Consumer Search: Web Browsers: Reviews
Top 5 Best Reviewed
* Best browser overall
* Enhanced Firefox browser
* Fast browsing and search
* Best for older computers
* Best IE revision
What To Look For
Reviews say the latest versions of all the major web browsers build in excellent security features now, though the jury is still out on Google Chrome. Web browsers also build in tabbed browsing -- so you can open several browser windows at once and navigate easily among them. Google Chrome doesn't include an RSS reader or ad blocker, but this is an exception; reviewers anticipate enhancements to Chrome in the future.
Experts recommend considering the following features when selecting an Internet browser:
* How old is your computer? The fastest browser with the most features won't do you much good if it slows your computer to a crawl or crashes it. Reviews recommend Chrome and the latest versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox for well-equipped computers less than about 18 months old -- the more system resources, the better. The latest versions of Opera can run well on much older computers -- but are excellent on new ones, too.
* How much do you enjoy customizing and exploring new features? Tech-savvy users love Firefox for its customization options and plethora of available extensions. At the opposite extreme, Google Chrome is ultra-simple and streamlined. Both are fast and use a lot of system resources, but take opposite approaches; the best one is the one that matches your personality. You may also be so used to using Internet Explorer that upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 is the easiest choice.
* How social are you on the Web? If your virtual life is active and engaging -- you read blogs several times a day, blog yourself regularly and love social networks and photo-sharing sites -- reviews recommend Flock 2 (beta).
* How many computers do you use? If you use both PC and Macs, Firefox and Opera are your best bets, since both browsers work on both platforms and you can get accustomed to using just one browser. Reviews prefer Opera for its synchronization features, and there's also a mobile version for smartphones and other handheld devices.
* How important are bookmarks and history? All the major browsers provide both, but reviews criticize all for various faults, and the browsers vary in the way they let you make, organize and use bookmarks. Chrome does a good job of searching history, but reviews say its bookmarking needs improvement.
* Does your current browser often stall or crash? Some web pages contain players, coding errors or other features that can cause a browser to crash. Chrome and Internet Explorer 8 minimize the damage by using separate operations for each window you open, so if one site crashes, the other windows stay open. Chrome even provides a task manager so you can close just the offending part of the page and still see the rest.
* Some download managers are better than others. Reviews like the way Firefox 3 includes a "pause and resume" feature but makes its download manager unobtrusive, with a bar rather than a dialogue window.
Full Report
* More Choices in Browsers
* Best Web Browser: Firefox
* Google Chrome
* Opera
* Internet Explorer Improves
* Mac Browsers
* Useful Links
* Our Sources
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