Browsing opportunities: 11 Web browsers compared



Browsing opportunities: 11 web browers compared Feeling entrenched in your choice of browser? Break free! We compare 11 different browsers so you can find the right one for you and your company.


Contents
Avant Browser
 Camino
 Faststone
 Firefox
 Internet Explorer
 iRider
 Netscape
 Opera
 Safari
 Secondary Browser
 UltraBrowser
 Specifications
 Editor's choice
 About RMIT
If you're not entirely satisfied with the Web browser you use now, chances are someone else has had the same thought -- some may have even done something about it. You certainly are not restricted to Internet Explorer, Netscape, and for Apple users -- Safari. There are literally dozens of browsers out there ready to be downloaded from the Net -- free or for purchase. None are particularly expensive (about AU$50 at worst, and this includes technical support). You can visit Evolt.org for a listing and download of more than 100 browsers. In this review we sample 11 options -- including the three named above.

So, what is it that you are dissatisfied with? From the point of view of Web development, the Web page Rendering Engine is the feature of greatest significance. While there exists international standards for Web page functionality, different browsers follow the standards with more or less accuracy. While most modern Web sites should be designed with a variety of browsers in mind, you may still encounter problems on occasion.

Security
While getting information easily is the whole point of the Internet, sometimes you can be supplied with data all too easily -- and not at all what you would want.

What's more, information might be clandestinely taken from you. Java- or ECMA-Script and Java are pretty secure, but turn them off if you're concerned about what they can do, after all, such code can be used to produce powerful applications within a Web-page -- and a malicious coder may want them to escape from the confines of your browser. Fortunately, they shouldn't be able to access your file system without your explicit permission.

Web-bugs and cookies can collect data, such as: "Who accessed this page and when?" More serious privacy/security concerns arise from drive-by downloads and viruses contained within legitimate downloads. Drive-by downloads are small files that are downloaded without your knowledge when you access certain sites. These files may then use the Web whenever you're online and download other files without your knowledge. Serious spyware applications can operate in this manner. When fully assembled, your computer could be an open book to hackers.

Internet Explorer has some basic content-filtering built in, and the browsers reviewed here all have controls to restrict cookies, scripts and Java applets. They all support Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol for protection of information on secure sites. (So you bank account details are safe when you make online transactions, etc.)

Other tools are available to some browsers. For example, Secondary Browser has a cookie viewer -- find out what data is being collected about you.

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Talkback 8 comments

    You say Firefox requires 52M disc space. This is plain wrong. Its a 5M download and at most stretches to 15M unpacked. In the days of 80G discs standard, I don't think too many people are going to be complaining about 15M. But start byAnonymous -- 13/03/05

    You say Firefox requires 52M disc space.

    This is plain wrong. Its a 5M download and at most stretches to 15M unpacked. In the days of 80G discs standard, I don't think too many people are going to be complaining about 15M.

    But start by getting your facts straight.

    You say that Safari has compatibility with Mozilla-Gecko. I'm not sure what you are getting at here. While the core of Safari is open-source it is based on the KHTML rendering engine, not that of Gecko.Anonymous -- 15/03/05

    You say that Safari has compatibility with Mozilla-Gecko.

    I'm not sure what you are getting at here. While the core of Safari is open-source it is based on the KHTML rendering engine, not that of Gecko.

    Hi You have mentioned 11 browsers, but you failed to include Maxthon browser. Ms. Natalie Hambly complains she's not been able to get away from IE6. Why don't she try Maxthon browser? It is like using IE6 with the features you are looking for. Once yAnonymous -- 15/03/05

    Hi
    You have mentioned 11 browsers, but you failed to include Maxthon browser. Ms. Natalie Hambly complains she's not been able to get away from IE6. Why don't she try Maxthon browser? It is like using IE6 with the features you are looking for. Once you have use it you'll never want anything else.

    You think Opera is great now? Just wait till you see the next version. Currently it is up 8.00 beta 2 or 8.00 preview 5.1. Many new features are included such as voice (XHTML+Voice), medium screen rendering, enhanced security........... The offAnonymous -- 15/03/05

    You think Opera is great now? Just wait till you see the next version. Currently it is up 8.00 beta 2 or 8.00 preview 5.1.
    Many new features are included such as voice (XHTML+Voice), medium screen rendering, enhanced security...........
    The official changelog of the new beta can be found here:
    http://www.opera.com/windows/changelogs/operabeta/

    Latest versions can be found here:
    http://snapshot.opera.com/

    First of all, Firefox does not take up 52mb of disk space. It's a small 4.7mb download that, when extracted, takes up a mere 16.6mb of disk space. So get your facts strait before making an obviously biased and unfair comparision of browsers. In Anonymous -- 15/03/05

    First of all, Firefox does not take up 52mb of disk space. It's a small 4.7mb download that, when extracted, takes up a mere 16.6mb of disk space. So get your facts strait before making an obviously biased and unfair comparision of browsers.

    In my opinion, your futureproofing for Firefox and IE are totally backwards.

    Also, why does Firefox get an Interoperability rating of 2 and Netscape get an Interoperability of 3 1/2 when both offer the same in that area? (If anything Firefox offers more.)

    Opera? It's cool. But I would by no means make Opera my "pick of the litter". My choice would be Firefox. This is not a biased opinion, as I would use whatever works best for me. Firefox works best for me, so it's my choice. Plain and simple. If Firefox wasn't an option, I would choose Netscape. Opera? Ok that would come next.

    Both Firefox and Opera are great browsers. Each have different philosophies. Firefox is stripped down, though without any features it is still larger than Opera. Some of Firefox's extensions are simply excellent, and it generally as a very newbie friendlyAnonymous -- 17/03/05

    Both Firefox and Opera are great browsers. Each have different philosophies. Firefox is stripped down, though without any features it is still larger than Opera. Some of Firefox's extensions are simply excellent, and it generally as a very newbie friendly interface. Gecko is a great rendering engine, and the whole experience is very nice.

    Opera, though tiny in size and memory footprint, packs a hell of a lot into it - and is is AMAZINGLY FAST. They very cleverly have a system where, if you want just the browser, then the tiny communications module is not loaded, leaving you with a mean'n'lean browser. Adding a mail account or chat or RSS feed then activates communications. I prefer the way RSS is handled by Opera, you can create new feeds based on powerful searches! Lots of technology is still unique to Opera and Firefox extensions do not emulate them as well as the original (fast forward is one example). Opera is much more powerful out-of-the-box.

    The new version of Opera is going to come out soon, and having tried the beta it is an amazing step forward. I tried beta 3 and it has a new faster (if possible!) rendering engine, support for SVG and VoiceXML, and the best support for CSS2.1 of any browser around. User interface has been streamlined and made more newbie friendly too, while still retaining full power underneath.

    Yep, no argument with OperaAnonymous -- 17/12/05

    I've had 'em all, even browsers such as Deepnet Explorer which use the IE engine but offer greater functionality and security than IE, but once I spent a little time getting to know how to use and customise Opera (which it turns out to very good at) I'm now a dedicated advocate.

    And with the latest free version (8.50) they've removed the advertisement panel, although it never really bothered me anyway.

    Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about Firefox, it's no where near as much fun to use or as functional as Opera. In fact Opera is now my 'one stop shop' replacing the need for Windows Explorer and Outlook Express as well.

    Great stuff!!

    Firefox - Loss of Bookmarks.Frank Halliwell -- 10/03/07

    I love Firefox but it urgently needs a fix to prevent it from failing to display your bookmarks when required.

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