IE better than Firefox? Never saw this info before

[leoblob]

I use FF 95% of the time, and IE6 the rest. I like watching videos on YouTube, and I've noticed that IE6 does a much better job of balancing processor load (across a 2-processor system) than FF does.

For example, if I'm watching a video (full screen, 2-monitor set-up), with FF, the CPU utilization is about 80/20 or even more lopsided. But same video, same everything else, it's about 60/40 with IE.

Not sure what's the point of this post, but I found it curious, and I don't think I've ever seen it mentioned before.

[The Spirit of X21]

I've noticed that IE7 starts up and generally operates faster than Firefox on my T40. Personally, the difference is not enough to outweigh the advantages offered by the extensions available for Firefox.

[jdhurst]

I have my machines well secured, and work carefully (NO hacks of any kind ever). Given that, I like IE7 as well as anything I have seen, and I use IE7 exclusively. It seems that most all web sites are adapted to IE first and everything else second, so I never get stopped because of the browser. ... JDH

[qviri]

I've noticed that IE6 does a much better job of balancing processor load (across a 2-processor system) than FF does.

Is there any real benefit to this?

[mattbiernat]

IE7 is also more secure than FF, according to these guys: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/technology/ ... ities.html
with tabbing and other cosmetic fixes i switched from FF to IE without thinking twice (that is of course after i moved the annyoing menu to the top with reg hack)!
IE7 is also not such a resource hog and starts faster.

[leoblob]

I've noticed that IE6 does a much better job of balancing processor load (across a 2-processor system) than FF does.

Is there any real benefit to this?

I have no idea. That's one of the reasons I posted this.

[The Spirit of X21]

I have my machines well secured, and work carefully (NO hacks of any kind ever). Given that, I like IE7 as well as anything I have seen, and I use IE7 exclusively. It seems that most all web sites are adapted to IE first and everything else second, so I never get stopped because of the browser. ... JDH

Sure, IE7 is a nice browser. What are your thoughts regarding IE6? Personally, I don't mind using IE7 on XP machines, but as far as my Win2k machines go I'd take Firefox over IE6 any day.

[gator]

Let me pitch in my experience on this ... I posted about resource utilization when playing streaming audio/video a long time back ere:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=41666

I have investigated this issue long and hard, and the only way to get your laptop's tempertatures (and by correlation the CPU utilization) be normal while palaying streaming audio/vido is this: start the video, pause it, let it buffer fully and then play. I have personally checked this in 4 browsers (IE6, IE7, FF, Opera) and if you do this, things remain normal.

My guess is that simultanously downloading, decoding and playing streaming media puts a lot of stress on the system, and this is esp severe in older laptops (i.e before the pentium-m era). If you try what I suggest above, you'll notice that things remain very close to normal.

If someone decides to check this, please post your feedback here.

[Purcy]

Just my two cents - I also use FF exclusively except for the few sites that deman IE6. I have the IE add-on button on my toolbar in FF, if I need to switch. Those sites that I know must use it I have as permanent IE button exceptions; like Youtube. I find that videos play much smoother on IE6 than FF.