Greetings, friends. A couple of days ago, a friend of mine asked me for advice: what browser best to put on old pc? The question drove me to a dead end, I somehow never thought about such things. And since a friend is still waiting for advice from me, I decided to delve into this topic and form my own answer.
Browser, or web browser - application software for viewing web pages, the content of web documents, computer files and their directories; web application management; as well as for other tasks.
Let's start with the most common browsers. The fact is that Google Chrome, Opera And Mozilla Firefox refused to support Windows XP And Vista. That is, the latest versions of these browsers on outdated laptops and PCs cannot even be installed. And even if it works out, old PCs will not have enough RAM for the normal operation of these browsers. Using older versions is not the best solution. Web standards do not stand still, which means that using older versions of browsers we will see a distorted display of modern websites. Otherwise, we will not see individual elements of Internet pages at all.
However, there is still a choice. Today I will tell you about four modern browsers that will work great on old PCs and laptops, successfully coping with all standard tasks.
K-meleon
K-Meleon has been around for over a decade. This is the Mozilla browser which includes the Gecko engine from Firefox. The design of the user interface of the browser is very similar to that of regular Firefox. Like Firefox, K-Meleon has extensive options for customizing the toolbar, menus, and hotkeys.
While you won't be able to add Firefox extensions to K-Meleon, the browser still has a lot of handy plugins.
K-Meleon is also the fastest browser that can run even on Windows 95, not to mention XP, Vista and other operating systems.
Of the minuses: K-Meleon is very rarely updated. The latest stable version of the browser at the time of writing this article is 75.1, released in 2015. There is a Russian-language localization.
Download K-Meleon from the official site. Pay attention to the title “Latest Stable Release” - choose one of the versions: Download installer, which requires installation, or portable, which does not require installation.
Midori
The creators of Midori designed the browser as an alternative to more "bloated" software products. While other browsers are growing in size all the time, Midori remains minimalistic - the browser "weighs" only 37.7 megabytes. And since older PCs usually don't have a large hard drive, this factor can be a key factor when choosing a browser.
Despite its small size, Midori works great with all the latest web technologies, including HTML 5 and CSS 3.
Midori was developed on top of the webkit engine, which puts it in the same family as Chrome. The browser doesn't have an extension repository, but it does have a few settings that you can use to customize Midori to your needs.
Midori has both an installation version and a portable version that can be used without installation on a PC, for example, from a USB flash drive or CD / DVD disk.
Download Midori from the official site. Choose one of the versions: installer, which requires installation, or portable, which does not require installation.
Pale Moon
Pale Moon - This browser is a fork from the Firefox source code. Basically, it's a stripped-down version of Firefox that runs on Windows XP and Vista. Pale Moon requires only 256 MB of free memory and is optimized for modern processors. This browser uses system resources efficiently, which allows it to work on old PCs and laptops with enviable speed.
Pale Moon has a very similar interface design to older versions of Firefox. Many of the extensions that are available for Firefox will also be compatible with Pale Moon. In addition, this browser has its own exclusive add-ons. The browser also allows you to customize many settings for tabs, page content, etc., just like in Firefox.
Update articles from 12/21/2018. As one of the readers of my blog correctly noted, after a recent update, the Pale Moon browser has become more demanding on computer resources. Now the system requirements are:
- Windows 7/8/10/Server 2008 R2 or later
- 1 GB of RAM;
— at least 200 MB of free disk space.
Download Pale Moon from the official site. Hover over the “Download” menu, then “Pale Moon” and select one of the available browser versions.
Maxthon 5
The fourth and last browser that I want to show you today is Maxthon 5. This is a promising software that continues to develop actively. The system requirements of the browser are very modest: a 1 GHz processor, 512 megabytes of RAM and 64 megabytes of hard disk space.
Let's take a closer look at the most popular browsers for personal computers and laptops running Windows in the world and in Runet, in particular. We will try to evaluate them as objectively as possible. advantages And flaws for the user. The main and most important characteristics are speed, ease of use, security, functionality.
