Alice Asleson & Lindsay Braddy Skokie Public Library Web Browser Showdown Alice Asleson & Lindsay Braddy Skokie Public Library

What is a browser? “a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web” (Wikipedia)

Why should you care? Different browsers have different features Speed and security can be an issue Older PCs may not support a full featured browser Browsers are free, so why not try more than one?

Browser Wars: Netscape Navigator vs. Internet Explorer Navigator had 80% of market in mid – late 1990s Offered free to public, charged businesses Internet Explorer: Microsoft started bundling Explorer on every Windows PC Market share climbed to 90% Lawsuit: Netscape filed an anti-trust suit in 1998; Microsoft won Market share for Explorer grew to 96% by 2002

Browser Wars: Netscape Navigator vs. Internet Explorer Downside: Lack of competition Little incentive to innovate or patch security holes 2006: Other browsers started gaining market share Competition returned! 2008: Netscape Navigator discontinued

Web Browsers Today By Market Share: Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer: 55.83% Chrome: 25.68% Firefox: 11.70% Safari: 5.12% Opera: 0.48% Microsoft Edge

What makes a good browser? Fast and reliable Easy to set up Flexible Ability to connect across devices Safe and secure Aesthetically pleasing

Internet Explorer Historically bundled with Windows Now replaced with Microsoft Edge Internet Explorer 11: recommended for Windows 7 In Private Browsing Accelerators Slowest among all modern browsers Doesn’t completely follow HTML/Web Standards

Mozilla Firefox Open Source, constantly updated by a community of developers Secure and highly customizable Private browsing Many, many Add Ons (Customize your browsing experience

Safari Bundled with Mac Windows version released June 2007 Windows version discontinued in 2012 Clean and fast

Google Chrome Released by Google in September 2008 Sleek and simple One bar for URL address and Google search Google Apps Foreign language translation Browser sync capability; great if you have a Gmail account

Opera Lightweight & Innovative Good for older PCs Fast Speed Dial Used with Nintendo’s Wii

Microsoft Edge Recommended for Windows 10 Web Notes Cortana Reading View Much faster than Internet Explorer

Websites to download browsers Internet Explorer windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/download-ie Firefox mozilla.com/firefox Chrome google.com/chrome Opera opera.com Microsoft Edge microsoft.com/en-us/windows/microsoft-edge

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