Running Multiple Browsers on your Personal Computer

Most serious PC users, whether for work or play, depend on their access to the internet.   These users typically have one or more needs that can only be accessed via the Net.   Obviously, that means that you have at least one Internet Browser running on your system. 

The internet browser is the software application that controls and funnels all our internet activity.   It is the actual conduit through which you interact with all website on the net.   Your browser also supports your interaction with sites – whether for downloads or complex connections, watching video, playing games and engaging in complex graphics-based applications. 

In the early days of the internet there were only two browsers and legal battles ensued.   Some software companies have major contracts with hardware manufacturers that have them install that company’s browser prior to the shipment of their PCs.   It is a major advantage for MS to have IE running on your PC.  Like most software products, competition will eventually set in.

In the world of browsers, you now have many to choose from.  Some come with a high price tag in exchange for specialized functionality.   Most of them, however, are free to download and use.  

Another marketing trick from some software companies was to make their browser incompatible with concurrent use of any others.   As a result of several lawsuits these products are now able to run concurrently on one PC.  This allows any user, even casual ones, to run multiple browsers concurrently.

Some people – especially those without heavy use or specialized needs – do not consider this much of need.  Others, however, like the specificity and control of multiple browsers.   Let’s look at several of these advantages.

Some websites will only interact with Internet Explorer.  Public utilities and other public-traffic sites use certain settings that support functionality that they see as being key to how their site works, and they have altered their site, over time, to function best with IE.  Some sites cannot be accessed at all with certain browsers.  

Nonetheless, there are real advantages of having one or more of the new browsers running on your PC, even if you also run IE.  Firefox, as an example, is a browser that is preferred by many software developers because of the clean way it interacts with web authoring software.  No matter the reason having multiple browsers on your PC does have advantages.  Regardless of your selection, if you have multiple browsers you should keep a clean and updated registry on your PC.  You can purchase and download the best registry package that does this.  They also perform the other registry cleaner functions that accomplish any needed Registry Repair. 

You should also know, however, that having multiple browsers does come at a price.  You will need to learn multiple ways of site interaction – like downloads – and keep track of site-specific browser use.   For complex users a site list is even necessary when interacting with dozens of specific sites.  In any case, you should be prepared to actively control your browser selection and use.