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1.  What is a Browser?

A browser is application software that runs on your computer. Browsers access the World Wide Web and display webpages. As part of this, Browsers interpret the web-page language, (X)HTML as well as style information called CSS and a programming language called Javascript. Browsers also often support additional features called "extensions" and can display other types of content via helper programs called "plugins".

2.  What a Browser is NOT

A browser is NOT the same thing as

An browser showing vistua.com

• The World Wide Web. Which is a global interconnected network of servers on The Public Internet which use the HTTP protocol to serve webpages
• The Internet. Which is the actual public implementation of the internetworking system itself.
• A Search engine. Which is a webpage which allows you to search The World Wide Web. Google.com and Yahoo.com are popular search engines.
• Email. Even though web-based email is used by The Vistua Network System, your email can be viewed in any browser, it is not specific to one particular one.

Logos of many browsers, some quite obscure

3.  More Than One Browser

Many competing brands of browser exist. The most popular are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera and the new Google Chrome. There are, however, a large number of minority players such as Konqueror, Seamonkey, Safari, Camino and others.

Different browsers offer different features, user interfaces, etc. Some are markedly faster than others, some more aesthetically appealing.

4.  Which Browser Should I Use?

Vistua Administration recommends that you retain whatever browser you are currently using with the following two exceptions.

1. If you are experiencing sluggishness and unresponsiveness of your browser itself or the pages that run in it, we recommend switching to Chrome as it is very fast.
2. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, we recommend that you stop doing that immediately and switch to another browser. (If you are unsure which to switch to, Firefox and Chrome are the best, see below for download links.) Internet Explorer has several serious security problems and extremely sluggish performance.

5.  Switching Browsers

On M.S. Windows, and Mac OS switching a browser is as simple as visiting that browsers website and clicking "Download". Then open the installer file that downloads and the setup wizard will walk you through the steps.

On UNIX, you must request your administrator to install the browser before it will become available. Then you simply open that browser from the KDE menu and/or drag its icon from there to your desktop. The browser will then usually ask to set itself as default. Detailed instructions are provided for switching to Chrome.

6.  Customizing your Browser

Some browsers support "themes" or "skins" to change their appearance and extensions. Menu options for these should be apparrent, typically in a "tools" menu or "settings" function. Otherwise consult your documentation and administrator.

7.  On your Mobile

You can sometimes change your mobile browser too. Look in your smartphone's Marketplace app. There is a mobile version of Opera which is available for many phone operating systems including basic phones.

8.  External Links

8.1  Information

• What Browser? - tells you what browser you are using and offers to help you change to a different one (we recommend that you NOT switch to Internet Explorer and you switch to a different browser if you are.

8.2  Downloads

Note: Windows and Mac only. Your administrator will install other browsers for you on UNIX. Not all browsers available on all platforms.

• Google Chrome
• Internet Explorer - do not use this browser.
• Firefox
• Safari
• Opera.