Floris
19th August 2004, 03:12 PM
Are you not happy with Internet Explorer? Alternatives reviewed!
Internet Explorer has been the top browser for years. It has always been bundled with Windows since it was first created. I’m sure most of us have started out using Internet Explorer, at least those of us who have used AOL or Windows. In the past, like Windows, IE has had a lot of security holes. These could potentially steal information you are transmitting through the Internet, like when you use PayPal, and can lead to a huge problem. Many of us have already switched to something else. If you haven’t, this article will help you to choose which browser to choose in alternative to IE, and how it acts with vBulletin.
Personally, I exclusively use Mozilla Firefox. I’m going to review that in this article. Several other popular browsers will also be reviewed.
Author: Richard Marx (Admiral Spock)
Web site: http://www.exploretristate.com/ (http://www.exploretristate.com/)
Mozilla Firefox
Name: Mozilla Firefox
Cost: Free
Download: http://mozilla.org/firefox/ (http://mozilla.org/firefox/)
Version reviewed: 0.9.2 (Latest version at the time of this writing)
From the developers of Mozilla, comes Mozilla Firefox. Firefox is a most superior browser, compared to IE. With tabbed browsing, many extensions that extend the functionality of Firefox, and so much more, I would recommend this browser to anyone. With a simple, easy to use interface, Firefox is an excellent solution to anyone who needs to switch from IE, especially if they are not the “sharpest tool in the shed” in regards to computer usage.
Converting your cookies, settings, bookmarks, etc, from IE is simple. When you first install, you will see an option to convert settings from IE, and that only takes a few seconds to do. My only problem with this is, is that you cannot export your bookmarks, as far as I know.
Using it with vBulletin is really, bittersweet. The frontend works great, however, in the Admin Control Panel, especially in the Styles and Templates section, it has its limitations. Some visual hacks for vB3 and vB2 such as glowing usernames will not work with Firefox, as far as I have heard.
Overall, I give this browser a rating of 9.5 out of 10. You can download Firefox at http://mozilla.org/firefox.
Ease of Use: 10/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Mozilla
Name: Mozilla
Cost: Free
Download: http://mozilla.org (http://mozilla.org/)
Version Reviewed: 1.7 (latest version at the time of this writing)
When I first opened Mozilla 1.7, It looked and felt just like Netscape. Having used Netscape alongside IE for years, that was great. However, Netscape is just Mozilla. So if you are using Netscape 7.1, this review also goes for Netscape 7.1.
I immediately switched to the “Modern” style. It looks so cool! Unlike on Firefox and Opera, I like the Modern style over the classic style - Windows color style. Anyway, the different features of Mozilla such as more tabbed browsing functions, like you can bookmark all your open tabs, click a button to open a new tab (on the tab bar), and such. All those require extensions on Firefox.
The included IRC chat client is ChatZilla, which is also available as an extension for Firefox. ChatZilla is an easy to use IRC client that uses tabs to navigate your open channels/networks.
The mail client is the same as that of Netscape, and was extremely simple to set up a POP account and download messages, and is much like Mozilla’s Thunderbird mail client.
Using Mozilla on the User end of vBulletin, worked well, the same as it does on Firefox. Also, using the Admin Control Panel acted the same as it did on Firefox. I have to say, like Firefox, Mozilla is EXTREMELY fast.
I would recommend this browser to ANYONE who wants an all in one solution for web browsing, email, IRC chat, and a WYSIWYG editor, all built in. Overall, I give this a
Ease of Use: 10/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Opera
Name: Opera
Cost: Free (with Google ad at top) or $39
Download: http://opera.com (http://opera.com/)
Version Reviewed: 7.2
Since I opened up Opera for the first time, I was amazed. It has so many features! Chat, Mail, and a lot of other good features. It’s free, the catch being that there is a Google text ad at the top: you choose what you want to see: a relevant google ad to the page you are viewing or a graphical ad. I chose a Google ad. However, if you want to buy the full version for $39, that is also an option.
