Lewis
Member
- Aug 5, 2005
- 15,483
- 621
I am trying out Amaya, and it is very interesting, you can do a lot with it. I think I will keep it, not for my main browser but for doing a lot of other stuff. And it's free.
The Best Browsers You Never Heard Of
Since the "great browser wars" of the mid-1990s, ordinary Internet users have been left with a mistaken impression. That is, they have long believed that Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape's Navigator are the only two Web browsers available. Well, it's time to correct that kind of thinking.
In fact, IE and Navigator are the only two well known Web browsers available. When the aforementioned browser wars flared up several years ago, Netscape had the lion's share of the browser market, and more than 80 percent of all Internet users browsed the Web through Navigator.
But, seeing the Web's enormous potential, Microsoft quickly developed its own browser. Initially, IE didn't give Navigator much of a run for its money, but after its second release, IE's popularity exploded. Of course, it didn't hurt that Microsoft gave IE away for free, although Navigator was inexpensive by anyone's standard. Regardless of the programs' merits, the computer press latched on to this two-sided "browser war," and while Microsoft and Netscape struggled to conquer the market (Microsoft eventually won, and now more than 80 percent of all netizens use IE), a number of lesser-known players got left behind.
So much for the history lesson. With the release of Windows 98, Microsoft actually integrated IE into the Windows operating system, meaning that IE was automatically on the desktop of nearly every new PC, and was installed whenever someone upgraded from an older version of Windows. If you purchased a computer or an OS upgrade in the last three years, you probably have IE installed on your system, whether you use it (or like it) or not. If you don't like it, you probably have installed Navigator, which you can now get for free, as well.
But what about all those other, lesser-known players? Believe it or not, many of them are still out there, quietly developing and updating their own browser products, many of which are free, and some of which actually perform better than either IE or Navigator.
If you feel like trying out a different browser, or if you simply dislike the one you currently use, read on. The perfect browser for you may be one you've never heard of.
But First, a Warning
Actually, two warnings. First, if you do a little research, you'll find that there are dozens of browsers and browser plug-ins out there. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and some are pretty unique. Some work only with specific operating systems; in fact, some work only with outdated operating systems like DOS and Windows 3.x. Some are Java-based, while others won't support Java at all. Some are designed primarily for use in online virtual worlds, and let you take on the identity of a cartoonish character who flies through 3-D spaces. And on and on.
We mention several browsers later in this article, but this should not be taken as an endorsement or a recommendation. Download and install browsers at your own risk, but be smart about it. Back up your system first and read all the documentation about the browser before you try to use it.
Now, the second warning. Even if you truly hate Internet Explorer, do not try to uninstall it. This is a critical piece of advice, for several reasons. First, Windows may not let you uninstall IE because it could be an integral part of the OS. Second, you need IE even if you aren't aware of it. If you ever use the Windows Update feature to download and install new components for Windows, then you're using IE to do it. Windows and many applications use IE to access the Internet. Third, IE shares ActiveX and DirectX components with other applications; so messing with IE could have a negative effect on other programs you use.
In short, leave IE on your system even if you never launch it. Remove the shortcut icon from your desktop, if you want, but leave the program alone. In fact, you should keep IE updated, and install all the plug-ins that Microsoft recommends.
How Many Browsers Can You Have?
During Microsoft's recent run-ins with the Department of Justice, the lawyers and judges repeatedly discussed (but appeared to misunderstand) a very important issue. That is, if you have IE installed on your computer, can you run another browser?
The answer is YES, you can! And you don't have to uninstall or disable IE in order to do it. You may have problems if you try to run different browsers at the same time, but generally speaking, having multiple browsers on your system will pose no more problems than having multiple word processors or media players on your system. In fact, this writer has Internet Explorer 5.5, Netscape Navigator 4.5, and Opera 5.0 all installed on the same computer, running under Windows Me. They all work like a charm, as do their various plug-ins, add-ons, and built-in components.
A Short List Of Alternative Browsers
Here are just a few of the many "other" browsers that are available:
* Amaya. Amaya is a combination Web browser/Web page authoring program, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The program supports many of the latest innovations in Web technology, such as MathML and real-time user annotations of Web pages, and even offers a collaboration tool that lets multiple users work on a Web page at the same time. Unlike other combination products, which separate the browsing and editing tools into separate windows (or even separate applications), Amaya presents all the tools on the same screen. You can browse and edit a page at the same time, and use Amaya to publish Web pages to a server. This program, however, is not for the squeamish; as an open source product being co-developed by some of the Web's brightest minds, Amaya is a powerful tool with advanced features. If you are interested only in browsing, you may want to skip this one. But if you want to create, edit, and publish Web pages, Amaya may be a good pick. Amaya runs under Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, as well as Linux and some versions of Unix. The program supports Java and provides limited support of cascading style sheets (CSSs), but does not currently support browser plug-ins. You can learn more about Amaya and download the program at no cost by visiting http://www.w3.org/Amaya.
