Analysis And Conclusion
Analysis
Header Cell - Column 0 | Winner | Strong | Acceptable | Weak |
---|---|---|---|---|
Performance Benchmarks | ||||
Startup Time | Opera | Chrome, Internet Explorer | Firefox | Safari |
Page Load Time | Chrome | Row 2 - Cell 2 | Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari | Row 2 - Cell 4 |
JavaScript | Chrome | Firefox | Opera, Internet Explorer | Safari |
DOM | Opera | Row 4 - Cell 2 | Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer | Safari |
CSS | Chrome | Opera | Internet Explorer | Firefox, Safari |
Flash | Internet Explorer | Opera, Safari | Chrome, Firefox | Row 6 - Cell 4 |
Java | Firefox | Chrome | Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari | Row 7 - Cell 4 |
Silverlight | Opera | Internet Explorer | Chrome, Firefox, Safari | Row 8 - Cell 4 |
HTML5 | Firefox | Internet Explorer | Chrome | Opera, Safari |
HTML Hardware Acceleration | Firefox | Internet Explorer | Row 10 - Cell 3 | Chrome, Opera, Safari |
WebGL | Chrome | Row 11 - Cell 2 | Firefox | Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari |
Efficiency Benchmarks | ||||
Memory Usage | Safari | Firefox | Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera | Row 13 - Cell 4 |
Memory Management | Internet Explorer | Chrome | Firefox, Safari, Opera | Row 14 - Cell 4 |
Battery Life | Firefox | Row 15 - Cell 2 | Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera | Safari |
Reliability Benchmarks | ||||
Proper Page Loads | Firefox, Opera | Row 17 - Cell 2 | Chrome | Internet Explorer, Safari |
Conformance Benchmarks | ||||
JavaScript | Internet Explorer | Opera | Chrome, Firefox, Safari | Row 19 - Cell 4 |
DOM | Chrome, Opera, Safari | Firefox, Internet Explorer | Row 20 - Cell 3 | Row 20 - Cell 4 |
CSS3 | Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari | Chrome | Row 21 - Cell 3 | Row 21 - Cell 4 |
HTML5 | Chrome | Firefox, Opera | Safari | Internet Explorer |
Conclusion
When we take raw performance, the conformance grade, total placing, and the categorical analysis tables into account, a clear winner emerges. There's no argument; Chrome 12 is the Web Browser Grand Prix 5 champion.
Google boosted its numbers in performance, reliability, and standards conformance just enough to take the championship from Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, which just barely holds onto second place ahead of Firefox 5 (though this might be debatable). But it's not just the number of total wins that gives Chrome 12 an edge, but also its low number of losses. In fact, the only area where Chrome falls completely behind is in HTML5 hardware acceleration, which is a feature not yet supported by this browser.
The same could be said for fourth-place finisher Opera. WebGL, HTML5, and HTML5 hardware acceleration are the weak areas of the Norwegian Web browser; those are also features not yet supported.
Safari 5 is simply the oldest browser in the lineup. Being the longest to go without a major refresh makes it somewhat like a control group, a way to gauge the latest against the previous generation. But Mac OS X 'Lion' is so close that we can hear its roar. The big cat brings Safari 6 which is set to be a major upgrade to the browser.
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