Further to our post on why Internet Explorer is a poor browser , we decided to give a list of other browsers available for FREE, that quite simply do what Internet Explorer should have always done - be a secure, standards-compliant and easy-to-use internet browser!
We understand at PsyWeb that some people don't always have choice about the browser they use. Perhaps you work in an office that doesn't allow downloads for security reasons or you run an older version of Windows.
In this case, the newest and first real attempt at a modern browser by Microsoft, Internet Explorer 8, is not even available to you.
We are also aware that many people the world over still use Internet Explorer as their main browser, purely out of convenience.
This is why we always build websites using our Online Business Console to be fully operational on Internet Explorer browsers back to IE7 and in some cases back to IE6.
However, we also encourage our customers to use a better browser if they can, and so far, the feedback we receive is almost always a big "Thanks".
So, what other options are there?
Although there is by no means a perfect browser, there are still many others available for FREE that, unlike Internet Explorer, are for the most part secure and standards compliant. Here is our views on the best of the other options:
Firefox - by Mozilla
Probably the nearest contender to take over the mantle of "World's Most-Used Browser" from IE, Mozilla Firefox is often the browser of choice for people who use the web regularly - like ourselves!
It doesn't take long when first using Firefox to realise exactly what you've been missing when it comes to surfing the internet. The clever tools it uses gives the user an almost intuative way of browsing from the very first time you use it. Everything you need is somehow just where you expect it to be!
Although not the fastest browser available, it still renders websites pretty quick compared to the Internet Explorers of old, and those using it for the first time after swapping from Internet Explorer will instantly realise just how fast the world wide web can be if done right.
Couple that with enhanced security features and an almost unlimited number of add-ons available to automate and organise your online life, Mozilla Firefox is, for us at least, the best alternative to IE.
Download Firefox from getfirefox.com
And don't forget to check out the add-ons available after at https://addons.mozilla.org
Google Chrome - by Google
The newest browser to hit the internet is a somewhat overdue, yet impressive effort from Google. Chrome takes a slightly different approach to browsing than Firefox, making the same complex features available with a lot less of the fuss.
Google Chrome seems to put most of the effort into displaying websites as quickly as possible, which is what makes it by our reckoning the fastest browser available. It is also incredibly easy to use and has the same intuative and user-friendly nature as Firefox - only without the whistles and bells.
Although a bit too simple for us, anyone not worried about extending their surfing experience with add-ons or extras could do a lot worse than using Google Chrome.
It is also totally integrated with most of Google's other products such as Google Bookmarks, Google Reader and of course, the Google Search Engine.
Download Google Chrome from http://www.google.com/chrome
Opera - by Opera Software
The people at Opera seem to have re-thought the way we use the internet and has produced a different, yet fully decent browser in accordance with their new ideas. In fact, many of the features that we take for granted on browsers today usually started out life as a feature on an Opera browser first.
Opera have obviously concentrated on making the internet fast and accessible, while also trying to keep it fun.
You can customise Opera so that it's almost unrecognisable, with all the addons and features you'd expect from a modern browser - especially when it comes to social addons.
With new features such as Thumbnail previews of websites, mouse gestures and even voice recognition, it is certainly the choice for those who want their browser to be as technologically up-to-date as possible.
The downside of this cutting edge technology is that ther is sometimes compatibilty issues with some sites on the web - specially those are using the older technologies themselves.
Download Opera from http://www.opera.com/ to see for yourself!
Safari - by Apple
The browser of choice for Mac users for some time now, Apple's Safari has recently been made available for use on the Windows platform. Using the same browser 'engine' as Opera and Google Chrome to show web pages, the functionality of Safari is much the same.
However, it does seem to sacrifice the customisation options available in other modern browsers in favour of being (extremely) fast and user-friendly.
It doesn't really do as much as we'd like it to here, and the new Windows version of Safari certainly still has some problems yet to be ironed out, but if you like the trademark 'Apple Experience' given by Macs, iPods and iTunes, and also want some no-frills surfing , Safari is still a viable option.
Download the Safari browser at http://www.apple.com/safari/
Garnering awareness and acquiring customers is one of the great challenges of building a business. It is so important that there is an entire business discipline dedicated to this - known as marketing! 
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