* Clickgarden. Clickgarden is a commercial browser, which is based on Internet Explorer. In fact, you must have IE 4.01 or a later version installed in order to use Clickgarden. Clickgarden, however, adds many creative features to the basic IE components. For example, Clickgarden lets you have multiple Web pages open simultaneously without launching multiple instances of the browser. It performs this trick by creating a set of tabbed pages; you can store each page on its own tab, and jump from one page to another simply by clicking the desired tab. Clickgarden also lets you organize and store Web content in any manner you like. If a Web page provides a set of links you want to keep, for example, you can store the links. You can also store text, graphics, and entire Web pages, making them easy to retrieve later. Clickgarden is not free; expect to pay $49.95, plus shipping for a boxed version. However, you can download a 30-day trial version and see if you like the program well enough to pay for it. Clickgarden works with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, and supports Java, cascading style sheets, and plug-ins. To find more information, download the trial version, or purchase the full product, visit http://www.clickgarden.com.
* Fast Browser. Like Clickgarden, Fast Browser is a commercial product based on Internet Explorer, but with some unique capabilities. Fast Browser uses a tabbed interface that lets you keep as many as 180 Web pages open at the same time. The program can translate Web content from a variety of foreign languages to English, and even offers limited voice functionality-meaning the browser can actually read Web page contents and actions to you, via your PC's speakers. The "casual browsing" feature is a fun tool that takes you to randomly selected sites. Fast Browser can scan a page's links to let you know which ones are dead, provides options for downloading pages faster, and lets you manage cookies. Fast Browser runs under Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, and supports Java, cascading style sheets, and plug-ins. Fast Browser Pro (which offers all the features described here, and more) is available for $29.95. Fast Browser Normal (which offers a small subset of these features) is available for $19.95. For more information or to buy, visit http://www.fastbrowser.net/index.html.
* Opera. Long-time Opera users will scoff if you call it an "alternative" browser. Instead, they will insist that it's the only browser. Opera has been around for several years, quietly building momentum and a growing user base by piling on one innovation after another. Considered one of the fastest browsers around, Opera offers full support for Java, cascading style sheets, plug-ins, and more. Opera is also designed to comply with all W3C standards for HTML and page development, meaning it can display Web page components that might choke other browsers. The Opera people call this "street HTML"-pages that may not work equally well in all browsers. You can learn more about Opera and download the latest version for free by visiting http://www.opera.com.
PC World
The Best Browsers You Never Heard Of
Since the "great browser wars" of the mid-1990s, ordinary Internet users have been left with a mistaken impression. That is, they have long believed that Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape's Navigator are the only two Web browsers available. Well, it's time to correct that kind of thinking.
In fact, IE and Navigator are the only two well known Web browsers available. When the aforementioned browser wars flared up several years ago, Netscape had the lion's share of the browser market, and more than 80 percent of all Internet users browsed the Web through Navigator.
But, seeing the Web's enormous potential, Microsoft quickly developed its own browser. Initially, IE didn't give Navigator much of a run for its money, but after its second release, IE's popularity exploded. Of course, it didn't hurt that Microsoft gave IE away for free, although Navigator was inexpensive by anyone's standard. Regardless of the programs' merits, the computer press latched on to this two-sided "browser war," and while Microsoft and Netscape struggled to conquer the market (Microsoft eventually won, and now more than 80 percent of all netizens use IE), a number of lesser-known players got left behind.
So much for the history lesson. With the release of Windows 98, Microsoft actually integrated IE into the Windows operating system, meaning that IE was automatically on the desktop of nearly every new PC, and was installed whenever someone upgraded from an older version of Windows. If you purchased a computer or an OS upgrade in the last three years, you probably have IE installed on your system, whether you use it (or like it) or not. If you don't like it, you probably have installed Navigator, which you can now get for free, as well.
But what about all those other, lesser-known players? Believe it or not, many of them are still out there, quietly developing and updating their own browser products, many of which are free, and some of which actually perform better than either IE or Navigator.
If you feel like trying out a different browser, or if you simply dislike the one you currently use, read on. The perfect browser for you may be one you've never heard of.
But First, a Warning
Actually, two warnings. First, if you do a little research, you'll find that there are dozens of browsers and browser plug-ins out there. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and some are pretty unique. Some work only with specific operating systems; in fact, some work only with outdated operating systems like DOS and Windows 3.x. Some are Java-based, while others won't support Java at all. Some are designed primarily for use in online virtual worlds, and let you take on the identity of a cartoonish character who flies through 3-D spaces. And on and on.
We mention several browsers later in this article, but this should not be taken as an endorsement or a recommendation. Download and install browsers at your own risk, but be smart about it. Back up your system first and read all the documentation about the browser before you try to use it.
