I go on a bit (ok, a lot) on twitter about trying new browsers, but my belief is just because your PC or laptop often comes pre-loaded with Internet Explorer (or Safari if you buy a Mac), it doesn’t mean you have to use what you’re given. I will concede that Internet Explorer is the most widely used browser, however it certainly is not the best.
We’ve got such a huge choice open to us now, here are just a small few:
Google Chrome (PC)
Chromium (Mac, still in beta stages)
Camino (Mac only)
I personally have tried Firefox, Chrome and Opera. Here is a brief overview of each, from a users point of view.
Firefox is an open source browser (meaning that the code is open to anyone to view and develop for) and is fast becoming the browser of choice for many. It is more secure than Internet Explorer and has a plethora of features available to you in the extensions directory, you can even customise the menus and the look of the browser. Firefox was the first to deliver tabbed browsing, saving us from having a load of browser windows open in the taskbar.
Chrome is my current favourite. It wasn’t the most attractive browser on the market, however all that has changed since they have signed up designers like Kath Kidson to create ’skins’, so you can change the appearance of Chrome – it even comes in pink now! However, the visuals aside, one of the main benefits with Chrome is it’s speed. The browser itself loads quickly and it navigates through the web in a speedy manner, plus you can download it in next to no time and it doesn’t need constant clunky updates.
Opera is a huge feature-rich browser and their mobile version is the most widely used browser. You can set Opera up to run quicker if you are on a slow connection, plus it will also pre-load the next page for you to give you a smoother, quicker web experience. It comes with a range of mouse-gestures which are quite gimmicky, but if you have the inclination to learn them all they might save you some time.
Clearly I’m quite biased, but I urge you to go and broaden your browser horizons and give something new a go today! If you want any advice, leave a comment below, give us a shout over on twitter, or give the IT support desk a call on 0845 0940010.
Tags: IT support desk
