Browser Wars: Safari 4

In the past, I've rated Safari as the weakest of the various web browsers. The main problems I found was an inability to understand tabbed browsing, a poor design for the bookmarks, and a complete lack of customization, up to an including the inability to use any other inline search engines than Google and Yahoo.

A new version of Safari does nothing to fix any of the conceptual flaws in the design of the browser.

First, the good news.  Safari is fast. It and the new Internet Explorer 8 are by far the fastest of the browsers. Some tests say that Safari is the fastest, but I doubt any human being could see any difference between it and MSIE8. But, still, fast is good and the improvement over older browsers is considerable.

They've also set things so it uses standard rendering of text, so web pages look right.  You can use Apple's scheme if you want, but it's nice that Apple gives you the option to do things the way you want for a change.

In addition, Safari has the same private browsing feature that Google Chrome and MSIE8 have.

That's about it. Safari still doesn't understand tabbed browsing. They've improved things somewhat by adding a button to add a tab -- something that's essential since browsers don't create new tabs for inline searches.*  But it's much harder to move tabs around once they're created.  In all other browsers, you click anywhere on the tab and can move it.  In Safari, you have to click on a tiny corner with a symbol whose meaning is completely opaque to the user.  Why make it difficult?

Safari still has the same horizontal design for bookmarks that I just don't care for.  It's better than in previous versions and I suppose the design allows for a cleaner look (Apple always chooses looks over functionality). But the lack of space means that you need to put your bookmarks into folders instead of just having them available.

I get the distinct impression that Safari's developers never bother with bookmarks and merely type in all the web pages they go to (It's quite clear they never use tabs).

As for customizations -- forget it. You can't even add additional search engines to the inline search.  I search Wikipedia a lot, but Safari doesn't offer even that obvious option.  The best browsers will let you search any site through inline search; Safari gives you two.

There are no add-ins. If you want a feature that's not in Safari, you're out of luck; there's no way to add it.  No skins, either (though that's not really a flaw -- it's rare to find a skin that's worth using).

And there's no sign of innovation. MSIE now has the web slices feature.  Google Chrome invented private browsing and uses the history to create favorites. Opera invented tabbed browsing, the speed dial, and Paste and Go. Firefox developed plug-ins.  All come up with new and interesting ways to make browsing better.

Safari does nothing new.  It doesn't even do many old things (like automatically creating a tab instead of opening a new browser).

But it's fast.  If that's all that's important to you, use it (but check out MSIE8).  But if you want a flexible web browser that does what you want it to do, use something else.

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*Something I can't understand.  Google Toolbar has done this for ages, yet if you type in anything in the search field in all browsers, your current page changes to the search engine.  Not very useful if you're trying to look things up on the fly.

Browser Wars: Internet Explorer 8

I've been keeping track of web browsers for some time now.  With two new versions of them (MSIE 8 and Safari 4) coming out soon, I decided to see what's new.

First up is MSIE8.

I will say I'm favorably impressed.  I've been using Firefox as my main browser* lately, but MSIE8 is a strong competitor.

The most obvious improvement is speed (the new Safari is also supposed to be very fast). Web pages pop onto the screen almost immediately.  Very impressive.

MSIE8 also has made some small but important changes in design. The Favorites been moved from the Tab bar to a spot just above it, which makes more sense to me. 

But the most interesting and innovative feature is MSIE's new "Web Slices." These let you put an item on the menu bar which lets you look at quick information from that site. For instance, if you add it for a weather report site, you'll see the current temperature and other information without having to go to the page. Only a handful of sites offer this capability, but I can see it being very popular.

Taking a page from Google Chrome, MSIE8 has what they call "In-Private Browsing," the ability to surf the web without saving cookies, history, etc.  There is also "In-private filtering" that blocks sites from sharing your private information with other site. Another nice security feature is the smartscreen filter, which identifies potential fake websites (that "Paypal" site that came in a phishing e-mail, for instance).  It also checks downloads to warn you if you're downloading spyware.

