Dimension Browser

If you're on the lookout for the perfect browser, Dimension Browser 4.0 may initially look like a potential candidate for your shortlist, but the rash of ads that pop up when launching it and its clients will instantly cut it from the roster.

Dimension Browser has a nicely designed window, and its tabbed navigation system was easy to use in our tests. Rather than a cluttered toolbar, this browser has a single row of simple-to-comprehend icons, including a Google search field and an FTP client. Unfortunately, clicking the FTP icon opened another half-dozen pop-up ads. Further, clicking the icon to launch our e-mail client failed to work. One last aggravation: Dimension Browser didn't default to the home page specified in our Internet options.

This free browser looks good and works quickly, but its pop-up epidemic along with the other faults mentioned keeps it off our recommended list.