How to Pick The Web Browser That's Right For You

Whether you’re using your computer to search for online shopping bargains or to read an article like this on Yahoo! News, you’ll need a web browser to do so.

The browser displays each web page on screen but you don’t have to stick with the traditional options of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer on a PC or Apple’s Safari for Macs. You can now choose from one of the five main browsers we review below. Each is a free download, so you could even try them all* and see which suits your surfing needs the best.

INTERNET EXPLORER

What is it? Version 9 was created by Microsoft to work with its newest Windows 7 operating system but it will run on the older Vista systems too.

Best for? Newbie PC users, simple surfers, non-technical types.

Is it secure? IE9 alerts you to fake or unsafe websites typed into the address bar while its Tracking Protection service lets you list which sites can monitor your browsing habits.

What’s good? With a simple uncluttered layout and a big Back button – often the most used control – version 9 is the fastest IE yet. Only single pages ever crash, not the whole browser and websites can be opened directly from the Windows taskbar. It copes well with graphic-heavy pages and some sites are specially optimised to look the best through it.

What’s bad? Less customisable than rivals, it has fewer add-ons, which, for example, can link to social networks and websites to automatically feed in information and make regular tasks quicker.

Rating: 4/5

Download Internet Explorer here


SAFARI

What is it? Apple’s default browser on Macs and iPhone and iPad devices, it is available for Windows too.

Best for? Mac security, news junkies, Apple OS X Lion users

Is it secure? Built-in technology prevents pop-ups, hacking and the theft of your personal information. Cookies – small bits of software monitoring your surfing habits – are blocked by default.

What’s good? Thumbnails of your 24 most-visited sites and images of bookmarked pages are handy. A beautifully streamlined Reader mode shows text and pictures without advert clutter while a Reading List saves links to view later. Users of Apple’s latest OS X Lion operating system can automatically open pages from their previous session, get full screen browsing and use multi-touch gesture controls such as pinch and zoom, just like on an iPad or iPhone.

What’s bad? Can be sluggish, not as good as rivals for PC use.

Rating: 4/5 Mac OS X Lion
3/5 Mac OS X Snow Leopard
2.5/5 Windows PC

Download Safari here


CHROME

What is it? Created by Google, it works on a PC or Mac and integrates simply with many of their services such as Gmail.

Best for? Searching, speed and simplicity

Is it secure? Clear messaging warns of fake websites while an Incognito mode stops your browsing history being recorded.

What’s good? A minimalist design does away with confusing boxes and buttons. Google Search suggests web addresses as you type them. Web pages can be automatically translated to your default language while Bookmarks and settings will sync with any other computer you use Chrome on.

What’s bad? Potentially the least secure, it’s already been updated to version 11 to fix flaws and tweak features.

Rating: 4/5

Download Chrome here


FIREFOX

What is it? Made for PC, Mac, Android and iPhone by Mozilla.

Best for? Techies, geeks, lovers of customisation

Is it secure? Parental Controls are designed to work alongside the ones in Windows 7 and it will alert you to fake websites from a list updated 48 times a day.

What’s good? Easy to personalise, you can select keywords to give fast access to favoured sites. Groups store similar pages you view often and the Awesome Bar scans your history to suggest websites as you start typing them. This has the most add-ons and extensions of any browser with plenty of timesaving software to download.

What’s bad? Design and functionality can suit PC users better.

Rating: 4/5 PC
3/5 Mac

Download Firefox 5 here


OPERA

What is it? Versions for PC, Mac, mobile phones and tablets.

Best for? Mobile use and slow connections

Is it secure? Private browsing deletes your history when the tab or window is closed. Coloured labels clearly show how safe a website is.

What’s good? For computers, the Turbo Boost feature speeds up browsing on slow connections but for mobile users, Opera is a must. It provides fast and uncluttered surfing and could save you money, by compressing the amount of data used to show information.

What’s bad? Unfairly perceived as a lesser option but it does have the fewest add-ons available.

Rating: 3.5/5 PC
4/5 Mac
5/5 Mobile

Download for your desktop here.
Download for your mobile here.


FINAL WORD

If you want a browser that's easy to use but still has plenty of scope for extras, you can't go wrong with Chrome for a PC or Mac. But if you're using OS X Lion, like the one million people who downloaded it in its first 24 hours on sale, have an extra window open too and go on Safari.

Source:http://uk.news.yahoo.com/how-to-pick-the-web-browser-that%E2%80%99s-right-for-you.html