Internet browsers

[karmaking]

I thought it might be useful to people if I outlined some of the more popular options re. Internet browsers. I do this because, in my experience:

a) many people don't know that the IS any option to the eponymous MS Internet Explorer and;
b) many people can't see that there is any reason to look at anything since... well, "it's just an internet browser, isn't it?"

So - I've outlined a few differences that are purely from MY point-of-view (and are not intended to reflect the myriad technical differences that exist between the options). Note that ALL are free so cost is not a differentiator:

1. MS Internet Explorer

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a) All Windows-based computers come with it;
b) Largely as a result of th above, its various versions have the largest share of the browser market and, therefore, the widest compatibility;

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a) Can be slow to load pages (although the later versions - ie. 7 and 8 Beta) are faster;
b) Even when other browsers are installed and have been chosen as the "default", it WILL keep trying to get you to reset IT as the default... hardly a crime but quite irritating;
c) Many people are still using IE version 6, which can cause compatibility issues with more recently produced web pages (note: this is mainly a headache for developers as they have to iron out these wrinkles, but sooner or later they will stop bothering and users will then find themselves looking at messed-up and non-functional sites

Mozilla Firefox
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a) Is "open source" (meaning that anyone can develop tools and add-ons for it), so there are lots of aftermarket gadgets out there;
b) Has the ability to save your session (all open browsing tabs) when you close so you can get right back to where you were when you restart it;
c) Many of the above are invaluable development tools, so this should be a serious option for anyone "getting under the hood" with web pages and functionality;
d) Latest version (v3) is lightning fast!

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a) Has some (few) compatibility options with some web sites (I have found a few, notably those using ActiveX tools) that insist on you using MS IE

Google Chrome
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a) As with Firefox, is open-source (same benefits apply);
b) Can also save and reload browsing sessions;
c) Has been designed to work well with "cloud computing" applications (these are web-based applications that are designed to function as if they were installed on your computer) - note that Google has a growing number of these so you may want to look at these to see if they are useful to you;
d) Has a very clean and toolbar-minimal interface so you maximise how much of your screen is given over to the actual web pages rather than banks of buttons;

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a) Can interpret certain types of web pages in rather a strange way (as with notes above on MS IE6, note that this is a developer issues really) - eg. some tables can take on a life of their own if the developer has not thought about Google Chrome when designing them;
b) A perceived downside to some may be in allying their computer and browsing too closely to the almighty Google! I don't fall on this side of the fence, but many do... make your own mind up.

At the end of the day, there is nothing to stop you from having all the above (and other - such as Apple's Safari, which now comes in Windows flavour too) installed.

As ever, anyone feel free to add to this below!

Cheers

[hersham_boy]

I have also used Opera in the past... I don't know why it doesn't seem to be more popular as it also super-fast compared with MS Internet Explorer!

http://www.opera.com/

Cheers

[Sweadsell]

Ill be honest I dislike Internet Explorer with a passion. Im sorry. It was a good upgrade for the users however, it reminds me of Mozilla Firefox. If anyone uses internet explorer its a good upgrade.