The last time we reviewed browsers in the Usability Lab, much was made of the passive nature of browsing and the way this leads to a relatively simple, manageable group of products. The Internet is a lucrative and exciting area, and the rate at which new technologies are emerging is nothing short of scary. We invited a team of testers to work through Internet Explorer 4.0 and Communicator 4.03 to find out just who they'll appeal to. These browsers have evolved along the same lines and have developed the same strengths , so despite their radical growth, there's still very little to choose between them. Both products now require careful configuration, and owing to the complexity of their features, they aren't for the faint-hearted.
Rich email works well and looks good in both products.
Just don't send it to anyone not using the same sophisticated technology, because they won't be able to read it. Don't buy either product for its conferencing capabilities. Overall, Internet Explorer 4.0 is a slightly more robust product than Communicator 4.03, especially under Windows 95. Communicator has its strengths, but it doesn't work as well as Internet Explorer on the standard desktop. There's little difference between the overall Usability measures, neither product achieving a high enough score to gain a Seal of Approval.