Browsers, Etc
Browsers, Search
Engines and Start Portals
A web browser collects, arranges and displays the
pages you view on the internet. While Netscape and Internet Explorer
are the most popular, there are others to choose from. You can
also customize your browser with "skins" that add design and features.
Since you can set your browser to choose any page for your homepage,
several of the search engines have remade themselves into personalized
homepages or "portals" from which you start your internet access. Most
offer content organization, current news,
e-mail and shopping.
- Arachne - this amazing
graphical browser works with
DOS & Linux. I connected to the internet with a 386 with as little as 4 mb RAM with Arachne.
It includes an e-mail client and an IRC chat plug in - all from DOS.
- Firefox - is a free
open source browser project from Mozilla that is continually updated. Includes a
built-in pop-up stopper, tabbed browsing. I use Firefox as much or more
than IE. For Windows, Linux & Mac
- Microsoft
Internet Explorer - I currently have IE7which has tabbed browing and
pop-up blocker. I like the way it is integrated with the Windows OS, and I
like Outlook Express Mail and News.
- Netscape
- AOL bought Netscape in 1999, but has since discontinued support.
Netscape 6 and above are built on the Mozilla engine. Archived versions
for Windows, Linux & Mac are available for FREE.
- Opera - I only tried the 16 bit
version, trying to connect a 386 with Win 3.1. Opera 9.5 is the current
version. For
Windows, Linux & Mac.
Toolbars, Cursors, and Skins - while these are cool,
and can be useful, some of them have spyware programs that track your
surfing habits and send the information to 3rd parties. Read the
agreement carefully before you install.
- Google Toolbar
- adds search, pop-up stopper and auto-fill tool to your browser.
- Yahoo Toolbar
- The Yahoo toolbar worked well with my Yahoo start page.
- About.com - used to be
called The Mining Co. and has "guides" which are persons assigned to
topics and interest areas. About has a huge repository of content,
message boards & chat.
- Alta Vista - the Overture
search engine - plain & simple, with the Babelfish translator.
- Excite
- offers search, content, personalization, and the best TV grid.
- Google
- the #1 search engine, lots of new features & tools.
- Lycos
- search, content and personalization - similar to Excite.
- MSN
is Microsoft's portal page. Has it's own search, lots of content, some
personalization options and a sign in security feature called Microsoft
Passport, MSN Groups and MSN Money. The early version of MSN
communities used IRC Chat and newsgroups for message boards. MSN
content is huge - and excellent.
- Yahoo - search engine,
content provider & personalization - including Yahoo Auctions, Hot
Jobs, Photo Storage, Games & Yahoo Groups.
Kid's Pages - If your kids are online, you'll want to
use every available tool to keep them safe. Your ISP probably
offers some type of parental controls, but nothing takes the place of
parental supervision. There is a lot of good stuff on the net for kids
& teens.