On test: the hidden seven browsers in the Windows ballot

Two weeks ago Microsoft started rolling out an update to all users of Windows XP, Vista and 7 within the European Union. This is no run-of-the-mill patch, but a forced opportunity for every Internet Explorer user to switch to a different browser and break the Microsoft monopoly. It sounds like a sensible, forward-thinking step – but as our test of the other seven minor browsers reveals, it could leave some users wondering what on earth happened to the internet they so loved.

Above is the screen all those affected will see – if you already have a browser other than Internet Explorer installed, you won’t be prompted to change – and it includes the five leading choices arranged in random order. These are all household names, but we’re far more interested in the seven choices you see when you scroll to the right. We show a random selection of them below.

Which left us wondering: what are these seven browsers actually like? Perhaps surprisingly, there’s no quality control on offer. The agreement hammered out between Microsoft and the EC simply stipulated the “12 most widely-used web browsers that run on Windows 7” based on usage share in the European Economic Area – that is, the EU plus Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Iceland. If you feel the urge to read the whole document (and we really don’t suggest you do) then it can be downloaded from Microsoft’s website.

So we did two things. First, we installed each browser on the same Windows 7 computer and tested their speed in the SunSpider benchmark, their memory usage with the Google home page open in a single tab, and their startup times – measured from the moment we clicked the icon to the browser window appearing. You can see the results for these on the next page.

Then we asked seven members of the PC Pro team to abandon their favoured browser and switch to one of these alternatives. To say they were delighted to do so would be a lie: there was gnashing of teeth, wailing and screaming pleas for mercy. All these fell on deaf ears. We provide full reviews of each browser in the Reviews section, but for a helpful summary click through to the next page.

Forget Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and the rest. We put the seven other browsers through the PC Pro grinder, with surprising results

Avant Browser (click for full review)

What they say: “The best web browser: Tiny, fast, simple, highly configurable and extendible. Perfect for everyone!” What we say: “The dated interface is the least of this ageing browser’s problems, which struggles with modern apps such as Google Docs and should be forced into retirement.”

FlashPeak SlimBrowser (click for full review)

What they say: “Fast and reliable web browser loaded with features such as form filler, popup blocker, login management and privacy protection.” What we say: “An ugly, awkward browser that offers very little its slicker rivals can’t match and improve upon.”

Flock (click for full review)

What they say: “Friend-based Navigation: the browser to get the most out of Facebook & Twitter.” What we say: “A surprisingly cohesive, well-programmed and useful browser for those who can’t live without their social media.”

GreenBrowser (click for full review)

What they say: “GreenBrowser is your best choice of flexible and powerful green web browser.” What we say: “Essentially Internet Explorer bashed with an ugly stick. Extra features like mouse gestures and a quick startup time can’t save it from the recycle bin.”

K-Meleon (click for full review)

What they say: “K-Meleon is an extremely fast, customizable, lightweight browser based on the Mozilla Gecko engine and designed specifically for Windows.” What we say: “A browser that looks and performs like the software of yesteryear. Only an option for those running equally aged hardware.”

Maxthon (click for full review)

What they say: “37 languages. Tear-off tabs & video. Split screen. Mouse gestures. Touchscreen. Ad killer. Swept Webware Awards twice. Compare and choose.” What we say: “It’s got enough features to put a smile on even the poutiest of power users, but it’s not fast enough, reliable enough, or pretty enough for anybody else.”

Sleipnir (click for full review)

What they say: “A fully customizable browser for a new web experience.” What we say: “Sleipnir’s star attraction is its ability to switch between Internet Explorer and Firefox’s rendering engines, but it’s no racehorse.”

Click here to read our conclusions on the seven browsers and see their benchmark scores

Our overall conclusion? Some of these browsers are surprisingly capable; we’d pick out both Flock and Sleipner as being of interest to power users. But others are shockingly low quality, either due to low-quality programming or sheer age, to the extent where the EU’s seemingly sensible move to break Microsoft’s monopoly turns into farce.

The only consolation is that the popularity of the top 12 browsers is re-examined every six months. As such, we beg of some entrepreneurial developers to design their own browser so that the weakest of these browsers can be knocked off the list and people can be offered a better choice. The good news is you won’t need much market share: the bottom seven between them account for only 0.68% (according to Net Applications). In fact, maybe a PC Pro browser is exactly what the EU needs…