Before moving on to the review, let's take a look at statistics provided by leading web analytics companies.
The most recent data on the share of users in the world at the beginning of 2017 was provided by the Net Applications agency. It should be noted that these statistics have not undergone global changes for several years. 
The statistics of users of the Russian-language Internet are maintained by several companies, among which we present OpenStat, LiveInternet and HotLog. 
As we see confident leadership in Runet and in the world for Google Chrome.
But that's just statistics. In order to fully experience the quality of the work of browsers, it is worth trying them all in action, because everyone can have their own specific wishes and preferences.
Mozilla FireFox - free web surfing 
If you prefer simple interface with minimum extra buttons and tabs, then this browser is definitely worth a try. During the initial installation, you will receive a minimum of functions, which for some is even for the better - easy to use.
You can expand the functionality with the help of numerous plugins And extensions, which is just the sea (more than 100 thousand at the moment). 
Has a high level security Your personal data and passwords. Easy in at a construction site.
An important advantage is blocking pop-ups and RSS support. It is updated independently, without user intervention. 
High rates of development allow the browser to successfully compete with the leaders of the ratings, but still slightly inferior in performance the next browser in our review.
Google - Internet at the speed of Chrome 
Chrome offers greatest work speed. Very well thought out functionality. Features a very convenient multilingual interface, which all other browsers try to copy with varying degrees of success.
Browser automatically blocks pop-up windows, in the search bar you can enter both the site address and the search query. 
An extremely handy quick page translation. Supports operating mode multiple users.
It's more than just a browser - it's a web application platform. Built-in Flash-player, it is possible to view PDF And DOC files directly in the browser window. For some, the enable mode function may be useful. incognita to turn off tracking of your online activity and accounting of Internet activity.
Lots of extensions, unfortunately, not all of them are of sufficient quality, as many are created by third-party developers. Because of them, there may be a decrease in the speed of work, so you should install only proven plugins and extensions.
From shortcomings can be seen as quite high RAM load when you open multiple tabs, as well as tracking your interests, location and display advertising based on this information.
However, in general, this browser is not in vain the leader in Russia and the world, so we can recommend it in the first place.
Opera - convenient, safe, fast 
Once the most popular Internet Explorer in Russia, now every year it is losing popularity more and more. But its Mini version for smartphones is still used by the majority.
Among virtues should be noted relatively fast work, for low-power computers will be very handy. The speed can be further increased by using the " Turbo». 
Easy to set up, can install about a thousand extensions And plugins. Has a pleasant interface.
TO cons we will attribute a large amount of loaded RAM, some sites may not display correctly.
Yandex Browser - fast with turbo mode 
Recently, the Russian-made browser is gaining more and more popularity. True, the same engine is taken as the basis Chromium, and therefore the interface is similar to Chrome, but it must be admitted that it is a little more adapted for Runet. 
Of the differences, we note an unusual animated background Internet Explorer, which improves perception. Interface simplified to the minimum. A variety of panels take up less space, so that the overview of sites increases by 20%. Services integrated Yandex disk, mail, online translator and other specialized ones.
For some, the simplified interface may be a disadvantage, it will take time to get used to it. If you do not bind to various Yandex services, then the browser will work in a limited way.
Tor Browser Bundle - Incognito Mode 
Not represented in the rating, which is no wonder - the browser is intended for users who want to hide your details, spies seeking to surf the net in incognita.
Basically, Thor is modified Mozilla FireFox, with a similar interface and functionality. But with its use, you can hide your IP address, location and other personal data.
However, the price for protecting your information will be significant performance degradation. That is, pages will open slowly, as traffic will be redirected through the servers of many countries. You will constantly have to enter captcha in a search engine in order to be checked whether you are a robot.
If you care about privacy on the net - we advise you to try Tor Browser in the case.
Internet Explorer - always at hand 
Explorer is the grandfather of all modern browsers. Now he has significantly lost his position. In all respects - security, speed, convenience, it is rather weak.
