Browser Wars

DukeLeto · February 24, 2004

Here's my take on the "Browser Wars". Listed are the most common browsers, in order by my preference, backed up with "Pros and Cons". (This assumes latest versions, which may not be compatable with all hardware.)

1. Mozilla 1.6

Mozilla is a powerful, fast, and flexible browser. Best of all, it's completely free and open-source.

Pros:

-Completely free!

-Fast

-Tabbed Browsing

-Large browsing window

-Multiple skins

-Open-source

-Built-in mail client

-Built-in IRC Client

-Pop-up blocker and spam control, built-in

-Imports (nearly) seemlessly from IE and Outlook (Express)

Cons:

-Limited Active-X controls

-Will not work with certain services, such as Windows Update

-Has trouble importing from multiple profiles in OE

-Conflicts with Netscape profiles

2. Internet Explorer 6.0

Internet Explorer is the default browser for Windows systems. It is compatable with almost all sites, but speed and customizability are not it's strong suits.

Pros:

-Also completely free...if you have Windows

-Large browsing window

-Built-in mail client

-Compatability with most sites

-Full Active-X support

-Does not conflict with other browsers

Cons:

-Slow

-Integrated into registry; can't be removed

-No built in IRC client, spam control, or Pop-up blocking

-Poor importing features

3. Opera 7

Fast and customizable, but it costs dough. Quite a bit of it, actually.

Pros:

-Highly customizable

-Fast

-Built-in pop-up blocker

-Better than Netscape

Cons:

-Ad-supported, or

-Pay a whopping $39 USD

-No mail client

-Poor staus bar system

-Small browser window

-No Active-X support

-Will not work with certain services, such as Windows Update

4. Netscape 7.1

A classic browser, actually pre-dating IE. And proving that "tried-and-true" is not always good.

Pros:

-Uh, free?

-Built-in pop-up blocker

-Better than MSN Explorer...barely

Cons:

-Sign-in system is a pain in the @ss

-Slow compared to Mozilla

-Small browser window

-Very limited Active-X support

-Will not work with certain services, such as Windows Update

-Has trouble importing from multiple profiles in OE

-Conflicts with Mozilla profiles

-No IRC client

5. MSN Explorer 8

A "new" browser, the only one you can really use if you have MSN Internet, though it's available to everyone. But why?

Pros:

-Free...kinda

-Active-X controls!

-Great for masochists!

Cons:

-Slow

-Unstable

-Must sign in with a .net passport

-Tiny browser window

-"Built-in mail client" is just glorified Hotmail...complete with only accessing Hotmail and MSN e-mail

-Difficult to remove

-No status bar ( ???)

-Customizable? Don't make me laugh

-No IRC client

Honorable Mention: Mozilla Firefox 0.8

Not in the running because it's only Beta, this is still not a browser to overlook. Think Mozilla on steroids flaming running down a street being chased by helicopters and ninjas. (To borrow a bit of imagery from Bungie there.) Definately could be a front-runner when finished.

Conslusion:

Beyond a shadow of a Doubt, Mozilla steals this competition. Still, you should keep IE for it's Active-X controls and added compatability. Opera is good to, but only if you can stand the ads. But Netscape and MSN Explorer? Forget it.

guusr5644 · February 24, 2004

I use opera even as im typing right now... personaly i didnt even notice that ad thing untill you mentioned it...

Vanguard3000 · February 24, 2004

I've pretty much always used Internet Explorer (I used Netscape Communicator a long time ago, but it was garbage), and I've never really had any trouble with it. I tried Opera once, hearing that it was faster, but it turned out actually to be slower. I know you're a little Mozilla-biased, Duke, since you use it and all, but you make it sound pretty decent. Maybe I'll give it a try.

DukeLeto · February 25, 2004

Actually, I used to use IE for everything; I switched to Mozilla on Gob's reccomendation.

