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.
This article was written by Katerina Mitrou sponsored by http://www.free-web-browsers.com. At free-web-browsers.com, you'll find alternative web browsers for safer surfing. You'll also learn how to protect your system against about:blank browser hijackers and improve your system's speed and stability with the use of a registry cleaner. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must provide a link pointing back to http://www.free-web-browsers.com.