Business
Review: 11 Web browsers
Feeling entrenched in your choice of browser? Break free! We compare 11 different browsers so you can find the right one for you and your company.
Feeling entrenched in your choice of browser? Break free! We compare 11 different browsers so you can find the
right one for you and your company.
Contents  Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
So, what is it that you are dissatisfied with? From the point of view of Web development, the Web page Rendering Engine is the feature of greatest significance. While there exists international standards for Web page functionality, different browsers follow the standards with more or less accuracy. While most modern Web sites should be designed with a variety of browsers in mind, you may still encounter problems on occasion.
Security
While getting information easily is the whole point of the Internet, sometimes you can be supplied with data all too easily -- and not at all what you would want.
What's more, information might be clandestinely taken from you. Java- or ECMA-Script and Java are pretty secure, but turn them off if you're concerned about what they can do, after all, such code can be used to produce powerful applications within a Web-page -- and a malicious coder may want them to escape from the confines of your browser. Fortunately, they shouldn't be able to access your file system without your explicit permission.
Web-bugs and cookies can collect data, such as: "Who accessed this page and when?" More serious privacy/security concerns arise from drive-by downloads and viruses contained within legitimate downloads. Drive-by downloads are small files that are downloaded without your knowledge when you access certain sites. These files may then use the Web whenever you're online and download other files without your knowledge. Serious spyware applications can operate in this manner. When fully assembled, your computer could be an open book to hackers.
Internet Explorer has some basic content-filtering built in, and the browsers reviewed here all have controls to restrict cookies, scripts and Java applets. They all support Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol for protection of information on secure sites. (So you bank account details are safe when you make online transactions, etc.)
Other tools are available to some browsers. For example, Secondary Browser has a cookie viewer -- find out what data is being collected about you.
With regards to the prices quoted in this article, note that AU$1 is approximately US$0.8.
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
Internet Explorer users will immediately feel comfortable with this browser. Button icons and menu layout are similar, but more functions are available. In fact, Avant Browser inherits most of its functionality directly from the version of IE installed on your system.
Generally I found it very easy to use, although it isn't keen to start up offline. The application window can act as a standard multiple document interface with tiled or maximised windows; tabs allow easy access to each window. It has good navigation controls, and page zooming and search toolbars are present. Language support is excellent, with the interface being able to switch instantaneously between any of 34 languages -- provided your computer is set up to support the appropriate fonts.
The product is free, but donations are keenly accepted by Avant's author. Customer support is provided via a Web forum. Avant is available for MS Windows only and is reliant on the presence of Internet Explorer.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
Camino is a Mozilla browser optimised for the Apple Mac. While this is not the most feature-packed browser available, it does have all the basics, plus tabbed windows. Being Mozilla, it uses the standards-compliant Gecko layout engine. The history list is not overly user friendly, as it can only be made visible instead of a Web-page; thus it must be found in the relevant menu each time it is required.
A Google search bar is present and various language versions are available. The software is a free download, but a disk version with manual is available for a small fee. Product support can take the form of online forums or paid phone support. For Mac OS X only.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
This is another IE-based product so IE users will find it all fairly familiar. Note that the IE-based browsers will normally share the IE history files and "favorites". New address requests are automatically opened as new tabbed windows. It does not, however, have a built-in search toolbar or zoom functions.
Besides the standard browser features, however, Faststone 4in1 can also act as a HTTP Web server and also has screen capture facilities. The screen capture can be used on any part of the screen, but you can't minimise Faststone once the capture process is initiated, which limits its use. The fourth feature (4-in-1) is an FTP client, but this is a fairly standard browser feature.
This is another free software package, so don't expect too much backup. There is a support e-mail address -- customers purchasing Faststone wares will presumably get some sort of reply. Faststone gladly accepts both criticism and monetary support for the improvement of their wares. For Windows users only.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
This is Mozilla's flagship browser. Based on the Firebird browser this is a highly configurable package with many add-on tools available from the Mozilla Web site.
Firefox makes use of the Gecko layout engine. The interface appearance and operation is very similar to IE. Firefox has tabbing, a Google toolbar, and optional zoom add-on. If you try to work offline, the logon window will come and haunt you every few minutes, but this won't worry most users.