However, in the latest version of Internet Explorer 11, it tried to get closer to the leading browsers and level out a number of shortcomings. 
However cons its use is still too a lot of, because few users give it their preference.
Microsoft edge- new fromMicrosoft 
Microsoft does not give up and in 2015 creates a browser that is rapidly increasing the number of its fans. It replaced Internet Explorer in Windows 10. 
enlarged number of supported extensions, work speed increased, thanks to the use of the new EdgeHTML engine. fully integrated in Windows 10, it cannot be used in other versions. We also worked on security.
From shortcomings- some sites may not be displayed correctly, the menu is not functional enough, it is difficult to customize for specific tasks.
Good day!
I would like to dedicate today's post to all those who have to work on weak old computers. I know from my own experience that even solving the simplest tasks can turn into a big waste of time: files open for a long time, video plays with brakes, the computer often “freezes” ...
Let's consider the most necessary free software, which creates a minimum load on the computer (in relation to similar programs).
The most necessary programs for a weak computer
Antivirus
Antivirus, in itself, is a rather gluttonous program, because. he needs to monitor all running programs on the computer, check each file, look for malicious lines of code. Sometimes, some do not install an antivirus on a weak computer at all, because. brakes become unbearable...
A vast
This antivirus shows very good results. You can download.
Of the advantages I would immediately like to highlight:
Speed of work;
Fully translated into Russian interface;
Many settings;
Large antivirus database;
Low system requirements.
A vira
Most of all, this browser conquers with its undemanding to computer resources. I don’t know why, but it works quickly even on very old PCs (on which it is generally possible to install it).
Plus, Yandex has many convenient services that are conveniently embedded in the browser and you can quickly use them: for example, find out the weather or the dollar / euro exchange rate ...
Google Chrome
One of the most popular browsers today. It works fast enough until you hang it with various extensions. The resource requirements are comparable to the Yandex browser.
By the way, it is convenient to write a search query in the address bar right away, Google Chrome will find the necessary answers in the google search engine.
Audio player
There is no doubt that any computer should have at least one audio player. Without it, a computer is not a computer!
One of the music players that has minimum system requirements is foobar 2000.
F oobar 2000
At the same time, the program is very functional. Allows you to create a bunch of playlists, search for songs, edit track names, etc.
Foobar 2000 almost never freezes, as often happens with WinAmp on weak old computers.
STP
Download: http://download.chip.eu/ru/STP-MP3-Player_69521.html
I couldn't help but highlight this small program, designed mainly for playing MP3 files.
Its main feature: minimalism. Here you will not see any beautiful flickering and running lines and dots, no equalizers, etc. But, thanks to this, the program consumes a minimum of computer system resources.
One more feature is also very pleasant: you can switch ringtones using hot buttons while in any other Windows program!
Video player
There are dozens of different players for watching movies and videos. Perhaps, only a few combine low requirements + high functionality. Among them, I would like to highlight BS Player.
When working with equipment, I want it to quickly follow the instructions given by the user. But not everything and not always goes like clockwork. So, the equipment that does not have significant operational capacities does not meet such a requirement. Especially such inconveniences are felt on inexpensive PCs and laptops. And within the framework of the article, we will consider which simple browser for a weak computer to choose and what are the features of its use.
Problem
To fully understand what we need, we need to have an idea of what we are dealing with. In our case, it is necessary not only to use a light browser for a weak computer, but also to configure it for optimal performance. Since even the most advanced software may not function in the best way due to inept user actions. Moreover, optimization refers not only to the operation of the computer, but also to the display of the site.
