Internet Explorer is dangerous, use these kick-butt alternatives instead
Blog posts exhorting people to drop Internet Explorer in favour of better browsers are not new, but I thought I would add my own two cents in light of recent developments.
The Firefox web browser recently topped the list of PC World magazine’s 100 Best Products of 2005. This is quite an achievement considering that Firefox is a free product and is developed by volunteers. Yep, users don’t need to pay a cent because it’s an open source project. Download Firefox.
The other development is that Opera Software recently made their browser free, following an announcement last 20 September. Opera calls their browser ‘an internet power tool’ and I’m inclined to agree because it has the longest feature list of any browser I’ve seen. Features include a built-in mail and IRC client, user javascript and even voice commands. Great for power users. Download Opera.
Why not IE?
Internet Explorer is well-documented to have lots of security holes which may allow hackers to take over your computer and find out private stuff like credit card details and passwords. Microsoft hasn’t updated Internet Explorer since 2001 and it’s a sitting duck to the many threats has come out since. On the other hand, these alternatives are in active development so their holes get patched and they’re simply more secure.
Plus, IE’s butt simply gets kicked when it comes to features.
Tabbed browsing is a standard feature in all modern browsers but lacking in Internet Explorer. It allows you to open multiple web pages in the same browser window, eliminating clutter and making it easier to switch between web pages.
Tabbed-browsing at work: New pages load in background tabs while you are reading the current page.
Tabbed browsing makes it easy to browse many sites at a go. Instead of going directly to the link, open it in a background tab. When you’re done reading the first page, the second has already loaded in the background. It’s a simple modification to the way people usually surf the web, but it really improves the browsing experience tremendously.
Firefox, Opera and most other IE alternatives also come with built-in pop-up blocking and RSS support. Firefox and Opera users can also add on to the default features with extensions and user javascript respectively.
Mac users
Mac users had to put up with IE for Mac up until a few years ago. Firefox and Opera both come in Mac versions, but here are my two favourite Mac-only browsers.
Safari is Mac OS X’s default browser. While it doesn’t have as many features as Firefox and Opera, it’s cool Mac style and tight integration with OS X applications gives it an edge. For example, you can Ctrl-click or right-click any image in Safari and immediately import it into iPhoto. Also, Safari’s RSS integration is the best I’ve seen in any browser so far.
Camino is an open-source, OS X-only browser from the Mozilla foundation, the same people that brought you Firefox. Camino tries to combine the good looks and Mac experience with the power of the Gecko rendering engine. It certainly looks great and feels very Mac-like, but development is kinda slow a little ways behind the other browsers above. But it still kicks IE butt, and it loads pages the fastest of the four alternatives. Download Camino.
What do you use?
Unfortunately if you’re a Windows user you can’t ditch IE compltely because you still need it for Windows Update and to access certain Microsoft sites. Being the default Windows browser, many people still don’t know that there are other ways to surf the net without clicking on that blue ‘e’ icon, so I’m gonna keep evangelising these alternatives till I’m blue in the face.
I mainly use Firefox myself. What about you? Opinions/rants and suggestions for other browsers welcome in the comments below.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 6th, 2005 at 12:05 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
October 7th, 2005 at 5:32 am
opera rox, it has da best interface IMHO..
how come u didnt review netscape?
October 7th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
Hi odysseus, thanks for dropping by. I didn’t review Netscape coz I thought Firefox and Opera had better features, but then again I’m biased.
You’re welcome to give your opinion on Netscape if you think I should’ve included it in the list.
October 10th, 2005 at 6:38 am
I use a Mac and find Safari to be the only acceptable browser for OS X. Firefox isn’t nearly as polished on the Mac as it is on PCs. It’s interface comes across really rugged when compared to Safari’s slick aqua interface. Opera’s a nice browser, but it pales in comparison as well. I suppose as a Mac user I get kinda spoiled when it comes to integration and compatibility. I love the check spelling as you type feature, and the auto fill pulling info from your address book. Both of which are OS wide features.