With all the security woes and annoying user-unfriendly
problems associated with Microsoft’s Internet
Explorer, more and more people are looking for alternatives.
Internet surfers seeking out new web browser options
have a few good choices to consider, and luckily, all
the browsers in this category boast positive attributes
and cool features that can make anyone’s browsing
experience a good one. In the end, it’s up to
you to pick one that fits your specific needs, as everyone
looks for something different in a browser. But one
thing’s for sure – you’ll never go
back to IE.
Opera
The Opera browser sings to a tune all its own. One
of the more popular alternative browsers available,
it is highly acclaimed by new and veteran users alike.
This browser is well-known for loading pages very
quickly (especially important for those of us still
puttering along on a dial-up connection) and making
the browsing experience a smooth one, especially compared
to the sometimes-grueling loading times that are the
trademark of Internet Explorer.
Opera is lighter than its competitor as well, weighing
in at much less than Internet Explorer. The browser
comes with a lot of features people have come to expect
in the realm of alternative browsers (such as tabbed
browsing and a pop-up blocker) that make it faster
and easier to navigate the web. Another thing about
Opera is that it lets you choose whether or not to
run certain features, such as java applets. These
are small applications written in the java programming
language that can slow down a browser. If you specify,
you can turn off certain JavaScript functions. If
you’re willing to sacrifice some features that
bog down other browser software in order to enjoy
the benefits of a faster online experience, Opera
is probably the perfect browser for you.
Opera can be downloaded for free – in the past
you had to pay for the ad-free version, but with the
release of the latest version all that has changed.
Another plus: no security issues have yet to be associated
with the browser, so it’s your best bet for
surfing safely, although compatibility issues may
sometimes hamper your ability to view particular websites.
Firefox
Firefox is gaining steam as a favorite alternative
browser, although it has been the top choice for quite
some time amongst old-school Internet addicts and
those who make good use of tabbed browsing and other
user-friendly features not available with Internet
Explorer. As it cements its position in the world
of mainstream browsers, you can expect even more people
to jump on the Firefox bandwagon (Grandma included).
There’s good reason why Firefox is fast becoming
a favorite browser. It offers a simple design, fast
browsing, and a safer Internet experience. The browser
blocks pop-ups, viruses, and spyware – and it
doesn’t contain near as many security holes
as Microsoft’s IE, meaning the chance of falling
prey to browser hijackers and other such online vultures
is slim to none. Patches are made available very quickly
when problems do arise. Browsing is faster because
you won’t have as much spyware clogging your
computer’s arteries, making your trip down the
information superhighway slower than molasses.
And of course, anyone who has tried to open multiple
windows on Internet Explorer knows that tabbed browsing
is the most convenient way to surf the web –
it sure beats having a million separate browser windows
open at once. Another great aspect of tabbed browsing
on Firefox: when you open a window in tabs the browser
doesn’t automatically take you to the new tab
– instead, you remain at the original page.
The latest version of Firefox even lets you move tabs
around after opening them.
Alternative browsers can be a lot more fun than IE
as well. Firefox, for instance, offers neat features
such as live bookmarks, an integrated search bar,
automatic software updates, and the ability to customize
the browser by taking advantage of a number of available
extensions.
As usual, the trimmed-down browsing experience means
not all web pages can be accessed through Firefox.
Lacking ActiveX support, this browser can’t
display certain types of web pages, although the majority
of websites can be viewed using Firefox.
Safari
For all you Apple users out there, Safari is your
best bet for an alternative web browser. If you own
a Mac, you probably already know about Safari, as
it came bundled with Mac OS X, but it’s worth
mentioning as an alternative to Internet Explorer
simply because it is another option that works well
for most web users.
Safari possesses all the usual browser features,
such as bookmarks, but it also offers features people
have come to expect from the other popular alternative
web browsers currently on the market. The browser
offers tabbed browsing and an integrated Google search
box, similar to Firefox, and an automatic pop-up blocker.
Again, like its competitors, Safari also offers a
faster browsing experience for the keen Internet junkie.
Many Mac users prefer Safari to Internet Explorer
for Mac for the same reasons more people have been
flocking to Opera and Firefox. Overall, it makes the
whole Internet experience faster, and the browser
is very easy to use
