A fast browser for an old computer - myth or reality? How to choose a browser for a weak computer

05/01/2019 17:33

Each person has unique tastes, preferences, and requirements. If one thing gets to a hundred people for testing, then each one will announce a different result. Some opinions will be similar, others will differ, and this is natural. It's the same in software. A browser is a program that a person uses to surf the Internet. We launch it every day, so it is important to choose a convenient browser that will meet all the requirements.
Using the browser, you can search for any information, listen to music, watch movies, and also play your favorite games. Any rating will be controversial, but let's try to rank the best browsers. In this article, you will analyze the criteria for choosing a good browser for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10... We will study in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Based on our rating, you will be able to find a good browser for yourself.

Google Chrome 1st place

It is the most popular browser in existence today. The program can be called the best and fastest on the Windows operating system. Its opening took place in 2008. Chrome was based on the then popular Safari browser, made on the WebKit engine. Formally, it was crossed with the V8 javascript engine. Subsequently, this hybrid was renamed Chromium. Further development was attended by such famous companies as Google, Opera Software, as well as Yandex and several other major developers. Google was the first to create its own version of the browser on Chromium. A year later, it was installed on 3.6% of computers worldwide. He began to quickly gain popularity, today he is the undisputed leader and occupies 42.21%. It should be noted that most of them are smartphones in which the browser comes preinstalled.

Advantages:

High speed of work. Chrome significantly outperforms the competition in terms of browser speed, as well as the processing of displayed resources. In addition, there is a convenient function of preloading pages, which further increases the speed of work.
Safety. The company has implemented reliable technologies that ensure the safety of the browser. They continue to actively develop. The browser has a database of phishing and malicious resources that is regularly updated. The browser works according to a unique scheme in such a way that not a single process is involved, but several at once, but with lower privileges. Downloading files with the permission .bat, .exe, or.dll requires additional confirmation, which reduces the chances of a virus download.
There is an "Incognito" mode. This is a very convenient feature when you need to view a large number of sites, but at the same time leave no traces of their visit on your computer.
Sophisticated interface. It is quite simple and contains everything you need, without unnecessary elements. Chrome is the first browser to offer quick access. The panel shows the most visited resources. Another feature is the sharing of the address bar and the search engine. Later, this feature was implemented in other browsers.
Stable work. Recently, there have been no such cases when Google Chrome was malfunctioning or it was very slow. This can only happen if there are viruses in the system. In many ways, the security and stability of work is improved by using several processes, separated from each other. If one of them stops working, the rest continue to function.
There is a task manager for the "Additional Tools" menu. Almost no one knows about this feature. Thanks to a handy tool, you can track how many resources are occupied by an entire tab or a separate plugin. You can find and fix the source of the problem if the application starts to slow down.
Large selection of extensions, many of which are free to download. There are also many plugins and themes available. The browser can be customized according to personal preference, which is very convenient.
There is a possibility of automatic translation of pages. For this, Google Translate is involved.
The program is updated automatically without disturbing the user.
Search queries can be specified by voice; for this, the service “ Ok google».

Flaws:

Starting with version 42.0, support for NPAPI plugins has been stopped, including the rather popular Flash Player.
For the application to run smoothly, you need at least 2GB of RAM.
Most of the extensions and plugins are made in a foreign language.
The heavy load on the hardware contributes to the short battery life of laptops and smartphones.

I've been using Chrome for quite some time now as my primary browser. For the entire time of work, he did not cause serious complaints. Its integration into the system of other Google services is very convenient. One account can combine your computer and mobile device, there is the possibility of continuous synchronization.
I don't like the fact that all user data is stored on American servers (most likely now the data is stored on Russian servers). It stores mail, personal contacts and search information. However, you shouldn't rule out the possibility that other browsers are doing the same. It is necessary to take precautions as much as possible, then you will have nothing to be afraid of. If you do not want to disclose your own data, but at the same time continue to use Chrome, then use SlimJet or SRWare Iron, we will talk about them below.

Yandex Browser 2nd place

The browser has the shortest history, it was discovered in 2012. He is very popular in Russia. The browser supports integration with Yandex services which are very convenient to use. The default search engine is Yandex. The interface turned out to be quite original, although it was created on the Chromium engine. The quick launch panel immediately catches your eye. It is made in a tiled style.

