Battle of the Browsers - IE vs Firefox vs Safari vs Chrome

Providing the vehicle to navigate the web, web browsers are indispensable to our internet experience. With the decline of Netscape, one would not be blamed for thinking that it was the end of the browser wars, and it didn't in fact. With internet browsers being the most important piece of computer software used on daily basis, it didn't take long for new browsers to stake their claim on the market. As the battle heats up, traditional leader microsoft's IE looked to be the biggest loser, but it could get worse if not for the fact that many netizens already had a web browser installed and couldn't care to change it. For those who're keen to see what the various browsers have to offer, let's take a quick look at some of the big players.

Internet Explorer 8

Having triumphed in its mighty battle against Netscape, IE has maintained a commanding market share over the years, but it's all about to change with plenty of new players entering the market. Features include: "favourites" bar for one-click access, "accelerators" to facilitate quick search and being available in 25(!) languages.

Pros -> compatibility view helps see older websites easier, handy time-saving tools

Cons -> security loopholes, being the market leader made it more susceptible to attacks, faster than previous editions of IE BUT still agonizingly slow compared to other browsers

Mozilla Firefox 3.5

A serious challenger to IE, Mozilla's Firefox has consistently emerged as runner-up in the web browser wars. Fast gaining in popularity, it offers new features like "tear off tabs" to drag/drop tabs into separate browser windows, private browsing option and the cool "location-aware browsing" to serve you better.

Pros -> roughly 3x faster than its predecessor, passionate development community

Cons -> patching required for some bugs and security issues, crash potential

Apple Safari 4

The browser of choice for Apple computer users, the elegant looking Safari has won over many Windows users too. A speedy web browser with smooth and reliable performance, its attractive "cover-flow"-like horizontal image gliding has resemblance to iTunes feature and make website browsing a pleasing visual experience.

Pros -> quick & reliable with minimal fuss

Cons -> not all plug-ins supported, limited functionality of the mouse

Google Chrome

The newest player in the competitive browser market offered by internet giant Google, Chrome packs plenty of speed backed by the world's biggest search engine to make your web surfing experience a lasting (positively) one. Offering "stealth" privacy options for anonymous browsing, its one-click bookmark has proven to be a hit among fans as well.

Pros -> load/surf fast with simple & clean web designs, available in 50(!!!) languages

Cons -> lack of add-ons, limited customization options

Verdict: While Firefox remains the best browser on the whole with its impressive array of features & add-ons, Google's focus on Chrome will take away some of its previous focus on Firefox, thus how long a key player Firefox will stay in the browser wars remain to be seen. Early indications also reflected that Chrome's taking away more of Firefox's userbase than IE's. Despite being the new kid on the block, Chrome has proven its credentials to be the one to look out for in the coming months. With IE holding onto 3/4 of the browsing market due to its default status in Windows machines, it still remains the one to be beaten although it's been under plenty of critics recently, prompting them to get their act together. Primarily geared for Apple computer users, Safari is gathering pace for its assault on the web browser market, but requiring some time to get use to makes it an underdog in the Windows world at the moment.