jemjabella

My Own Little Browser War

If you'd have asked me lately what browser I'm using, the answer would have varied on an almost daily basis. I've been trying to find THE perfect browser for me but each one has pissed me off in varying degrees of time...

• Firefox - my browser of choice since about 2005ish (possibly longer? it was still Firebird back then). I know, crazy long time to be loyal to a piece of software. Why did I ditch it? Because the latest version seemed to be causing memory hogging issues, instability, etc
• Chrome - my browser of choice for about 2 weeks. Why did I ditch it? Chrome's add-ons are not as good as Firefox and the lack of NoScript was annoying. Google need to stop blocking the technology that is required to make a NoScript version for its browser.
• Namoroka - the unofficial 64-bit build of Firefox. My browser of choice for a few months. Why did I ditch it? Lack of Flash support, didn't like some Firefox add-ons. Otherwise speedy and less hoggy than normal Firefox; I would have stuck with it if it hadn't required me to constantly open Opera/Chrome to play Flash stuff.
• Opera - 10.61 is much less irritating than previous version of Opera, and although it seems to use more memory than Firefox overall it's faster opening and at rendering web pages. I like the integrated IRC client. Why did I ditch it? Widgets run as separate programs, instead of like FF add-ons. Some web pages render incorrectly. Doesn't save login details for sites properly.
• Flock - yuck! Didn't even use it for half an hour. Why did I ditch it? I found it buggy and annoying. The Facebook sign in thing didn't work and it was bloated with crap I didn't want or need.

So where am I now? Well, it occurred to me this morning that I upgraded my RAM not long back (from 2GB to 4GB) so I'm giving Firefox another spin. If it doesn't work out for me now, who knows where I'll go from here... the future looks Internet Explorer shaped, and I'm not that insane!

Update 31 Aug: After posting this last night, I discovered the whole Opera key login thing and how it remembers passwords. I'm now back in Opera :D

Learning to Drive

Last week I decided that I would finally learn to drive. It's something I've avoided for years because I haven't been desperately in need of a car of my own. I catch buses, walk places, and if desperate my mum gives me lifts. Still, with Isabel now getting older and starting nursery in January (which makes me sad in the pants, but what can I do?) I need to be more independent.

So, I applied for my provisional licence and it arrived mid-week, complete with dodgy fat-faced photo from when I had my passport done at 17. I've spoken to a local guy (via e-mail) who does lessons and was supposed to call him today but forgot... err, must remember to sort that tomorrow.

Anyway, yes, 24 and I'm finally going to learn to drive. Woo, go me.