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In the spirit of change, is it time to look at the internet browser you're using? Maybe you're not sure. Sometimes researching such topics can take hours, but you’re in luck. Rebecca and Mark have done that for you and share some great information about Internet Explorer® and other browsers.
 

Background

You might or might not know the story of the "browser wars." In case you don't, I will sum it up. (Stick with me to the end of this article, and I'll tell you why I went on this little historical diversion.)

The first web browsers appeared in the early '90s. One of the earliest was called Mosaic, which gave birth to a browser called Netscape. Netscape was dominant until Microsoft released Internet Explorer (IE) in 1995. Leveraging its monopoly of the operating system market, Microsoft's browser quickly took over, and, by 2000, was the choice of over 80% of end users. This remained unchallenged for the next 5 years. But, while Netscape was practically dead, its code base became the foundation for Firefox, an open source (meaning that anyone with the programming skills can create and share new features) browser developed by the non-profit company, Mozilla. This approach made it very popular with independent programmers who added many innovations, and it steadily stole users from IE. In 2008, Google also released a browser, Chrome (also now largely open source), which, like Firefox, has won converts from IE.

Today

At the end of 2011, Firefox and Chrome each account for about 25% of internet use. IE accounts for around 40%; its share has been falling precipitously, but began to level out in the past few months with the introduction of a (finally) competitive version 9.
 

What the Tech Geeks Say

So, if you're still using IE, should you jump ship too? Maybe, but maybe not...

The internet is awash with opinions and reviews of the different browsers. I could never hope to do them all justice, but will try to sum up the present mood. By and large:

• Chrome wins for ease-of-use.  
• Chrome and IE win for security.
• Chrome and Firefox win for speed.
• Firefox wins for features and its extensive range of plug-ins (often free enhancements that give your browser new abilities or let it work other programs).

 If you want to do more comparing for yourself, I've usually found cnet.com to have useful reviews. Here is their opinion of each browser's most recent major version:

• Chrome 15
• Firefox 8
• Internet Explorer 9

In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I use Firefox. While I haven't taken a formal poll, it also seems to be the preferred browser among the software developers and testers I work with and has the reputation of being "the geek's browser".

Should You Switch?

NOW. Having said all that, I'm going to say something both surprising and comforting to all of you who struggle with the question of which browser to use.

It's not that big a deal! Here's why:

1. As far as ease-of-use is concerned, most browsers work basically the same. You enter a URL or click a link and go where you need to on the internet. If you don't like change, that's fine. Stick with what you've got; you're not missing much. But if you like new experiences, you can download all three of the major browsers and try them for yourself. They're free (use the same cnet links above) and can all co-exist on your computer.
2. As far as security is concerned, which browser you use pales in comparison to keeping your browser up-to-date. All browser developers issue regular security updates. If you use IE, Microsoft will update the browser when you update Windows - which you should do often. Firefox will notify you through its browser when updates are released. Accept them as soon as you can. Chrome updates stealthily in the background; you shouldn't need to do anything.
3. As far as speed is concerned, we're talking milliseconds of difference between the three. That's negligible to the average user.
4. Last, and here is why I did that little "browser war" re-enactment, you can see that the competition among the browsers has been going on for 20 years now. The remaining players are extremely vigilant to keep up. When one discovers a serious improvement, the others copy it. Even Microsoft has awakened from its years of complacency. As a result, the differences between browsers are becoming smaller all the time.

Finally, please understand that we're just talking about desktop and laptop options. The best browser for your mobile device? I'm afraid that's a whole other article.

Mark writes the help documentation for Stratus. He received a Master's in English which, when combined with a sausage biscuit, is worth one sausage biscuit. He has taught English and worked for PeopleSoft, Progress Energy, and Borland before coming to ACS, where he has been for the last 3 years. He has a cat. That's right. He's THAT guy.

Internet Explorer® and Safari® come pre-installed depending on the computer you buy. Out of the box, you have to use them to do things like check your Internet connection and run updates. However, these might not be the best browser options out there, and there are many differing opinions as to why.

If you have been working with computers on the Internet for a while, you know the issues that have plagued Internet Explorer. From security issues, display issues, and an inability to play nice with code, Internet Explorer made no friends in its early days. Or maybe you have a Mac, and you've never considered anything other than Safari for your Internet browsing needs. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are other browsers out there eager to have you use them for all your Internet needs.

