What Browser should I use?
With so much to choose from the choices are endless. Then again, when you buy a new computer, your system normally comes with something installed – Internet Explorer maybe, Safari if on a Mac? Which one should I use?
Well that is indeed a good question.
Let’s start by explaining what a browser is:
“A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content. Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to easily navigate their browsers to related resources.
Although browsers are primarily intended to access the World Wide Web, they can also be used to access information provided by Web servers in private networks or files in file systems. Some browsers can be also used to save information resources to file systems.” As stated by Wikipedia.
Well you are probably asked how this affects your life – well it does. As a web designer, I build a site to have a certain look and feel to inspire, promote or simply to showcase what my clients ask me to do. A lot of time goes into getting just the right look and feel for the client, then when the website is placed online I expect that you the viewers will see what I have done for my said client and how well that message is translated over to YOU. But no, that is simple just the beginning because all things are not made equally. And with Browsers there is no exception. The biggest problem browser of them all is IE or as you all know it Internet Explorer. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not just blasting IE, nor specifically is older versions.. as these are now OLD! I don’t think people even realize there errors in using specific browsers, they have one, they use it and for them it work. No, that is not actually the case. Progression has taken place and we are no longer subject to old ways.
Let me use an analogy:
Think of the internet as a city. The speed of the internet as a car. The browser as your car window. OK.
Now let me ask you a simply question – would you rather see the city in a safe, comfortable and new car with pristine solid and clean windows or drive a horse and cart on a dusty bumpy road?
If you are still using an old browser like IE6 for instance then you are presently sitting front and centre of the dusty horse pulled cart with more dust in your eyes than you can image. Your view of the city seems warped and broken, signs just don’t seem to be clear or maybe they are even broken.. Now, I am going to offer you a brand new car FOR FREE! (ok, not a car but a new browsing experience) – upgrades are FREE.
Internet Explorer used to be the king, do you remember back in the day when IE and Netscape were at battle? Where is Netscape today? Still around but no where like where they used to be. Now with Firefox and Google Chrome on the scene we are in an all new ball game.
The top ranked Browsers as reported by Toptenreviews.com are as follows:
- Firefox
- Google Chrome
- Internet Explorer
- Opera
- Safari
See a graph below taken from w3school.com:
I don’t want to ramble on to much more. If anything I hope you have thought about your browser a little bit more after reading this. I am a Mac user I and love Safari but I also use Firefox and Chrome. If you are still using IE or even worst IE6, I urge you to reconsider. Upgrade today, after all its free!
Or even better yet try out a new browser, give them all a try and see which one works best for you.
To finish off, if you are an IE6 user I have a few sites I think you should have a look at – note IE6 is now 7 years old - I bet your car is newer than that.
http://www.browserupgrade.info/ie6/
http://www.stoplivinginthepast.com/why-upgrade/
Where to get the other browsers: