Firefox remains the top-ranked web browser for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux users. It's by far the most-customizable web browser, with thousands of add-ins available. Reviews say Firefox 3 and the even-faster 3.1 beta are the best, using less memory than Firefox 2 and incorporating other improvements as well. Both Firefox 3 and 3.1 rival (there is now a 3.5) the new Google Chrome for speed, are much faster, and use fewer system resources than Internet Explorer 8.

The Google Chrome browser takes a minimalist approach, stripping down to basic browsing with an ultra-simple, intuitive interface. Reviewers find it very fast, with superb search features, private browsing, and the best crash protection available. It also makes it possible to use Google desktop applications offline, and users can search the text of pages in the browser's history. The main drawbacks are fairly primitive bookmarking plus the lack of customization. For those who want RSS feeds and many other options within the browser, reviews recommend Firefox 3 (free), saying it's just as fast but much more customizable.

Reviews and tests recommend Opera as fast and lean, especially for older or underpowered computers apt to bog down on the resource-hungry Firefox, Chrome, or IE7 and IE8 browsers. Despite its small size, Opera beats the other browsers in compliance with web standards, and it builds in loads of convenient features. Opera runs on more operating systems than most browsers, and it excels in synchronization. Reviews also praise its mobile version. If you have a fairly new, powerful computer, however, Firefox 3 is faster and gets top ranking in nearly all comparison reviews.

For those who like using Internet Explorer, reviews recommend upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 as long as the computer is fairly new and powerful. Tests find that IE8 is slower than Firefox, Chrome, and Opera, and that it uses more system resources. However, this latest version of Internet Explorer comes with excellent features built in, with significant improvements over IE7 - including private browsing, context-sensitive right click, color-coded tabs (with related tabs moved together) and improved security and search features. Each tab operates separately so if a site crashes, only that tab closes. Firefox 3 lacks this feature but can restore tabs after a crash.
    

Web Browser Polls the Best?

Chrome 12% (4520 votes)

Opera 7% (2785 votes)

Firefox 44% (16279 votes)

IE 29% (10807 votes)

Safari 7% (2666 votes)

Other <1% (239 votes)

Below are some of the sites used for this article. The sites give more details and cover more browsers.

http://www.consumersearch.com/web-browser-reviews

http://hubpages.com/hub/What-is-the-best-browser

http://askbobrankin.com/best_web_browser.html

http://webupon.com/browsers/best-web-browsers/

http://lifehacker.com/5178564/five-best-web-browsers