Lab

Web browsers

Everyone needs a web browser, but how many of us take the time to choose the best one for us? After all, Internet Explorer comes preinstalled with Windows and it seems to work pretty well.

As the leading browsers mature, they are tending to become very similar. All are free and offer a similar set of core features. If you want to switch from Internet Explorer, all its competitors will import its Favorites, homepage and other settings. When considering what distinguishes them, the devil is in the detail. Subtle design flourishes can greatly speed up everyday tasks, and minor flaws can be a constant irritation. Some also offer various extra features; Firefox leads the way with its third-party Extensions.

Another issue is how well a browser displays pages. This depends not only on the technical capabilities of the browser but also on how web programmers accommodate specific browsers' limitations. Internet Explorer lags behind in its support for emerging web standards. Because of its popularity, web designers are forced to submit to its quirks, often at the expense of compatibility with other browsers. Hopefully, the improvements in Internet Explorer 8 (currently in beta) will allow for a more level playing field in future.