Best Web Browser?

Category: Browsers

"I have friends who have stopped using Internet Explorer and they're always telling me that Firefox or some other browser is better. What are my choices, and which one is best for the average internet user?"


Which Web Browser is Best?

There are millions of pages of information and entertainment available online. In order to maximize your Internet experience, you need to have a web browser that has the features and technologies that are appropriate for your operating system and your preferences. Below is information on four of the most popular browsers available, along with a summary of features to help you decide which is best for you.

Internet Explorer

Explorer Browser LogoInternet Explorer is the dominant player in the browser field with about 79% market share. A product of Microsoft, it offers a user interface that is similar to that offered by Windows Explorer. This internet browser has been designed for accessing a wide variety of web sites and content. Internet Explorer allows third parties to incorporate Browser Helper Objects and rich content into the design of their websites. Other valuable features offered by Internet Explorer include pop-up blockers and tabbed browsing capabilities. The main criticisms of this internet browser have focused on Internet Explorer's security problems. Microsoft is working hard to fix these problems, and they continue to provide security patches to Internet Explorer users.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox Browser LogoFirefox is an internet browser that works with just about any operating platform including: Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. This graphic browser offers a great selection of features. Firefox pioneered tabbed browsing, which was recently picked up by Internet Explorer. This browser also offers integrated download management, live bookmarking, incremental find using the Firefox toolbar, anti-phishing protection, and a dynamic search system. Because it's open source software, there is a vibrant community of developers actively improving the base software, and creating Firefox extensions to add new features to the browser. Firefox is rapidly gaining market share, mostly at the expense of Explorer. As of February 2007, Firefox was used by about 14% of all Internet users, an increase of 5% over the previous year.

Opera

Opera Browser LogoOpera is another cross-platform browser like Firefox. However, this browser is more of an "internet suite" than a simple browser. It provides users with the tools and technology to perform a wide variety of internet related tasks like viewing web pages, searching the Internet, sending and receiving emails, conducting online chats, and even displaying the latest Widgets. Opera was developed to perform well on small systems and low-end computers. It also has integrated features that make it a great choice for people with visual and mobility impairments. Another great feature of Opera is its mobile version, Opera Mini. This free download allows Opera users to access this internet suite on their mobile devices. Other features offered by Opera include: a download manager, tabbed browsing, notes, and a pop-up blocker. The drawbacks of this particular browser are related to its limited capabilities for add-ons, extensions, and Widgets.

Safari

Safari Browser LogoSafari is a browser found on Apple Macintosh systems, but has recently been released for Windows too. It is a great browser that has been integrated into the Mac OS X operating platform. It has many of the same features as Internet Explorer and Firefox, including: QuickTime multimedia technology, a tabbed-browsing interface system, and internet searching tools. Safari uses Google as its main search engine, and it also offers users tools that automatically fill out web-based forms, manage passwords, check spelling, and block pop-ups. Safari is by far the most popular browser for Mac OS X systems, but people who use both Windows and Mac systems now have a choice between Safari and Firefox, since both offer a common interface and can share bookmarks.

Selecting an Internet Browser

There are several internet browsers that you can select from including those that were mentioned above. However, while most browsers offer similar features, not all browsers are created equally. The best way to find the browser that will work best for you is to first narrow down the field to include only the browsers that will work with your operating system. Then try out a few of the top browsers from this list to see which one has the features and extensibility that you want and need. If you want to learn more about alternative browsers and their user base statistics, visit the HitsLink MarketShare site.

Got comments about which browser is best? Post your thoughts below...


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Posted by Bob Rankin on March 2, 2007 06:56 PM


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Related Keywords: Browsers   browsers   ie7   firefox   opera   safari  

Most recent comments on "Best Web Browser?"

(See all 18 comments for this article.)

Posted by:
Sam
14 Dec 2007

Opera actually pioneered tabbed browsing, among other things. It's also the most standards compliant browser out there.


Posted by:
zoe
25 Dec 2007

I've been using a web browser called Flock for almost a year now, I think they call it an Add-On to Firefox, they're built the same way or something I guess. Anyway, it's a great browser if you're a blogger and like to post a lot of photos, or even just if you want to keep and manage your photos on the internet (saves up a lot of space on your computer).
It's a bit buggy though, from my experience...
But it has great features synchronizing it with online accounts like Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket and more. :)


Posted by:
Thaaru
13 Mar 2008

I have used opera,IE7,firefox2 and also safari 3. fire fox is not secure because if you use it there may be many spy wares on your computer.fire fox is faster than opera and IE7 but safari is faster than fire fox. opera is the slowest. IE7 is the most secure but safari secure but not as IE7 but it is the fastest in windows.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Whoa... better check your facts there, buddy. Firefox is NOT secure, but IE7 is most secure??? Bzzzzzt! Wrong answer.


Posted by:
Ian G
06 Apr 2008

I was feeling a bit bored the other day, so i decided to strip down a XP SP3 install to the bare minimum Windows apps.
The first new additions were Firefox 2.0.0.13
and Thunderbird 2.0.0.12. Everything was fine until i tried to install add-ons to Firefox.
Then i spent the next 2 days trawling forums and getting bombarded with pop ups from my AV telling
me about attempted DCOM exploits. All in all, not
a very good experience.
Installed Opera 9.27 and everything is running
very nice now. No problems installing add-ons, no
security issues, just the name is not as cool as
Firefox.


Posted by:
javier
11 Jun 2008

Flock is Better!

EDITOR'S NOTE: Wow, with that stunning informative review, you've sure convinced me!


Posted by:
turdstirrer
16 Jul 2008

fyi, some guy named kevin nunez plagarized your entry. or, maybe you plagarized his. going by datelines, you beat him by a year so you get benefit of the doubt. (http://www.lockergnome.cmo/nunez/2008/05/31/best-browser)

Why someone would want to plagarize blogs on his blog is beyond me. why even keep one?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You're right, he ripped off my post, almost word for word.


Posted by:
rabin
23 Jul 2008

i'm using Opera 9.5 it is the best for me. features like email/chat/note/rss/voice enabled/text reader/password manager/mouse gestures/shortcuts/low-end cpu support and of course the fastest. What about IE8? no one is for that?

EDITOR'S NOTE: IE8 is still in "Beta 1" testing, so I would not recommend it unless you are a web developer or designer. Although the new "Activities" feature looks pretty cool...


Posted by:
Tzurre
31 Jul 2008

It's hard for me to write this note, I am still reeling from the Tharru comment, IE7 is More secure then Firefox or Opera, Come on now, is that Big Bad Billy G hiding behind that alias, Believe me, I'm not tryin to bust your chops pal I to am guilty of not getting my facts straight now and then.
Cheers


Posted by:
Dave
08 Oct 2008

What about Chrome ??

EDITOR'S NOTE: I wrote about Chrome here: http://askbobrankin.com/the_chrome_browser.html -- and will be updating this article soon.


Posted by:
kyle easter
06 Nov 2008

ok . no body here seems to have said from a web hackers point of view.. well here comes one, i have tried all the web browsers for almost everything and firefox came out on top. you have hundreds of addons that allow you to do things alot easier and make surfing safer. and also some can be used for other things as well xD
And if you want speed firefox is the best. ok yes ino safari is faster. but you can make firefox 10X faster than safari by changing the directorys of the browser its a 3 step thing and here is a link how to do this - http://forevergeek.com/open_source/make_firefox_faster.php


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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Best Web Browser? (Posted: March 2, 2007 06:56 PM)
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