The user can place up to 20 tiles. The browser uses "Smart Line", which not only transfers the entered phrase to the search engine, but also automatically selects the necessary site if the name matches. Unfortunately, so far this function only works with large resources. Mouse manipulation is supported, with which you can control web browsing with simple movements.

Advantages:

Flaws:

Not everyone will like the original interface.
Linking to various Yandex. Without them, the program is devoid of many features.
Rarely, but still there are problems with the transfer of settings and history.

Not everyone will like the new interface, because it is radically different from competitors. It will take some time to get used to these features.

Mozilla Firefox 3rd place

Now Mozila is the most popular foreign browser, and in Russia it ranks third. Over the past few years, he began to lose ground, but only slightly. The first version of the program appeared in 2004, since then there have been many changes. The application engine is Gecko - it is freely available and continues to be improved by the developers. Technically, this is the first browser to have a huge base of extensions even before the advent of Chrome. He was among the first to implement the maximum privacy mode that Google invented.

Advantages:

Simple and very user-friendly interface with no unnecessary details.
Convenient settings system that allows you to radically change the browser, customizing it to your liking.
A large number of all kinds of plugins. You can choose them for every taste, because at the moment there are more than 100,000 of them.
Cross-platform. The browser can be downloaded for any operating system that is used on modern technology.
Reliability. I got into situations where the user caught a banner blocking the work of all browsers, but Firefox continued to function.
The maximum level of security and privacy of personal data.
Comfortable bookmark bar.
The program may refuse to track information about you by various sites. You can set up private browsing of pages. In addition, there is a Master Passwords function that additionally protects your records on certain resources.
Updates happen in the background without the need for user intervention.

Flaws:

Compared to Chrome, the interface slows down a little and takes longer to respond to user manipulations.
Performance is average;
Lack of script support on some resources, as a result of which the content may not function properly.
The application requires a large amount of RAM.

Opera 4th place

This is the oldest observer, which was opened back in 1994. I started using it about 15 years ago, and I still use it as needed. Until 2013 Opera had its own engine, but now it uses Webkit + V8. The exact same technology is used by Google Chrome. In 2010, the company launched a mobile version of the program. Now it is the fourth most popular browser in Russia, and it ranks sixth in the world.

Advantages:

Excellent speed of work and page display. The features of the browser include turbo mode, which significantly increases the speed of loading pages through the use of cloud technologies. At the same time, traffic is significantly saved, which is very important when using the mobile version.
There is a convenient express panel with saved bookmarks. This is a modified Speed Dial tool that we saw in previous versions of the browser.
Opera Link technology, which is needed to synchronize different devices.
Lots of hot keys to simplify management.
Opera Unite internet browser.

Flaws:

A large amount of RAM is required for efficient operation. If you open several tabs at the same time, then Opera will start to slow down. Even the reliable engine of Chrome does not improve the situation.
Incorrect work of scripts and various forms is observed on many sites. There are a lot of complaints about working with WML.
Stability is not a browser's strong point. The company could not get rid of periodic failures and freezes.
4. Own system of bookmarks, which is nicknamed "Piggy bank". This is a pretty interesting solution, but poorly implemented.

I only use opera as a secondary browser. The "Turbo" function is useful when working with a modem, because in this case a high speed of displaying pages and saving the consumed traffic are combined. With Unite technology, you can turn your browser into a real server. On it you can arrange access to a variety of files, exchange SMS notifications and photos. The files are stored on the PC and become available only when the program is started. This is a great replacement for Chrome if you don't want to use it for some reason.

K-Meleon 5th place

This application began to be developed back in 2000. In fact, it is a relative of Mozilla Firefox, they use the same engine. You ask why he entered the rating, if they practically do not differ? The point is that they have strong differences. For example, today K-Meleon is the lightest browser for the Windows system. Such results were achieved due to the peculiarities of its development. Initially, the program was only supposed to demonstrate the capabilities of the new engine. As a result, the company was able to achieve economical consumption of PC resources.

