Internet Browser Information and Downloads
Internet standards like CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) and the DOM (Document Object Model) make it possible for Web pages to do very helpful things that weren’t possible before (like showing and hiding text or changing the appearance of a site with just a link). In order for a consumer (you, perhaps) to take advantage of this you need to know more about the currently available browsers.
In this section I will attempt to offer some insight regarding the current browser market. Capabilities, standards compliance, usability, and speed will also be discussed. You may find that switching or upgrading browsers can make a world of difference in relation to your Internet experience.
I am in the process of updating this page with current information. Internet Explorer, Netscape, and Mozilla have been completed.
Featured Internet Browsers
Internet Explorer (6 SP1 Win, 5.2.2 Mac)
The
current versions of Internet Explorer for Macintosh and Windows have evolved into two completely
different beasts. The Windows version, currently Internet Explorer 6 (SP1), offers respectable
CSS support (there is still ground to cover,
but it is respectable enough by comparison) and a great HTML and
JavaScript implementation. As a browser used with a decent computer, it is also quite fast.
A text-zoom
feature is included, but it does not work when font sizes
are specified in pixels (which is often the case). Older versions still in common use include
Internet Explorer 5.5, still a good browser, and Internet Explorer 5.0, a browser which is
beginning to show its age and should be upgraded.
The Macintosh version, current Internet Explorer 5.2.2 for OSX or 5.1.6 for Classic OS under a PowerMac, features excellent CSS support (we rank it second only to the Gecko browsers) along with a great HTML, JavaScript, and DOM implementations. We find it amusing that the Macintosh version has better CSS support than the Windows version (in reality this is because the Macintosh development team at is separate from the Windows development team, the reason for two different programs). These browsers also include a fully functional text-zoom feature. Internet Explorer 4.x for Macintosh is good, better than 4.x for Windows in many ways, but it is heavily dated; we advise an upgrade.
In our not so humble opinion, the only real competitor in the world of functionality and standards support to Internet Explorer (Macintosh and Windows alike) is Mozilla and the latest implementations of Netscape (see respective descriptions to see how we compare them). Mozilla (and its kin) feature better support for both HTML (although Internet Explorer is also great in this area) and superior support for CSS. For many people it isn’t as stable (although it works great for us), or simply may not be homely enough.
We suggest trying the latest versions of Mozilla (or Netscape if you like integrated mail and other similar add-ons) if you are currently an Internet Explorer user. You may find it to be a much more pleasant browser (especially if you don’t like popup ads or need a fully functional text-zoom), or maybe you won’t, but unless you are using a dialup you don’t have anything to loose.
Win: Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [4], CSS [3], JS [5],
Interface [4], Overall [4.4]
Screenshots: Text-Zoom
Feature.
Links: Internet
Explorer for Windows @microsoft.com
Mac: Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [5], CSS [4], JS [5],
Interface [5], Overall [4.6]
Screenshots: Cache, Cookie
Manager, Interface,
Text-Zoom, and Web
Preferences.
Links: Internet
Explorer for Macintosh
@microsoft.com (install using OS CD-ROM)
Netscape 7.0.1
Netscape 7 is a Mozilla/Gecko-based browser; meaning that when Mozilla is updated with features
and bug fixes they are eventually added to the latest Netscape builds. Although this makes
Netscape a standards-compliant browser, it will constantly be a little behind in bug fixes
and features (bugs that were resolved in Mozilla 1.1 are, in some cases, still present).
My testing of the latest installation, Netscape 7.0.1, also revealed slightly slower page rendering and effect activation (like that link hover backgrounds in our menu). The installer was very poor, we had more than a few problems with it, and if you also use Mozilla I highly recommend maintaining separate Netscape Network profiles for each browser. Netscape 7.0.1 corrupted my shared account resulting in some troublesome fixing, and this isn’t the first time.
