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.
