SIR SONS IN RETIREMENT Computer User Group

Firefox BOTTOM LINE: Inability to run ActiveX and VB script. Need to download additional functionality, like Flash or Java support, separately. Does not integrate with desktop applications. PROS: Simple installation. Occupies very little disk space. Clean, no- nonsense interface. Inability to run ActiveX and VB script. CONS: You may not be able to view everything on the Web with Firefox, but the pages that we regularly access loaded rapidly and accurately. REVIEW: As we said in our review late last year, the Mozilla Organization's Firefox is a great little browser. It's a quick download, occupies very little disk space, and has a clean, no-nonsense interface. And as noted, Firefox is considered more secure than IE primarily because it doesn't run ActiveX components or VB script. PC Magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award Mozilla Foundation.

Netscape Browser 8.0 (beta) BOTTOM LINE: If you're looking for an all-encompassing platform, it's a solid choice. PROS: Multibar feature. Choice of the Gecko or IE rendering engine. Trust Ratings. CONS: Interface can become cluttered and confusing. Tabbed interface is plain-Jane. REVIEW: The new Netscape 8.0 is more than just a browser; it's an information platform. Chief among this version's enhancements is the Multibar, a feature that lets you customize up to ten different browser toolbars that can be accessed within a click or two. Such toolbars can provide quick access to live news feeds, stock feeds, weather, shopping, or anything else that you add to them. You can also use them to view RSS feeds on the fly. Customization is easy and can be done mainly via Netscape's drag-and-drop interface. Netscape Communications Corp.

Opera 8.0 BOTTOM LINE: Opera 8.0 promises to be a capable browser that offers some unique features, such as rearrangement of tabs and page zooming. Lack of support for ActiveX is a security plus, but a usability minus in our Microsoft-centric world. PROS: Quick rendering. Superior tab organizing features. Zooms pages in and out accurately. CONS: No support for ActiveX. REVIEW: In the browser space, Firefox has been named the fringe candidate most likely to give Microsoft fits. But Opera has been happy to help in that department, too, and the new Opera 8.0 has enough going for it in terms of features, security, and speed to make advanced PC users actually consider paying for a browser.

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SIR SONS IN RETIREMENT Computer User Group