It began as a satisfying relationship, but now you just feel the flame has died out. It seems like your old browser can no longer fulfill its duty of delivering the World Wide Web to you. You’ve thought about it thoroughly and decided to switch to another. Which new browser deserves your love and full attention? It’s a tough choice. You probably spend more time in browsing the Internet than in bed, so must you choose a web browser that’s perfect for you.
The Top Five Popular Browsers
You can start your search for a new browser by checking the big five available today.
Google Chrome
Chrome is known for its minimalist interface and sheer speed. Since it is developed by Google, Chrome offers heavy integration with the search giant’s other products. This browser also has the best HTML5 support and the best performance in JavaScript execution.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox offers the best security and privacy features. Its customization options, through themes, addons and extensions, are also topnotch. Its latest builds can run even in the old versions of Windows, including Windows 95.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer is probably the browser that you want to leave behind, given that its older versions received so much flak for security flaws and terrible performance. But to be fair, the more recent versions of Internet Explorer are competent and even better than other browsers in certain aspects. Microsoft Edge will replace the aging IE upon the arrival of Windows 10.
Opera
Opera utilizes the same code that powers Google Chrome, so expect it to have a similar performance. It’s known for its compression technology for speeding up browsing even on dial-up connections. It also has a unique way of displaying information on new-tab pages.
Apple Safari
The Apple Safari is just as fast as the competition. It offers intuitive features that help users easily manage information they obtained from the Web. However, it’s not the best choice in terms of customization and flexibility. The Windows version of the browser has been discontinued, which means only Mac OS X and iOS devices can enjoy the latest features of Safari.
How to download and install another Web browser
If you’ve made your choice, you have to return to your old browser for possibly one last time to do some transitional stuff. The first task is to open the download page for your new browser and grab the installation file:
Installation slightly varies between web browsers, but it generally involves reviewing the license terms and choosing an install location.
How to import browser bookmarks
During installation, your new web browser may ask you if you’d like to retrieve your existing bookmarks from your old browser. If you skipped this part or weren’t prompted about it, you can still export the bookmarks into an HTML file and have your new browser open the file.
How to set your new browser as your default application for accessing Web content
In addition, your newly installed web browser may ask you if you’d like it to be the new default browser. If you ignored this part, you can manually do it yourself by going to the Default Programs applet in the Control Panel in Windows or the System Preferences in Mac OS X.
How to customize your new browser
Make yourself feel cozier with your new browser by customizing its settings. Start by changing your home page and installing some add-ons and extensions, including ones from your old browser that you often use. You can view the following locations to check if your new browser has the same extension or offers alternatives:
- Google Chrome – https://chrome.google.com/webstore
- Mozilla Firefox – https://addons.mozilla.org/
- Microsoft Internet Explorer – http://www.iegallery.com/PinnedSites
- Opera – https://addons.opera.com/en/
- Apple Safari – https://extensions.apple.com/
Keep your new browser updated
So that your new browser can keep up with your needs, you need to keep it updated to the latest version available. Newer versions offer better features as well as security protections to keep your browsing activities safe and pleasant.
