It started a couple months ago when FF started affecting the rest of my computer in a very adverse way. I noticed that it was eating memory. As I watched it, in task manager, the memory usage started to grow. I think it started around 135mb and before the day was over it ended up around 175mb. This was the memory that it was using btw, just in case you’re a little lost.

The way in which I use FF is to provide me a portal to my Google “stuff”. Gmail, reader, docs and no less than 3 Moodle sites. I keep these tabs open constantly with intermittent use of others that do not stay open. So, this memory “leak” occurred over the course of one business day. At the same time that I noticed this, I brought it up to my fellow workers who also started monitoring their FF browsers. This was on a variety of computers (desktops, laptops, WinXP, Mac OS-X and Ubuntu). Lo and behold! They were all experiencing the same thing!

FireFox IS a memory PIG! A gluttonous one at that! Regardless of platform.

Well, this alone didn’t sway me away from using FF and I couldn’t figure out what caused it to use more memory or less so I just went about my business.

That is until about a week ago. After no less than 3 updates in the time since I noticed the memory issues, FF has become continually more and more unstable. From tabs not responding to input (click) to just plain freezing for no reproducible reason. I’m at a loss for what to do. I cannot go back to IE after all as I cannot stand that horrid application. I’ve become far too dependent on my add-ins! Even now, I’m using Deepest Sender to write this post.

Now I do not know what to do. Do I flock with the rest? Should I go to the Opera instead? I have to tell you that I’ve tried both of the latest incarnations of these browsers and I’m not impressed. At least when FF was working for me I wasn’t tempted by them. Maybe it’s time to take another look…

Stay tuned Bat viewers, tune in again to see how Kevin handles his browser woes!