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Web BrowsersMost of you are probably using the most prevalent browsing software - Microsoft's Internet Explorer - right now to read this page (at least that is what 82% of our visitors are using!). However, there ARE other options (especially if you're a Macintosh, Linux or FreeBSD user!). But before we begin, what should you look for in a browser?
Looking for more from your browser? Let's see what's out there. Some vendors offer more than one package in this category. We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.
Web Browser ReviewWeb Browsers* (Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)
* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน Apple's Safari 3 browser is a simple, free, download away for Macintosh users. It's fast and easy to use. Cost - $$$$$ Safari 3 is free when you purchase Macintosh OS X 10.5 (Leopard)!
Time Savings - นนนนน Safari RSS has some nice tools to make your web surfing faster and more productive. Ease of Use - @@@@@ The single thing that Apple is best known for! Works With - YYY Macintosh OS X (Tiger) availability only. Support - ppp Apple has an extensive knowledge base, technical support and more on their web site. Apple expects most problems to be handled through their online discussion forum. Features - iiii+ We especially like the iSync functionality for synching up bookmarks between Macintoshes. Additionally, the ability to view multiple web sites from a single window really keeps your screen clean and less confusing! Finally integration of RSS technology provides news feeds directly to your desktop, and, your surfing is more private and secure with Security Certificates, parental controls and private browsing capabilities. Overall Rating - %%%%+ If you're a Macintosh OS X user, a great browser in the Apple software tradition.
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน Avant Browser claims it is the fastest browser on earth. The brower is a simple download away and installs easily. Cost - $$$$$ Avant Browser is free! (But you can make a donation by phone, fax, or the web through Qwerks or PayPal in U.S. and other currencies.)
Time Savings - นนนนน The animation filter and customizable mouse gestures can be real time saving functions that you get with this browser. Ease of Use - @@@@@ It's fast - and easy - like a browser should be. Works With - YYY Avant Browser is designed for the Windows environment only. Support - ppp Avant Browser has a FAQ and online forum - pretty good for free software. Features - iiii You've got to love the multi-window browsing, flash animation filter, online profile storage, built-in pop-stopper, multiple languages and built-in search engine. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 How could you NOT love this software?
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน Konqueror is included with the KDE 3.2.2 desktop environment for Unix/Linux systems. It's already there! Cost - $$$$$ The KDE desktop environment is part of most Linux/Unix OS's - it's probably already on your system!
Time Savings - นนนนน What would we do without the web? And Linux and Unix users need all of the capabilities of Konqueror to make their desktops "work" and access the limitless information available on the net. Ease of Use - @@@@@
A simple, straight forward browser and file interface. Works With - YYY1/2 Konqueror is designed for the Linux/Unix environment. Support - ????? The support you get for KMail will depend upon your OS vendor. the KMail site however has lots of useful documents and information. Features - iiii The nice "plusses" for Konqueror are the Universal Viewer and XML configurability (as part of the KDE desktop). The XML configurability means that developers can customize Konqueror to work within applications quickly, simply and efficiently (without big technical issues!). Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 For Linux/Unix users - "the" solution.
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน If must be easy - most of us are using it right now! Cost - $$$$$ If you are a Windows user, it came with your PC.
Time Savings - นนนนน Explorer is the most prevalent software in this category - ease of use and making the web experience more productive are inherent characteristics. Ease of Use - @@@@@ A simple tool for all of us. Works With - YYYY Internet Explorer is designed for Windows and Macintosh environments. Support - pppp1/2 We really hate getting through the initial Microsoft support scripts! With that "venting" over with, their FAQ and knowledgebase are both extensive and easy to use and access. If you need more and have to deal with web support, you need a Microsoft Passport and then then take you through a simplistic and irritating set of basic questions. If you problem is not solved, you can call a non-800 number (you pay toll charges where they apply) Monday through Friday 5 AM to 9 PM Pacific, Saturday and Sunday 6 AM to 3 PM Pacific. Features - iiii Discussion group and MSN Messenger integration are very nice "differentiators" for Explorer. Since it is the "standard", the features and functions in the software are always considered the "norm". The "norm" now includes tabbed browsing, RSS Feed support and integrated search. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 Most of us are using it every day, and couldn't live without it. If you're a Windows user, it's hard NOT to use Explorer.
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน Firefox is very simple to download, install and set up for use on your system. Cost - $$$$$ The download is free. If you want a CD it will cost you $15.95 (includes guidebook) or you can order the Mozilla Suite (web browser, email client, newsgroup client, IRC chat client, HTML editor) for $14.95 (CD).
Time Savings - นนนนน You can't live without a browser- and Firefox is definitely one of the best. Tabbed browsing and customizable toolbars can really help you speed up your searches (along with smart searching capabilities). Ease of Use - @@@@@ A simple tool for everyone Works With - YYYY1/2 Firefox is designed to work in the Windows, Macintosh and Linux environments. Support - ppp1/2 For free software, the Mozilla folks do a great job helping out their user community. FAQ's lots of online documentation and user forums where you can research your problem or ask other users for help are huge plusses. Features - iiii1/2 Big extras for Firefox are tabbed browsing, smart keyword search, RSS integration (live bookmarks), the end to download confusion (saved to the desktop - not some "temp" file), customizable toolbars and nice developer tools. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 A powerful, slick, free alternative to IE.
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน OmniWeb is simple to install and use. Cost - $$$$ OmniWeb is priced at $14.95.
Time Savings - นนนนน OmniWeb will make your web surfing experience faster - and with speech recognition (for those of you who don't type fast) more productive. Ease of Use - @@@@@
Nice
interface,
speech
recognition
is a good
touch. Works With - YYY OmniWeb is designed for the Macintosh OS X environment only. Support - pppp An extensive knowledge base, FAQ, downloads and more. Email support if the online information doesn't solve your problem. Features - iiii Nicest "touch" is speech recognition. Also the ability to open a link behind the current window is a way of keeping your screen "clean" (although we like the Safari approach better - multiple pages in a single window). Tabbed browsing is new in version 5.0. Overall Rating - %%%% A nice browser for the Mac OS X user. If you want speech recognition, the best choice.
Simple Start-Up - นนนนน Opera is simple to download and begin using. Cost - $$$1/2 Opera premium support is priced at $29.00, $24.00 for all mobile devices.
Time Savings - นนนนน Opera will make your web surfing faster and easier - especially if you have a phone, Mac and Windows machine and would like a "common" surfing interface. Ease of Use - @@@@@ Opera has a number of "customizing" capabilities to make their software even more usable, and like Avant Browser has "tabbed" browsing capabilities.
Works With - YYYYY Not a more "compatible" piece of browsing software on the market. Support - pppp Lots of support information on the Opera site - FAQ, Knowledge Base, Forums and Newsgroups. Email support for questions that can't get answered any other way. Features - iiii1/2 A leader in delivering functionality - just look at the list above! The password manager and notes are especially nice tools. Overall Rating - %%%%1/2 A wonderful alternative to Explorer. Feature rich, compatible with a variety of operating environments - including phones. Take a look at Opera if you just can't "do" Microsoft or have decided to go with Linux as your operating system of choice and want something different from Konqueror.
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Treillage Network Strategies, Inc. ฉ
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