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.

That’s why I want your suggestions or questions on all things tech. So leave a comment to this post and we’ll see what the next Curious? might feature.

“I heard it’s possible to download music from the internet for free,” an acquaintance of mine said. I’ll call him Ivan.I glanced up at Ivan with a concerned look. “Yes, it is possible. But it’s not very legal,” I answered.

“Someone at work told me all I had to do was install this [oddly named program], do a search for bands I like, and download them. He said he hasn’t bought a single album in years.”

It’s true. Ivan’s co-worker was right. As long as you have a computer and an internet connection, you can download music files, or MP3s, from virtually any composer, band, or artist just by performing a simple search in one of the many available peer to peer, or P2P, file sharing programs available. You can essentially create that music library you’ve always wanted, but for free. However, as easy as it may be, there are a lot of points you should consider before jumping on the file sharing bandwagon to beef up your MP3 collection.

In 1999, the now infamous Napster was created and released to a salivating public. Napster was then a very popular P2P file sharing program. It allowed users from across the globe to browse, download, and swap computer files from each other’s hard drives. What Napster would inevitably give birth to was an online culture who shared entire music files online. Word spread like a wildfire. Hundreds of thousands of MP3s were being downloaded from one person’s computer straight to hundreds of others. Analysts were saying the music industry would never be the same again. They were right.

Napster hit a speed bump in 2001 when the recording industry took the situation to court. Napster had given people around the world the means to illegally acquire copyrighted material without spending a dime. Shortly afterward, Napster closed its service. The age of free music seemed to be at an end, but the battle between the recording industry and music swappers didn’t end there.

With Napster dead and buried, other P2P programmers began popping up. Allowing the same functionality as Napster, these programs continued to allow users to fight back against copyright laws. Seeing no end to the struggle, the recording industry began to take even more drastic measures; they went after the law breakers themselves. Reports of P2P file sharing individuals being sued and even jailed began pouring into the media. The P2P programs themselves secretly provided logs of download data to the courts, which allowed users to be singled out. People’s lives were destroyed for sharing and downloading copyrighted material. Even today, the recording industry still tries to stay one step ahead of file swappers by appealing to the courts for new laws, while music is still being swapped in amazing quantities.

So to Ivan I stated, “You could get into a lot of trouble if you use a program like that. The program itself is not illegal, but the act of downloading music you would otherwise have to pay for is a crime.”

What are the chances that Ivan or anyone else would be singled out by those trying to protect copyrighted material? If the P2P programs and the actions that the recording industry are taking stay as they are, the answer is Ivan could probably download music for years without fear of legal action. There is, however, still that minuscule chance his name could be pulled from a long list of names and Ivan could become an example for the world to see just how serious the recording industry is.

My Opinion:
Peer to peer file sharing is not illegal. It is a useful way to find user created content or non-copyrighted material that would otherwise be lost. The act of downloading music, movies, or software that should be purchased in a store is illegal. What you should also consider is that the majority of the P2P file sharing programs available today have malicious software bundled inside. This software can turn your computer into a junked up paper weight over a short period of time, making it unusable for anything other than staring at a blue screen. Which I don’t find very appealing.

I do not condone stealing music. What I do suggest is finding a legitimate music downloading service which suits your needs. Some programs like iTunes allow you to pay per song or per album. They are usually cheaper than purchasing the same content at a mall. Once you purchase content in this way, it is yours to listen to or use as you please. Other programs like eMusic.com, Rhapsody, Zune, Urge, and the newly reborn Napster require a monthly subscription to use the service. Once you sign up and pay your subscription, you can start downloading an unlimited number of songs, but if you ever choose to cancel the service, all songs downloaded will be locked and you will not be able to listen to them again.

I recommend using a pay per song download service. The copyright terms are usually very easy to deal with and once you have purchased the music, it’s yours forever. Subscription services don’t offer much versatility in the way you can use your downloaded music and often have too many stipulations that I, personally, don’t want to be bothered with.

I recently heard that all my cousin’s six year old daughter wanted for her birthday this year was an iPod. She didn’t mention an Easy Bake Oven or even a Cabbage Patch doll. All she would admit to wishing for was an Apple iPod.

Her mother approached me about this phenomenon a week before her daughter’s birthday. “What in the world is an I-Pod?” she asked. “It’s all she talks about.” She motioned to her daughter, who was cleaning a plate of that night’s dessert.

Wide-eyed, I began to explain to her, “It’s a device used to store and listen to music. It’s an MP3 player.”

Admittedly I think I confused her even more.

I hear this question a lot. Whether someone doesn’t know what an MP3 player is or why one is so expensive, usually I will be confronted with the task of shedding some light on the whole deal.

An MP3 player is a small device that can be hooked up to a computer in order to transfer music files, or MP3s, to the device’s memory. Once the MP3s are on the device, the music can be played and enjoyed usually with a pair of headphones. There are many different types of MP3 players on the market, ranging in prices of $50 and upwards to $400. Some will play videoes and games on the LCD screen. The main appeal for most MP3 Players is that the user can store hours upon hours of music content in one portable place.

There are a few things to consider before buying an MP3 Player though.

First off, how much are you willing to spend? Set a budget and stick to it. You may not be able to purchase the best of the best, but you can still be satisfied. Like most tech gadgets, however, you do get what you pay for.

How familiar are you with the computer you will be using? Take this into consideration as well since many MP3 players vary on the ease of use of each brand. While a $150 MP3 player seems like a good deal, if you lack the know how to transfer your music library to it, you may have just purchased a shiny new paperweight. Some MP3 players will only work with specific programs installed on the computer. The Apple iPod, for example, works only with iTunes, a free music and video manager, and the Microsoft Zune is only compatible with Zune music manager. Programs such as these can help an uncertain computer user to fully enjoy an MP3 player.

How much music do you have? Most MP3 players under the $200 mark will only hold 500 to 2,000 songs. For an avid audiophile, a higher priced MP3 Player may be needed. Storage size is measured in Gigabytes, or GB. A retail store should carry models ranging from 2GB to a huge 60GB, which is large enough to fit most of a Tower Records store in.

Do you want to do more with an MP3 player than just listen to music? Some newer models allow video playback of TV shows, movies, and even free video podcasts. MP3 players that easily do this will require a mandatory program such as iTunes or Zune.

Owning an MP3 player is about convenience and portability. You will want to make sure that the brand you buy will meet your needs and be easy enough for you to use.

My opinion: Apple’s line of iPods are among the best of MP3 players. Transferring, organizing and navigating through music is made extremely easy with the free iTunes software. iTunes also features an online store filled with a huge library of music spanning many genres and popular TV shows from large broadcasting companies. The iPod itself is very easy to use and is an attractive piece of hardware. The Apple iPod line consists of models for all types of music buffs, along with different price options.