Seeing a bunch of lean code jockeys building the next generation of web browsers is a reality TV show I’d watch. Since that’s probably not happening any time soon, I’ll take the next best thing: Read/WriteWeb’s Web Browser Faceoff, by Alex Iskold. Iskold reviews six of the latest crop of web bowsers: Firefox 2, Internet Explorer 7, Safari, Opera 9, Flock, and Maxthon. I highly recommend reading his entire round-up, but in case your attention span ain’t what it used to be, here’s what he concludes about our trusty browsers:
IE7: “Solid release, which is going to help Microsoft maintain the market leadership in the near future”
Firefox: “We think that Firefox is going to continue narrowing IE’s lead, but await with interest the next major version!”
Safari: “It’s a clean and simple web 1.0 browser, but needs a major feature boost in order to be a contender even on the Mac.”
Opera: “We can see why fans like this browser, but a bigger future depends on spicing it up and poring in the marketing dollars.”
Flock: “Great productivity browser for web 2.0”
Maxthon: “Need to apply Occam’s Razor (i.e. make it simpler), but definitely could be a contender because of solid service integration.”
“Even though IE and Firefox are far ahead today,” Iskold concludes, “we see that other browser like Flock and Maxthon are ramping up support for the latest web 2.0 services - making themselves stand out and attracting early adopters. … Faceoff bottom line: This round of browser competition is going to be at least as interesting as the Netscape vs. IE ten years ago. And hopefully less one-sided!” Hear, hear!
The next thing they will come up with is. Tell me your browser, and I tell you your character. Basically what it is all about how do you use it. Can you configure it so that it is made as secure as it can get. Do you know how to use it to steer clear of malware.
I am not interested in IE7, Flock, Firefox 2.0, Opera etc. I am interested in a secure browser, one that is not open to malware vectors, one that is telling me where NOT to go. Well I like the browser for the power user, but I also would like it when the general user could surf safe (secure browser settings, normal user account, scripting defenses, anti-malware in-browser scanning and pre-scanning, stealth surfing possible in times you need that, quick restart, real good adware and pop-upand tracking bug blocking (webmasters and ad-men do not like me saying that), cookie managment). And for myself inspecting and debugging, leak monitoring, data tampering, search engine tweaking, but that is my personal diet.
Well, no browser could be fully funtional (or yet satisficantly functional) without being open to threats and malicious stuff.
IE7 has been boosted from IE6’s shell as much as it can toward security to keep similar functionality for users. FF2 is doing well, but there are still holes and bugs to be fixing. Opera has great featues, but I haven’t used it myself, but seems like a nice contender. Whatever happened to Netscape ? I know its not mentioned much and is a big package, but its still in the “war”. I like the fact that it can change engines from IE to FF modes (Gecko and Trident engines, if I’m not mistaken). But, again, I never actually used it myself.
Personally, I use IE7 as my main browser and FF2 as my alternative. Both works great, and its nice to see the major feature additions and security gains. I wonder on the future of internet … Amazing, yet dangerous … I personally hope for more of the amazing side.
To me…firefox is in the lead! It is safer,faster,easier and creative. It has lots of cool plug-ins, skins, themes and has tabbed browsing. Nothing can be better than Mozilla Firefox 1.5
I really like Opera. It’s fast, fun, safe, handy and ergonomics in any ways I go, no need to install any other add-ons to cover my needs. Opera is the real-efficient-surfing browser.
What more I can say about Opera? it’s a matter of taste. ;D