There are a few minor downsides.  There are far fewer add-ons than you'll find in Firefox. The browser doesn't appear to offer skins (not a favorite of mine -- most skins look horrible).  I also don't like the fact that menu items are both on the menu bar and to the right of the tabs; it makes more sense to me to group them in one place.

Still, given the better speed and security, MSIE8 looks like a strong challenger to Firefox and Opera.

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*In the past, I used Opera, and I still like it a lot. But most sites don't believe Opera exists, it leads to problems, not with the browser, but with the sites.  Some of my favorite Opera features -- Paste and Go, Speed Dial, and the Wand -- are just not available (Speed Dial is an add-in for Firefox, though).

Browser Wars -- the New Kid in Town

Google has jumped into the browser wars with their own new browser, Chrome.  I've been testing it a bit and I'm favorably impressed.

The most obvious improvement is speed.  It is definitely one of the fastest -- if not the fastest.  Pages come up with surprising speed.

I also like the automatic search function:  type in your search terms in the address bar and it will do a Google search (by default) for the words.  However, you can specify other searches by It will also fill in the web address as you type. 

The interface may take some getting used to. It has no menu options.  The top of the browser shows tabs, and there are only a limited number of icons (4-5) to choose from.  Your bookmarks toolbar also shows up.  Bookmarks are on a dropdown list at the right.

Another nice feature of Chrome is the built-in spellcheck (also in Firefox).  It also handles tabs very logically.

Chrome uses for a default page a variation on Opera's Speed Dial option. In Opera, you select up to nine pages to display when you open a tab; Chrome just takes the most popular items in your browsing history.  Easy to use, but I can see issues if you want a particular page showing up even though you visit it less often than others.

On the down side, Chrome has very limited user customization; only Safari is worse.  It also doesn't seem to support RSS feeds and I've been having some problems accessing some websites (one refuses to accept my login -- it's a site where different users have different preferences; I can log on, but when I try to go to the private areas, it doesn't work). I'm also having problems with some Java pages.

Last year, I checked out and compared the various web browsers and listed the features I wanted in my ideal browser.  Chrome has an impressive number of the features on that list.  It still needs work, but so far I like it better than MSIE or Safari, and it's pushing Firefox, and even Opera (my favorite) a bit.

Bungle in the Jungle

Back in July, I reviewed the major web browsers, including Safari. My conclusion then was that, for any practical use, Safari was by far the worst web browser of those I tried.

Well, it's been some time, and Safari has come up with a new and improved version (the one I reviewed was a beta version, too). So I decided to revisit.

The good news is that Safari is no longer #5 of the five I've tested; the bad news is that the reason for this is that Netscape is no longer being made.

At the time, I said the following about Safari:

The first problem is that Safari just doesn't get tabbed browsing. The default is to always open a new window for any links that require one; in order to use a tab, you have to hold down CTRL while clicking.

No change.  You still need to hold down the CTRL key to open a new tab.  Why is Safari the only browser that requires this?

There's also the built-in search. Where other browsers give you many choices of search engines for the bar (and MSIE and Opera allow you to add any site's search engine to the search), Safari gives you two: Google and Yahoo.

No change. Again, why is Safari the only browser that doesn't offer this?

The way Safari handles bookmarks is different without being better. Other browsers have a dropdown list of bookmarks, along with a way of creating a toolbar of your favorites. Safari has no dropdown list, just the toolbar.

No change.  And I didn't mention that managing bookmarks is fairly complicated (MSIE leads in that category).

The handling of RSS feeds is crude to say the least.

This has been improved slightly -- the feeds do notify you of changes.  But adding a feed is much more complicated than for other browsers:  it takes an extra step in Safari and is complicated to manage on the bookmark bar. 

In addition, there are no add-ins available, so what you get is what you get.

No change.

On the plus side, it does seem to be fast.  On the minus side, the text has a very blurred look, due to Safari's refusal to use Microsoft's text smoothing in preference to their own.

So, ultimately, the latest Safari is still just lost in the jungle again.

Blogging made easy

Microsoft is trying to googlize itself by competing with the various Google apps (Just as Google is doing the same with Microsoft applications). They've rolled out their Windows Live service with a bunch of features.

