Avant Browser 11.7 build 18 review

Avant Browser 11.7 build 18 review

Despite the general opinion, perfection is flawed by its own nature. I know this sounds strange, so let me explain. What if I would tell you I found the perfect Web browser? "Such a thing does not exist, and if it does, it's Firefox(or Opera, or whatever browser you're using as primary one right now)!," you will say.

Today, we're going to do more than just reviewing Avant Browser ; today, we're going to destroy a myth. Since I am tired of hearing here and there about the greatness of Firefox, today I'll try to destroy the "Firefox perfection myth," and if that doesn't succeed, I hope to reach at least that point where you'll find yourself compelled to give Avant Browser a try. Why? Because Avant Browser is one of those Web browsers that demands justice, and justice is what's headed its way!


Setup

As we speak, the latest version of Avant Browser is 11.7, build 18 - I have no idea why aren't they simply labeling the new versions with less complicated numbers, like "11.7," but that's not a problem - after all, seeing this program updated so often makes me think these guys working on it are really taking the job seriously, since there's always some new security threat to take care of, especially when you're using the Trident page rendering engine employed by Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

Since Avant Browser is a free software, also without any ads included, you don't have to worry about anything - just grab the setup package(a bit smaller than 2 MB in size, so downloading it shouldn't be much of a problem), and then follow the on-screen instructions. This is all as easy as 1-2-3, so we'll leave this part aside and move on to the really interesting part - the program's interface, features, strong and weak spots, as well as a few fast tips & tricks. Ready or not, here we go...


Interface

As you can see in the screenshots here, Avant Browser takes the ugly kid(Internet Explorer) and turns it into everyone's dream of beauty and usability. How's that possible? Well, I guess it's enough to say that the program's interface is highly customizable, and it supports skins. If you want a browser to match Google Chrome's simplicity, it's only a matter of a few clicks, while taking things to the other extreme - a fully-loaded browser, like Firefox with about 30 plugins installed, of which at least 10 toolbars, is just as easy.

One last thing I have to mention about Avant Browser's interface is the ability to get rid of the standard Windows title bar, by selecting the "Compact Style" option in the View menu. Unlike Firefox, Avant comes with some (very good looking) skins built in, and that's a big plus for today's browser, don't you agree?

Features

Discovering Avant Browser's features is like finding a treasure map, because features that require Firefox users to install various plugins, thus increasing the chances to see their browsers crashing down in flames are available for Avant users right out of the box, and we'll start with my favorite one...

Online Avant Storage - this is a feature accomplishing a task that usually requires more than one plugin when using Firefox, since it saves your bookmarks, RSS Feeds, configurations or web passwords on a remote server, so you can easily move from a computer to another and feel "like home" every time.

When talking about useless content loaded by various websites these days, I think over 50% of our browsing traffic is made up of such things, but Avant Browser comes with a Flash Animation Filter and an excellent AD/Pop-up Blocker, both of them with a bunch of customizable options(for example, you can choose to block pictures, sounds, or ActiveX components, as well as manually add content filtering rules).

Another great feature that Firefox doesn't have is Mouse Gestures, also built into Avant Browser, as well as additional mouse functions(click a link using the middle mouse button, and it will be opened in a new background window).

While Firefox offers you the chance to restore an entire session after a crash, Avant Browser gives you the chance to choose which pages to open - after all, it may be possible for one of those pages to have caused the crash, so...

Auto Fill is also a handy feature that becomes available right out of the box, and Avant Browser is also able to clear your tracks and help you maintain your privacy with only a few mouse clicks(considering you're also choosing what to clear, first of all).

I won't tell you anything about speed and reliability, because I am sure you'll discover them for yourselves, and to help you a little with that, let's go through a few...


Tips & Tricks

1. To keep data for multiple identities at hand, simply go to Autofill>My Information>Organize My Information and use the Add feature to have as many sets of info ready(one for home browsing and one for office-related tasks could be a good idea, for the start).

2. To create a new URL Alias, open the Tools menu, go to Avant Browser Options>URL Alias, and press the Add button - your tired fingers will thank you for creating as many aliases as you can remember!

3. Stumbled into a Chineze website? No problem, just go to the Tools>Translate menu and pick the source and destination languages. It's just as easy as that!

4. If you're one of those Internet freaks browsing 30 sites(and beyond) at once, the Similar Websites bar can help you a lot. Just select it from the View>Toolbars menu, and each time you load a new site, Avant will give you a bunch of similar ones to explore.

5. If you want to send some image from a site through email, first go in the Avant Browser Options window and set your Email Client options, then hover your mouse above some image. In the floating bar that appears, just click the email icon!


Strengths

Avant Browser is probably the best "upgrade" for Internet Explorer, and you have the reasons above - ease of use, flexibility, a wide range of useful features right out of the box, and those two strengths each user has to experience for himself - speed and reliability.


Weaknesses

Since it uses Internet Explorer's core, Avant Browser can suffer from its vulnerabilities, and some beginners could be discouraged by the plethora of options available, but this is something you have to get over.


Final Thoughts

Since Firefox 2(or 3) loaded with enough plugins to match Avant Browser's features can be quite a memory hog, I think we have a winner. For me, the "Firefox perfection myth" is simply crushed by a less than 2 MB setup package containing a Web browsing monster ready to unleash in a matter of seconds, and not after days, weeks, and maybe even months of trying to find the best plugins for your purposes...

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