credibility is to a site like this.

 

[Guest]

What about security?

 

[LORD_ORION]

So the choices are

FF 4 with its absolutely horrid UI. (Seriously this is beyond aesthetics, where the F*** is the refresh button! If I am browsing on my TV my keyboard is not handy) Total fail release.

IE 9: Completely broken compatibility (It's Microsoft, so fail is automatically assumed, in their defense[could be worse])

Chrome: (Please sell everything about me, I like being your whore Google pimp)

Safari: The "Please hijack my browser and fill my PC with trojans" browser.

Opera: Not free....

Maybe it is a good thing that I hate every current browser....

 

[ericburnby]

Posted this using IE9. Guess some people don't know how to use software these days.

 

[Guest]

So how long until this article is redacted? This is honestly the most pathetic entry on Tom's I have ever read and it is seriously cutting into your credibility the longer you leave it up. Please correct your wrongs.

 

[Guest]

Wow, are you trying to show people how low can you go?
How can your results be so blatantly fake?

 

[jimmysmitty]

[citation][nom]pirateboy[/nom]I wonder how much microsoft paid tomshardware not to include Firefox 4 RC1[/citation]

Nothing. This is a test with final versions. IE9 has been final since 3/14. FF4 is not yet.

While I will say FF4 is better than FF 3.6 in a lot of ways, I don't think it would beat out everything. These tests were all done fair and square.

I use IE9 and FF4 RC1 right now. Both do a great job but IE9 is better in terms of speed. IE9 also loads faster and utilizes more of Windows 7 features than FF4 does, and Mozilla has the ability to do so (Aero and such).

I do wonder though if Mozillas top ends will keep mouthing off against IE9 now that its been shown to be a very nice browser. And what this means is that the others will start to improve as well. That means even better browsers for us in the future....

 

[natmaster]

[citation][nom]LORD_ORION[/nom]So the choices areFF 4 with its absolutely horrid UI. (Seriously this is beyond aesthetics, where the F*** is the refresh button! If I am browsing on my TV my keyboard is not handy) Total fail release.IE 9: Completely broken compatibility (It's Microsoft, so fail is automatically assumed, in their defense[could be worse])Chrome: (Please sell everything about me, I like being your whore Google pimp)Safari: The "Please hijack my browser and fill my PC with trojans" browser.Opera: Not free....Maybe it is a good thing that I hate every current browser....[/citation]

Only thing you have right are Chrome and Safari. What is IE not compatible with? With majority share one would hope websites work with it.

Firefox's refresh button is to the right of the address bar where it always was. Did you accidentally remove it in customization? Personally I think the Firefox 4 UI is the best any browser has ever had, but if you don't like it, you can easily customize it without even using extensions.

Opera is free. Wow, that one was easy.

 

[DjEaZy]

... there is now a need for rematch... the firefox 4.0 is out...

 

[bluekoala]

[citation][nom]bison88[/nom]Nice comparison Adam. I think people don't give MS credit for IE9 because of their history with web standards and lack of competition with updating their browser since they destroyed Netscape so many years ago. Hopefully they have their head in the game and continue with a somewhat constant update cycle. Currently the transition from IE8 to IE9 was somewhat FireFox'ish with speed instead of waiting for another revision of the OS. The browser definitely surprised me, some quirks here and there that are definitely noticeable and the Chrome/FF influence is obviously present. I wish them luck as the competition heats up.[/citation]
I don't wish them luck at all. Microsoft made it clear to everyone time and time again that it doesn't give a flying **** about its users' interests as long as the user is stuck with them. No matter how fast and secure IE gets, I'll recommend other brands if not out of principle then out of spite.

 

[Guest]

"WBGP3 was begun on Monday March 14th with the release of Internet Explorer 9" and was published on March 21, NOT intentionally, it is just a coincidence that FF4 release date is 22nd of march...

