Alternative Web Browsers: The Pros and Cons
by Theresa Lütge-Smith
Reports abound that the browser wars are a thing of the past, with Internet Explorer seen as the winner, followed by Netscape. While these two browsers are voted the most popular among web surfers, they are by no means the only means of exploring the Internet. A number of alternative browsers are making an appearance, claiming to offer a comparable surfing experience.
The Internet was initially conceived of as an open-standards-based and platform-independent medium. In other words, the user would not necessarily be compelled to use a specific product but be free to choose the browser and server that met their specific needs. With the advent of the browser wars and the dominance of firstly, Netscape and then Internet Explorer, this independence has, to a large degree, been lost. This is evident in the browser statistics, which place Internet Explorer way ahead with Netscape trailing behind, followed by Opera. In a summary of browser's used by close on 74,000 servers in 63 countries, it was found that more than 60 per cent used IE, while Netscape had about 20 per cent; with the rest divided between the alternative browsers, led by Opera. Browser statistics are extremely variable depending on the servers analyzed and counties selected; but they are largely irrelevant, as one does not need advanced stats to ascertain that the two main browsers are way in the lead and a small portion divided amongst the alternative and specialized browsers. However, some Internet watchers claim that this ratio might change in the future as more users change to alternative browsers.
It is very difficult for program developers to compete against monolithic companies like Microsoft that offer free products of a high standard like IE. There are however a number of alternative browsers that are also available free of charge or at a nominal shareware fee. These browsers often provide customized options, particularly when it comes to browsing for the handicapped, technophiles or mobile users. A development in the web browser profile is the emergence of some new browsers that are challenging the IE/Netscape hegemony.
Why look for alternatives?
Why look for alternatives to Internet Explorer or Netscape when these Internet giants typify surfing sophistication, crammed with all the essential bells and whistles needed? The web browser is the key to the Web; yet, while it is an essential tool that is expected to fulfill various user aspirations, even Internet Explorer falls short in being able to meet every surfing requirement. Although many users are quite happy with mainstream applications, a growing number are making use of alternative browsers. Part of the reason for this is the groundswell away from Microsoft's Internet Explorer mainly due to its dominance of a medium that prides itself on freedom of choice. An increasing number of new browsers have been developed that offer attractive features that include increased browsing speed, flexibility and a reduction of hard drive space. These browsers, which include rising stars like Mozilla and Opera, as well as Omniweb and iCab for the Mac platform, all have the advantage of speed and increased functionality.
One of the central reasons given by users for moving away from Microsoft and Netscape is the central issue of size and speed. Internet Explorer in all its glory requires a hefty download and also exerts a toll on processor power. Many surfers feel that a smaller browser that does not hog so much computer space and ram is preferable to a multimedia monster. This is the rationale behind the surge of interest in the Opera browser. This much smaller application has been lauded for it speed and practical design. The lasts incarnation of Netscape has imitated Opera's tabbed windows that allow one to view numerous pages within the same browser window.
For many users Opera has become a viable alternative to Internet Explorer and has captured a growing niche market. Its main selling point is its speed and fast and accessible tabled interface. The browser has been praised for its quick page displays and its ability to meet user needs. The browser is also much smaller than its competition at 3.5-11 MB in size, compared to Internet Explorer (6 at 8 MB) and Netscape (7 with 32 MB). The present popularity of this browser will be increased should plans to bring it to the mobile platform materialize. This new development promises to further increase the number of users moving away from IE; the technology that will be implemented is called "small screen rendering". This is a system that reduces conventional web pages designed for 15 or 17 inch to a mobile phone's 176-pixel width. The technology involved reduces the pages to essential parts, while unnecessary images are reduced or eliminated. Other elements such as non-essential navigational elements are omitted.
However, not all responses to this browser have been positive. One of the main complaints is that it is ad supported. You have to pay a small amount to register the browser and to remove the ads. Secondly, there have been a number of operational complaints about version 6, with reports of software crashes. Another issue is the display of pages and web standards. Also, Opera fails to recognize some plug-ins such as Windows Media Player. A further concern is the inability of Opera 6 to deal adequately with dynamic content. The next version of Opera will, it is claimed, address these problems and will also support document object model (DOM), a platform-and language-neutral specification that lets developers program and script dynamic content and applications on Web pages. Despite these complaints Opera is still one of the better browsers around and has a sizable user base.
Mozilla and the new browser wars...
The recently released Mozilla has placed a spanner in the works of the two-browser hierarchy. Mozilla has received good reviews, partly due to its standards compliance, performance and portability. It is also easy to use and demands far less memory than Internet Explorer. Mozilla is particularly good at controlling JavaScript, which may contain pop-up ads. The popularity that this browser is engendering can be seen in the prospect that AOL might start bundling an open-source browser based on Mozilla's components in the place of its default browser, Internet Explorer. This could have a serious impact of the status of IE, as AOL has about 34-million subscribers, which amounts to about one third of all US web users. Some even predict that this might restart the browser wars again.
The release of Mozilla has also dampened the reception to Netscape's latest release. One of the aspects of Mozilla that users find attractive is that it's very customizable and offers various options, unlike the more rigid Netscape. While Mozilla and Netscape are very similar in many areas, both having been developed from the same base code, there are many differences between the two that tend to be in favor of Mozilla. One of the features that users seem to like is the ability in Mozilla to deal with pop-up ads. This and other customization differences have created a growing user base for the browser.
PART TWO...
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