I immediately started to surf the web, and it works just like IE or any other browser does, which is excellent. Then I decided to look at the Chat feature, and connect to IRC. It was kind of confusing at first, but I got the hang of it, and logged in to the channel with ease. Then I tried the eMail function, and I set up a POP mail account, then connected to my server. It was simple, and took about 5 seconds to set up. It worked like a charm.
With vBulletin, on the User end, Opera works the same as Firefox or Mozilla. On the Administrator End, also, works just as it would on Mozilla.
All in all, Opera is a nice browser. However, if you use it, it will take a little getting used to with all the different features and many features. I would say that you should at least be an intermediate computer user to be comfortable with Opera. I give this browser an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Ease of use: 8/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Conclusion
In my studies of these three browsers, I came out with two browsers at a tie. Mozilla and Firefox. Of course, as they are from the same developer, they are both great. If you want extra tabbed browsing features and an all in one browser, select Mozilla 1.7. If you want a technology preview that is extremely fast and many, many people are switching to, select Firefox 0.9.2.
Please, however, select a browser based on your own personal needs. Everyone is different, and someone may want something in one browser that the others do not have.
With vBulletin, in the Admin CP, especially in the Styles and Templates section, these three browsers are not compatible with the new template or CSS editors, and you get a standard editor that does not have any frills, which is fine, if you just want to get something done quickly and securely.
I also recommend that you continue to keep Internet Explorer updated even though you may not use it. Bear in mind that Windows 98 Operating Systems and newer use IE as its file browsing system (why would anyone be using anything older anyway for Internet!), so it is important to keep Windows and IE updated.
I wish you good luck on choosing a browser, and I do hope that this article has helped you to choose a great browser in alternative to Internet Explorer.
© Copyright 2004 - Richard Marx & http://www.vBulletin.nl/ (http://www.vbulletin.nl/)
You can discuss this article here (http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/showthread.php?t=6167).
Floris & Staff
Internet Explorer has been the top browser for years. It has always been bundled with Windows since it was first created. I’m sure most of us have started out using Internet Explorer, at least those of us who have used AOL or Windows. In the past, like Windows, IE has had a lot of security holes. These could potentially steal information you are transmitting through the Internet, like when you use PayPal, and can lead to a huge problem. Many of us have already switched to something else. If you haven’t, this article will help you to choose which browser to choose in alternative to IE, and how it acts with vBulletin.
Personally, I exclusively use Mozilla Firefox. I’m going to review that in this article. Several other popular browsers will also be reviewed.
Author: Richard Marx (Admiral Spock)
Web site: http://www.exploretristate.com/ (http://www.exploretristate.com/)
Mozilla Firefox
Name: Mozilla Firefox
Cost: Free
Download: http://mozilla.org/firefox/ (http://mozilla.org/firefox/)
Version reviewed: 0.9.2 (Latest version at the time of this writing)
From the developers of Mozilla, comes Mozilla Firefox. Firefox is a most superior browser, compared to IE. With tabbed browsing, many extensions that extend the functionality of Firefox, and so much more, I would recommend this browser to anyone. With a simple, easy to use interface, Firefox is an excellent solution to anyone who needs to switch from IE, especially if they are not the “sharpest tool in the shed” in regards to computer usage.
Converting your cookies, settings, bookmarks, etc, from IE is simple. When you first install, you will see an option to convert settings from IE, and that only takes a few seconds to do. My only problem with this is, is that you cannot export your bookmarks, as far as I know.
Using it with vBulletin is really, bittersweet. The frontend works great, however, in the Admin Control Panel, especially in the Styles and Templates section, it has its limitations. Some visual hacks for vB3 and vB2 such as glowing usernames will not work with Firefox, as far as I have heard.
Overall, I give this browser a rating of 9.5 out of 10. You can download Firefox at http://mozilla.org/firefox.