I haven't been able to try them all, but the most impressive one is Windows Live Writer.

I've been using Googles Blogger/Blogspot for my blogs.  It's good, but I've had problems with formatting.  When start a new paragraph, I want a new paragraph, and Blogger seems to mash them together when you add a graphic.  I also don't care for the fact that when you add a graphic, it's always at the top of the post and wrecks havoc with the paragraphing.

Microsoft's Live Writer is desktop blog writing software. It works like a word processor, but takes into account how blogs work. You write your entry and then publish it to your blog, and yes, it works with Blogger/Blogspot.

There are also other features.  I haven't tested them out yet, though the mail looks interesting.  But you may want to check out Live Writer at the Windows Live website.

Cache and Carry

When web browsers were first developed, the Internet was slow. And slow Internet caused problems displaying pages and graphics. So web browsers created cache files.

The idea was simple. If you went to a website, the site was saved on your hard drive. If you went there again, your browser would check to see if the site had been updated. If it had, it downloaded the new page. But if the site has remained the same, it displayed the cached version. This loaded faster since the page didn't have to be downloaded.

Nowadays, this caching isn't really an issue for most users, especially since pages have dynamic content and change much more often then they did in the early days. But the cache remains, taking up space on your hard drive. It's always a good idea to clear it. Each browser has a different method.

• Internet Explorer. MSIC doesn't have cache files -- it has "Temporary Internet Files" Microsoft has a propensity for renaming things that already have perfectly good names. You clear your Temporary Internet files by clicking on "Tools," and "Internet Options." In MSIE 7, look for a section that says "Browsing History" and click on "Delete." There are several options. Most are fine to delete except for "cookies." Not that deleting cookies are a problem, but sometimes the data is used for logins and such; if deleted, you may have to log on to sites that kept your login data for cookies. Your call.
• Firefox. Click on "Tools," "Options," and "Advanced." There is a "Clear Cache" button.

You should clear your cache from time to time just as basic maintenance. Also, it can be a place where spyware hides, so clearing it can occasionally help in that respect.

Masters of the Universe

I have seen the future of computing (again), and it's Google Docs.

Well, not entirely. And not quite yet. But one day.

If you're not familiar, Google Docs is an online software suite. If you sign up for it (and, like all things Google, it's free), you have a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software. I've already talked about their new presentation software, but overlooked the other elements (which have been around longer).

These are all nice, basic versions of the type of software, useful for 80% of all documents. The word processor doesn't allow for the sophisticated formatting of Word 2007, but most users don't need that. The spreadsheet may not have some of the more esoteric functions, but for general use, it's plenty good.

The real strength of the application, though is the use of the web. You can give others access to your documents -- to read and to collaborate. If two people are working on a document, they can change it in real time (and others can edit things, too -- you'll see the changes as they make them). There's also an automatic feature that keeps track of all revisions; you can go back to any version of the document from the time it is created.

At this point, this doesn't replace MS Office, but this sort of collaboration is definitely going to be big in the corporate world. Microsoft is trying to establish something similar, but their Sharepoint system is much more clumsy and awkward. Eventually, they will have to offer something similar to Google's ease of use.

It's worth setting up an account. Even if you don't collaborate, having documents available on the web is well worth the cost.

Vocabulary = Rice

How good is your vocabulary? Here's a little way to find out -- and help others.

FreeRice.com is a vocabulary test with a difference. Every time you get an answer right, 20 grains of rice will be donated to programs to help end hunger around the world. That may no seem like much, but the website is donating over 300 million grains each day -- and the number is increasing.

Rice is donated by various advertisers. You will see an ad after you answer each question, but that's not a big price to pay.

It's easy and a good way to improve your vocabulary while helping others.

Inaugural

Today was a big day at Siena; our new college president, Fr. Kevin Mullen, was inaugurated.  It was a nice ceremony, and, I got the idea that it might be a good thing to record his speech and put it on the web.