Advantages:

Small requirements for PC resources, including a low amount of RAM.
The use of the native Windows interface, which significantly saves time and resources spent on the interface.
High speed of work.
Good personalization options, and for this you do not need to use third-party extensions. Everything is arranged using macros. It will be difficult for a beginner to master, but in your free time you can figure it out.
There is a large selection of assemblies. You can choose an extension with the desired set of functions.
You can create multiple profiles for different users.

Flaws:

Quite a clumsy interface. If we compare it with the leaders of the Top 5, then this browser has a too simple design.
Rarely, there are problems with the display of the Cyrillic alphabet, but in the latest updates the situation has been fixed.

This is the best option for weak PCs. The browser will function normally on an old laptop running the Windows XP operating system. You will be able to enjoy comfortable surfing the Internet. And on modern hardware, it will work even better. Many professionals use it as the best browser. This should not be surprising, because in some respects K-Meleon outperforms its competitors.

Internet Explorer

It is a free browser that comes with the integrated Windows software. Developed by Microsoft since 1995 to this day. Therefore, the browser was one of the most popular in Russia, but then Chrome appeared. Now he has greatly lost his position and is ranked 5th in popularity. The reason can be considered the completion of its development. Along with Windows 10 came the development of the company - Spartan.
Throughout its history, the browser has never been considered the best, everyone knew about the large number of vulnerabilities that various viruses used. For a very long time, it has been a vulnerability of every computer running the Windows operating system. The situation changed for the better with the release of Internet Explorer 10, it is included in the Windows 8 package. All holes were improved and, subject to certain rules, the browser was considered safe.
Version 11 appeared along with the Windows 8.1 update, it is the latest in the line. In terms of the speed of work, it can be compared with competitors, but it is still slightly inferior to them. Now there is a privacy mode, a preliminary rating, and caching is also supported, it allows you to increase the speed of the browser. Despite the successful innovations, the browser only loses its position. In my work, I use Internet Explorer only to enter the web interface of my home router and other network equipment. There is a simple explanation for this, this is the browser that the developers use, so the markup is designed for it. It is better to use a different browser to browse the Internet.

There are many browsers out there now that we didn't mention in our review. We have presented our selection of the best browsers, but each may have a different opinion. The review presents only those reviewers with whom I have come across. They are completely free to download and use without any restrictions. The current version can be found on the official website. If you can suggest decent browsers that should be in the Top 5, then indicate your options in the comments.

Nowadays it is very difficult to imagine life without the Internet. Since it makes life much easier and opens up new opportunities. At the moment, there are many different browsers for accessing the Internet. However, not everyone is fully optimized. Therefore, in order to choose the most suitable option, you need to know the characteristics of each of them. Next, we present fastest browsers- top 10.

10. SlimJet

Opens the ranking of the fastest SlimJet browsers. It is an alternative to many popular browsers, based on the Chromium version and the Blink engine. When working with SlimJet, a secure and stable Internet connection is guaranteed. The most important and significant plus of this web browser is the lightning speed of loading sites and pages, as well as downloading the necessary files. In addition, SlimJet is equipped with a built-in ad blocking system. Therefore, now nothing will be distracting when working. In addition, the user will be able to customize the browser for himself, as it supports background themes.

9. SRWare Iron

SRWare Iron is ranked 9th in the list of fastest browsers. This is a fairly modern and optimized analogue of browsers based on the Chromium version. SRWare Iron developers guarantee enhanced secure connection and user privacy. Working with the program gives users only positive emotions, as web pages load very quickly. Also like the comfortable and modern decor. However, a significant disadvantage of this browser is the lack of security and privacy of users.

8. K-Meleon

On the eighth line among the fastest web browsers - K-Meleon. It is analogous to Mozilla Firefox, since the program is based on the Gecko engine. The browser interface is simple enough to understand and includes bookmarks, privacy settings, and browsing history. The K-Meleon developers guarantee fast page loading and secure work. This is especially a great option for those users who have older models of computers. Since the K-Meleon browser, despite its high-speed operation, takes up little RAM, which is a huge advantage.

