this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 63 points 9 months ago (4 children)

I've seen this one before.

  • A ton of people will complain
  • Firefox will get a bunch of users for a few days
  • 90% will go back to Chrome

That last 10% will be happier but that's just the way it goes. This is based on Netflix, Reddit, Twitter, and Microsoft.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago (5 children)

A browser is not like a social network though. There's barely any difference in practical terms between Chrome and Firefox. Once you've switched there's no reason to go back.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

This is why I don't understand why anyone tech savvy isn't using Firefox. There's literally no cost. From a user standpoint they're basically the same thing. The one that isn't made by an evil monopoly is just the obvious choice.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Desktop runs great, but Firefox on Android seems to be noticeably buggy here and there sadly. I still use it, but I can imagine that might drive people out of the ecosystem.

Many people get used to the synchronization of their passwords / bookmarks cross-channel. More advanced users have a separate password management for this I'd figure, but that's not the default for 90% I'd guess.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I've never had a single issue with Firefox for Android and I've run it on all my phones for like 6-7years at least, probably more but I don't remember.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It doesn't play super nice with foldable phones. The UI doesn't adapt correctly without restarting the app and you end up with a very dense interface of overlapping buttons if you try going from open to closed. The address bar becomes completely blocked by all the extra buttons from the tablet layout, so the app is unusable.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Well that's a pretty specific use case, I've only ever met one person with a foldable phone. But yeah they should probably fix that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Well, in my experience it's mostly interaction bugs. Quite noticeable when you're used to Chrome not having these issues.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I use both a password manager and Firefox password sync.

[–] RogueBanana 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You may think so but there's always a bunch of posts about why people can't switch out of chromium in every other Firefox related posts. There are few significant differences and some don't wanna make any compromise for something better.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I heard from someone who uses a shit ton of tabs in Chrome which Firefox doesn't do as well apparently. But I've been a FF guy for as long as it's been around and i hate open trans so

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I miss the old Tab Mix Plus. I customized that crap out of that thing and it was lovely.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

The only ones who can't are those who have that SUUUPER special plugin that they need and they won't look at FF alternatives.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

As long as there is suddenly a new pinned tab with irrelevant info or an unskippable pop up about the new color schemes or data grabbing websites pinned to the top sites or the company firing half their developers even when their CEO gets another pay raise or…

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Agreed, I think they're hedging on the amount of people who leave will be less than the increased revenue of those who stay. Considering the ones leaving were never going to allow as revenue anyway what do they really lose?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

There were people back in the day who thought that the internet was that fancy E on the desktop (internet explorer) and would have their brains melt when trying to explain alternatives. I think that people now have this problem with a fancy G.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The rest will go to some other chrome derivative that includes a built in adblocker.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Until google announces that adblocks will be blanket removed from chromium as well. The truth is the only company big enough to maintain a fork this different, is Microsoft, the question is will they feel like they should, or will they side with Google, since this is by their interests as well..

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

And thus, entropy is presented. Even if only 10% go to Firefox, thats still 10% that aren't going back to Chrome. And if this repeats with similar results, as you imply, that 90% going back to Chrome is gonna be a lot smaller a few iterations from now.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Until they use their multiple monopolies to further cripple the experience for competitors, entrenching their dominance, and allowing them to force their proprietary standards on the internet, killing any remaining pretence of Internet freedom.