EmailBest Reviewed
Web Browsers
- Best browser overall Firefox 3 *Est. $0
- Enhanced Firefox browser Flock 2 (beta) *Est. $0
- Fast browsing and search Google Chrome (beta) *Est. $0
- Best for older computers Opera 9.5 *Est. $0
- Best IE revision Internet Explorer 8 *Est. $0
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Enhanced Firefox browser
- All the advantages of Firefox 3
- Includes blog editor
- Integrates social networking
- Integrates photo sites
- Extra features take up screen space
- Extras can be distracting
Reviews recommend Flock 2 for people who "live on the Web" because it has all the speed, security and options of Firefox 3 but builds in a blog editor, photo-uploader and big sidebar to keep current with social networking friends and RSS feeds. A horizontal photo bar shows thumbnails from photo-sharing sites. For those who love multitasking, this is a great browser choice, but for Windows users who just want fast, simple browsing, reviews recommend the minimalist Google Chrome.
We found the best comparison tests and ratings of Flock 2 at PC Magazine. Excellent single-product reviews at The Wall Street Journal and ArsTechnica.com make its advantages and drawbacks even clearer. The review at Cnet.com (Australia), which is shorter, compares Flock 2 with major browsers. Softpedia provides user ratings for Flock 2, while the editor's review covers a much earlier version.
Our Sources
This detailed review gives Flock 2 the same rating as Firefox 3 (on which Flock is based), with kudos for the extra features that bring many web interactions into one program. Flock handles RSS feeds even better than Firefox, but it doesn't include instant messaging, a media player or integration with Hotmail and a few important blog hosts.
Review: Flock 2 Beta 2, Aug. 21, 2008
Personal technology columnist Mossberg calls Flock "productive and fun to use" after testing its social networking features with several of his favorite sites and finding that they work very well. He recommends Flock only for "the heaviest and most impatient social networkers" because its sidebar and optional photo bar take up a lot of screen space and can be distracting.
Review: Flock Web Browser Eases Multitasking But Has Drawbacks, Walter S. Mossberg, Aug. 7, 2008
This enthusiastic review is especially useful because it includes several screen shots and covers Flock features in detail - including the panel for interacting with social network friends, plus the blog editor and photo uploader. The main drawback is the wide media bar, which takes a minimum of 670 pixels of screen space.
Review: Hands On: Flock 2 Steps up the Social Browser Game, David Chartier, June 17, 2008
This brief review of Flock, attached to a comparison review of three better-known web browsers, praises Flock for its usability and for integrating so many features.
Review: Flock – Browser battle: IE8 vs. Opera 9.5 vs. Safari vs. Firefox 3, Nate Lanxon, Mar. 28, 2008
Flock 2 gets high ratings from users, and an earlier and longer review of the first version praises Flock for its blogging and photo-uploading features. Flock 2 includes Twitter integration plus several fixes for problems with Facebook and various photo sites.
Review: Flock 2.0 Beta 3 / 1.2.6, Sept. 13, 2008
