Pros and Cons--Safari vs. Google Chrome

[georgeandjolie]

I use Chrome; Jolie uses Safari. Over all is one "better" than the other?

[Richard Serkes]

Firefox won't develop a browser for iOS because it claims Apple requires everyone use a specific WebKit. The problem is (according to Firefox) that the version Apple offers to others such as Firefox is "dumbed down" meaning it won't render pages as fast as the native Safari.

I have no way of confirming Firefox's claims but if these claims are true you're better off using Safari on your iOS device.

[Stephen Hart]

I've never understood browser wars. Having a bunch of competing companies building browsers, which are almost universally given away "free" has caused huge harm to web developers, who have to work around all the quirks.

Apple's OSs have always been built around the principle that ease of use and familiarity of use are important "speed" issues.

So I say pick a browser that you're comfortable with and stick with it. Why waste time trying to figure out if one browser renders a specific page on a particular day a few milliseconds faster than another browser? Two days later the page may have changed, the browser versions may have changed and any one of the intermediate steps between the page's server and you will be faster or slower. And a different page may load faster or slower.

Note that there are some practical differences in browsers on the Mac at least:

Firefox is very actively developed, and is patched very often. You'll need to download new versions monthly or even more.
Chrome is from Google, and Google's business plan is to collect information on your browsing and then sell that information to advertisers.
Safari (and the underlying WebKit) are updated along with OS X security updates, so you never have to do anything special with that.

I have never used an alternative browser on my iPhone. I did read about one browser for iPad only that allows you to show a page full screen via AirPlay while seeing tabs, search fields, etc. on the iPad. That could be useful.

Note that iOS devices are always having to get information by WiFi or Cellular Data, so they have another layer that determines speed of page display. If you have a Verizon iPhone, you'll get LTE in Port Angeles, which will speed up browser display dramatically.

[Stephen Hart]

FWIW, here's an article, a bit dated, mentioning many alternatives to Safari.

http://ipod.about.com/od/bestiphoneapps ... r-Apps.htm

I did read about one browser for iPad only that allows you to show a page full screen via AirPlay while seeing tabs, search fields, etc. on the iPad. That could be useful.

I went back to check on this app. Originally, I downloaded it to use in my SMUG demo on AirPlay, then found out it was iPad only (yes, I should have paid more attention). But now, a month later, I have an iPad, so...
Two interesting things occurred. Even though Apple wrote an e-mail saying they'd refund my money, this app appeared to just download from iTunes. But I didn't get that far because when I clicked Download, a warning popped up that it contained content suitable for 17 or above only. What the? It's just a browser. Even though i'm 3.7647 times that old, I passed. Maybe it includes porn ads. That would be a rude surprise in a SMUG demo, or even if you were displaying a web site for family.

[JerryFreilich]

I use Chrome and Safari interchangeably all day long and can't really say there's much difference. Reminds me of the cartoon I saw in the New Yorker where there are two dogs talking to each other. The one dog says, "Jimmy Choo, Manolo, Blahnik. Frankly I can't taste any difference."

[Richard Serkes]

Dear OP:

You posted this question on 3/12/13. It's now one week later. Would you like to respond to our comments?

[Stephen Hart]

Dear OP:

You posted this question on 3/12/13. It's now one week later. Would you like to respond to our comments?

Former teacher?

[georgeandjolie]

Here's a belated "thank you" to all who had answered my inquiry concerning the "best" browser to use.
I'll stick with Chrome. Jolie will stick with Safari.
George