Comments on: Touch-a, touch-a, touch-a, touch me - web browser edition.

Question: Touch-a, touch-a, touch-a, touch me - web browser edition.

jeoc — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:26:46 -0800

Help me find the optimal web browser for my ASUS eee Slate tablet PC. It is a fully functional PC in an iPad-like package. I love it, but I'm having a hard time finding a browser configuration that I like.

I want a browser that will support scrolling by moving the screen up and down (not just the scroll bar) and supports pinch zoom. Somewhat larger than typical buttons (back, close tab, etc.) are helpful as well, since my finger is fatter than a mouse pointer. I also want support for ad blocking extensions.

I've been a Chrome user since it was released, but Chrome doesn't support the touch screen interface without an extension. I was having problems with Chrome freezing up the computer, and I think it might be related to that extension. Also the back and forward buttons and the close tab "x" are smallish and hard to hit with my fingers.

IE 9 works pretty well with the touch screen interface, but AFAIK there is no support for ad blocking.

I downloaded Opera, but it seems kind of slow on some sites, and the touch screen extension is terrible.

I also have firefox (version 6, if it matters), which seems to work OK with my touch screen (but not quite as well as IE) and has ad blocker (of course).

In my ideal world, I would be able to get Chrome to work smoothly with my touch screen. But maybe there's another option I don't know about.

So: which browser (and extensions) should I use to make the most of my awesome tablet PC?

By: yeoz

yeoz — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:04:55 -0800

IE9 does have web blocking through blacklists via the Tracking Protection functionality. But, it's fairly cumbersome, and most of the Tracking Protection Lists out there aren't very comprehensive.
just putting that out there...

By: yeoz

yeoz — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 07:05:34 -0800

er, ad blocking that is. bleh.

By: Kat Allison

Kat Allison — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 17:01:30 -0800

I have that same computer (and love it!), but there still isn't a perfect web browser to use with it.

As you've discovered, Chrome is only minimally compatible with a touchscreen. I use Firefox on my tablet, and have found it helpful (for FF as well as other applications) to tweak the size of the scrollbar and buttons, as described here and here. That helps me when I'm navigating by touch, but I'll confess I use the stylus a whole lot too.