By: Kelly Clarke

About 70-80% of people accessing the Internet are using Internet Explorer to do so. A little less than half of this 70-some percent are using IE 6. The rest are using IE 7. But there are better options out there. By better, I mean faster, more secure, more compatible with the latest code and internet technologies.

So why are so many people still using this inferior browser?

Internet Explorer became popular because they come as the default browser on most PCs sold. IE was also among the first browsers available, alongside Netscape.

Why should you change if you are using Internet Explorer?

Well, most people in the internet industry will tell you to use other browsers, but the most reputable are probably Apple – who encourge usage of Safari or Firefox, and now Google – starting with all gmail users. (Gmail is their beta mail client).

If not IE, then what?

I personally have been using Mozilla’s Firefox for the last five years and love it. But here is a list of the most popular options (according to MarketShare), with links to download them:

· Firefox (about 15% of the population is currently using)

· Safari (about 5%)

· Opera (about 1%)

Making sure that you are using an optimized browser can make your business communication and research more effective and secure, for trade show concerns and everything beyond. Now just don’t forget to update your computer regularly!

Any Questions?
4/10/09 – Edit

Let me also refer you to two aritcles written by Kyle Reddoch on the subject of browsers and web design:

· Bring Down IE 6

· IE8 Has Launched, Is Your Website Compatible?