always found it hard to understand the difference /advantages etc.All i see is that a window is a bit like a folder, and tabs.. files within.
Also …I like to have loads of tabs/windows open at any one time ….is it better to open webpages in windows or tabs to reduce the strain on the laptop performance?
thanks in advance
Bill

Tabs are *in* windows.

E.g., open your browser, that’s a window.

open a few pages in the browser – each one’s in a tab.

If you want, you can open a second browser window, which can then contain more tabs

I think tabs might be better on memory usage but then I could also be very wrong.

I tend to use tabs in a browser for looking at similar things – for example, comparing seatposts I am thinking of buying.

I use a new window if I am looking at completely separate things, or want to keep something open (mail/web radio etc.)while generally surfing about in another window.

If you are concerned about how fast your computer runs when you have lots of windows/tabs open, try Google Chrome. It definitely loads faster and seems to use less resources than Internet Explorer. It also opens every tab as a new program so if one crashes, you don’t lose all the other tabs you are browsing – well, that’s the theory….

It probably doesn’t make much difference.

Some browsers are kinder to memory when you minimize windows (by swapping out to disk), but I imagine they use the same technique for tabbed browsing.

Chrome open tabs as a new process, so I imagine tabs and windows will use similar amout of memory.

For a snappy feeling, I use Chrome with a Flash blocker. This may not be the kindest combination for memory though, but as I said, there’s conflicting benchmarks on the net.

Lastly, if you have free RAM, it’s fine for applications to use it. Generally I see that Chrome has high memory usage, which probably explains why it’s fast, because lots is already loaded in RAM.

I tend to use tabs in a browser for looking at similar things – for example, comparing seatposts I am thinking of buying.

Living the dream………..

😉

peterfile – Member
I tend to use tabs in a browser for looking at similar things – for example, comparing seatposts I am thinking of buying.
Living the dream………..

You better believe it!!

I actually meant blow-up dolls, but was too embarrassed to type that……….D’OH!!!!

For all practical purposes, I’d hazard personal preference will outweigh any performance benefits on a modern machine (unless it’s crashing all the time and you want to try and force a separate process for resiliency).

Easiest way to tell real-world would be to open loads of windows, look at Resource Monitor, then open loads of tabs and check again. They’ll probably be as close as makes no odds.