Exploring Different Web Browsers

December 2009 saw a landmark agreement between Microsoft and Europe's Competition Commission which means that from 1st March 2010 anyone buying a Windows PC will have a choice of internet browsers.

Up until now, Windows users had Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) installed on their machines as a default web browser but the ruling will allow them to choose whether to stick with IE or use another web browser such as Mozilla's Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple's Safari or Opera.

Freedom of choice

The internet has grown in popularity due to its freedom of expression and choice and this legal agreement provides more freedom to users and brings the browser market into line with other internet associated providers such as internet service providers (ISPs).

What's important when it comes to web browsers?

It's not our job to tell you what web browser is best but when it comes to surfing the net, there are a number of areas to consider when choosing a browser for your requirements.

Security

Making sure you use a secure browser is very important and some are better than others when it comes to blocking known viruses, attacks and keystroke loggers. Various versions of Internet Explorer have suffered with known security issues that have had to be patched after release.

Speed

When it comes to speed, Google Chrome is widely considered to be the fastest browser but it falls behind its rivals in other areas such as customisation. It's not just your broadband speed that affects how quickly you can view websites; your choice of browser also has an influence.

Compatibility

Certain websites may look different or work differently depending on the web browser you choose. In an ideal world all websites would be tested on all browsers to check for compatibility issues, but in practise this doesn't always happen.

Customisation

Being able to customise your web browser with useful tools can deliver a much more positive and bespoke user experience. Firefox is fantastic for this especially when you compare it to the very sparse and basic Google Chrome.

Web browser summary

The best way to choose the right web browser for you is to try a few out to see how they deliver the things that are important to you.

The Microsoft competition agreement means that consumers in Europe will be required to make a choice about what browser they want to use before they use a Windows machine for the first time.

It is currently estimated that more than 50% of worldwide internet users use Internet Explorer to browse online but this figure may be diluted now that people are being asked to make a conscious decision for themselves.

Daniel Knight
Head of Web Development - Exchange Media

Created on 10/03/2010