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What is
Avant Browser you ask?
Avant Browser is a custom web browser application that is a standalone
application designed to expand services provided by Microsoft Internet Explorer.
In other words, it uses internet explorer as the base application and improves
and adds on it. I cannot remember how I stumbled upon this browser but I am glad
I did.
THE USER INTERFACE AND MAJOR FEATURES :
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) of Avant Browser looks and even feels similar
to Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. That is because Avant Browser uses Internet
Explorer as its base.
How does Avant Browser improve your web surfing experience?
The first and most helpful feature that interested me was its ability to open
web pages in different “Tabs.” When Avant Browser is launched you only see one
tab on your Windows taskbar (the gray bar on the bottom of your screen) and it
stays that way all the time. You can even turn that off and have it only show up
as a tray icon (icons in the lower left corner of the task bar). Unlike
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Avant Browser opens each web page/site in different
tabs inside the program, so you will not clutter up the taskbar. These tabs are
on a toolbar strip which is called “Window Tasks” inside the browser.
Another feature that I like about the Avant Browser is its ability to use
Internet Explorer’s favorites, so you do not have to bookmark all over again.
The bookmarks can be managed through a link in the favorites menu that calls
Internet Explorer’s “Favorites Organizer.” There is an additional feature
“Groups” that allows one to bookmark multiple web pages as a group or category.
It is almost like putting bookmarks in folders. Another feature called “Feeds”
is like favorites and groups, but it already comes built-in with many helpful
bookmarks and one can even add to it.
The Tools menu allows one to easily turn on and off several web browsing
plug-ins and tools such as: Videos, Sounds, Java Scripts, ActiveX, Pictures and
many more. Avant Browser comes built-in with popup and ad blocker utilities.
This is handy and a plus because one does not have to get these utilities
separately. The popup blocker does its job very efficiently and stops all popup
windows unless a user desires it. The ad blocker is like the popup blocker and
stops all ads from popping up.
Avant Browser also supports skinning; you can make is look the way you like it.
You can easily download new skins from Avant Browsers official website (www.avantbrowser.com).
This browser has support for all languages that Internet explorer supports.
There is also a built-in “Translation” feature that I like a lot. It allows one
to translate a web page from various languages to English or vice versa using
google’s (www.google.com)
translation codes.
Another feature that makes Avant Browser one of the best is its ability to use
“URL Alias.” URL Aliases allow you to type some combination of characters in the
address bar and this browser will automatically navigate to the appropriate web
page. One can easily manage URL Aliases in the “Avant Browser Options” window.
BEST OF ALL :
One of the best things about the Avant Browser is the fact that it is FREE. This
browser has no spyware or adware hidden within the deepest levels of the
software. There is a built-in “Integrated Search Engine,” which uses google to
produce results. This is very useful because I use google.com a lot for all my
online searches.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS :
A user will need a Pentium 166 PC or higher, 16MB RAM or more. The operating
system should be Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME or
Windows XP. For Windows 95 systems, IE 5.5 or higher version should be
installed. For Windows NT systems, Service Pack 6 and IE 5.5 should be
installed, and IE 6.0 are recommended.
For ideal performance: a user should have at least Windows 98 and Internet
Explorer 6.0 installed, and Windows 2000 installed if at all possible.
Tested System :
AMD K6 400 / 64 Ram / Windows 95 / Internet Explorer 5.5
Pentium II 333 / 64M Ram / Windows NT Service Pack 6 / Internet Explorer 4.01
Celeron 500 / 128 Ram / Windows 98 / Internet Explorer 5
Celeron 1.7G / 128 Ram / Windows 2000 / Internet Explorer 5.5
AMD K7 800 / 256 Ram / Windows XP Home Edition / Internet Explorer 6
Pentium-4 2.4G / 512 Ram / Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 / Internet
explorer 6 SP1
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE :
I have been using Avant Browser for almost two years now and I have loved every
second of it. Over time, the people who wrote this software came up with updates
and upgrades which helped improve the usability and reliability of this browser.
I prefer to use the Avant Browser instead of just Internet Explorer because it
has even more useful features that Internet Explorer just does not have by
itself. I have gotten use to this browser now and I do not think I will be able
to go back to just Internet Explorer.
A good thing about this browser is when I try to browse a FTP (File Transfer
Protocol) site; it does not lock up for a while like Internet Explorer does. It
locks up for about a second and then goes back to normal process.
Another nice little feature I like about this browser is when you want to close
a tab/page, you do not have to go all the up to the "X" button to to do it, all
you do is double click the tab itself and boom it's gone.
FINALLY :
I would like to take this time and personally recommend this amazing internet
browser that will change the way you surf the web forever. Even if you have a
browser already have a browser that you think is the best for you, I would still
suggest that you at least download the latest version of Avant Browser and give
it a try; who knows, maybe it will become your best browser ever.
Note: Some statements in this review may relate to the one's on the
manufacturer's official website. |