 

[abu46]

its really strange that you couldnt wait 2 days for the release of firefox4 before proclaiming ie9 as the winner
&
you havent even taken into account the customization and add-on factors for both chrome and firefox

smells fishyyyy

 

[machvelocy]

looks like toms picked the grand prix date wrong... toms should be one week patience.. d'oh

btw, you should really considers the "closed tabs" feature on opera, i believe opera's lagging in memory efficiency test is because the inclusion of closed tabs feature, which IN FACT, an uber important feature. these days, people browses the web with dozens of tabs, and it is VERY LIKELY that they mis-clicked the wrong tab to close.

 

[abu46]

talking about tabs, ie9s 8 tab limit in todays world is really a shame

 

[dirtmountain]

Yes, this review doesn't pass the smell test. It stinks.

 

[TopGun]

So, now that FF4 is out, will there be an update to the article including it?

I think there is more than enough interest (possibly outrage/disappointment) in it to justify any extra work/time that may have to go into it.

Your loyal readers really want to know the results.

 

[natmaster]

I don't like the whole acting like they were planning on doing another release after today. The author acted like he didn't even know Firefox was going to be officially launched tomorrow. He seemed to think that it would be delayed even though a definite date was set (which mozilla has never missed). Delays were only in the form of 'sometime around, but we'll ship when ready' which is historical for mozilla. 3 months after initial work for the browser is standard practice for mozilla, and shouldn't be taken as they are going to miss their definite date when they actually set it.

Furthermore, half the comments here are about the kraken test, which noone can reproduce the results the author got - yet these comments are being ignored. The most important part of the scientific method is repeating the experiment. Toms - you're experiment has been invalidated.

 

[andy5174]

So, now that FF4 is out, will there be an update to the article including it?

I think there is more than enough interest (possibly outrage/disappointment) in it to justify any extra work/time that may have to go into it.

Your loyal readers really want to know the results.

Once official, we will be testing the final build of Firefox 4 in the next Web Browser Grand Prix article. Since Mozilla has now confirmed March 22nd as the release date, testing for Web Browser Grand Prix 4: Firefox 4 Goes Final will begin tomorrow and the article will be published shortly thereafter.

 

[Guest]

Why are the Kraken results still up?? They are clearly completely wrong for IE9, as has been shown in the comments many times. IE9 does NOT "destroy the competition", it's twice as slow as Chrome. I'm sure it was just an honest mistake, which I would think the author would want to correct ASAP. Unless of course it wasn't a mistake at all...

 

[aznjoka]

[citation][nom]natmaster[/nom]Only thing you have right are Chrome and Safari. What is IE not compatible with? With majority share one would hope websites work with it.Firefox's refresh button is to the right of the address bar where it always was. Did you accidentally remove it in customization? Personally I think the Firefox 4 UI is the best any browser has ever had, but if you don't like it, you can easily customize it without even using extensions.Opera is free. Wow, that one was easy.[/citation]Sorry, but Firefox 4 UI is a copy of Opera's UI. I would take a second look if I was you.

 

[ericburnby]

So, ummmm, it's almost 9:00AM EST and I went to firefox.com to download and try FF4. Where is it? On the main page they still only list 3.6 for download. Doesn't look lke it's avaiable for download as everyone says. Or perhaps I don't know the secret handshake to find where it it.

All you FF4 whiners can STFU. Who the hell do you think you are that the entire world should hold up and wait to test IE9 vs other broswers just because your favorite isn't out yet? What makes your rights more important than mine? There are a lot of users who want to see how IE9 does (me included). Why the f%$k should I have to wait when IE9 is out NOW?


And to the guy who posted about Crysis - you're an idiot. Crysis is a single product that many hardcore gamers are eagerly awaiting (because Crysis is well known for visuals and taxing your graphics card). There aren't 5 companies making Crysis which would require testing each version to declare which Crysis was champ. Your comparison is completely invalid.

Every publication industry does what Tom's did. Anyone into cars? How many reviews have you seen where your favorite car didn't get included in a road test because it wasn't out yet? I see it happen all the time and has been for the last 25 or so years I've been reading car mags.

Another example is the iPad 2. Customers want to know how it works. Why should magazines wait until all the competitor tablets are out before doing any testing? People want information NOW, when the product is out.


If reviewers only waited until every company had their stuff available you'd never see any reviews done, since there's always a newer version coming out from someone.