Since Microsoft began including the Internet Explorer browser in every installed version of Windows, most users believe the Big Blue E to be the internet. But were you aware there are better, other options out there? I’d like to spend a moment and discuss what else is out there, and how it can have a positive effect on your web browsing experience.
To start out, I would like to quickly mention web-standards. Just as in building a house, or fixing a car, web design has standards that have been developed to give the best end-user experience possible. These standards are all contained within the HTML code of the website – the framework language of the internet.
As the internet advances in both technology and capability, these standards change and evolve. In the web development arena, Internet Explorer is notorious for being slow to adapt and utilize the exciting new techniques offered; and even then the implementation is far from perfect. (Although the most recent version, IE8 is holding up very well.)
Let’s use the Only Dentist website as an example. The code used for Only Dentist is very cutting edge, even going so far as to use upcoming technologies that aren’t fully ratified yet. Using Internet Explorer won’t detract from the purpose of the website, but there are lots of subtle design touches that Internet Explorer will not render correctly, effectively hampering the ultimate desired end effect of the site design. The Mona Lisa would still be amazing without being inside a frame, but the frame adds enough class to make it a perfect painting. Internet Explorer is not a good frame for this website and thousands of others.
The other, better choices
The most popular of the other browser selections to be found is Firefox, by Mozilla. Firefox is updated more often than IE, and is generally very good at staying on top of design trends. Firefox is most likely also the browser of choice for most web designers, including ours here at Only Dentist.
Coming quickly in a close second, but gaining popularity daily is Google’s new browser Chrome. Chrome is fast, light-weight, and it based off of the Webkit Render engine which powers Apple’s iPhone and Safari browsers.
As we just mentioned, Apple’s offering of Safari is also a fantastic web browser, always on top of current technologies and includes fantastic features. (It’s also, subsequently, the authors browser of choice).
Lastly I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Opera browser, another stellar offering that has several features not found in any other browser that will undoubtedly be found useful among users.
