EpiphanyDefaultBrowser

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 * Firefox has some widely-installed extensions that Epiphany has no equivalent for (yet). The most commonly referred-to one is Adblock - although Epiphany has a plan for an equivalent http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fAdBlockExtension  * Firefox has some widely-installed extensions that Epiphany has no equivalent for (yet). The most commonly referred-to one is Adblock - although Epiphany has a plan for an equivalent http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fAdBlockExtension (This is, IMHO, not an argument since it's only a power user tool. You cannot provide by default a browser that alter the web like AdBlock! So, the extension is not to be installed by default and must not be considered, like many extensions, as an argument. Same apply to webdev extension (wich is very cool))

This page is an open discussion about whether or not to consider Epiphany as a default browser instead of Firefox. This page has not to be considered before Breezy release, and is aimed at Breezy+1.

Note: This page is not endorsed by any Ubuntu developper and is only an open discussion. There is no official plan to replace Firefox by Epiphany.

What must be a default browser ?

A default browser must be simple enough and doesn't need a lot of features by default. (to complete)

What think the average Joe user about Epihany or Firefox ?

Most of average users don't care at all. In fact, they don't see any difference if you ask them.

In favor of Epiphany as the default

  • Epiphany is well integrated with the Gnome desktop and follow the global theme and global options (like displaying text beside buttons, Gnome proxy, etc)
  • Epiphany follows the gnome release schedule
  • Epiphany's tab handling is better than Firefox's (although this is set to change when Firefox 1.5 arrives, and is improved by some Firefox extensions)
  • Epiphany has "session saving" built in - which means that if for soe reason it does crash, it will as "do you want to restore you previously open pages" when restarting. There is a Firefox extensions that does this.

In favor of Firefox as the default

  • Firefox is well known and "hype"
  • Firefox has some widely-installed extensions that Epiphany has no equivalent for (yet). The most commonly referred-to one is Adblock - although Epiphany has a plan for an equivalent http://live.gnome.org/Epiphany_2fAdBlockExtension (This is, IMHO, not an argument since it's only a power user tool. You cannot provide by default a browser that alter the web like AdBlock! So, the extension is not to be installed by default and must not be considered, like many extensions, as an argument. Same apply to webdev extension (wich is very cool))

  • Having Firefox will help ease transition for users of Windows and MacOS, as Firefox is available on those platforms

General points

  • Firefox contains more "power user" features, which could be argued as a good point by both sides.
  • Firefox supports keywords in the address bar "google something", whereas in Epiphany "keymarks / smart bookmarks" appear as a dropdown menu

Outstanding issues with Epiphany

  • Epiphany currently depends on Firefox, so in Firefox must be installed to have Epiphany. This could be dealt with by creating a seperate Gecko package, which Firefox, Epiphany, Galeon, Mozilla, et cetera depend on.

EpiphanyDefaultBrowser (last edited 2008-08-06 16:20:54 by localhost)