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This article has been updated and move to the new site you can go here to read it.Go back to Part 4 for Windows Vista 32bit.

Go to Part 6 for Windows XP

Check out Part 7 for Windows 7 64-bit

Windows Vista was given a bad rap because of the release candidates and because some software and hardware no longer worked with it.  Vista has matured a lot from its 2006 release and now after Service Pack 2 is a nice operating system to use.   It is not as good as Windows 7 I will admit but it’s not that bad either.

As with every Windows version starting with some releases of Windows 95, Internet Explorer has been included with Windows, but is it really the best to use, I will look at the five major browsers and see which one works the best in my opinion. For a look at the 64-bit version click here.  This time I am doing these tests on my Compaq Presario C700 (C712NR) laptop with a 2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 Gb of ram, and a 7200 RPM hard drive.  This computer is running Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit.  All updates have been run for Windows, the internet browsers, Java, and Flash. All tests are ran unchashed.

1. Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18828  If you have passed on the newest Internet Explorer, well it’s time to look again.  This is not the Internet Explorer from Window past, nor is it the one that shipped with Vista.  IE 8 is fast a loading normal web pages but is not as fast when it comes to Java or Flash.  This is supposed to be better in IE 9 however for now all we have is 8.  But 8 is nice, I love the new features like the Web Slices pictured below.  These give you a quick glance from Ebay auctions to the weather in your area.  There are is also new visual search, and accelerators.  IE is my main browser for a lot of things, and my daily browsing.  You should check it out at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=79154fb4-c610-4a1e-811d-dfe0f1dd84d1&displaylang=en

Internet Explorer 8 in Windows Vista

2.  Firefox 3.5.5 Firefox is not the fastest program to open but it renders pages faster than IE.  I use Firefox for work because of the built-in spell check which I wish IE had.  Firefox also supports a wide variety of plugins.  The interface is dated and cluttered but it still does a good job, I’m looking forward to see what comes out in version 3.6.  you can check it out at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ie.html?from=getfirefox

Firefox 3.5 in Windows Vista

3.  Opera 10.01  This browser has come a long way, Version 9 was just not that great but 10 is fast and slick.  The user interface is very good at staying out of your way.  I like the thumbnail previews on the tabs.  It also has a most used page like other browsers called Speed Dial.  It is actually a good alternative browser if you’re looking for something other than the leaders IE and Firefox or want something different from the hyped up ones Safari and Chrome.  You can get it at http://www.opera.com/

Opera 10.01 in Windows Vista

4.  Chrome 3.0  The newest version of Google Chrome is actually better than version 2.  I sure beats Safari in all but one thing, the user interface leaves much to be desired.  I prefer Safari’s user interface however Safari is a dog compared to Chrome, still does not have anything for me to want to switch and it is made by a company that makes money off advertising.  You can check it out at http://www.google.com/chrome?hl=en&brand=CHMI

Chrome 3 in Windows Vista

5. Safari 4.0.4 Looks better than any version before it, they have finally use the Windows interface instead of porting the ugly grey Mac interface.  Safari 4 looks better than Chrome too, however it is not as fast, the top sites take some time to load and the browser itself does not load webpages very quickly.  We will have to see what Apple does with Safari 5.  You can get it at http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

Safari 4 in Windows Vista

What will be interesting to see is how the browser makes will react to Windows 7, with the jump lists and such.  IE, Firefox, and Opera already are working on some things.  IE 8 currently uses the jump lists to their fullest in Windows 7.

Go back to Part 3 for Windows 2000

Go to Part 5 for Windows 7 32Bit

In kind of a side blog I am going to take a look at two of the major browsers in Ubuntu 9.04 which is a Linux based operating system.  Ubuntu tries to be an alternative to Windows and it does have some good features.  It’s also rather popular in the Linux community.   Well I installed it in Virtual PC on my Compaq C700 (C712NR) laptop, and played around with it.  It comes with Firefox 3 but is that really the best.  Well here are my thoughts.