As often the case, it was much more complicated than it could have been.  We had a little digital recorder and my original idea was to put it on the lecturn and record.  The problem was, I couldn't make sure it wouldn't slide off the top, especially since no one would know what it was. So I decided to tape it and let the condenser mic work.

So I rushed over early this morning to set things up.  And just when I turned on the digital recorder, it said "Battery low."  Ugh -- especially since I expected to let this run the entire ceremony and cut out the extraneous parts.  So I had to run back to my office for a battery.  Then, on my way back, I realized I was better off with a lavalier mic taped to the podium:  better sound, less obtrusive.  So back I went.

I managed to get things set up in plenty of time, though.  So I sat through the ceremony letting things run.  But just as I was walking out, I noticed someone doing something with the mic and the mic stand.

So I ran back.  Luckily, he was just moving things and any sounds I would cut out, so we were set.  I figured I could get it up on the web in an hour.

But when I got back, work got busy.  And I had a problem:  the file wouldn't copy from the recorder to my computer.  I got an error message, and nothing I could do would work.  Finally, I opened the file in Windows Media Player and was able to Save it -- though I got an error message.

The next step was to convert it to an MP3.  And now that didn't work:  it stuck for an hour going nowhere.  This was no good.

So I got on the Internet.  One of the best things about Windows is that somewhere you can always find software to do exactly what you needed to do, and this was no exception.  The software took the Windows Media file and let me cut out the bad parts (which were just sounds of the setup anyway).  Then I was able to convert to MP3.

Then I loaded it into Audacity, sound editing software.  And it refused to edit; everything was grayed out.  Luckily, I had Camtasia -- usually for video, but this would do.  I could edit!  I cleaned up the file and was able to save it and finally get it up on the web around 4:00 pm.  Here it is.

So, it took me three hours, using five bits of software, but everything is now just fine.

Not so Glorious Spam (KnujOn)

I just discovered this one yesterday (through Kim Kommando). KnujOn (pronounced "nudge on") goes after spam at the source: the companies sending it.

You don't need to join, either (though you can if you want be updated). Just send any spam e-mails to knujon@coldrain.net. You can include the headers if you want, but they don't require them. There are also other addresses to target specific types of spam.

Knujon takes the information and goes after websites that allow spammers. They have shut down over 30,000 of them.

This won't end spam, but it should help.

Clip show (cl1p.net)

I probably use copy and paste a dozen times a day; it's one of the most useful option on a computer.

But I sometimes have things I want to copy from one computer to another. That usually requires saving the file and moving it via e-mail or other media. cl1p.net is a neat way to transfer data or files from one computer to another via the internet.

It's actually so simple that it's confusing. You can go to their main page for instructions, but the general method is to create your own page on the fly. Just take your web browser and type an URL: for instance, http://cl1p.net/techgoestocollege. This creates a cl1p.net web page for your files.

It works like a word processor. You can paste text into the blank space. You can also upload files (up to 2 Megs). Then, anyone who goes to the site your created can see and download them. And this is anyone who can find the URL, so it's not good for sensitive materials. But as a quick way to transfer information, it's a nice little service.

You can just paste text into it, and then get it

Howling Kommando

I don't usually subscribe to e-mail newsletters. The clog the inbox and usually have nothing of note. But one I do subscribe to is the Kim Kommando Site of the Day.

Kim Kommando bills herself as "America's Digital Goddess," and has a weekly syndicated radio show in the US where she talks about computer issues (I haven't been able to catch it, but judging by her other materials, it's a good one). She also has several e-mail newsletters.

I do like her Site of the Day. It highlights both websites and software and barely a week goes by when I don't find something worth saving. It's an eclectic list, and you will probably find suggestions you hadn't seen before.

Kim also has other daily and weekly newsletters, and downloads of her podcasts. There's a lot of good information there.

Getting a good start (Startup Delayer)

If you're like me, you have a lot of software that insists on running at startup. And it seems to take months for your computer to start up.

Part of that is how software is designed. At startup, Windows tries to run all programs designated to run at startup. Essentially, this means that all programs are trying to run at once, clamoring for memory space like a crowd of old hippies clamoring for free tickets at a Stones concert. Things get messy and everything takes too long to start up.