7. Amigo

Amigo is one of the best and fastest browsers available today. It is a free web browser that has been designed to be quick and easy to use. The most important parameter for which the Amigo browser is so valued is high-speed loading of web pages, as well as ease of viewing. The ability to manage the interface allows you to customize it for yourself and create bookmarks for those sites that are of interest to the user. In addition to fast loading, the developers of the program guarantee safe use and protection of information on visited sites. The browser can be easily downloaded and installed on any PC. Also, a special application for mobile phones was created to make the work even more convenient.

6. Safari

Safari is a good and very fast browser developed by Apple. At first it was intended exclusively for MacOS, but after that they released a version on other operating systems, namely for Windows and Linux. This standard and simple web browser is in high demand. It has many advantages, and the most important thing is that web pages are displayed quickly enough thanks to the built-in WebKit engine. In addition, Safari has an original and attractive interface. The safety of working with the browser is very important. Safari is equipped with advanced virus protection as well as enhanced protection of confidential user information.

5. Opera

Opera is in the middle of the rating of the fastest browsers. The program has always been popular due to its high-speed and functional work. In addition to high-speed page loading, the browser has one of the highest protections. Therefore, the developers guarantee not only protection against scammers and viruses, but also the user's confidential information. In addition, work is constantly underway to improve Opera. Also, the web browser has a built-in ad and pop-up blocker. The convenience of working with Opera is provided by the presence of a password manager, tabs, and it is also possible to restore the previous session if necessary. Opera browser is appreciated by many users due to its battery saving function. Accordingly, this allows you to use the program without restrictions at any time.

4. Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is a free optimized browser developed on the Microsoft Windows platform. The number of users who prefer Internet Explorer is increasing every year. This is not without reason, as it features fast loading times and a pleasant modern interface. In addition, the browser has security from malicious sites and protection of confidential information, which is very popular with all users. It is possible to work in private modes, that is, the program does not save the sites visited by the user in the history. In addition, the user can clear history, downloads, cache, etc. at any time. Internet Explorer is equipped with a built-in pop-up and ad blocker.

3. Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is free and one of the fastest browsers for Internet access. Recently, it has been in great demand among users, as it is the safest and fastest to use the Internet. Mozilla Firefox is equipped with a perverse browsing mode, which ensures the user visits sites without fear that his confidential information will be exposed. It is also important that the Mozilla Firefox browser takes up little RAM and is supported on almost all mobile devices and computers. Like many other browsers, Mozilla Firefox saves logins and passwords even when the browser is used by more than one person. This increases the risk of intrusion into private information. Therefore, a password master was developed to solve the problem. His job is to protect passwords with a special code.

2. Yandex browser

Yandex browser ranks 2nd in the top 10 fastest web browsers. Has a fairly simple and quick installation on all computers with the Windows operating system. Yandex browser loads web pages as fast as possible, but if it seems insufficient to the user, he can always set the "turbo mode". Thanks to the Protect technology, Yandex browser prevents viruses from entering the computer, and also protects information about passwords and bank card data from fraudsters. Therefore, this browser can be considered one of the safest and fastest.

1. Google Chrome

Today, there are many Internet browsers, making it difficult to make the best choice for you. Below we take a look at the most popular browsers and try to pick the best one for the job.

1. Browser Google Chrome

One of the most popular browsers that supports all modern technologies, thanks to which it will be able to open almost any site. This program is very demanding on the resources of a personal computer, so it is not recommended to run it on outdated equipment.

Benefits of Google Chrome

Availability of versions for any existing platform (Windows, Linux, Mac OS, iOs, Android, Windows Phone).
High speed of work.
The browser does not slow down when working with several heavy sites.
The program has its own task manager. If any contribution or plugin hangs, it is not necessary to restart the browser, it is enough to close the hung element.
Nice, minimalistic design.
The presence of built-in Google services, which will be useful to users of these services.
The computer version has extensive support for plugins that extend the functionality of the browser.
Built-in support for Flash Player, which is required to watch videos on many sites.

Disadvantages of Google Chrome

Increased consumption of RAM, which is why it slows down on frankly weak computers.
Mobile versions lack support for additional plugins.
At the first launch of the program, Google services are imposed even on those who do not use them. This does not happen on subsequent launches.