1.  Opera 10, Opera in Linux is as full featured as it is in Windows.  Also it has the newer Opera 10 interface, which looks nice in Ubuntu.  It is not as fast as Firefox but I prefer it as it retains the tab preview thumbnails.  Overall I like it better than Firefox in Linux.  You can get it at http://www.opera.com/

Opera 10 in Ubuntu 9

Firefox 3.5.3, I could not keep using Firefox 3 so I updated to the newest.  It is fast, I will say that.  The user interface still looks like Firefox 2 did in Windows and I think should be updated to be more like the Windows versions.  If you can get past the user interface it is full featured just like its Windows counterpart.  You can get it at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/firefox.html?from=getfirefox

Firefox 3.5.3 in Ubuntu 9

Ubuntu is ok and I will be writing more about it since there are a lot of people who like it as a Windows alternative.  For anyone that is wondering, both browsers were able to handle the websites that I threw at them just fine.

If you want check out my series on the best internet browser for Windows.

I know it may seem silly for some people to talk about a 12-year-old operating system, however it is still being used even today but is not supported with security updates. If you have been thinking of upgrading to Windows 7 or at least Windows XP, now would be a good time.

The last version of Internet Explorer released for Windows 2000 was IE 6 Service Pack 1. It is not updated anymore at all and has not been updated with new features to make browsing the internet easier and more secure. Internet Explorer 6 was first released in 2001 and was no longer supported on July 13, 2010. But is Internet Explorer 6 SP1 still best to use on the aging Win 2K? Let’s see what the best internet browser for Windows 2000 is.

Something else to consider is the fact that out of the 5 major browsers only three are available for Windows 2000, IE, Firefox and Opera.  Safari and Chrome have left the Win 2K users out in the cold.  I will be looking at Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera on Windows 2000 and see which one is the best to use.

I will be running Windows 2000 in a virtual machine within Virtual PC 2007 Service Pack 1.  It will be running on Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit.  The computer has 2GB of ram and a 1.46 Ghz Intel Pentium Dual Core. The computer is a Compaq Presario C700 (C712NR)

1. Opera 10, this has come a long way from version 9 or 8 for that matter.  It looks great on Windows 2000 and is fast as well.  I highly suggest it for 2000.  If you’re looking for something that will look good and is fast than Opera is for you. You can get it at  www.opera.com

Opera 10 on Windows 2000

2. Firefox 3.5.3 Fast, fast fast, and is very customizable with add-ons.  It has a bit of a dated user interface that looks a little awkward on 2000 but it is still a good choice and is recommended.  You can get it at www.getfirefox.com

Firefox 3.5 on Windows 2000

3. Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (6.0.2800.1106)  Microsoft does update this with security updates for now but let’s face it, it is outdated and does not have the modern security that Opera and Firefox have.  Also is does not render some pages properly and is slower than the others.  The user interface looks dated and old.  I would not suggest using this for your daily browsing, however is you are still running an older version update to IE 6 SP1, it will help protect  you a little better and allow other Windows programs to access web features better.  You can get it at  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1e1550cb-5e5d-48f5-b02b-20b602228de6&DisplayLang=en

Internet Explorer 6 SP1 on Windows 2000

It is a good thing that Opera and Mozilla have paid attention to the fact that Windows 2000 is still being used to this day.  Windows 2000 is past its prime and I do suggest updating to at least Windows XP as soon as you can, remember all support ended for 2000 on July 13, 2010 and that includes IE 6 SP1.  I will write more articles about Windows 2000, (like How to keep it secure with Free Antivirus Here) (And Installing 2000 in Windows Virtual PC Here) As I can see some people still use it.