So, paradoxically, the way to quicker startups is to delay startup. If some programs wait a minute before starting, and the programs start in an orderly manner instead of a mob scene, then the total time is less.

It took me some time to find it, but it looks like Startup Delayer is your best bet. You can run it and choose to delay software for a few seconds to a few minutes. It's a neat trick.

However some software is uncooperative. AOL's Instant Messenger is a prime culprit: if it doesn't run immediately, it "fixes" the registry so it will the next time, no matter what you want. You can't wait 30 seconds for AIM to run, after all. Some other software will do this, so once you have set up Startup Delayer, restart the computer a few times and take a look at the entries; anything listed twice is software that does this (on the principle that they know more about what you want then you do). You'll have to forget about the delay for these, alas.

However, it can be a big help, especially if you want to get to work right away.

Browser Wars: Epilogue

Going over the various browsers, I was able to discover what features I thought were nice to have, and what didn't mean all that much. No one browser had everything I liked and I really wish there were a way to cherry pick features to come up with a browser that fit me perfectly. So I'm making up this wish list.

First of all, many features are available on all browsers: pop-up blocking, a searchbar, password managers, tabbed browsing, RSS feeds, etc. So the differences is in added features. Also, I don't put much stock in the claims of how fast browsers render pages, since the difference is in fractions of a second and the speed is dependent on many other factors in addition to the browser (like the speed of connection).

However, if Ideal Browser ever comes along (at least, at this point), these are the features I'd like to see in it (Browsers with the features are in parantheses; when I say "Firefox," I also mean "Netscape").

• Built-in Spellcheck (Firefox)
• Goes to originating tab when a new tab is closed (Opera, Firefox)
• Open search page in new tab automatically (none, though Google Toolbar for Firefox & MSIE can do this).
• "New Tab" button (everything but Safari)
• MSIE rendering of pages (MSIE, Firefox with add-in). Some pages are just designed for MSIE and require it to work properly.
• Active notification of new RSS content (Opera). In other words, something tells of of RSS changes without you having the click anything.
• Add search engines to browser search box (all but Safari).
• Create search box for specific sites (MSIE, Opera).
• Speed Dial (Opera)
• Mouseover thumbnails on tabs (Opera)
• Rewind/Fast Forward buttons (Opera). "Rewind" goes back to the first page of a site with a click; "Fast Forward" is useful for bulletin boards and moves you from page 1 to page 2, etc.
• Fit to window (Opera) (Fits wide pages to the size of your browswer window).
• Add-ins (Firefox, MSIE). Opera has widgets, which are programs that run in conjunction with it, but they have a different function altogether.

Browser Wars: Episode VI -- Return of the Apple

Finally we get to Safari, Apple's web browser ported over to Windows, and I must say I am very unimpressed. I realize this is still in beta, but, as a browser, it's sadly behind all the rest.

The first problem is that Safari just doesn't get tabbed browsing. The default is to always open a new window for any links that require one; in order to use a tab, you have to hold down CTRL while clicking. Compare that to Opera, which opens new links in a tab, or MSIE and Firefox, which tries to figure out which is the best option (and do it fairly well). This seems like a very grudging acknowledgement that, "Yeah, Marketing says we need to have tabbed browsing." Even worse, there is no button to create a new tab. (There is a button to report bugs; hopefully, once the beta version is complete, this will be replaced; otherwise the idea that it's more important to easily report bugs than to open a tab seems to say, "we expect there to be problems.")

There's also the built-in search. Where other browsers give you many choices of search engines for the bar (and MSIE and Opera allow you to add any site's search engine to the search), Safari gives you two: Google and Yahoo.

The way Safari handles bookmarks is different without being better. Other browsers have a dropdown list of bookmarks, along with a way of creating a toolbar of your favorites. Safari has no dropdown list, just the toolbar. The problem with a horizontal toolbar vs. a vertical dropdown list is that it holds fewer items. Safari figures you can create folders; if you click on these, it will give you a dropdown list; each list works like a the usual "Bookmark" menu item. You can make these work, but it requires added management of bookmarks. If you do want to do things this way, though, both MSIE and Opera are capable of it.

