The default Kubuntu browser

[OneLine]

Background

The Kubuntu devel: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/kubuntu-devel has an ongoing thread of the default browser for the Kubuntu:

RFC: Switch to Firefox and a 1.5 GB image: https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ku...er/005675.html


There was an argument:

99% of desktop users are using Chrome/Firefox

I'm wondering - What browser are you using ?


Here the browser is the Opera: http://www.opera.com/.

[DoYouKubuntu]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

My main browser--actually, it's a suite--is SeaMonkey. But I also have about 15 other browsers installed and occasionally use them. They include Arora, reKonq, Chrome, Firefox, Epiphany, Konqueror, Flock, Midori, Netscape, Opera, Netsurf, Amaya, Kazehakase, ELinks and Links2. I like variety.

[Snowhog]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

Chromium here.

[otisklt]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

rekonq is the default but i use firefox almost as much

[SteveRiley]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

Firefox on my main Lenovo rig. Konqueror (currently) on the poor little laboratory that is my Mini.

[budr]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I keep wanting to be happy with konqueror, but I keep getting seduced by all the spiffy extensions that firefox offers. I just can't help myself. Greasemonkey, mmmmmmmmm......

[bsniadajewski]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

Firefox FTW! I even use more often on Windows too, almost exclusively. I like it's ability to save usernames/passwords, though I only have two saved (KFN and Ubuntu Forums). I'm not sure about the others as I really tried/used any of them extensively enough.

[SteveRiley]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I like it's ability to save usernames/passwords

I suspect that's a feature everywhere -- well, maybe not the old console-mode browsers like Lynx. I've seen password saving in the DE-based browsers like Konqueror, Rekonq, Epiphany, and Midori.

[kubicle]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I don't really care what the default browser is, but firefox would be one of the first things to get rid of on my installations. That is of course perfectly fine, I do not expect kubuntu to come with the exact choices of software that I personally wish to use...my tastes will not fit everyone and customizing is trivial.

But I can't really agree with including firefox if that means not fitting the installation image on a CD anymore (that has worked really well so far).

As a side note, I have personally always wondered why Firefox needs a slew of third party plugins to get the same functionality that comes built into other browsers...and yet fails to be light and fast even without all the plugins. :P

[Jonas]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I keep wanting to be happy with konqueror, but I keep getting seduced by all the spiffy extensions that firefox offers. I just can't help myself. Greasemonkey, mmmmmmmmm......

Same here!

And I guess it's a matter of old habits die hard :/ Used FF since I don't know when and I never really took the time to reconfigure konqueror/rekonq to fit my needs. I'm happy with the install button solution to the way it is now. I also like dolphin as file browser, of which many seem to want to to have the one-in-all solution to web & file browser that is Re-/Konqueror.

But I can't really agree with including firefox if that means not fitting the installation image on a CD anymore (that has worked really well so far).

Think this topic been up before, maybe there should be a FFinstall solution that offer several web browsers and not just FF - something like the EU settlement forced upon M$.
And I agree the smaller the install CD the better. I have no trouble with downloading large portions of OSs, and I would say that it ain't a biggie in the western world, but for most people on the world bandwidth is crucial, for that sake only I have to agree that leaving out many not OS dependant packages is a good thing.

As a side note, I have personally always wondered why Firefox needs a slew of third party plugins to get the same functionality that comes built into other browsers...and yet fails to be light and fast even without all the plugins. :P

Isn't that just the way FOSS work - add-your-own kind of mentality, think it opens up many of "the unaware" about possibilities of FOSS standards (along with Mozillas statement "know your rights" popup).

Lets just say that not all hacking is done in the code - some needs to be done within the users brain ...and Mozilla is aware of it
Jonas

[Qqmike]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I must agree with kubicle, " ... But I can't really agree with including firefox if that means not fitting the installation image on a CD anymore ..."

I happen to happily use Firefox, but it's easy (and fast) enough to get after installing Kubuntu. And the one-CD experience is a real happy plus for Kubuntu for me, thus far since 2005.

[Zhao]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

For someone who already installed Kubuntu installing any other browser should be really easy, so it really shouldn't matter what browser comes by default, especially when that jeopardizes the Live CD and also because the browser choice depends on the user and the opinions vary a lot.

[Telengard]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I use Firefox to browse the web, and Konqueror as my desktop file manager and documentation browser. IMHO Kubuntu should stick with KDE applications by default, but keep Firefox easily installable.

[budr]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I agree with Zhao and Telengard. If the question is what's your favorite browser, there are going to be as many different opinions as there are different browsers.

BUT, if the question is what will fit on an install CD, then I think preference should always go to KDE apps.

Now we can fight over whether that means the default browser should be Konqueror or Rekonq or some other KDE browser if there is one. That's a discussion worth having. But if including FF or Chrome means leaving out some other KDE apps, I don't think that's a good idea. Ever.

[SteveRiley]

Re: The default Kubuntu browser

I'm trying to understand why, in the waning days of 2011, so many people seem fixated on the 670/750 MB boundary of a CD-ROM, a specification set in 26 years ago in 1985.

Re: bundling, my suggestion would be to provide two .ISOs:

• A "minimal" build, one that includes elements necessary to install a functioning OS, get on a network, browse the web, and set up email
• A "full" build, including all the other elements that a particular distro wishes to include

This eliminates the arbitrary "must fit on a CD" limit and also helps those in bandwidth-constrained locations obtain only what they need without downloading too much extra stuff.