Netscape comes with numerous additional components and “features”. These additions include AIM Instant Messenger, Netscape Mail, Netscape Composer, and various other Interface Extras. If you enjoy these Netscape features (which are either entry-level and ad-ridden, proving you get what you pay for) you will probably be pleased, but if you don’t want them around good luck on the removal. Unfortunately, these additions are probably also to blame for slower performance when compared with Mozilla.
Multiple icons sit in your “Personal Toolbar” (see example below). Obviously “Home” is nice to have around, along with the bookmarks (which lounge to the right of the displayed buttons), and the tabbed browsing control, but I am probably not alone in being highly agitated by the space everything else takes up. I attempted to remove “Mail”, “AIM”, “My Netscape”, “Search”, and “Shop” and only succeeded in removing “AIM” and “Shop” (this may surprise you, Netscape, but not everyone gives a crap about a customizable home page). Mozilla only displays a “Home” logo.
It probably sounds like I abhor this browser, but that actually isn’t the case – I just like modern versions of Internet Explorer and Mozilla more. Netscape 7 retains many of Mozilla’s finer points like standards support, text-zooming, and the ability to disable irritating uses of JavaScript (a simple interface for popup window blocking is included in case this looks too intimidating) and we certainly shouldn’t turn our noses up at that. What ruined it for me? The bloat ware, plain and simple; they don’t let you tear it from the interface. If, however, you are using one of the numerous Netscape 4.7 browsers your upgrade should be immediate, decisive, and without fear (I cannot emphasize enough how wretched 4.7 seems when compared to contemporary browsers).
Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [5], CSS [4.5], JS [4],
Interface [3], Overall [3.9]
Screenshots: AIM,
Composer, Interface, Mail, Popup
Blocker, Text-Zoom and more.
Links: Netscape
Home, Downloads
Page (Win, Mac, Linux)
Mozilla
“Mozilla is an open-source web browser and toolkit, designed for standards compliance,
performance and portability. Mozilla.org provides binaries for testing and feedback. For
more about mozilla.org, read Mozilla at a Glance.” –Mozilla.org
Mozilla is, beyond a doubt, the most standards compliant browser currently available for download. Running off the Gecko rendering engine, it serves as the foundation of other browsers like Netscape (version 6 and higher), K-Meleon, and Chimera (also called “Navigator”).
Not long ago the Mozilla project hit version 1.0 and development continues tirelessly on a daily basis (as an open source project, many software engineers are constantly working on it resulting in nightly builds and regular progress). In the past Mozilla suffered from many bugs and problematic stability issues, but over the course of recent releases these problems have been largely addressed and attention turns to new features.
We highly respect the Mozilla effort, a project that is now an important long-term part of the Internet. If you have never used Mozilla we suggest that you download the latest stable build (avoid the betas unless you want to participate in debugging) and use it as your default browser for a little while, you may like it very much.
Our tests show great speed, stability, and rendering in the latest stable builds (currently 1.2.1) under both Macintosh and Windows, but your mileage may vary. Many people will appreciate the ability to disable JavaScript used for things like popup windows, browser resizing, status bar text, and more though the JavaScript Allowances Window and the very effective Text-Zoom feature (which works with all Internet text). Other features include mail and newsgroups, composer (an basic HTML development tool), a JavaScript console, a Java console and debugger, and a DOM inspector.
Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [5], CSS [5], JS [4],
Interface [4.5], Overall [4.7]
Screenshots: Cache, Cookie
Manager, Interface, JavaScript
Permissions, Text-Zoom.
Links: Mozilla
Home, Mozilla
1.2.1 Stable Build, Bugzilla
Opera
Opera is a wonderful browser. Version 3 and early version 4 has some serious
deficiencies, but progress has been steady and sure. Opera now boasts great
support for many things, and is up to par or better than IE when it comes to
the many areas of CSS2, but, like
everyone else, there is still a great deal of work we have yet to see completed.
