Thursday, February 26th 2009
Safari 4 Beta Tested, Gives IE7 a Sound Thrashing at JavaScript Performance
There is a valid reason behind why Safari is growing in browser market-share, apart from the fact that iPhone carries it: it is arguably the fastest browser there is. The fourth beta version that surfaced earlier this week went a few notches ahead of Firefox (Minefield) 3.2a1 and Google Chrome in a review conducted by CNet, to take the top-sport for the fastest web-browser. Internet Explorer (IE) versions 7 and 8, Opera 9.6, Firefox 3, Chrome, Firefox(Minefield) 3.1 Alpha 1 and Safari 4 were put through JavaScript tests using the SunSpider suite. The PC was equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor running at 2.10 GHz. Safari 4 beta gave IE 7 a sound thrashing at the test, emerging 42 times faster. The performance difference between the two were so vast that the reviewers had to prepare a seperate graph without IE 7 so there could be more resolution in the charts showing the differences between the rest of the contendors. Then again, one must take into account the fact that Chrome and Firefox (Minefield) 3.2 weren't all that behind Safari 4 beta, only a few notches. The scores are denoted by render time in terms of milliseconds. Lesser the better. The scores stand at:
Source:
CNET
- Safari 4 (Total time: 910 ms)
- Mozilla Minefield 3.2a1 (1,136 ms)
- Google Chrome (1,177 ms)
- Firefox 3 (3,250 ms)
- Opera 9.6 (4,076 ms)
- Internet Explorer 8 (5,839 ms)
- Internet Explorer 7 (39,026 ms)
36 Comments on Safari 4 Beta Tested, Gives IE7 a Sound Thrashing at JavaScript Performance
Looking at the numbers, however, I think some of the results are close enough that people won't be looking at browsers like safari, google chrome, or minefield for their speed over one another, but for their UI. How features are laid out and the software's ease of use is what will increase users. For instance, how fast is fast enough? At what point can the human brain tell a difference in speed between one browser to the next? If minefield feels better, people will download it, but if safari has a better feel, and it's easier to use, then people will go with it. 500ms isnt enough to convince me to take safari over minefield if safari feels awkward to use...
Con: Internet Explorer is still the slowest browser on test.
Microsoft needs to stop wasting their time on IE development, because it's obvious they just can't compete.
.....and where can I find those webbrowser benchmarks?
This "Web browser benchmark reseult" is too lame.. ....I mean NONAME :laugh:
ACID1-2-3 is a test, and it has a name :)They started a new project to retire IE, it's name is: Gazelle
But it is not fast as the name... it's a turtle :D
12yr old kids need not be doing web work!
The only thing that counts for me is functionality, and Opera has by far the most functional and flexible interface I've seen. I was sceptical about that once, but now I can't even imagine switching back to Firefox, or even Safari (I used to have that for a couple of hours once, and it simply felt wrong - I'm a windows UI retard, obviously).
As for compatibility - if a web site is lame, chances are it will be rendered incorrectly in any browser, at least that's what I've seen. So Safari may be a good choice, but Apple will have to do miracles to convince Firefox/Opera users to switch to it. Any ideas what those might be? :)
Why doesn't ebay support development for Safari because the market share for Safari isn't really all that high as of right now.
Additionally, you can use eBay with Safari easily if you know html. All the eBay script does is convert a word like processor to html. I use it all the time.
Love how everyone makes everything out to be Apple's fault.
Also, bta...no offense man, but didn't a I already post this?
forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=86345
Anyway, javascript, what about HTML rendering. Isnt that what 99% of web data is?
And personally, I want my javascript as SLOW as possible. Nothing worse than extra fast malware getting hold of the PC through adverts you dont want to see. :roll:
(I turn javascript off, to avoid ADVERTISING, MALWARE, and other scripted-but-not-wanted rubbish).
However, what you said is completely untrue, at least with my past 3 years experience of using Safari with eBay.
I've been using eBay with Safari for the last 3+ years. I got my Macbook when I was 18 and I've been using Safari since then. I have no other browsers on my HDD. I've never once encountered a problem with eBay on it, everything works perfect. (Except for the word processing script that converts text to html when you enter an item description.)
Here's a look at my eBay profile:
myworld.ebay.com/rasnyder5
no thank you apple.
I will say though, you don't have to convince me of reasons why you don't want to use Safari. To each man his own, and I won't try to convince you to use it either way. The benches and tests are there, do with them what you will.
:toast:
I hate apple and I hate anyone who likes apple.
I mean, FFS the old tabs were used by everyone and their mother. IE, FF, and Safari all had tabs situated right below the address bar.
Lets not get into who started what here... Bias posting at its best.
I'll stick with my Opera, it let me down at rendering pages far lesser times than Firefox did. And it has all I need.