Firefox is currently available in 27 languages. While the software is free to download, you will need to pay for disk and manual or phone support. Free support is also available through online forums. Versions of Firefox are available for Windows Mac OS and Linux operating systems. Interestingly, this software takes up considerably more disk-space than the other browsers reviewed (52MB) -- flexibility has its price.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
Microsoft provides this browser as part of the Windows operating system. As already noted, various other browsers are little more than add-ons to this software. Security is high -- frustratingly so at times -- but also configurable. Content filters are standard -- and are inherited, along with other security and privacy tools, by IE dependent browsers.
The user interface is reasonable to use, it's just a pity that there is no facility for multiple document handling or zooming. A Google search toolbar add-on is available and IE supports instant messaging for Web-based e-mail accounts. Twenty-four language versions are available.
Basically this is a Windows product, but other versions exist for Mac OS X. The program and updates can be downloaded free. Product support is covered under Windows' five-year+ "Lifecycle" program.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
Wymea Bay have given us something a little different, at least in terms of history/navigation. A tree menu similar to the history list of Netscape provides access to all currently loaded Web-pages (rather than using tabs). This provides us with a session history complete with "thumbnail" pictures of each page. Full history details appear in a separate window; tracking history by keeping everything open does, however, use a fair chunk of your memory (you can limit this). Also, a page opened from history may well be opened by iRider. (On my computer with nine browsers installed, Avant continually hijacked the link!)
One "tab" is a multiple site-search page which is bound to have your favourite search engine. Navigation controls exist for every eventuality and pages can be zoomed. iRider is a very neat IE-based product, fully integrated with IE's history lists. Clearly intended for ease of surfing rather than Web-page development, it does what it does very well. This product can be purchased for about AU$38 and comes with full e-mail-based support.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
AOL provides Netscape as an alternative to Internet Explorer and as a base for its Internet services. It will import IE favourites to its own bookmark folder. Unlike IE, the Netscape history list allows you to hold open a list of pages from more than one site at a time and provides for tabbing between multiple open Web-pages. It has a tab providing access AOL's own propriety search engine.
Security facilities are comparable with IE, and AOL provide similar instant messaging services. Netscape makes use of the open source Gecko layout engine. A good all-round product for all users. Customer phone support is available at a price -- the software itself is free, although you can purchase disk and manual. Netscape operates under Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
Opera is not just a Web browser; it is has an integrated POP/IMAP e-mail client with address book and chat room support. Menus and toolbars are clear and easy to use. Tabbed windows, zooming and search toolbars are all present.
The history could be improved with a "by site" listing, although the search facility mollified me somewhat.
Session history, including all currently open pages, can be saved for your next session. Opera can be set to identify itself as Mozilla, MSIE, or itself to improve Web site compatibility.
Twenty language versions exist and product pricing is somewhat negotiable. It costs about AU$50, or you can just put up with the fairly unintrusive advertising -- which can be set to select ads based on your Google searches. The only difficulty I had was setting it up for automatic dial-up upon startup!
Page layout is generally compatible with the Gecko engine. It would seem that just about every platform you compatible with the Gecko engine. It would seem that just about every platform you could want is catered for by Opera, including mobile devices (in limited form and price). One year's full e-mail-based support comes with your purchase.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
This is the standard browser supplied with the Apple Mac operating system. Menus and toolbars are satisfactory, but there are few options for customisation. Tabbed browsing is supported as is a Google search bar, but page zooming is not available. History appears as items in the history menu. One thing Safari does have going for it is speed; as you would expect, Apple is able to optimise it to suit their own operating system. Safari developers work with the Open source community, thus it is Mozilla-Gecko compatible.
It is a fairly basic browser, but it gets the job done. Being part of the Mac operating system, it is covered by the customer support for Mac OS X, there is no additional charge associated with downloading it -- although Apple does track who downloads.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
This is a non-standard browser for administrators rather than your average Web surfer, or even developer. Tools exist for checking the speed of access to Web sites and reporting process for trouble times. There seems to be no facility to browse local drives, although local files can be accessed if you know the path. A fault in the interface sometimes hides the cursor in the address bar, which can thus appear to be without keyboard focus.
The tabbing is excellent as it allows for multiple rows. The help file only deals with aspects that differ from more mainstream software packages. There is no search toolbar. Also, there is no proper history list apart from what appears in the drop down list of the address bar.
