FireFox and Internet Explorer

Every now and then David really does beat Goliath. For years now Microsoft's Internet Explorer has been the only Web Browser available, basically since they overthrew Netscape about 10 years ago. Everyone uses it because it comes with the Windows operating system. Internet Explorer is dominant just like Word and Excel. That's the way Microsoft wants it.

Against all odds a new browser has appeared on the scene called Firefox (an alternative to Microsoft? that's unthinkable!). Firefox is the work of a young man in his twenties. Just this week they (mozilla.org) released Firefox 2.0 beta. There is a version of Firefox for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can get it here.

Being a Mac aficionado, we've used Firefox for years. We like it. In the Mac world it is much better than the alternatives Safari (Apple's web browser) and Internet Explorer for Macintosh. It's a good browser written by a knowledgeable individual.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer is a great program with the full weight and muscle of Microsoft behind it. It includes every bell and whistle known to man. Unfortunately along with the bells and whistles comes vulnerability. Internet Explorer can be a portal for malicious activity. If you are not careful people can execute Active-X programs on your computer using the browser. Firefox, on the other hand, has virus, spyware, and pop-up protection built in.

I don't use it for safety because I'm on a Mac. I use it because I like it. I tried it once and never went back. Anyway, it's free. If you're looking for an alternative (safer) way to browse the web Firefox is a solid number two choice. Firefox gets it. You may even like it better than Internet Explorer.