How much time do you spend on the Internet and how easy is it for you to browse online pages and sites?

If you don’t mind I’ll go into ‘Dummies’ mode for a second. An Internet browser is a program used to view online Web sites. All popular browsers allow multimedia and other programs to be viewed from Web sites as well. There are many different browsers to choose from and the one a person uses is usually based on personal preference.

However most of America uses the browser included on the computer when it is purchased. Seeing that the majority of computers sold have some form of Windows installed, the most common browser used is Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer. That’s the one with the big ‘e’ as its icon.

If you’ve been using the big ‘e’ ever since you’ve known computers can browse the Internet, you may be missing out on easier and safer browsing options. However, no two browsers are built the same. Some may display items differently than others, while a few are safer for a casual Internet surfer. Below I’ve listed some of the most popular browsers used today complete with pros and cons.

Internet Explorer (IE) developed by Microsoft
The big ‘e’ is a staple icon on Windows users’ desktops. It is the most widespread and widely used browser in America. If a site is meant to hit the masses, it must be compatible with IE, which the latest version is IE 7. IE 7 is only available for Window’s systems.

Back in the days of Windows 95, IE used to be the popular choice for web developers and surfers alike. It was faster and more stable than its large competitor at the time, Netscape. Also, Microsoft’s domination of the home PC operating system market ensured that IE would be the mainstream choice, which is still true today.

IE is still one of the most stable browsers available. It also has been recently updated with features its competitor’s have been using for a long while like tabbed browsing and easier search options.

Sadly, IE has never seemed to take Internet security too seriously. Many Windows users find that after some use, malicious software seems to infiltrate their systems. It’s also said by non-IE-enthusiasts that the only time IE should be opened on a Windows PC is to download another browser.

IE also has continued Microsoft’s habit of ignoring Web standards making the task of designing a working Web site across all browsing platforms a needlessly tedious task.

Firefox developed by Mozilla
Firefox is one of the newest competitors in the browser market. With its latest release, Firefox 2, it has become a preferred favorite among many Web enthusiasts who run Linux, Mac OS X, and even Windows.

Being from Mozilla, it is a very open ended program. This means users can write plug-ins and add-ons to better improve the browser. Firefox is very user-friendly and easily expandable with plug-ins from major online names like eBay and Amazon.

Firefox, like all Mozilla browsers before it, stays close to Web standards, making it easier to develop Web sites on. But since most of the Internet is designed to be compatible with IE, Firefox may have problems displaying pages that aren’t Web standard compliant.

Firefox also may not be completely stable on some systems. It will sometimes freeze and become unusable. However, Mozilla releases updates at a steady pace to help ensure Firefox works as it is intended.

Security on Firefox is, in my opinion, its best feature. Since most online malicious software is designed to infiltrate IE, Firefox has little problem blocking programs from installing themselves on your system.

Others: Safari by Apple, Opera by Opera
Designed after the successful Mozilla structure, both Safari and Opera feature many of the same features Firefox has become famous for.

Safari is the default Web browser for all Apple computers with OSX installed, but it does have a public beta available now for Windows too. It is a very fast browser and adheres very, very closely to Web standards, which like Firefox is a blessing and a curse. Safari is also the installed browser used on Apple’s iPhone.

Opera has been around for a long time. Some of today’s most popular browser features originally appeared on this program. Opera’s user base spans across PC, Mac, and Linux desktops as well as many mobile devices and even the Nintendo Wii.

My Opinion: Try them all. See for yourself which browser is easier to control. Also consider which browser is safer for your computer. With all the malicious software plaguing the Internet today, having a secure and stable browser may be the best protection for your expensive computer system.