iRider for Windows

Used iRider for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffAugust 26, 2015

This alternative browser streamlines Web browsing with an inventive function called Surf-Ahead. When you right-click one or more links, iRider opens them invisibly and displays them as thumbnail snapshots in the Pages sidebar.

Using the Next Page command, you can review downloaded items at your leisure. Pinning pages in the sidebar saves them, even between restarts. iRider s approach to pop-ups is similarly inventive. Rather than simply blocking ads, iRider shovels them off to the Pages sidebar. Some users may like this approach, but some may prefer to allow ads via the traditional whitelist feature.

iRider performed nimbly and took up 50MB of memory with 50 pages open, which is no more than Mozilla or Opera. iRider s Surf-Ahead probably isn t enough to win users away from other free browsers, but it offers a real benefit to IE users.

iRider for Windows

Used iRider for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: April 24, 2008

Latest update: August 26, 2015

Version: 2.52

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows Vista
Windows 98
Windows ME

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 80,451

Downloads Last Week: 0

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.1/5

18 User Votes

My sole gripe but that is crucial
gyurikaApril 24, 2008
Pros
iRider is the best thought out browser I have ever seen. And still I am not using it except very occasionally, and stick with Firefox. Why? Because iRider's cookie handling is based in IE, and as such does not incorporate the very simple feature of Firefox, to "allow all cookies till the end of the session".<p>If that could be included I would never look back...<p>Sincerely,<p>Georg
Cons
Cookie handling compared to Firefox.
Summary
Fast and easy to use.
Chainmail2006August 16, 2007
Pros
But, I'm confused as to why anyone would buy a browser that has no unique features, like maybe a download manager, a better popup blocker, or some exceptional skins at least. I did like the tabbed browsing very much. They load on the left in a side bar and you can open and access your tabs quickly. I do like that it imports your "Internet Explorer" home page, saved passwords and favorites. It's also light on memory use even when several tabs are open.
Cons
I found the menu bars average at best, no skins and a $29.00 price tag. If they could add some nice skins and reduce the price, I would consider it. But "Firefox" and "Opera" are free and offers a lot.
Summary
old and crappy
fripp_lJune 19, 2007
Pros
Cons
buggy, expensive, redundant, unsecure, irritating.
Summary
absolutely the most important productivity tool I use!
dnwilnerOctober 24, 2006
Pros
iRider takes the "tabbed" browser to a whole different level, with the ability to have 100's of pages open at once and available as fast as you can run your mouse over the thumbnails. The surf-ahead feature is just brilliant. iRider makes web research/surfing 10 times faster and better than in a regular browser, because I don't keep losing track of the many threads I'm following. I've used it everyday for a couple of years for almost all my web activity and it is just indispensable for me now. When I find myself without iRider, on someone else's computer for example, I remember what surfing "used to be like" in the days before iRider. Really, you have to try it for a day or two to really see how much it changes the web experience.
Cons
It is true that some websites get confused by iRider's having multiple pages open at the same time. This seems to happen from time to time with purchase/payment sites. In these cases, it is easy to open a regular browser from within iRider to the same page and continue from there. But that's the only time I don't use iRider. <p> <p>Also, if I get too many pages open (like over 100), especially a bunch with Java, I've had an occasional hang-up in iRider, and once it even crashed. <p> <p>But these are small annoyances that I gladly accept for the productivity gains of iRider.
Summary
Must-Have for On-Line Shoppers
nuanderJanuary 18, 2006
Pros
Surfing does NOT automatically destroy the previous web page! Ability to load pages while still viewing current page! Traps pop-up windows. I've used this program for years on Windows 98, 98 2nd ed., ME, XP Home/Pro sp0/1/2 (on multiple networked PCs) and have had very little trouble with it. In response to some other posts...I have NEVER had a security related problem. I have NEVER had trouble using it with ADAware. There is a known conflict between Adaware pop-up blocker and iRider.. BUT WHO CARES iRider makes pop-up blocker obsolete. <p> <p>Here's a great little feature...when filling out multipage forms, if you make a mistake or a page error occurs, some web servers won't let you navigate back. In iRider you can always go back.
