A Surprisingly Good Web Browser

So, last night I was kicking around the idea of writing a review post about the various web browsers that I typically use.

Google Chrome

I’m one of those people who like to use several browsers at once.  For example, when I’m working on my PC laptop I use Google Chrome for a general workspace, surfing random pages, and anything else that requires mobility.  Chrome is so easy to navigate.  I can’t wait til they make it available for my Mac.  Chrome is simple, effortless, clean, and very stable (which is important to me).

Firefox

While I’m using Chrome, I also like to have all my social media accounts open, as well as my webmail.  This is where I use Firefox.  Firefox’s strengths definitely lie in its plugins.  I use Twitterfox, the Firefox SEO tool, and almost every other webservice that requires you to install a plugin on your browser has a version available for Firefox (though netflix does not work with Firefox.  Why is that?  Honestly can anyone answer that for me!).   Firefox has really come a long way since its inception, though  I wish it were easier to add additional tabs (really my only complaint).

Seamonkey

Another browser I use pretty frequently is Seamonkey.  I initially downloaded it because I thought the name was funny, but I actually really like using it for certain web-based programs.  Seamonkey is based on the Firefox architecture, but it is even more stable.  I honestly cannot ever remember crashing Seamonkey.  This is the reason I use it as my ‘applications’ browser.  For example, while I’m working on client blog accounts or working on their social media profiles I’ll be logged into their accounts in Chrome, because it’s such an easy environment in which to work, but at the same time I often need to have several documents open in a different GoogleDocs folder.  I will use Seamonkey to keep my documents open which allows me to log in and out of any google account I might need in the Chrome window.

Internet Explorer

As a user of both Macs and PCs, I am also familiar with Safari and Internet Explorer.  I have to admit that I find both browsers pretty weak.  Internet Explorer is SLOW.  The reason for this, I’m told, is that it’s system architecture is built so that it’s easy to write ASP.net software on top of it.  For this reason, some online software only works in Internet Explorer (like Netflix).  This pisses me off to no end.  In my experience it is also fairly unstable.  At least it crashes more than any of the previously listed browsers.  What really gets me though is that it just doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence security-wise.  I’m not an expert in browser security, but Internet Explorer definitely seems to have more leaks than any other browser.  I had to reformat the hard drive on my girlfriend’s laptop because of a piece of malware that was installed on her computer while she was using IE.

Safari

I don’t have anything good or bad to say about Safari.  I use it occasionally on my Mac, but never on my PC (the PC version is slow, there’s no question about that).  Safari is just plain average.  In my view its only problem is that it lacks any distinguishing features that would make me want to use it over any of the other browsers I’ve listed.

Opera

This brings me to the point that I really wanted to write about.  I thought to myself ‘Self. If you’re going to write a review about browsers, you need to at least download Opera to see if it’s anything worth writing about.’  I had never before even known anyone who used Opera with any consistency and I had never laid eyes on it myself.  So, I downloaded Opera only to find that Opera is a REALLY GOOD BROWSER!  Seriously, I’ve only used it for a few hours now and it might honestly be the best all-purpose browser I’ve ever seen.

Opera is an open-sourced software app just like Firefox, but Opera is more of an ‘underground’ program.  It currently only has a 3% market share among web users.  Not a lot of people are talking about Opera as a desktop app.  Its only press comes from the fact that Opera is the default browser for Google’s Android mobile phone operating system.

I like Opera because it combines the best features of the other browsers.  For example, like Firefox, there are lots of great plugins available.  Their Twitter plugin is excellent.  It is also almost as easy to navigate as Chrome and the streamlined header is extremely attractive for my tastes.  It really has a great look that’s distinctive from other browsers.  I was initially shocked that it was so nice so I called a buddy who I knew had significant experience using Opera in the past.  He said Opera is extremely stable, and also has excellent email and rss reading capabilities.  I hope that Opera will gain market share in the next few years.  It is a truly great piece of software.