The handling of RSS feeds is crude to say the least. Again, Opera leads by notifying you on startup if any of your RSS feeds have new items. MSIE and Firefox will show you the new items within the browser without having to go to the page. But Safari only gives you a link to the RSS feed page; you have to go to the page the check for updates.

In addition, there are no add-ins available, so what you get is what you get.

I really hope that this Beta is still being worked on, because right now, Safari is far less useful than any other browser.

Browser Wars: Episode V -- Attack of the Clones

Yes, I know about the title. That's deliberate.

We come now to Netscape. It was, of course, the original web browser, but was thrown for a loop when Microsoft started giving away Internet Explorer. Netscape didn't make Opera's mistake of continuing to charge, and managed to hold on to its share until overwhelmed.

If I was giving an award for most improved browser, Netscape would be the winner. They eliminated their nasty habit of requiring you to login to their website in order to run the software and made the decision to go open source, which gives them access to Firefox extensions.

Which is ultimately the problem with Netscape. They now appear to be a Firefox clone. So why use Netscape when you can use the original?

Browser Wars: Episode IV -- MS's New Hope

It seems fitting that Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) comes in the middle of the pack of browsers: that's where MS likes its software to be. Not quite cutting edge, but filled with features for the majority of users (especially users who aren't tech-savvy).

The big advantage of MSIE is simple: it works with all web pages. Because it's been the de facto standard browser for so long, web pages are designed with it in mind. Some services (especially those designed by Microsoft) only run correctly on MSIE (take a look at Siena's Outlook Web Access on MSIE vs. other browsers). It also does the best job of rendering pages; no oddball shaped boxes as the pages are downloading.

The disadvantage of MSIE is just as simple: security. Internet Explorer has had security problems in the past (as have all other browsers), and the design of Active-X made spyware possible. But the dangers of this have been overstated. Many of the security holes were purely theoretical (you often saw the phase, "Websites can craft a code that") and were unlikely to be a problem if you stuck with legitimate websites. As for the spyware, the security enhancements in Service Pack 2 (back for IE6), helped cut that off.

Still IE7 is a slight disappointment. I expected better: Microsoft made its reputation by not just stealing elements from other programs, but by always improving on them. Yet Microsoft's implementation of tabbed browsing is inferior to Firefox. The blank tab button is a good idea, but it takes too long to display. Lots of times I will click on the tab button enter a web address, and get to the new site on the original tab before the new tab is ready (I've turned off a default page for the new tabs; I use a blank page, and that's still slow).

I also don't like what happens when you have multiple tabs and you click on a link. It opens the link in a new tab to the right. That's standard, but when you close the tab, MSIE goes to the tab immediately to the left of the closed tab, not the originating tab (as Firefox and Opera do).

I also don't like the location of the home, and print buttons in IE7. Microsoft always pushed for standardization, and having them on the tab bar goes against this.

Overall, however, the ability to render web pages correctly overrules the minor issues with tabs. IE7 is a good, solid browser, and, for anyone running Windows, an essential element, as backup to your primary web browser, at least.

Browser Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Open Source

Back when I was addicted to downloading, I learned one thing: open source software was crappy software. It was buggy, didn't perform as advertised, and often didn't run at all. So I developed a dislike for anything with that label. While the theory behind open source is nice, it's kind of like the theory behind communism: it's better in theory than in real life.

But Firefox, at least, shows that open source can occasionally work.

Firefox's big feature is the useful but overhyped tabbed browsing. The difference between tabbed browsing and having multiple instances of one browser on the taskbar has yet to be explained to me -- about the only real advantage I've found is that it's easier to close a tab. Otherwise, you're just clicking on a different place on the screen.

Still, it is useful, and Firefox's main advantage over Internet Explorer is that their version of tabbed browsing is slightly better than Microsoft's. I like the fact that if you click on a link, and then close the tab for the new page, you automatically go back to the originating page.

