Open-source software rated: Ten alternatives you need

By Nate Lanxon on 19 November 2007, 9:00am

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Paid-for version: Internet Explorer
Open-source alternative: Mozilla Firefox

You didn't think we'd forget the 'Fox, did you? With over 400 million downloads and counting, the Firefox Web browser is more popular than even the most downloaded application of all time on SourceForge.net, eMule. It has snagged almost 15 per cent of the global browser market as of October 2007, translating to roughly 110 million global users.

The good: Firefox is commonly referred to as the most secure Web browser available. With a massive team of worldwide developers and contributors, holes and bugs can be patched and pushed out with extraordinary speed. Thousands of extensions are available, too, which are simple ways to add functionality to the browser. Tabbed browsing lets you have multiple Web sites open within a single browser window without cluttering the Windows taskbar. There's also an integrated download manager, RSS management and an integrated search bar for hundreds of Web sites.

The bad: Firefox can sometimes devour a system's RAM, though this is reportedly the result of certain extensions and plugins. It can also take a few seconds longer to load a page than Opera or Internet Explorer.

Conclusion: There is no reason not to use Firefox. It is the best, most configurable browser available. If you're used to Internet Explorer, you'll find the switch to Firefox painless. It looks similar and offers the same 'back, forward, stop, refresh' functionality, but offers as many extra features as you care to get hold of. If you're not using it, you're missing out.

Download it here: mozilla.com/firefox