Pick Your Surfboard

Original Article from IntelliSites, the smart choice for web design (and SEO!)
Mozilla's Firefox is among the most popular web browsers in the States. This is a pretty incredible feat since Firefox is entirely open source. That means it's not a business product, but a product that's been built by a team of volunteers all over the world.

So, if it's so popular, should you make the switch to Firefox?  Maybe.  But more importantly, what's the deal with choosing a browser?

Web Browsers 101

Let's begin at the beginning. In order to surf the web, you need a web browser, which is the software application that makes it possible for you to do all the things you do on the internet. Now, when you first bought your computer, chances are, the folks who set up your computer included Internet Explorer for you and set it as your default.

While it was nice of them to get you started, now that you're going, you do have the option to shop around. Since browsers are generally free, what you're shopping for is the browser with the right features. Different browsers have different takes on security and options for customization. Browsers also vary on how fast they run and how they display certain web pages.

Be More European

Thanks to antitrust laws in Europe, European internet users have recently been given a new way to select the best browser for them. Europeans who use Internet Explorer now actually have a screen that pops up and prompts them to learn more about other browser options. (Yes, that's right, Microsoft's Internet Explorer is now required to help internet users learn more about and even download other browsers.)

While IE doesn't offer this browser choice screen for Americans, it doesn't mean you can't do a little good old-fashioned Googling on your own to find out more information about the browsers that are out there and which one's right for you.

And Firefox Can Help

And to get you started, the makers of Firefox have put together a website explaining the importance of choosing a browser (and here's another site with the same goal). Check out these sites, talk to your friends, and see what's out there in terms of browsers. Maybe you should join the crowd and make the switch to Firefox. Maybe IE 8 is the one for you. Maybe you're destined to be an Opera guy. 

I have just one request. Please. Don't. Use. IE 6.

But I'm cool with the other browsers.  Pick the best one for you, and enjoy the ride.