Note: Firefox® and Chrome™ are both available for Windows and Mac systems. The features discussed here work on Windows and Mac-based systems.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox has been duking it out with Internet Explorer for quite a while now, and some of you may already use it. But are you using to its fullest potential? Some great features included in Firefox are:

Add-Ons

Use Add-Ons to customize Firefox so that it looks and behaves the way you want it to. For instance, do you like to post the same thing to all your social media accounts at the same time? With the Yoono Add-On for Firefox, you can update your status and share information across Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube from one sidebar. Do you worry about the security of your computer and potential risks from some websites you visit? Worry a little less with the NoScript Add-On. NoScript lets you control how active content runs from a website, and protects you against XSS and Clickjacking attacks.

App Tabs

Look at your tabs right now. How many of those tabs do you open every morning and keep open all day? Have you ever accidentally closed one and wanted to throw your mouse through your screen? Well not anymore, in Firefox you can right-click on a tab and select Pin as App Tab. Your tab now displays to the left of the Tab Bar and is minimized to leave more space for other tabs.

Panoramas

Also known as Tab Groups, this feature of Firefox lets you group and organize tabs that are related. Have a bunch of tabs open related to the travel plans for a small group trip? Create a Travel Plans Panorama by clicking the List All Tabs button at the far right side of the Tab Strip and selecting Tab Groups. In the Tab Groups window, drag and drop the tabs you want included in the group. To exit the Tab Groups window, click a tab, and you are returned to Firefox. To view your group tabs, click the List All Tabs button at the far right side of the Tab Strip and select the tab group.

Private Browsing

When you use Private Browsing, websites you visit, files you download, or information you enter during your Internet session will not be saved. This does not mean that your Internet session is completely anonymous: your employer and Internet Service Provider can still view that information. However, if someone uses your computer, they will not be able to view your activity. To turn on private browsing, click the Tools menu and select Start Private Browsing.

These are just a few of the useful and interesting things you can do with Firefox; there is still a lot more you can customize or add-on to it. You can view videos and read tutorials to learn more about Firefox features.

Google Chrome

Chrome is Google’s entry into the Internet browser competition. It shares many similarities with Firefox: customization and ease of use. But it does a few things differently than Firefox. 

Design

Chrome has minimalism on lockdown. No extra toolbars or menus; just necessary buttons, your bookmarks, and the Chrome Omnibox. Chrome was the first browser to merge the search box with the URL bar and call it the Omnibox. You can enter a URL to go to a website, or run a Google search immediately. Later versions of Firefox have adopted this practice, and Internet Explorer now runs a Bing search, but Chrome did it first.

Extensions

Chrome’s answer to Firefox Add-Ons. Extensions let you add features and functionality to Chrome without messing up the great minimalist design. To view and add extensions to your version of Chrome, visit https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions#category/extensions.

Advanced Security

Chrome has some great default security features such as Safe Browsing, which alerts you when a Website is not trustworthy, and Sandboxing, which limits damage to your computer from malware that happens to get through.

Chrome has so much more to offer than just these features. To learn more about what Chrome is and what you can do with it, go to http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/more/features.html.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

You might be asking yourself what is wrong with just using Internet Explorer. Isn’t it installed for a reason? Isn’t it necessary to run Windows Update? Isn’t it made by Microsoft…the same people who make the Windows Operating System and other high-end tech products? The answer to those questions is of course yes, but you also need to ask yourself if Internet Explorer does everything you need it to or could ever need it to? Do you enjoy using it? As silly as that idea may be, people spend more and more time on computers and online every day. Why not make your experience as tailored and personal as possible?

Microsoft is working to make Internet Explorer user-friendly, and some of the recent enhancements to Internet Explorer 9 are the same features that make Firefox or Chrome great. For example, in Internet Explorer 9, you can pin your favorite Websites to the Windows taskbar or run a search from the address bar. 

Whether you use Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox, make sure the browser you select is one that fits your needs and helps you work smarter and faster, not harder. Remember, these tools are supposed to make your life easier, not the opposite.

Of most importance, always use the latest version of your browser. If your browser doesn’t automatically update, set a reminder to check for updates weekly. Updates almost always contain security fixes.

* #00A550 is the hex code for the color green.

Rebecca Moore is a senior writer at ACS Technologies, and writes for Access ACS and other Web-based programs. When not hard at work she can be found spending her free time with her family, cooking, reading, or just generally relaxing.