Performance of browsers: A short Study
Firefox 3.5: The most unique feature of Firefox is its simplicity.
Users will be excited with so many features like, customized tools and features, all types of add-ons, Smart Location Bar, an Instant Web Site ID, Improved Tabbed Browsing, an integrated search engine, Location-Awareness feature, Spell Checking options, Web Feeds (RSS) and Pop–up Blocker while browsing with Firefox.
A user can customize his/her own style of the browser by changing themes, colors and skins as well as add words to dictionary for spell checking or finding word meaning.
Entertainment options such as games, audio or video tools can be added through the browser bar. Users with Firefox 3.5 and HTML 5 will simply love the audio/video format with Firefox. With the same browser window, users can jump quickly from one site to another by using tabbed browsing. Firefox offers various tab-related features like, changing the order of tabs, pulling off a tab to create new window, a single click option to open a new tab etc. It can retrieve tabs that are deleted accidentally. Firefox also has an automatic session restore feature that reopens a session if closed down accidentally.
Firefox has a fully integrated spell checker and an innovative smart location bar. The location bar locates sites based on their titles and content if users fail to remember the specific URL address. Spell checkers work directly on the web.
In terms of security features, Firefox is the best among all browsers. It operates smoothly in private mode, without any noticeable change in its icon, interface or speed. It can also block viruses, pop-ups, spyware, malware and phishing very effectively. It offers parental control for users, integrated password managers and automated updates to help in locating and fixing security problems. Firefox is faster and occupies less memory space without interrupting smooth operation. Users can get help through online documentation, FAQs, or email support for any difficulties. The Firefox community or the users' online forum is always ready to provide a solution to any type of personalized problems. This is an open source project and thousands of independent programmers are working together towards finding and fixing any bugs before they are exploited. The entire project is totally free.
The main issue with Firefox is its Compatibility. Users may experience problems while visiting some websites that includes ActiveX and VBScript as both of them is not supported by Firefox. Besides, there are some webs that are not compatible with Firefox though for fixing such issues, Firefox has a built in “IE engine”. Clicking IE engine will re-open the web under IE but in Firefox. But some users may not like it. Firefox is updated constantly to fix problems or bugs that might cause freezing on certain boxes. Older versions of Firefox (Older then Firefox 3.0) experienced interrupted service while downloading. That was a huge problem especially for dial-up users. Another big disadvantage is its initial loading time that is slower than that of Internet Explorer and Chrome.
Firefox is the best browser in our rating. It is simple but very much user-friendly. The execution of Firefox is outstanding. Users, who want to play with their browser, love to customize its features, or want to construct something new for their own needs, they will be delighted with Firefox.
Position according to our Rating Scale: 1st
Internet Explorer 8: Internet Explorer 8 is a modern browser developed to enhance its performance based on 5 S’s that are: speed, stability, security, standards and search. The web application of IE 8 is excellent, besides its tighter security, private mode option and a clean look. Microsoft tried to overcome the difficulties in older versions of IE, and has done a good job with IE 8.
IE 8 offers four types of add-ons that are: entertainment security, browser and time savers, tabbed browsing, integrated search engine, smart toolbar, RSS feeds and password manager. Accelerators help users to complete very commonly-used tasks using activities such as translating words, mapping information, emailing, and many more by just using the mouse. Highlighting some text and right-click will give options like “Search with Google” Search with Yahoo” “Blog”, “Translate”, etc. It has improved security features that work more effectively against pop-ups and phishing schemes and protects against viruses and spyware. It has a smart address bar that suggests destinations from users' recent history while typing a URL. Additional advanced and customized security tools are also available to download from add-ons most of them are free and some mayhave an additional charge. It can also customize in such a way that can provide protection for children from improper content.
IE provides top class online support. FAQs, online databases are also available besides personal assistance over email and phone.
The main disadvantage with IE 8 is that, it sometimes fails to block unwanted ads and pop-ups, which untimely slow down the overall performance. Memory requirement of IE 8 is huge. It recommends 64 MB to 512 MB, but runs better on 2 GB memory: so, costly upgradation might require. Sometimes it experiences compatibility issues with CSS, HTML 4 and XHTML. Users may get bored while upgrading or installing IE 8 on Windows XP. It contains installation of updates, verification of “Windows Genuine Test” and reboot. The whole process can take nearly 30 minutes.
The speed of IE 8 is pretty quick in comparison to IE 7. Internet Explorer is a more widely used browser than any other and somewhere between 60 to 65 percent webs are using IE. IE 8 is a great browser for them. It is very user-friendly with extensive parental controls features that can be customized to fit each individual in a family. This is the browser for a home computer.
Position according to our Rating Scale: 2nd
Chrome: Google Chrome is the youngest among all browsers. Though it is the youngest, it takes a unique approach to browsing the web, combining top-notch features with speed, compatibility and simplicity. It makes the use of complex features in a very simple way. It has flexible tabs, private browsing options, integrated download manager as well as an online task manager. Chrome has developed several tab features that are very unique. Chrome has an incognito mode option that deletes cookies and passwords whenever users under this mode close the window. The search feature is excellent. Text and link from anywhere can be put directly into the search bar and work. The smart toolbar provides helpful typing suggestions. Chrome has made the web application very simple where users can reveal desired webs without the use of an address bar, tabs or even buttons.
Chrome has excellent security features. It offers protection against virus, spyware and malware, blocks pop-ups, phishing schemes, etc. It always seeks the user’s approval for pop ups and prompts the user through a warning screen to keep away from unauthorized sites. Chrome secures its hard drive by using a dedicated sandbox that has no access to hard drive. All tabs and windows are running under the sandbox, which keeps the browser separated from other areas of the system. Chrome has developed a unique v8 JavaScript to enhance multi tab multiprocessing task faster and safer.
Google Chrome has a very innovative task manager. By opening online task manager, which websites or application are running and how much memories are consuming by each websites or applications. Users can dictate unwanted overwhelmed applications and by closing them, can enhance the performance.
