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

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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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

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

14. 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

15. Any questions? Please fill out evaluation forms before leaving.
Thanks!
Any questions? Please fill out evaluation forms before leaving.