If you are using anything earlier than 5 make sure you upgrade as soon as you
get the chance.
Opera lives up to its claim of being the fastest browser on earth (among graphical browsers, of course) and it also has excellent support for CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. If you have not had the pleasure of using this browser you should do so now. It is the only browser I know of that can compete with Internet Explorer for #1 in my book. Even Opera betas are stable and reliable.
* There are other versions of Opera available for different versions of UNIX and Linux. View the Linux section at Opera’s home page to get information on and download these versions.
Opera 6: Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [3], CSS [3], JS [3],
Interface [3], Overall [3.2]
Opera 7: Speed [4], Stability [4], HTML [4], CSS [4], JS [4],
Interface [3], Overall [3.9]
Screenshots: Interface
(op6), Interface
(op7), Nav.
Buttons, Bookmarks, Mail, Site-Zoom, Browser
Layout, Browser
Look, History/Cache, Page
Style, Privacy, Windows.
Links: Opera
Home , Windows,
Macintosh, Linux
K-Meleon / Chimera
K-Meleon is a new browser based off the Gecko engine like Netscape and Mozilla.
Despite the fact that K-Meleon is in early production the product is surprisingly
stable and the Gecko engine compliments it very well. I must say that at this
time I feel Netscape 6.2 is a better c0hoice if you are going to go with the
Gecko engine, but K-Meleon does seems to be faster than Mozilla (and it also
handles JavaScript better too).
If you are a window’s user I think you will be pleasantly surprised by this one. We can only wait and see if they offer something of similar interest to the Mac or Linux community.
Speed [3], Stability [3], HTML [4.5], CSS [4.5], JS [4],
Interface [4], Overall [3.1]
Links: K-Meleon
Home (Windows), Chimera
Home (Macintosh)
OmniWeb
OmniWeb is the target of some anger in the professional web development community because
of it poor CSS and Java support. As a matter of
fact many web developers would prefer that it wasn’t used until its CSS
compatibility is complete. Lets look at it this way though; OmniWeb is very good with HTML
and is fairly fast. It also has some amazing abilities. Are you sick of pages opening new
windows? You can prevent it. Are you sick of ads? You can filter them out. OmniWeb really
has many things going for it.
To sum up, I think this is one of the two best choices for X. Internet Explorer 5.1b is the best all around and has CSS support, but can be a little slow and can crash. OmniWeb is a little faster, can crash, has poor CSS support, but many advantages. I still use both of them a lot and have yet to pick a favorite.
Speed [3], Stability [4], HTML [3],
CSS [2], JS [3], Interface [4], Overall [2.5]
Screenshot: Omniweb Interface
Links: OmniWeb
Home / Macintosh
iCab
iCab is a simple browser with some HTML,
CSS, and JavaScript shortcomings,
but a very small size. At just over 1MB in size it is a great option for dialup
users that do not wish to deal with download sizes presented by Microsoft and
Netscape, despite the fact that they are still be better choice. It is also
fairly fast, but seems to be slowing down a little as it nears completion (I
wrote this note on 2.5, and now with 2.6 it seems to be the slowest browser
on my computer). If you cannot cope with the larger downloads presented by the
other browsers, iCab may be your answer, but if you have any choice at all it
is best to go along with another browser.
At one point the advantage of iCab under Mac OS X was a lack of competition. Now, with Netscape 6.2 and Internet Explorer 5.1b out, this humble author must suggest iCab as an alternative for those who cannot get one of the previously mentioned browsers for some reason. If you are running Mac OS X you have the ability to run Netscape or Internet Explorer almost as fast as iCab, which leaves file size as its only advantage.
It would also be nice if iCab smiled upon (supported) XHTML.
Speed [3], Stability [4], HTML [2], CSS [1], JS [2],
Interface [2.5], Overall [1.8]
Screenshot: iCab
Interface
Links: iCab
Home, Macintosh
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