Cons
You have to be carefull when filling out multipage forms, some Web sites are confussed by iRider keeping previous pages open. This is easily avoided by simply using IE w/o iRider in those cases.
Summary
Excellent supplement to IE6x
ZzyvkoJanuary 5, 2006
Pros
Like the speed, tabbed windows and, especially, locking pins. We have tried all the majopr browsers and haven't found even one that is truly satisfactory. IRider seems to be a gfood compromise. We handle the security lapses (actually resident in IE) with another program - and the same with pop-up control. Some pop-ups are necessary, like it or not.
Cons
Retains most of the faults of IE6 but would not like them to move to Firefox. We expect that MS will find 2nd gear and resume meaningful work on IE :-). Lack of IRider ability to recognize bookmarks is a pain. Maybe it will be fixed, soon?
Summary
TOTALLY UNIQUE & AWESOME
jentrainDecember 25, 2005
Pros
I like that it has all the pages tabbed for easy reference for you and that you can surf ahead.
Cons
I don't like the pop-ups it allows.
Summary
The people writing good reviews must work for iRider ; )
WebWomanSmilesDecember 12, 2005
Pros
The ability to load multiple web pages in tab form...
Cons
I was one of those people who bought iRider many years ago when it first came out ( DUMB MOVE )...I was impressed at first because I could load a lot of pages and switch back and forth between them with no problems and it was nice, but for years now iRider hasn't changed, added any new or useful features, doesn't support Active X ( yes I know active x is not always a good thing but it is sometimes required and can be safe ) and it hasn't changed since day one. Most browsers will upgrade and improve their software over time, not iRider, they are stuck in the days where pop ups ruled and security holes were a way of life. I paid for this thing and now I never use it because it is absolutely riddled with problems. I am a computer savvy person and if you run XP home or pro, with service pack two of course, iRider is not your browser...in fact it should not be anyones browser until this company changes the software to make it safer and up to date with IE and other browsers security wise and iRider needs to add some features that most all other browsers offer. I am not wild about IE either but at least I know it won't crash like iRider does. YO iRIDER staff....GET IT RIGHT OR GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS, you are charging people money for this? I was drawn in, I hope no one else gets drawn in like I was. Sorry iRider but go back to the drawing board...why would we buy your inferior product when we could have a superior product for FREE???
Summary
Excellent
JimmyOctober 23, 2005
Pros
It's almost my favourite browser ever but the options allows for you is very limited.
Cons
This Program could be the best one if it allowed more options and plugins...ActiveX...
Summary
A crippled one-trick pony
len ShackeltonSeptember 21, 2005
Pros
Cons
I tried the demo for a while on Windows XP Pro with all the updates and service packs. My machine is less than a year old. <p> <p>I had the following experiences: <p> <p>-Randomly the CPU usage of iRider.exe jumps to 100%, making my entire system slow to a crawl and become unusable. After killing the iRider.exe process, everything returns to normal. What was iRider.exe doing? Deadlock? Endless looping? <p> <p>-iRider screws up IE's ability to properly create iframes in which to open embedded COM windows. In other words, when you click on a Word, Excel, PDF, etc. document from within iRider, IE tries to load the Word, Excel, Acrobat, etc. in the IE window. When iRider tries this, it locks up your browser. You are left looking at a blank screen while again, the iRider.exe process takes all your processing cycles and makes your entire machine unusable. <p> <p>-There are no extra, advanced, or features other than tabbed windows. As far as I can tell, there is no way for users to add plugins, toolbars, filters, or other enhancements to iRider, and there are no enhancements available for purchase. This is strictly a one-trick pony. <p> <p>-Random crashes. I am a developer and occasionally use Javascript and other web technologies. I don't know if that is the cause of this, but everyday iRider crashed on me multiple times. I would get this iRider specific popup window that would say something about iRider has crashed and would I like to report this crash? I reported the crashes for a while, but no updates ever came out (and apparently haven't come out in years). Internet Explorer never crashes on me, so it seems to be an iRider specific issue. <p> <p>I would recommend avoiding this software.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Browse multiple pages in a visual map, search multiple engines, and tame pop-ups.