Browsers

Computing today is very much a web based affair, and if you disagree go ahead and smack yourself because you are reading this on the bloody internet.

With that unpleasantness behind us, lets again recall that people use there computers for the internet more than anything else (on average). Now this leads us to the primary tool we use to access the glory that is the internet...the web browser. Now the majority of people are familiar with what a web browser is, and instead of talking about how the browser works many of us want to know which is the best browser for us. So to gauge the effectiveness of the browser, I looked at the following; speed, ease of use, viewable content space, and content support. Here is a list, from best to worst, of a few browsers.

1) Google Chrome

2) Mozilla Firefox

3) Opera

4) Safari

5) Internet Explorer

Now looking at the list, it shouldn't be a surprise that Internet Explorer is dead last. I mean the thing sucks, if you don't believe me get one of the others and load a page and then do the same on IE. If you still like IE better, you should be commended....

Now on to the real browsers, I have to hand it to Google for coming out with Chrome. I was a long time Firefox guy, and I still have it on my machine, but I only use Chrome now. It is fast! I mean really fast, and with its minimal design, I like the added viewing area. And with the newer releases of Chrome, I now get themes and extensions (like mail checker, weather etc) built in, which is what Firefox had keeping it ahead.

Firefox is still a great browser choice, with a ton of customizable features that is still hard to beat. Also, you can tweak with the settings to improve speed which the nerd in me likes.

Opera is a descant browser with a chromeesk feel (or is it chrome that has an operaesk feel) which gives good support. Opera also features a Turbo Mode, which can boost page loading speed on a slower internet connection. I never really got the chance to test how well Turbo Mode works because I have a pretty good cable connection but it is defiantly worth trying. To me the faster load times of Chrome and Firefox just seem more appealing.

Poor Safari has really let me down over the past few months. I remember the first time I tried the browser, and was impressed with its unique start up screen and speed. However subsequent releases have led to slower speeds (for me anyway) and the start up page seems lost in a world of Chrome and Opera (I think even Firefox and IE have these features now). Oh well what do you expect from Apple right?

I would also like to go on the record and say that if I could find a working version of Netscape Navigator, that would be first on the list, because Netscape Navigator just that cool. Seriously you judge but in 20 years kids in middle school will be talking about how "throw back" Netscape was (it will be the cool thing), kinda like how I listen to NWA and Run DMC in hopes of making myself hip.

Send me any questions or comments!

--Devang