What do you want to say about popular browsers
More specifically, about Opera, Mozilla and Google Chrome. You can often hear complaints about them that these versions have become much harder for technology. This is not entirely true. If we open any browser of any such complainer, we can almost always see that there is a lot of “body kit” installed there, which makes it so heavy. Therefore, it must first be dealt with in order to be able to talk about the speed of action. Special attention will be given to such a browser for weak computers - Opera. It has a special "Turbo" mode, with the help of which, without additional settings and fiddling with hardware, you can optimize your work and get improved performance on the Internet. Separately, it is worth mentioning about "Google Chrome". It is not known what computers the developers have, but they probably have 32 GB of RAM. Therefore, this browser often sins by frantically “eating” RAM. To avoid this, it is recommended not to leave tabs open for a long time and restart them.
Setting up popular models
Let's look at this using Mozilla as an example. First of all, you need to make sure that all plugins are disabled. Of course, they allow you to conveniently navigate the Internet and get acquainted with multimedia content, but along with these operations, the machine is loaded. But our goal is a lightweight browser for a weak computer. An exception can be made for only one category of plugins - those that are engaged in "cutting" heavy (usually advertising) elements from pages. This is an example where they will only help save operational power. Also, as an alternative possible solution, you can consider installing outdated versions. Let's take Mozilla version 2 or Opera ninth, and we have a browser for weak computers. They are both quite functional and at the same time low-cost in terms of the use of system resources. But back to setting up the program.
The ideal browser for weak computers can be obtained by sacrificing some of the features. So, you can disable the download of various videos, pictures and other optional elements - thanks to this, you can get a machine that can perform the working functions of information search. But this all applies to the usual user operating systems "Windows". If you are looking for a lightweight browser for weak computers that have one of the versions of Linux installed, then we suggest paying attention to Midori. It is characterized by ease of operation and correct interaction with various sites.
Taking a Look at Unpopular Browsers
But what is popular does not appeal to everyone. Which browser for a weak computer should you choose if you want to try something new? There is a wide variety of different programs that are written on the Chromium open source engine. It should be noted that the merit of these browsers is that they take up little space and are quickly processed. But the other side of the coin is that they do not always have a user-friendly interface (although most are similar to Google Chrome) and errors often occur that make their comfortable use problematic. So, an uncommon browser for weak computers:
- Browsar Winstyle.
- Comodo Dragon.
There is no unity of opinion about them, but, nevertheless, if you are satisfied with their functionality, you can safely use them.
Conclusion
In general, any computer with at least 256 MB of RAM can easily work with the modern segment of the Internet. Of course, in this case, it will be necessary to carefully approach the programs that are installed on it, forget about autoloading various social network clients or other sites, but the end result will be able to please - the browser will, albeit a little slowly, but surely load any page of an arbitrary site. Here it is necessary to mention that working with heavy elements of a flash player or 3D models will not be available (or very incorrect), but ordinary text documents will work without problems.
Greetings! Agree, today it is already impossible to imagine your life without the Internet. It is important for each user to use a really worthy Internet browser, because the better and faster it is, the more comfortable it is to surf the vastness of the global network. This is especially important when the computer is not modern and installing any browser, respectively, is not a way out. Today we will take a look at best and fastest browsers for pc as of 2016, which over time have gained the trust of many users in all countries.
Browser- This is a program through which you can view various web resources. All this is done using special http requests to the server, after which data is transmitted back from it. All this data is processed according to established web programming standards, and in this way an electronic page with all objects is formed.
In other words, the browser is the same conductor between the user and the global Internet. So, we figured out what a browser is, now you can actually go to the rating of the best browsers in 2016.
TOP best internet browsers 2016
Google ChromeLet's start with you with the most popular browser today - Google Chrome. It is used by most of all users of the world, and this is not surprising, since a global corporation invests enormous resources in the development and support of its product. This browser is used both on personal computers and on mobile gadgets (phones, tablets, etc.).
Advantages:
- supports all popular operating systems;
- searches directly from the address bar;
- lightning-fast translation of any page (for example, from Ukrainian to Russian);
- fast speed (pages open almost instantly);
- synchronization of settings and bookmarks.
Flaws:
- on weak computers, the Google Chrome browser may “slow down”, as more than one plugin will be installed over time.
