This document compares different web browsers and their histories. It discusses the 1990s browser war between Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer that Microsoft won by bundling Internet Explorer with Windows. Today, the major browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera. Each browser has different features - Internet Explorer is easy to use but slow, Firefox is customizable, Safari is fast on Mac, Chrome is simple, and Opera is lightweight. The document provides websites to download each browser and encourages readers to try different browsers.

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Choose your
Browsing Weapon
Mike Buhmann
Reference Librarian
Skokie Public Library

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What is a browser?What is a browser?

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Why Should You Care?Why Should You Care?
• Different browsers have different
features for different types of people
• Speed & security can be an issue
• Older PCs may not support a full
featured browser
• Browsers are free, so why not try more
than one

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Browser Wars (Part 1)Browser Wars (Part 1)
Netscape Navigator vs. Internet Explorer
• In mid to late 1990s Navigator had 80% of market.
Offered free to the public, charged businesses.
• Microsoft started offering Explorer with every PC sold
with Windows and market share climbed to 90%.
• Netscape filed an anti-trust suit in 1998. Microsoft won
and market share for Explorer grew to 96% by 2002.

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Browser Wars (Part 2)Browser Wars (Part 2)
Netscape Navigator vs. Internet ExplorerNetscape Navigator vs. Internet Explorer
• Explorer had little competition and so had little
incentive to innovate or patch security holes.
• Around 2006 other browsers started gaining market
share and competition returned.
• In 2008 Netscape Navigator discontinued.

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Web Browsers TodayWeb Browsers Today
By Market Share:
• Internet Explorer 59.18%
• FireFox 22.83%
• Google Chrome 8.50%
• Safari 5.36%
• Opera 2.29%
• Other 1.84%

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Internet ExplorerInternet Explorer
• It’s easy, it’s bundled with Windows
• In Private Browsing
• Accelerators
• Slowest among all modern browsers
• Doesn’t completely follow HTML/Web
Standards

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FirefoxFirefox
• Open Source, constantly updated by
a community of developers
• Secure and highly customizable
• Super bar
• Many, many Add Ons (Customize
your browsing experience)

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SafariSafari
• It’s bundled with Mac but
available for Windows
• Windows Version released
June 2007
• Clean & Fast (especially on
Mac)

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ChromeChrome
• New kid on the block
• Released in Sep 2008 from
your friends at Google
• Sleek and simple
• One bar for address and search
• Foreign language translation
• Browser sync capability

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OperaOpera
• Lightweight & Innovative
• Good for older PCs
• Fast
• Opera Unite
• Speed dial
• Used with Nintendo’s Wii

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SpeedSpeed
• Windows Tests
• Mac Tests

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SecuritySecurity

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Websites to Download BrowsersWebsites to Download Browsers
• Internet Explorer microsoft.com/ie8
• Firefox mozilla.com/firefox
• Chrome google.com/chrome
• Safari apple.com/safari
• Opera opera.com

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Thanks, Any Questions?Thanks, Any Questions?
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