Acriku · February 25, 2004

I use Firefox because it's faster (I have a slow computer). Nice review Leto.

Gobalopper · February 25, 2004

From looking at the logs there are only about 3 people who regularly use Gecko based browsers here, ie Mozilla or Firefox.

guusr5644 · February 25, 2004

I tried mozila once but i it was sooo slow.... i didnt like it so much too... in opera there are tons of options and it became my favorite... tho i do remmember why i moved to opera and it was'nt because i just looked for another browser.. my explorer trashed out.. i cant write in hebrew with it anymore and once in 5 minuts it crashes... so i moved to opera and im satisfied right now...

Gobalopper · February 25, 2004

Ya I have some problems with Hebrew in Mozilla sometimes. Although it usually works well if it uses Unicode.

Timenn · February 25, 2004

3 people only? :O

So that makes you, Duke, and me that's it?

guusr5644 · February 25, 2004

Ya I have some problems with Hebrew in Mozilla sometimes. Although it usually works well if it uses Unicode.

Holy ****... you're not a jew arent you?? hebrew? i mean come on why would a guy like you learn hebrew... ???

Acriku · February 25, 2004

3 people only? :O
So that makes you, Duke, and me that's it?

Didn't I say that I used it, too ?

Gobalopper · February 25, 2004

That makes 4 then, forgot you used it Timenn.

And why can't I learn Hebrew?

Nyarlathotep · February 26, 2004

I've always used IE and I'm not having any major problems with it...

guusr5644 · February 26, 2004

lol it just sounds wierd ;D so.... do you know hebrew well?

Timenn · February 26, 2004

That makes 4 then, forgot you used it Timenn.

How could you?!! You are the one that recommended me that damned browser!

gryphon · February 26, 2004

Just as an addition to Opera .. it's more them fast .. although I am not shure if it still is the fastest browser of them all .it has been in the past. And it does have an email client. .. i am a bit supprised the guy writing that overlooked that feature .. . :P

When you set the pictogram size to small the Opera browsing windows will be bigger . .espesially when you have the non-free version.

Anyway .. I am using Avant right now.

And Gobalopper. . . do the Apache logs also log OS id besides the browser id ?. . . should be fun looking through mine I suppose. ...

Gobalopper · February 27, 2004

Browser logging is off in the server logs but Who's Online shows me a bunch of info including browser version. The only odd thing I've seen is MSIE 8.0 or something a few times for you.

DestroyerHawk I know a bit but not enough to carry on a conversation since its biblical hebrew not the modern stuff.

guusr5644 · February 27, 2004

Well... even i don't know much about the old hebrew... i can understand it yes, but it's not the kind of thing that intrest me...

thomas · February 27, 2004

I use firefox now, I still use IE sometimes but yea the reviews influenced me to "take back the net"

gryphon · February 27, 2004

for me it should be the following. .

Browser (User-Agent):

Terror · February 27, 2004

Still use IE. Not because it's that good, but just because i don't find all of the browsers to be that different. and IE has the best compatibility i think. Though the lack of spam and popupblockin realy sucks. ATM my IE is realy one piece of shit. It is slow, and filled with garbage. In fact it's time to reinstall my computer completely anyway, so i finally get rid of all that junk.

Digital Guerrilla · February 28, 2004

Gob what is so great about Mozilla I know you fancy it over other browsers but what is it about Mozilla that you like so much? ;)

Gobalopper · February 28, 2004

Well the biggest thing is probably tabbed browsing but overall it gives a lot more control over the browser settings then IE does. I've never used IE so the Netscape/Mozilla style of browser has always been what I've used.

Vanguard3000 · February 28, 2004

Speaking of the wonders of tabbed browsing, can it be turned off? I can't stand tabbed browsing, since I use alt-tab a lot.

Timenn · February 28, 2004

Surely, just don't open any new tabs. If you use ctrl + n, then you will open a new window. If it is Mozilla that you mean...

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