This is an MSIE-based program, although I found no access to the security/privacy settings through Secondary Browser. The name says it all really; use it, but not as a standalone product. Keep ready access to a primary browser. It is Windows/IE based and supports six European languages. Download a free trial and pay AU$40 if you like it. E-mail technical support is provided for registered users.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
This is another special case browser, although certainly intended as your main browser. You could say that this is a wholesale product looking for distributors, although it is very functional in its own right and is free to download in its basic form.
By registering the product you can gain the ability to personalise and redistribute in that form. You can have a professional-looking browser with customised logos, colours, and menu settings on every desktop. Full branding and customisation of browser layout and language is also possible at a price.
Unfortunately it has no zoom or tabbed windows and the history list is a little hard to find. The history list can be found in the menu which strangely appears as a small button to the right of the address bar. Various search engines are supported by the search toolbar/tab. It takes a little convincing to open without going online, but it is possible, should you have the need.
UltraBrowser is dependent on Internet Explorer running under Windows. Technical support is unspecified, but it is likely to be provided in part by the corporations or ISP's that choose to have their names attached to the product. Product price is offset by potential for advertising dollars.
"align="top">
Click to enlarge
Specifications
While the main players are here, this review is by no means an exhaustive list of Web browsers. Many specialist browsers exist, some of which might better suit your own particular needs. Thus, although I prefer Opera and Firefox, I would still refer you to http://browsers.evolt.org for more options if you find nothing here entirely pleases. Happy surfing!
Editor's choice: Opera 7.54
Without a doubt, Opera is supported by the greatest range of operating systems, including UNIX and various mobile devices. Only Firefox and Netscape come close to such OS versatility. While Opera has many features built in, these two competitors have a wide range of add-ons available for download. Where Netscape falls behind the other two is in language support (and on that score, they could all learn a thing or two from Avant).
The wealth of toolbars and configuration options, along with the integrated e-mail client, inclines me to choose Opera as the Editor's Choice winner. I'm not entirely happy with its history list, but I suspect that is just a matter of familiarity. Opera is a flexible product for general use in both both homes and offices.
RMIT IT Test Labs is an independent testing institution based in Melbourne, Victoria, performing IT product testing for clients such as IBM, Coles-Myer, and a wide variety of government bodies. In the Labs' testing for T&B, they are in direct contact with the clients supplying products and the magazine is responsible for the full cost of the testing.
| Product | Avant Browser 10.0 | Camino 0.8 | FastStone 4in1 Browser 1.2 |
| Vendor | Avant Browser | Mozilla | FastStone Soft |
| Price RRP (incl. GST) | Freeware, donations appreciated | Free download or ~AU$20 with disk+manual | Freeware, donations appreciated. |
| Warranty | Online forum for support | Web forum for support (or pay for phone supp.) | Comments + criticisms accepted |
| Phone | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Web | avantbrowser.com | mozilla.org | faststoneserver.org |
| Features | |||
| Search toolbars | Yahoo, Google | No | |
| Security | see Internet Explorer + Flash control | Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL | see Internet Explorer |
| Content filter | Yes | No | Yes |
| Zoom | Yes | Text only | Text only |
| Tabbing | Yes & Multiple window | Yes | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes, but not while viewing web | Yes |
| FTP support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF support | Yes | Add-on | Yes |
| Instant messaging | No | No | No |
| Development tools | No | No | No |
| Multi-language | 34 languages, instant conversion | Available | No |
| Rendering engine | Internet Explorer | Mozilla Gecko | Internet Explorer |
| System Requirements | |||
| Operating systems | Windows 95-XP + IE | Mac OSX (10.1.5 & above) | Windows 95-XP +IE |
| RAM | 32MB | 64MB | 64MB |
| Disk space | 2.5MB | 30MB | 1.5MB |
| Product | Firefox 1.0PR | Internet Explorer 6 | iRider 2.21 | Netscape 7.2 |
| Vendor | Mozilla | Microsoft | Wymea Bay | AOL |
| Price RRP (incl. GST) | Free download or ~AU$20 with disk+manual | Free download or bundled with Windows | Download 21 day trial, then ~$38 | Free download or ~$20 with disk+manual |
| Warranty | Web forum for support (or pay for phone supp.) | Microsoft 5yr+ support | Email tech support | Online and phone support available |
