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While many students first work with Internet Explorer when they are younger, other choices may prove more appealing. Recently, web browsers such as Chrome , TorchBrowser, and Firefox have gained broad audiences. Additional choices for mobile use mean students can continue working away from laptops and desktop computers.
A great web browser should make the basic functions easy to handle. Downloads should be a snap to start and they should be quick to locate once completed. Ideally, a user should be able to enable a master password to protect user names and passwords for websites. Keyboard shortcuts that aren't complicated make work flow faster for research throughout the day.
Tab Management:
The ability to manage tabs is another important factor for students. Researching a paper can involve the use of multiple tabs during a browsing session. Firefox's ability to make tab groups as separate sections is a plus.Speed is an essential attribute as well. A student can't waste time waiting for a browser to load forever. Loading pages, even with multiple tabs open, shouldn't take longer than a few seconds. Gregg Keizer of Computerworld notes that Google recently added a speed boost to the latest version of Chrome. Another useful tool is a speed dial feature like the one in Opera. The speed dial displays a user's favorite sites on opening the browser.
Synchronization:
Synchronizing browsers between different computers is a must-have feature for students. This is useful if commuting between school and home or working on a lab partner's computer. It's also handy if one switches between operating systems like a Mac at school and a Windows PC at home. Firefox Sync allows a student to share passwords, tabs, history and bookmarks between various computers. A user signing into a Google account on Chrome can opt for synchronizing too.Mobile browsers allow students to learn in the library, to learn right outside of class or to learn on the go. A mobile browser should be robust and able to open a student's essential websites properly. It should also let a user switch between an iPad, a smartphone and a laptop seamlessly. Mobile versions of Chrome and Firefox are available. Opera is installed on many mobile devices. Dolphin is another useful mobile browser for tablets and smartphones.
Customization:
Extensions and add-ons bring useful features to a web browser. A great web browser should have a broad range of extensions and add-ons with helpful user reviews. Look for extensions and add-ons that enhance research and improve social networking. Others can block websites when students don't want to be distracted or check for grammar errors.Students should also check into a web browser's privacy features,
- If sharing a computer, it should be easy to sign out of a web browser.
- Erasing cookies and browsing history should be fast.
- Anonymous tabs and windows should be quick to implement.
Selecting the right web browser can contribute to a student's productivity. Look over the attributes of a great web browser for students to find a good fit.
Author Bio:
Sarah Anderson is guiding users of all ages how to use TorchBrowser.com to download torrent files. A youthful face for web browsing and downloading in the hi-tech world.