When Firefox changed the way it did things by running separate plug in containers, it succeeded in permanently maxing out my CPU. My XP machine was virtually unusable, and that was just FF by itself with no add-ons or extensions of any kind.
The idea may have been good, but it brought my machine almost to a standstill.
And I don't blame my computer as firstly everything else runs just fine, and I've tried a few different browsers. And secondly there were more than me experiencing and complaining about high CPU usage.
I have an older version of Opera for the same reason, change wasn't an improvement. I run Opera 12.16 and it runs like a thoroughbred race horse, whereas the new Opera impersonator runs like a ... well, it doesn't run, it walks, very slowly.
My main browser is Pale Moon Version: 26.5.0 (Atom/WinXP), which although I don't have an Atom processor, still runs like a dream. And it doesn't update every couple of hours like it's mainstream cousin.
Updates are regular but sensible, and importantly, my Winstripe Modern theme works with it.
These builds are specifically optimized for Intel Atom™ processors, and are not recommended for regular Intel or AMD processors on current operating systems (Vista or higher). The extra optimizations only work on Atom processors and will execute a little slower than the normal version of Pale Moon on a non-Atom processor (but otherwise run just fine). In general use, though, you will likely not notice much (if any) difference if run on a non-Atom processor.
These builds are otherwise exactly the same as the normal desktop version of Pale Moon, built from a specialized branch of the same source code. Apart from Windows XP compatibility and small technical and aesthetic changes, no other changes are made to the browser core.
I also keep an old version of Firefox, version 24 ESR.
I stopped at version 24 because versions after that have been changed is some way that messes up my much loved and long time used theme mentioned above.
And as a simple note of interest, I run with Sandboxie and occasionally with Returnil virtualisation. Both older versions.
Old operating system, old browsers, old virtualisation software, and no interference from microsoft. Does it get any better. ![:)]()
I've had zero worries or concerns about security since MS stopped supporting XP (probably a good thing), and the same zero worries about old software, and completely ignored the "Update your operating system NOW!!" scaremongering. My machine is as clean now as it was when MS were occasionally screwing it up with security updates.
Not wishing to brag but I could go out tomorrow and buy myself a cool desktop and probably a cool laptop to go with it, but I've absolutely no wish to move away from this still perfect XP machine and once again get into the world of Microsoft and it's never ending search for control.
Ah yes, I've even deleted all the MS HotFix Uninstallers.
I'm free!!!
Finally, I've stuck my moderator head on and I'm slapping myself on the wrist for wandering slightly off topic and having a rant, but you can't beat a good rant.
![:)]()
EDIT: Almost forgot, the above isn't a recommendation for others to follow, as each to your own and make your own mind up as to whether you know enough about keeping your computer safe to not go along with the flow. But it's food for thought for those that do.