Go back to Part 2 for Windows Vista 64bit

Go to Part 4 for Windows Vista 32bit

With the release of Windows Vista Microsoft released both a 32bit and 64-bit Version, (which really unlocked a lot of hardware), and a fair share of computers shipped with Windows Vista x64. It is a different OS from its 32bit counterpart. So what is the best internet browser? Well here are my conclusions.  I ran all tests uncashed on a computer running Windows Vista Ultimate on 4 Gb of ram and a 2.8 Ghz Intel Pentium D, with the newest versions of the browsers, Flash, Java, and Windows. Now before I go one I must mention that there is only one 64-bit internet browser right now, Internet Explorer, we may see 64bit versions of other browsers in the future but for now all other browsers are 32bit.

1. Internet Explorer, Now I know, I know but give Internet Explorer 8 a try.  For those of you that know there are two versions of IE in 64-bit Vista, a 32bit version and a 64-bit version.  The 64bit version is fast on every site I tested.  It really has the speed that people want, and seemed faster than the other browsers especially with large sites.  Also If you install Java in the 32bit version of IE go back and fire up the 64bit version and redownload Java, there is a 64bit version available.  The user interface is something even beginning computer users seems to pick up easily.   I love some of the new features in IE 8 like the Accelerators, which is pictured below, select some txt and right click to search on Bing or Google, look up what a word means and so on.  Put that with Web Slices and the Visual Search and IE8 is a full featured browser.  You can download IE8 at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx

Internet Explorer 8 under Windows Vista X64

2. Firefox 3.5  Now Firefox has come a long way and has matured into a great browser.  It would be nice to see a 64-bit version in the future as Internet Explorer 8 is the only 64-bit one we tested so far.  This is not the fastest browser, in fact it was one of the slower ones, but it’s features the face that the user interface is easy to use , and how fast they release security updates still makes this a great browser to be considered.  Furthermore you can extended the functions with plugins, and install skins to change the look.  It really has something for everyone and was my prefered browser for a while before Internet Explorer 8 was released.  There are versions for Mac OS and Linux as well.  you can get it at www.getfirefox.com

Firefox 3.5 under Windows Vista X64

3. Opera 10.  Now I have not liked this browser in the past with an awkward user interface and how sluggish it seemed.  I also have disagreed with it trying to say Microsoft is the reason why Opera has not done so well, it was a horrible browser.  But here is version 10 and I have to say wow.  It is a welcome improvement.  A nice user interface and there are visual previews of the open tabs which is pictured below.  It opens fast and loads pages fast as well, faster than Firefox.  If you have written it off in the past, take another look.  Opera is also available for the Nintendo Wii, Windows Mobile, Mac OS, Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris.  You can get it at www.opera.com

Opera 10 under Windows Vista X64

4. Safari 4, This has come a long way since version 3 being ported to Windows, it looked just like the Mac version the drab grey and was very slow.  Now it actually looks more like a Windows program and is a little faster but still is not that fast.  It seems to try to copy Google Chrome in many ways including its top sites feature, but it’s version is very slow, pictured below this feature does not load the thumbnails for the sites very quickly and you can only see the top row it takes as much as a minuet to load all the pictures.  The nice thing about Safari is that the user interface is different and a little easier to use than Chrome.  You can download Safari at http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

Safari 4 under Windows Vista X64

5. Chrome 2, this browser is still quite young and it shows, It lacks features and has a confusing user interface.  The installer is a bit of a pain too, however the installer is fast.  It loads pages faster than Safari but it is no show winner. The default page with shows most visited sites loads the thumbnails fast almost instant and is a nice feature.  It will be interesting to see what is coming in version 3.  You can get it at http://www.google.com/chrome/index.html?hl=en&brand=CHMI&utm_source=en-et&utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=en

Chrome under Windows Vista X64

It is clear that 64-bit versions of operating systems will be the future in no time, but will be have good software to keep up?  It should be interesting to see.  I hope this helped and stick around for my next review on a different version of Windows.

Go back to Part 1 the Introduction

Go to Part 3 for Windows 2000