Ease of Use: 10/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Mozilla
Name: Mozilla
Cost: Free
Download: http://mozilla.org (http://mozilla.org/)
Version Reviewed: 1.7 (latest version at the time of this writing)
When I first opened Mozilla 1.7, It looked and felt just like Netscape. Having used Netscape alongside IE for years, that was great. However, Netscape is just Mozilla. So if you are using Netscape 7.1, this review also goes for Netscape 7.1.
I immediately switched to the “Modern” style. It looks so cool! Unlike on Firefox and Opera, I like the Modern style over the classic style - Windows color style. Anyway, the different features of Mozilla such as more tabbed browsing functions, like you can bookmark all your open tabs, click a button to open a new tab (on the tab bar), and such. All those require extensions on Firefox.
The included IRC chat client is ChatZilla, which is also available as an extension for Firefox. ChatZilla is an easy to use IRC client that uses tabs to navigate your open channels/networks.
The mail client is the same as that of Netscape, and was extremely simple to set up a POP account and download messages, and is much like Mozilla’s Thunderbird mail client.
Using Mozilla on the User end of vBulletin, worked well, the same as it does on Firefox. Also, using the Admin Control Panel acted the same as it did on Firefox. I have to say, like Firefox, Mozilla is EXTREMELY fast.
I would recommend this browser to ANYONE who wants an all in one solution for web browsing, email, IRC chat, and a WYSIWYG editor, all built in. Overall, I give this a
Ease of Use: 10/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 9/10
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Opera
Name: Opera
Cost: Free (with Google ad at top) or $39
Download: http://opera.com (http://opera.com/)
Version Reviewed: 7.2
Since I opened up Opera for the first time, I was amazed. It has so many features! Chat, Mail, and a lot of other good features. It’s free, the catch being that there is a Google text ad at the top: you choose what you want to see: a relevant google ad to the page you are viewing or a graphical ad. I chose a Google ad. However, if you want to buy the full version for $39, that is also an option.
I immediately started to surf the web, and it works just like IE or any other browser does, which is excellent. Then I decided to look at the Chat feature, and connect to IRC. It was kind of confusing at first, but I got the hang of it, and logged in to the channel with ease. Then I tried the eMail function, and I set up a POP mail account, then connected to my server. It was simple, and took about 5 seconds to set up. It worked like a charm.
With vBulletin, on the User end, Opera works the same as Firefox or Mozilla. On the Administrator End, also, works just as it would on Mozilla.
All in all, Opera is a nice browser. However, if you use it, it will take a little getting used to with all the different features and many features. I would say that you should at least be an intermediate computer user to be comfortable with Opera. I give this browser an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Ease of use: 8/10
vBulletin Compatibility: 8/10
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Conclusion
In my studies of these three browsers, I came out with two browsers at a tie. Mozilla and Firefox. Of course, as they are from the same developer, they are both great. If you want extra tabbed browsing features and an all in one browser, select Mozilla 1.7. If you want a technology preview that is extremely fast and many, many people are switching to, select Firefox 0.9.2.
Please, however, select a browser based on your own personal needs. Everyone is different, and someone may want something in one browser that the others do not have.
With vBulletin, in the Admin CP, especially in the Styles and Templates section, these three browsers are not compatible with the new template or CSS editors, and you get a standard editor that does not have any frills, which is fine, if you just want to get something done quickly and securely.
I also recommend that you continue to keep Internet Explorer updated even though you may not use it. Bear in mind that Windows 98 Operating Systems and newer use IE as its file browsing system (why would anyone be using anything older anyway for Internet!), so it is important to keep Windows and IE updated.
I wish you good luck on choosing a browser, and I do hope that this article has helped you to choose a great browser in alternative to Internet Explorer.
© Copyright 2004 - Richard Marx & http://www.vBulletin.nl/ (http://www.vbulletin.nl/)
You can discuss this article here (http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/showthread.php?t=6167).
Floris & Staff