2. Browser Yandex Browser

The official browser from Yandex, completely lapped up with Google Chrome. The built-in services have been changed in the browser, the design has been slightly redrawn and the system requirements have been slightly reduced, thanks to which it works better on slower computers.

Benefits of Yandex Browser

High speed of work.
Integration with Yandex.
Good support for additional plugins.
Works well on weak PCs.
Reduced memory consumption.

Disadvantages of Yandex Browser

The imposition of Yandex services begins already during the installation of the program.
Ads built into the browser, which somewhat slows down the speed of opening sites.
There is no built-in task manager, if one site or plugin freezes, you will have to completely close the program.

3. Browser Mozilla Firefox

Browser developed by Mozilla Firefox. It used to have its own engine, but at the moment it is based on the same engine as the browsers listed above.

Mozilla Firefox advantages

High speed of work and site opening.
Support for a large number of plugins (unlike Google Chrome, Firefox mobile version supports plugins).
Availability of versions for any existing operating system.
Nice looking design, not overloaded with unnecessary elements.
The browser does not impose additional services.
Works well on weak computers.

Disadvantages of Mozilla Firefox

The lack of built-in Flash Player, which is why it needs to be installed separately.
After installing Flash Player, the browser starts to slow down significantly.
Freezes and brakes when opening several particularly heavy sites (video pages).
Scalability issues are rare.
Lack of a task manager.

4. Browser Internet Explorer

Browser from Microsoft, installed by default on all versions of Windows and Windows Phone. It is an outdated solution, but it is still used by a large number of people.

Internet Explorer Pros

On Windows computers, the browser does not need to be installed as it is present by default.
Good support for old sites.
Low requirements for PC performance.
Memory consumption is lower than that of other existing browsers.

Disadvantages of Internet Explorer

Poor plugin support.
The use of outdated technologies, due to which modern sites may not open correctly.
Very slow speed.
Poor compatibility between different browser versions.
Lack of versions for Android, macOS, Linux and iOs.
Lack of developer support.
No task manager.

5. Browser Microsoft Edge

A browser that replaces the outdated Internet Explorer. The program comes bundled with Windows 10 and is the default browser.

The merits of Microsoft Edge

Works better and faster than its predecessor.
The browser does not need to be downloaded and installed separately.

Disadvantages of Microsoft Edge

Sufficiently meager support for plugins (there are plugins, but not all).
The browser can only be installed on Windows 10.
Huge consumption of RAM.
A terrible default search engine.
There is no built-in task manager.

6. Chromium browser

The browser that Google Chrome was based on. Also, the Chromium browser engine was used by Mozilla and Opera to translate their developments to it.

Chromium benefits

The browser does not impose any additional services.
High speed of work.
Availability of versions for all desktop operating systems (Windows, Linux, MacOS).
The largest number of additional extensions are supported.
There is a built-in task manager.
Low consumption of RAM.
Highest security.

Chromium disadvantages

Rather difficult process of installing the program.
Extensions are slightly more difficult to install than in other browsers.
Mobile versions are missing.

7. Tor browser

Browser designed to bypass various locks. Using Tor, you can go to absolutely any Internet page that is blocked in our country. This is possible due to the fact that the program uses proxy servers very actively.

Tor benefits

Providing absolute anonymity on the Internet, it will be almost impossible to find you.
The ability to enter a site that is blocked on the territory of your country.
There are versions for most operating systems.

Disadvantages of Tor

Due to the use of proxy servers, pages open very slowly.
The browser cannot work without using a proxy server.
Difficult installation process.
Virtually no plugin support.
It is consuming too many system resources.

8. Which browser is better?

There is no single answer to this question, it all depends on personal preference. For active users of Google services, a good solution would be to install the Google Chrome browser. This browser will provide convenient use of mail, search engine and other systems of the Google company.

Users of the search engine and mail from Yandex can be advised of the browser of the same name (Yandex Browser). Mozilla Firefox is a great choice for those who don't like imposing additional services. Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge are chosen by those who do not want to install unnecessary programs on their computer. In addition, Internet Explorer is the only browser that works correctly with legacy banking clients, which makes it actively used in some commercial organizations.