| Phone | N/A | 132 058 | N/A | 1-800-411-0707 (support-US) |
| Web | mozilla.org | microsoft.com | irider.com | netscape.com |
| Features | ||||
| Search toolbars | Add-ons available | Google (default) + | Netscape | |
| Security | Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL | ActiveX, Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL | see Internet Explorer | Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL |
| Content filter | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Zoom | Add-on | Text only | Yes | Text only |
| Tabbing | Yes | No | Tree menu | Yes |
| History | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FTP support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF support | Add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Instant messaging | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Development tools | JScript console, DOM inspector | Java console | No | JScript console, Java console |
| Multi-language | 27 languages | 24 languages | No | No |
| Rendering engine | Mozilla Gecko | Internet Explorer | IE compatible | Mozilla Gecko |
| System Requirements | ||||
| Operating systems | Windows, MacOSX Linux i686 | Windows 98-XP (Other ver. of IE for Mac) | Windows 98-XP+IE | Windows, Linux, MacOSX |
| RAM | 64MB | 32MB | 32MB | 64MB |
| Disk space | 52MB (72MB for MacOS) | 12MB | 7.5MB | 26MB (36MB for Mac) |
| Product | Opera 7.54 | Safari 1.2 | Secondary Browser | UltraBrowser |
| Vendor | Opera Software | Apple | Secondary Protocol.com | UltraBrowser |
| Price RRP (incl. GST) | Free with ads or ~AU$50 without | Free download | Download free trial, ~AU$40 | Free download, AU$66 customisable |
| Warranty | 1yr support, via email + online forums | Covered by MacOSX support | Trouble reporting service, email tech support | Not specified |
| Phone | N/A | 133 622 | 866-649-2948 (US) | N/A |
| Web | opera.com | apple.com.au | secondaryprotocol.com | ultrabrowser.com |
| Features | ||||
| Search toolbars | Google, Amazon, Ebay | No | Various | |
| Security | Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL | Script, Java, Pop-up & cookie control; SSL | as per MSIE, cookie viewer. | see Internet Explorer |
| Content filter | No | No | No | Yes |
| Zoom | Yes | Text only | None | Text only |
| Tabbing | Yes | Yes | Multi-row | No |
| History | Yes | As menubar item | AS Menu | Hard to find |
| FTP support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF support | Yes | ??? | Yes | Yes |
| Instant messaging | Yes | No | No | uses MSoft |
| Development tools | JScript console, Java console | N/A | Web speed checking | For browser only |
| Multi-language | 20 languages | As per MacOSX. | 6 European languages | Possible, with branding |
| Rendering engine | Open source/Gecko compatible | Open source/Gecko compatible | IE compatible | Internet Explorer |
| System Requirements | ||||
| Operating systems | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Solaris, OS/2, FreeBSB, Psion | MacOSX | Windows | Windows 95-XP |
| RAM | --- | --- | 32MB | 32MB |
| Disk space | 5.6MB | 5MB | 1.4MB |
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
While the main players are here, this review is by no means an exhaustive list of Web browsers. Many specialist browsers exist, some of which might better suit your own particular needs. Thus, although I prefer Opera and Firefox, I would still refer you to http://browsers.evolt.org for more options if you find nothing here entirely pleases. Happy surfing!
Editor's choice: Opera 7.54
Without a doubt, Opera is supported by the greatest range of operating systems, including UNIX and various mobile devices. Only Firefox and Netscape come close to such OS versatility. While Opera has many features built in, these two competitors have a wide range of add-ons available for download. Where Netscape falls behind the other two is in language support (and on that score, they could all learn a thing or two from Avant).The wealth of toolbars and configuration options, along with the integrated e-mail client, inclines me to choose Opera as the Editor's Choice winner. I'm not entirely happy with its history list, but I suspect that is just a matter of familiarity. Opera is a flexible product for general use in both both homes and offices.
Contents Introduction Avant Browser Camino Faststone Firefox Internet Explorer iRider Netscape Opera Safari Secondary Browser UltraBrowser Specifications Editor's choice About RMIT | ||||
RMIT IT Test Labs is an independent testing institution based in Melbourne, Victoria, performing IT product testing for clients such as IBM, Coles-Myer, and a wide variety of government bodies. In the Labs' testing for T&B, they are in direct contact with the clients supplying products and the magazine is responsible for the full cost of the testing.
The findings are the Labs' own--only the specifications of the products to be tested are provided by the magazine. For more information on RMIT, please contact the Lab Manager, Steven Turvey.
This article was first published in Technology & Business magazine. Click here for subscription information.