The other big advantage is in the add-ins. There are some very good customizations available, including security software and even IE Tab, which lets you render the page in Internet Explorer within Firefox.

And the major advantage of Firefox is one particular add-in: the Google Toolbar. Nowadays, all web browsers have a search bar, and Google is always one of the choices. But the Google Toolbar for Firefox does something no other search does (not even Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer): It opens the search in a new tab. This is such a logical convenience (you don't have to open a new tab in order to search for something) that I have no idea why it's only available on Firefox, but, for me, it gives Firefox a solid edge over everything but Opera (which doesn't have this, either, but which beats out Firefox on other features).

The big disadvantage is that it's not Internet Explorer. Many may like that, but too many web pages are designed for MSIE and won't display properly in Firefox.

Ultimately, at this point, Firefox can't fully replace MSIE. However, when choosing a browser for most of your web surfing, it's a pretty good option.

Browser Wars: Episode II -- The Fat Lady Sings

I had the series planned out neatly, so the title matched the "Star Wars" theme. Then I did one last bit of testing the browser and realized I had to change the order. It became quite clear to me that the best of the web browsers was Opera.

You're probably asking "What's Opera, Doc?" Opera isn't new: it's been around since at least 1997. Even then, it was considered a top-notch web browser. But Opera figured they needed to charge for its browser. It probably worked for them (they're still in business, after all), but they gave up a chance to be a market leader. They introduced an ad-based version at one point, but now offer the program for free at http://www.opera.com/.

I'm very impressed with it. It has all the features of a current web browser (tabbed browsing, search box, RSS feed reader, automatic entering of passwords, pop-up blocking), but always implements them in innovative ways. For instance, holding your mouse over a tab will display a thumbnail of the page, making it easier to keep track of what you have open. It also seems to have all the good features of Firefox (e.g., when you search, it goes automatically to the word without hitting "Enter") along with those features of MSIE that I wish Firefox had (e.g., saving a page as a web archive).

There are also some nice innovations:

Speed Dial. This lets you specify up to nine web pages. Thumbnails of the pages are shown, so changes can be seen. When you create a new tab, the pages are displayed, ready for you to click on.

• Mouseover tab. Putting your mouse over a tab shows a thumbnail of the page.


• Fraud Protection. Similar to McAfee Site Advisor, this warns you of fraudulent web pages (though McAfee is more thorough).


• Remembers. When you open it, it brings up the pages you were viewing when you closed it.

It's also by far the quickest browser to start up when you click it.

Of course, no web browser is perfect. Like any non-MSIE browser, it sometimes has problems with Active-X content. I had trouble displaying videos from MLB.com, for instance (they are notorious for having problems, though).

It also does not have the number of add-ins that Firefox has. Opera runs widgets -- small programs on your computer -- and has over 1200 of them. But it doesn't have add-ins -- I would love to have something like Firefox's IE Tabs, which allow you to run Internet Explorer within Firefox. And there is little software to be added on: things like McAfee SiteAdvisor or the Google Toolbar are not developed for Opera.

Opera also makes a browser for Windows Mobile devices. I don't think it's as good overall as MSIE Mobile, but it does have one major feature that makes it worth considering: tabbed browsing. Since MSIE Mobile only lets you see one page at a time, this is a major convenience when you want to compare sites.

Opera is definitely worth a look if you want a better web browser.

Browser Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace

This will be the first in a six-part series discussing web browsers.

At the moment, there are probably more web browsers available than at any other time. And you can get into some serious arguments discussing which is better.

But that's just arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin (842, of course). All the web browsers available do a fine job of surfing the web. I've yet to see anything on a technical level that makes any one stand out. It all boils down to features, and which features are important to you.

Most people will stick with the defaults (Internet Explorer 7 for XP/Vista and Safari for the Mac). That is usually fine. But there are three other possibilities (three? read on) that you may find fit your needs and web browsing habits more closely. I'll try to go over the main advantages and disadvantages of each, going over the browsers roughly in my own personal order of preference.