Best Web Browsers

Internet Explorer 7.0 (free, http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie)

Most stable and developer-supported browser. Reviewers agree that this newest overhaul of Internet Explorer is fast, slick, and vastly more secure than IE Version 6. Borrowing from its competitors Firefox and Opera, IE7 introduces Explorer users to tabbed browsing, enhanced security management (including ActiveX opt-out), RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, integrated search capabilities, a one click Favorites button, and web pages that can be automatically re-sized for printing. IE7 can remember open tabs for your next session. Although it lacks the customizable interface available in Firefox and Opera, IE7 more than makes up for this with near-universal compatibility and enormous development base. Internet Explorer 7 is still technically in Beta testing, but anyone can download it (Windows XP only).


Firefox 2.0 (free, http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/)

Best alternative web browser. Reviews say the Firefox web browser is a viable alternative to Internet Explorer 7, praising its usability, lean size, lack of ActiveX security holes, and convenient features, including tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, an RSS reader, a download manager, a password manager, automatic updates, customized searching and a tweakable interface (themes). A vast number of extensions -- which add functionalities like better eBay searches and form filling -- are also available. Firefox runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. A few web pages still don't display properly in Firefox, so experts say you'll still have to occasionally revert to Internet Explorer. Firefox 2.0 is currently in Beta testing, but you can still download it, or version 1.5, which is not substantially different.


Opera 9 (free, http://www.opera.com/)

Best cross-platform browser. Opera 9 can run on Windows, Linux, Solaris, BSD and Mac OS X, and its security features do not depend on Windows XP SP2. In fact, Opera runs on more operating systems than any other browser. A mobile version even runs on many cell phones and some PDAs. Despite its small following, Opera 9 has most of the features of Firefox, plus a few more. It has fewer problems displaying web pages than either IE7 or Firefox. The latest version (released in June 2006) includes widgets, or small web applications that sit on users' desktops, and support for BitTorrent, a popular file distribution technology. Former versions of Opera cost $39, but the latest ad-free Opera 9 is entirely free.


Safari RSS (free, http://www.apple.com/safari)

Best web browser for Mac OS X. Apple, which ships and seamlessly integrates its Safari browser into Mac OS X, takes the best features from other browsers, including tabbed browsing, live bookmarks, RSS feeds (with added clipping service), pop-up blocking, and a built-in integrated search, combining them in an intuitive desktop interface. Reviews say Safari has a simple browsing interface that offers more security, via the Mac operating system, than its competitors. Although Mac users can choose FireFox or Opera as well, critics say the Safari browser is excellent in its own right.