9. Rating of the best browsers in 2017

LiveInternet website statistics allows you to see how many users have used which browsers. As of 2016, we get the following rating:

It can be seen that the clear favorite among browsers is Google Chrome (it occupies 52% of the entire browser market). Among desktop browsers, Yandex Browser takes the second place (with only 7.4% of the market).

We've compared the 9 most popular Windows browsers to help you choose the best one. The interface, performance, security, the presence of advertisements in the program, presets and "chips" were assessed.
Test participants:

Chromium browsers:
- Chrome;
- Yandex browser;
- Amigo from ru;
- Opera;
- Vivaldi;
Mozilla Firefox
- Tor Browser Bundle;
Internet Explorer;
Microsoft Edge;

Test conditions:

Pure Windows 7 x32 in a virtual machine;
Dual-core 3.5 GHz processor;
4 GB of RAM;
256 MB of video memory with 3D and 2D acceleration;
The opening speed was measured by a stopwatch from clicking on a shortcut to loading google.ru. The browser did not open before;
RAM consumption was measured on 7 open tabs. The list of sites has always been the same;
For the general browser benchmark, the Peacekeeper Futuremark benchmark was used;
HTML5 feature support was tested at html5test.com. The maximum possible number of points is 555.

Most popular browsers

Top 10 browsers in Russia for desktop computers in 2015 according to Liveinternet statistics:

Chrome - 40.2%;
Yandex Browser - 15.2%;
FireFox -14.1%;
Opera (new version) - 9.6%;
Internet Explorer 11 - 6.1%;
Opera 12 - 3.4%;
Amigo from Mail.ru - 3.1%;
Internet Explorer 10 - 1.8%;
Internet Explorer 8 - 1.7%;
Internet Explorer 9 - 0.9%

Four of the ten most popular browsers - Chrome, Yandex, new Opera and Amigo - are based on the Chromium browser with the Blink engine. This is 68.1% of the total share of users. They have many common functions, differ in their own integrated web services, interface and other chips.

Chrome

No wonder Google Chrome is popular: a minimalistic interface, a large catalog of free extensions and themes, fast work and support for modern web development technologies.

Platforms: Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X 10.6+.
Functions:

Full data synchronization: history, extensions, passwords, bookmarks.
User profiles.

Import of bookmarks and settings from Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox.
Built-in page translator.
Remembering forms and passwords.
View PDF in a browser.
Highlighting errors when typing.

Flaws:

Performance

Safety

Warnings when visiting dangerous pages.
Good at blocking pop-ups.
Alerts about requesting location, camera and microphone.
Warnings when visiting https sites without a signed certificate.
Incognito mode: a separate window in which no history is saved.
EXE file will not download without confirmation.

Flaws:

Passwords are stored encrypted, but they can be viewed through the settings.
The spell checker sends all entered texts to Google to display errors.

Advertising and presets

Yandex browser

Yandex Browser is made on the basis of Chromium, but outwardly it is very different from the usual Chromium. Almost everything has been redone, and the changes went to the browser's advantage - they are really convenient.

Platforms: Windows, Android 4.1+, iOS 7.0+, Mac OS X, Linux.
Functions:

Import of bookmarks and settings from Internet Explorer, Opera, Chrome.
Full synchronization through your Yandex mail account.
Smart search bar shows answers in hints. You may not remember the exact address of the site, just enter the name in Russian - you will immediately be taken to the site.

When you open a new tab, a scoreboard appears - an analogue of visual bookmarks. The list of sites is customizable to your liking. Collection of beautiful background pictures. The download manager is built into the scoreboard.

The quick call function searches the page for a phone number. When pressed, an SMS with a number comes to the phone. Works when synchronization is on.
Translation of selected text and pages.
Return to the top of the page and back when clicking on a tab.
The address bar shows the homepage title and title instead of the URL. On some sites, links to popular sections of the site are displayed on the right in the row. When clicked, a full link is displayed, a button for copying and sharing in social. networks.
The browser does not close when all tabs are closed.
View documents in doc, rtf, ppt, pdf format and ePub, fb2, fbzip e-books right in the browser.
Mouse gesture control. A handy feature from Opera

Supports extensions from the Chrome and Opera store.

Search within the page taking into account word forms. It even finds words with different endings.