Yandex browser
Pretty fresh browser that is rapidly gaining momentum by consolidating all of its services in one place. Yandex Browser can also be used both for personal computers and on tablets, phones, etc.
Advantages:
- supports, as in Google Chrome, all popular operating systems;
- search from the address bar with hints;
- the presence of many beautiful themes that can change the browser visually beyond recognition;
- synchronization of settings and bookmarks;
- the browser has a turbo mode, which allows you to significantly speed up the loading of web content, as well as speed up online video playback when the picture slows down due to low Internet speed.
Unfortunately, Yandex Browser is practically a clone of the popular Google Chrome browser, differing only in some “own” features. This is not surprising, since both browsers use the same engine. I would recommend you to use Yandex Browser only if you often look for any information in the Yandex search engine, or use its services. You can download this browser from the link
Mozilla Firefox
A very popular browser that is used by a huge number of users. Although it is not significantly slower in speed and loses to the Chrome browser, it has no equal in its capabilities. Firefox contains a wide variety of plugins and add-ons that are aimed at solving a variety of tasks: a password master, downloading videos and music, expanding browser capabilities, and much more.
Advantages:
- convenience in working with bookmarks, as well as their synchronization (especially useful when reinstalling the operating system);
- contains a large number of various add-ons and plug-ins;
- pretty high speed (unless, of course, a huge number of plugins are installed);
- editing the toolbar to your "taste" (you can remove or add any desired button);
I advise you to install this browser in any case, even if it will not be the main one, but believe me, it definitely will not hurt. You can download Firefox from this link.
Opera
This browser has been around for a long time, improving and developing. Of course, he lost quite a few fans after it was decided to switch from his own engine to a third-party one. However, he is still able to overtake many competitors today. In secret, I always have it installed and I use it, even though it is not the main browser.
Peculiarities:
- good speed, even on weak PCs the browser shows good results;
- a colossal degree of safety (these conclusions were made by more than one specialist around the world);
- a huge number of various extensions that add interesting features to the browser;
- turbo mode (Opera turbo) - a function that allows you to save traffic by compressing the downloaded elements of web pages. A very useful feature that appeared for the first time in this particular browser.
In principle, by and large, all browser options are the same as in the previous ones. I'll tell you one more secret: if the Opera is properly configured, then in terms of speed it can easily overtake Chrome. If you don't believe me, you can experiment. You can download this browser from the link
Microsoft Edge
A completely new browser that was included in the distribution of the new Windows 10 operating system. It is likely that in the future users will not have to download third-party browsers, as it will cope with the tasks as well, if not better. The developers set a goal - to create both a lightweight browser, and at the same time functional.
In many tests, the browser shows excellent results, surpassing popular competitors. But, since Microsoft Edge sometimes displays some sites not quite correctly, this indicates its “dampness”. The promise is great, but it's the last one on our list of the top best browsers of 2016.
Best browsers for weak PCs (light browsers)
PalemoonBefore you is a modified version of the Firefox browser, which I described above. The most optimized Palemoon browser is ready to boast of fast speed. By the way, most of the plugins and add-ons for Mozilla Firefox can easily function in Palemoon.
I recommend using this browser for those users who like the Firefox browser, but who do not like its speed on weak machines. You can download this browser from the link
QupZilla
The next lightweight browser is QupZilla. This miracle eats little RAM and uses the processor differently than other browsers.
Of the features can be identified: the presence of a portable version, which eliminates the need to install the program; the ability to block various kinds of ads; support for all versions of Windows, including the top ten, etc.
K-meleon
Just like the previous two browsers, K-Meleon is a fast and easy solution for surfing the web. The source code is open, so each user can modify and adjust for himself.
The advantages of this browser are as follows: very fast speed (including weak PCs); the ability to disable the loading of images of a web page (this is done in one click); minimalism and super-lightness.
Today we reviewed top best browsers of 2016, and I think each of you made a certain conclusion by choosing a decent browser for surfing the Internet. Try, test and choose the best browser for your machine.
That's all! See you soon!