BROWSER WARS 2: DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH AGAIN

Reprinted from Renfrew-Collingwood News,
September/October 2004 Edition

Once upon a time, in an Internet era not long ago, there were two competing browser programs – Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator that allows mere mortals like us to view and experience the pictures, sound, and video of the Internet. Since that time, Microsoft Internet Explorer has become the defacto standard for viewing content on the Internet. No other program has come close to displacing it, until today…

Recently, with all the security issues surrounding Internet Explorer and the seemingly endless software patches that users have to download, many Internet users have begun to look for alternatives. Many alternatives already exist and can, readily, be downloaded free of charge from the Internet – Opera Browser and even Netscape Navigator 7.2.

Last month, Mozilla Foundation released a new browser called Firefox to challenge the incumbent – Internet Explorer – for Internet supremacy. Not only is this browser more secure than Internet Explorer but is small and nimble in size to download. Firefox, also, loads Internet web pages faster, which should make it ideal for users with slower setups.

Aside from the usual browser functionalities, like: Bookmarks (Favourites), History, Full Screen web page viewing, text zooming, automatic software updates and keyboard/mouse shortcuts. Firefox is packed with very unique features:

• Built-in Pop-up Blocker – to stop all those annoying pop up or in your face marketing that interrupts your Internet surfing pleasure.
• Google Search built into the browser toolbar.
• Tabbed Browsing – allows you to open more than one web page in one single window eliminating the need to open multiple windows to view more than one web page.
• Downloadable skins and themes – for those who like to customize and personalize the look of their browser.
• Built in support for RSS (Real Simple Syndication) – allows the browser to receive website updates. The updates are shown as headlines in the browser. If the user is interested, clicking on the “headline” link will quickly display the updated information. For more on this feature click here.
• Automatic importing of all favourites, passwords, cookies from Internet Explorer so that you can begin surfing right after you have finished installing the program.
• Works on computers running the Windows® operating system, Mac OS, and Linux.

So, if you are a bit weary of the problems of Internet Explorer and in the mood of trying something different, give Firefox a test drive. Your Internet experience will never be the same, guaranteed. Firefox 1.0.1 is available for download by clicking here.

Got any questions, comments, complaints, or suggestions, you can e-mail me by clicking here or at: gb.technobytes@gmail.com anytime.

See you soon,

~ GeekBoy

P.S. After this article went public, an alert reader wanted to know if Firefox will run on Windows 95, apparently the systems requirement page neglected to say whether or not Windows supports it. Firefox will, indeed, run on Windows 95. For more information on how-to do this, click here.