Safari
Known for its intuitive usability, Safari is Apple’s lightweight and super sleek internet browser. Safari trails behind other browsers in terms of market share, simply because it was a Mac-only application for so long. It wasn’t until 2007 that Apple launched Safari for Windows, opening the browser to the largest portion of computer users in the world. But it’s not just Safari’s late debut to the entire computing world that keeps it from being a top contender in our lineup; the internet browser is fast and easy to use but lacks the customization features that so many users are seeking in a browser these days.
Every internet browser on the market boasts a handful of proprietary usability features, and Safari is no different. A few of our favorites include Reading List and Top Sites. Reading List is a slick way to save the URLs of interesting webpages that you want to revisit and read later. Top Sites offers an at-a-glance preview of your favorite websites. The concept is similar to an RSS feed but it allows you to preview a site in full rather than a simple list of new content.
Safari also offers all the browsing basics you’d expect from any browser, including tabs, spell check and a password manager. Where Safari lags behind the competition is customization. The internet browser is noticeably less flexible than competitors when it comes to customizing toolbars, and it doesn’t have syncing capabilities. Safari also lacks parental and zoom controls.
As a product of Apple, it comes as no surprise that Safari is replete with security features and functions designed to keep you safe while browsing. The browser provides protection from all types of malware and fraudulent phishing websites. Similar to many of the other internet browsers we reviewed, you can adjust your level of security with Safari. It also allows you to delete private data such as your browsing history.
In terms of speed, Safari is right on par with our other top internet browsers. It takes less than five seconds for the browser to initialize and even less time to navigate between webpages. A built-in progress bar lets you see how fast the browser is actually performing. Additionally, Safari is compatible with most of the web. There are a few known compatibility issues with Safari, namely with CSS and PDF files, but we didn’t experience any problems during our tests.
If you are comfortable on a Mac, using Safari comes naturally, as the browser possesses the hallmark look and feel of a Mac application. Safari ditches bulky customization in favor of being lightweight and non-obtrusive and as a result, the browser is unadorned but ultra-sleek. Some users may not be keen on the bare interface, but there’s no denying it aids in overall usability.
Apple provides good support for Safari, including a range of online resources that include FAQs, tutorials and user forums.
Summary:
Safari is a solid web browser and has the majority of the basic features any competitive browser should. It’s easy to use and extremely fast. You may find its lack of customization options a bit hindering, but for those seeking a basic, no-frills browser that allows you to browse the web securely, Safari is the way to go.
Known for its intuitive usability, Safari is Apple’s lightweight and super sleek internet browser. Safari trails behind other browsers in terms of market share, simply because it was a Mac-only application for so long. It wasn’t until 2007 that Apple launched Safari for Windows, opening the browser to the largest portion of computer users in the world. But it’s not just Safari’s late debut to the entire computing world that keeps it from being a top contender in our lineup; the internet browser is fast and easy to use but lacks the customization features that so many users are seeking in a browser these days.
Every internet browser on the market boasts a handful of proprietary usability features, and Safari is no different. A few of our favorites include Reading List and Top Sites. Reading List is a slick way to save the URLs of interesting webpages that you want to revisit and read later. Top Sites offers an at-a-glance preview of your favorite websites. The concept is similar to an RSS feed but it allows you to preview a site in full rather than a simple list of new content.
Safari also offers all the browsing basics you’d expect from any browser, including tabs, spell check and a password manager. Where Safari lags behind the competition is customization. The internet browser is noticeably less flexible than competitors when it comes to customizing toolbars, and it doesn’t have syncing capabilities. Safari also lacks parental and zoom controls.
As a product of Apple, it comes as no surprise that Safari is replete with security features and functions designed to keep you safe while browsing. The browser provides protection from all types of malware and fraudulent phishing websites. Similar to many of the other internet browsers we reviewed, you can adjust your level of security with Safari. It also allows you to delete private data such as your browsing history.
In terms of speed, Safari is right on par with our other top internet browsers. It takes less than five seconds for the browser to initialize and even less time to navigate between webpages. A built-in progress bar lets you see how fast the browser is actually performing. Additionally, Safari is compatible with most of the web. There are a few known compatibility issues with Safari, namely with CSS and PDF files, but we didn’t experience any problems during our tests.
If you are comfortable on a Mac, using Safari comes naturally, as the browser possesses the hallmark look and feel of a Mac application. Safari ditches bulky customization in favor of being lightweight and non-obtrusive and as a result, the browser is unadorned but ultra-sleek. Some users may not be keen on the bare interface, but there’s no denying it aids in overall usability.
Apple provides good support for Safari, including a range of online resources that include FAQs, tutorials and user forums.
Summary:
Safari is a solid web browser and has the majority of the basic features any competitive browser should. It’s easy to use and extremely fast. You may find its lack of customization options a bit hindering, but for those seeking a basic, no-frills browser that allows you to browse the web securely, Safari is the way to go.