The Opera browser is now available at version 7.11 for Linux and for Windows. If you are still using Microsoft Internet Explorer and have not used another browser for years then Opera is a good one to check out.
If you are still using Netscape v4.x then either move to the latest Netscape v7.x or try Opera or try one of the other newer browsers mentioned on this blog.
Mozilla Firebird (formerly known as Phoenix) version 0.6 has been released. Even though Firebird still has not had a version 1.0 release it is remarkably stable and not buggy. This is my favorite browser. Builds are available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, OS/2, Solaris, BeOS, and AIX.
Unfortunately there is not a Firebird build available for it for older Mac OS users. If you want to use a Mozilla-based browser on Mac 0S v9.x your best bet is the Mozilla v1.2.1 release for Mac OS. If you prefer to use the regular Netscape releases then you can also download the latest Netscape v7.0x for the Mac. Another browser that will work with Mac OS v9.x is the Opera v6.02 release.
The larger assortment of browser choices available for Mac OS X is a compelling reason for Mac OS v9.x and earlier Mac OS users to upgrade to Mac OS X.
Here is a list of advantages for alternatives to Microsoft Internet Explorer.
The v1.4b version of the Mozilla browser has been released. Also, the Phoenix browser (my own personal favorite browser) is being renamed to Mozilla Firebird. The latest Mozilla Firebird nightly builds are built using the Mozilla v1.4b source code. So download Firebird now and you will also get the latest Mozilla Gecko rendering engine fixes and improvements. Firebird's latest nightlies appear to be working quite well in my own experience. Firebird's ability to prevent advertisement pop-ups alone makes it worth switching to. But it also has great tabbed browsing support and other useful features.
For those unfamiliar with the Mozilla project: Netscape v6 and later versions are built using the Mozilla open source browser project as the base source code. By using the Mozilla browser you get what is basically a slightly stripped down version of Netscape. Netscape does not release browser versions as often as the Mozilla source code comes out in major revs. So if you download Mozilla you will usually get a much newer browser with more neat features.
Other browsers are also constructed using the Mozilla source code as the starting point. See, for example, K-Meleon and also Chimera for the Macintosh (and Chimera is changing its name to Camino). The latest Camino nightly build for Mac OS X is available here. You can find links to all the Mozilla-based browsers here.
If you are using an older browser then for security reasons you should move to a newer browser. If you are using Netscape v4.x or earlier you ought to try a more modern browser. If you are using MS Internet Explorer you ought to check out the features available in other browsers. The other browsers have advantages that make me prefer them very much over IE.