Google Chrome vs Firefox in future Mint Releases

[dalcde]

Here I'm not discussing about the functionalities/pros and cons (I prefer Firefox more), but Flash player will no longer be supported on Linux except on Chrome (and possibly Chromium - I don't know). Will Mint be switching to Chrome then or would we stick to Firefox?

[xenopeek]

This is not true. Adobe will be maintaining Flash 11.2 on Linux with security/bug-fixes for a period of five years. It is just that newer releases of Flash will not be released by Adobe for Linux. That is not immediately an issue, and it won't become one until websites don't work without features only implemented in newer releases of Flash.

Once it becomes and issue, it might be that a different solution will be available. The Flash included in Google Chrome might be repackaged to work with Firefox, perhaps by writing some add-on or plugin for Firefox as a wrapper. Or perhaps (please let's hope so) Flash will not be relevant any more and we all just use HTML5.

There are also alternatives like Lightspark and Gnash. I'm not sure about Gnash but Lightspark is under heavy development.

[dalcde]

This is not true. Adobe will be maintaining Flash 11.2 on Linux with security/bug-fixes for a period of five years. It is just that newer releases of Flash will not be released by Adobe for Linux. That is not immediately an issue, and it won't become one until websites don't work without features only implemented in newer releases of Flash.

Once it becomes and issue, it might be that a different solution will be available. The Flash included in Google Chrome might be repackaged to work with Firefox, perhaps by writing some add-on or plugin for Firefox as a wrapper. Or perhaps (please let's hope so) Flash will not be relevant any more and we all just use HTML5.

There are also alternatives like Lightspark and Gnash. I'm not sure about Gnash but Lightspark is under heavy development.

I'm sure using Flash 11.2 will cause many compatibility issues later on. It would be an issue if Adobe introduces large changes (e.g. AS4? ). It probably won't be an immediate issue, but it will come one day.

And from what I've read, Firefox doesn't plan to support the Flash as in Google Chrome unless there is a third-party plugin.

[xenopeek]

And from what I've read, Firefox doesn't plan to support the Flash as in Google Chrome unless there is a third-party plugin.

True, but that is now. Who knows what will happen in 6 months time? That is like Firefox version 22 I wouldn't worry about it right now, though I fully agree with you that there will come a Flash version that will cause the majority of Flash content to not work with 11.2. But I don't see that happening for most Flash using websites within 6 months.

[ALF13]

Why not you keep Firefox as a default browser and include chrome as a second browser?

Plus minus 20-40 Mb aren't something to worry about, are they?

[InkKnife]

I have to say I am uncomfortible using Chrome for a variety of reasons. Primarily Google's pushing their services so agresively on Chrome and my distrust of using a browser built by a data mining operation.
On a more practical note I don't like the way Chrome ignores the system theme and imho, Chrome is ugly as hell.

[cwwgateway]

I have to say I am uncomfortible using Chrome for a variety of reasons. Primarily Google's pushing their services so agresively on Chrome and my distrust of using a browser built by a data mining operation.
On a more practical note I don't like the way Chrome ignores the system theme and imho, Chrome is ugly as hell.

I have to agree with you about the theme thing. Chrome, at least with the default theme, is really ugly, but I've found themes that it's looked good with.

On the flash subject, I don't think that over the next 6 months to 1 year there will be a big problem. And, if firefox doesn't work for something, chromium (or chrome) is easy to install. In the long term, I think mint should explore light spark, chrome, and patching firefox. The only problem I see is that flash on Mint 13 will probably break with most websites before support runs out.