Surfer (formerly FleX Browser)

The main gateway to the information superhighway is a web browser, and Windows comes with a default one to minimize the effort of getting connected. It’s not the only one though, with the market being full of alternatives, some which made a name for themselves, while others like Surfer that didn’t yet get this chance.

The application is portable, which means it can be accessed right after download is done, and even taken around on a removable flash drive in case it tickles your fancy. The target PC’s health status remain intact, but you do need to make sure that .NET Framework is installed on the computer you use it on for proper functionality.

On the visual side of things, the application manages to make a decent first impression, with highly detailed elements that make up a simple, yet intuitive interface, fitted with a ribbon menu, and support for navigating on multiple pages at a time. The upper toolbar is only fitted with a URL and search fields to be as clean as possible.

The main window only acts as a general workspace, in which you get to manage multiple, smaller windows named surfboards. Each one lets you access a different page, and is the alternative to tabs. Even if the concept is neat, you have to minimize the current one to be able to view, or access other active surfboards, because there’s no list to show them all.

A few other tools can be accessed from the browser’s main window. One of them might come in handy for chatting with others that use this browsers, namely a basic text encryption tool. However, it would have been better to put emphasis on including bookmarks, and other browsing related features, other than quick access to the control panel, or calculator.

Bottom line is that in order to fully enjoy what the Internet has to offer, it’s best to use a powerful web browser. In case you’re looking for an alternative, Surfer is one option to try out, but it can easily get frustrating on the long run, especially since it’s missing some basic, yet important elements such as a bookmarks manager.