Browsers

Which'd you choose?

A browser is surely the most invaluable tool you can have on a computer. With the 'always connected' society we live in today, a web browser must be carefully chosen and it's also good to have a backup!

My browser of choice is Chrome, made by Google with my backup as Firefox.

I find Chrome to have the best design when it comes to ergonomics: ease of use being a priority.

The first thing in customisation is create your own homepage that can be used anywhere you go. "http://myfav.es" is a perfect example, where you can change and modify your own homepage then simply go to your own personal link when you are on a computer you don't usually use! http://myfav.es/allyforsyth7 (or http://myfav.es/phc00001 for a better one frankly) gives you a quick look at what you can create.

Next is adding extensions. From the extension page (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions) you can personalise the entire Chrome experience. My personal favourite (only for use with Android) is BrowserTexting. By downloading the Android app to my phone and Chrome app on my browser, with a quick QR code scan all my texts are forwarded to a chat window in my browser allowing me to reply straight from my computer without the need to use my phone at all.

Another simple extension is X-notifier. This sits at the top of Chrome and (after a quick setup) lets you know whenever you get an email through notifications as long as Chrome is open. Multiple accounts can be added to keep track of various email platforms, very handy.

Now onto Firefox..a handy alternative similar to Chrome in that you can add extensions (infact Firefox started the extension browser craze). Primarily I use Firefox for work where the most useful addon is Firebug. This gives a small window that indicates what is running in the background of the webpage, especially useful to see where issues are occurring with tracking/flash.

Explorer comes loaded onto all PCs with windows and is many peoples standard browser, but we don't rate it. I find it to be tad restrictive, it simply doesn't have the customisation that other options do. Sure, it's safe enough and will do all your browsing, but why not make things easier by downloading one of the others (especially as they're all free)?

Anyway, hope that gives a quick insight into which browsers I find invaluable and why..any questions give me a shout in the comments.