Now, the second warning. Even if you truly hate Internet Explorer, do not try to uninstall it. This is a critical piece of advice, for several reasons. First, Windows may not let you uninstall IE because it could be an integral part of the OS. Second, you need IE even if you aren't aware of it. If you ever use the Windows Update feature to download and install new components for Windows, then you're using IE to do it. Windows and many applications use IE to access the Internet. Third, IE shares ActiveX and DirectX components with other applications; so messing with IE could have a negative effect on other programs you use.
In short, leave IE on your system even if you never launch it. Remove the shortcut icon from your desktop, if you want, but leave the program alone. In fact, you should keep IE updated, and install all the plug-ins that Microsoft recommends.
How Many Browsers Can You Have?
During Microsoft's recent run-ins with the Department of Justice, the lawyers and judges repeatedly discussed (but appeared to misunderstand) a very important issue. That is, if you have IE installed on your computer, can you run another browser?
The answer is YES, you can! And you don't have to uninstall or disable IE in order to do it. You may have problems if you try to run different browsers at the same time, but generally speaking, having multiple browsers on your system will pose no more problems than having multiple word processors or media players on your system. In fact, this writer has Internet Explorer 5.5, Netscape Navigator 4.5, and Opera 5.0 all installed on the same computer, running under Windows Me. They all work like a charm, as do their various plug-ins, add-ons, and built-in components.
A Short List Of Alternative Browsers
Here are just a few of the many "other" browsers that are available:
* Amaya. Amaya is a combination Web browser/Web page authoring program, developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The program supports many of the latest innovations in Web technology, such as MathML and real-time user annotations of Web pages, and even offers a collaboration tool that lets multiple users work on a Web page at the same time. Unlike other combination products, which separate the browsing and editing tools into separate windows (or even separate applications), Amaya presents all the tools on the same screen. You can browse and edit a page at the same time, and use Amaya to publish Web pages to a server. This program, however, is not for the squeamish; as an open source product being co-developed by some of the Web's brightest minds, Amaya is a powerful tool with advanced features. If you are interested only in browsing, you may want to skip this one. But if you want to create, edit, and publish Web pages, Amaya may be a good pick. Amaya runs under Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, as well as Linux and some versions of Unix. The program supports Java and provides limited support of cascading style sheets (CSSs), but does not currently support browser plug-ins. You can learn more about Amaya and download the program at no cost by visiting http://www.w3.org/Amaya.
* Clickgarden. Clickgarden is a commercial browser, which is based on Internet Explorer. In fact, you must have IE 4.01 or a later version installed in order to use Clickgarden. Clickgarden, however, adds many creative features to the basic IE components. For example, Clickgarden lets you have multiple Web pages open simultaneously without launching multiple instances of the browser. It performs this trick by creating a set of tabbed pages; you can store each page on its own tab, and jump from one page to another simply by clicking the desired tab. Clickgarden also lets you organize and store Web content in any manner you like. If a Web page provides a set of links you want to keep, for example, you can store the links. You can also store text, graphics, and entire Web pages, making them easy to retrieve later. Clickgarden is not free; expect to pay $49.95, plus shipping for a boxed version. However, you can download a 30-day trial version and see if you like the program well enough to pay for it. Clickgarden works with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, and supports Java, cascading style sheets, and plug-ins. To find more information, download the trial version, or purchase the full product, visit http://www.clickgarden.com.
* Fast Browser. Like Clickgarden, Fast Browser is a commercial product based on Internet Explorer, but with some unique capabilities. Fast Browser uses a tabbed interface that lets you keep as many as 180 Web pages open at the same time. The program can translate Web content from a variety of foreign languages to English, and even offers limited voice functionality-meaning the browser can actually read Web page contents and actions to you, via your PC's speakers. The "casual browsing" feature is a fun tool that takes you to randomly selected sites. Fast Browser can scan a page's links to let you know which ones are dead, provides options for downloading pages faster, and lets you manage cookies. Fast Browser runs under Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, and supports Java, cascading style sheets, and plug-ins. Fast Browser Pro (which offers all the features described here, and more) is available for $29.95. Fast Browser Normal (which offers a small subset of these features) is available for $19.95. For more information or to buy, visit http://www.fastbrowser.net/index.html.
* Opera. Long-time Opera users will scoff if you call it an "alternative" browser. Instead, they will insist that it's the only browser. Opera has been around for several years, quietly building momentum and a growing user base by piling on one innovation after another. Considered one of the fastest browsers around, Opera offers full support for Java, cascading style sheets, plug-ins, and more. Opera is also designed to comply with all W3C standards for HTML and page development, meaning it can display Web page components that might choke other browsers. The Opera people call this "street HTML"-pages that may not work equally well in all browsers. You can learn more about Opera and download the latest version for free by visiting http://www.opera.com.
PC World
: Constant reports of his death prompted this add-on. ;-)