7 ms·

I'm probably going to get downvoted for this, but I'm going to keep using Firefox. If nothing else, my paranoia senses are tingling with regard to Google. These

by gchucky 17y ago

I'm probably going to get downvoted for this, but I'm going to keep using Firefox. If nothing else, my paranoia senses are tingling with regard to Google. These days I'm heavily invested in Google - their software runs my phone, handles my email, and is my main way of searching. If nothing else, I'd rather not put all my eggs in one basket, and would rather diversify a little.

robotron 17y ago
(I was tempted to downvote you just for saying "I'm probably going to get downvoted for this") That's a reason that is probably shared among a significant group of people. It doesn't address the failings in Firefox's need to keep up with the competition, though.
notauser 17y ago
At least it'll be better to use Firefox with a majority WebKit share than it was to use Seamonkey with a majority IE6 share back in '0X!
bruceboughton 17y ago
It's interesting that out of all the services Google offer you, the one you decide to turn down is their web browser. Is that an indication of the relative importance to you of these services?
berntb 17y ago
I will get scared of Google when I see a Microsoft style "strategy tax" -- e.g. when it gets hard to use GMail from non-Google web browsers.
- loup-vaillant 17y ago
  What about being scared of Google doing semantic analysis of your e-mail? Or Google remembering your search results during several months? Google doesn't tax your money, but it does tax your privacy. To me that sounds just as expensive.
  - rue 17y ago
    Privacy taxation without representation :)
  - berntb 17y ago
    Sigh, any free email provider might do similar things (now or in the future). If that is critical, admin your own email on an OpenBSD server, or something. But even hints of that type of behavior would be bad for business; Google is much more sensitive than e.g. Microsoft with Hotmail (sadly, it is easier to replace a search engine than Windows). It is arguably good business for Google to not be evil.
    - loup-vaillant 17y ago
      I do, in fact think this is critical.[1] And I do administer my own mail server (on a virtual server, until I buy a plug computer). I actually think everyone (including my mom) should be able to do the same. The "type of behaviour" I was speaking of are actual. Google do analyse your email, and they do remember your search requests. this is not outright spying like with Facebook, but this is close. [1]: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/2010/feb/01/freedom-cloud-software-freedom-privacy-and-securit/ http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/2010/feb/01/freedom-clou...
      - berntb 17y ago
        Yes, Google analyze the email for ad purposes. I thought we were talking about much worse behaviors (e.g. looking for business insider information or things usable for blackmail).
        loup-vaillant 17y ago
        About that, I recall a (French) celebrity whose e-mail where leaked because a Paparazzi bribed an employee of the company which hosted his web-mail. So, even this worst-case scenario can happen (though I suspect they are a bit more careful at Google). This is more about the many tiny dangers than about the few big ones, however. I don't really know all these dangers, and they add up. In the end, this tends to be a matter of principle: "If I'm not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to see". I just feel safer that way.
MikeCapone 17y ago
Chromium is open source, so if Google does something really bad with it, it can be forked.
- wmli 17y ago
  For example, possibly, tracking each unique install: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=5d2b3616cbf7ca06&hl=en http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=5d2b...
tvon 17y ago
Why would you think you'd be down-voted for that?
- JeremyBanks 17y ago
  I'd cynically say that it's because any post starting with "I'm sure I'll be downvoted, but..." tends to get a much better score than it otherwise would, even if it's not particularly applicable.
  - deleted 17y ago
    [deleted]
rue 17y ago
I do not particularly like Google; too much power in one unaccountable entity. Fortunately the sentiment has gained popularity of late. Chrome might be a really nice and fast browser, but Firefox is - as yet - fast enough and it provides the 4 addons that I find essential to browsing.

by gchucky 17y ago

robotron 17y ago

(I was tempted to downvote you just for saying "I'm probably going to get downvoted for this") That's a reason that is probably shared among a significant group of people. It doesn't address the failings in Firefox's need to keep up with the competition, though.

notauser 17y ago

At least it'll be better to use Firefox with a majority WebKit share than it was to use Seamonkey with a majority IE6 share back in '0X!

bruceboughton 17y ago

It's interesting that out of all the services Google offer you, the one you decide to turn down is their web browser. Is that an indication of the relative importance to you of these services?

berntb 17y ago

I will get scared of Google when I see a Microsoft style "strategy tax" -- e.g. when it gets hard to use GMail from non-Google web browsers.

loup-vaillant 17y ago
What about being scared of Google doing semantic analysis of your e-mail? Or Google remembering your search results during several months? Google doesn't tax your money, but it does tax your privacy. To me that sounds just as expensive.
- rue 17y ago
  Privacy taxation without representation :)
- berntb 17y ago
  Sigh, any free email provider might do similar things (now or in the future). If that is critical, admin your own email on an OpenBSD server, or something. But even hints of that type of behavior would be bad for business; Google is much more sensitive than e.g. Microsoft with Hotmail (sadly, it is easier to replace a search engine than Windows). It is arguably good business for Google to not be evil.
  - loup-vaillant 17y ago
    I do, in fact think this is critical.[1] And I do administer my own mail server (on a virtual server, until I buy a plug computer). I actually think everyone (including my mom) should be able to do the same. The "type of behaviour" I was speaking of are actual. Google do analyse your email, and they do remember your search requests. this is not outright spying like with Facebook, but this is close. [1]: http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/2010/feb/01/freedom-cloud-software-freedom-privacy-and-securit/ http://www.softwarefreedom.org/news/2010/feb/01/freedom-clou...
    - berntb 17y ago
      Yes, Google analyze the email for ad purposes. I thought we were talking about much worse behaviors (e.g. looking for business insider information or things usable for blackmail).
      - loup-vaillant 17y ago
        About that, I recall a (French) celebrity whose e-mail where leaked because a Paparazzi bribed an employee of the company which hosted his web-mail. So, even this worst-case scenario can happen (though I suspect they are a bit more careful at Google). This is more about the many tiny dangers than about the few big ones, however. I don't really know all these dangers, and they add up. In the end, this tends to be a matter of principle: "If I'm not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to see". I just feel safer that way.

MikeCapone 17y ago

Chromium is open source, so if Google does something really bad with it, it can be forked.

wmli 17y ago
For example, possibly, tracking each unique install: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=5d2b3616cbf7ca06&hl=en http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=5d2b...

tvon 17y ago

Why would you think you'd be down-voted for that?

JeremyBanks 17y ago
I'd cynically say that it's because any post starting with "I'm sure I'll be downvoted, but..." tends to get a much better score than it otherwise would, even if it's not particularly applicable.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]

rue 17y ago

I do not particularly like Google; too much power in one unaccountable entity. Fortunately the sentiment has gained popularity of late. Chrome might be a really nice and fast browser, but Firefox is - as yet - fast enough and it provides the 4 addons that I find essential to browsing.