Comparing the Top Web Browsers

There are many web browsers available to users of the Internet. We are going to be taking at look at three different browsers and compare their similarities as well as differences. The three browsers we will be discussing are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, and Netscape Navigator.

The new Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 has many features. It includes tabbed browsing which allows the user to view multiple sites in a single browser window. The screen that displays a webpage has maximized streamlined interface to allow you to see more of the page. Internet Explorer 7 scales webpages for printing automatically allowing the webpage to fit on you printed page. There also is an option to chose a search provider and obtain their toolbar.

Mozilla's Firefox was released in 2004. One feature it has is a library that saves your browsing history and bookmarks so you can easily search and organize the previous websites you've visited. Firefox 3 protects your computer from viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. If you happen to come across an attack site, you'll receive a warning. If you visit a fraudulent site, a huge browser message will stop you. With Firefox, you can also choose to remember site passwords at the top of the page.

Netscape Navigator is the most recent web browser out of the three. Netscape's most unique feature is that it has the ability to use either of two layout engines to render websites. It also will decide for you if a website is trusted or suspected. It has a toolbar call the MultiBar that can have up to ten toolbars in the space of one at one time. The newer Netscape browser has features such as ID Theft Protection and Spyware Protection.

All of these browsers have many things in common. They have an address bar to type in the website url, they all have their own graphic, and they all have a toolbar that has a back and forward button along with a refresh and home button. They also all have a main page to their specific browser that includes entertainment, news, sports, and business information as well as many more topics.

The way to do some things in each browser differs. To save something in Internet Explorer you need to put it in your favorites and in Netscape you need to bookmark it. I personally use the older version of Internet Explorer. I did upgrade to version 7 at one point but did not like the accessibility or features that came along with it. I would rather have a numerous amount of windows open at the bottom of the page and the overall setup seemed to be quite confusing for me. I am sure it is more up-to-date on features and speed but I would rather take the extra and navigate with something I am used to. I am pretty familiar with everything except I did not know that Firefox came with protection from viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. This is something that I have had a problem with using Internet Explorer.

After comparing these web browsers, I am considering changing from Internet Explorer to Mozilla's Firefox. I would change mainly for security purposes considering I have encountered many viruses and other types of problems recently.

Sources:

Microsoft. (2008). Features. Retrieved July 23, 2008 from

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/features.mspx

Mozilla. (2008). Firefox features. Retrieved July 23, 2008 from

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features/

Wikipedia. (2008). Netscape browser. Retrieved July 23, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netscape_Browser