So what, exactly, does a web browser actually do and how can picking the right one put your real estate business at a competitive advantage? Put another way, real estate professionals deserve a browser that has the best out-of-the-box features, free of complications and with zero difficulty. It comes down to speed, security, portability and features. Compare one browser to another across these areas, and you'll quickly find that not all web browsers are equal.

Here's how a web browser works: You search the MLS system for a listing and click on a link, your browser takes that request, looks up where to send it on the web, connects with the web server hosting that page and says, "Give me all of the stuff that makes up this web page!"

On the other end, the web server then sends the code that describes how and where to put all of the images and text to create that web page back to the web browser on your machine. These events all happen in an open passage of information over the open communications network that is the Internet. (How that request is secured or encrypted is important. We'll come to that later. ) Then, your web browser takes all of the stuff, sorts it and processes it with separate little âenginesâ inside it and draws (renders) the web page on your computer, phone or tablet, in milliseconds. How quickly, accurately and securely the browser does the latter can make all of the difference in the world.

Speed is key

If you've ever suffered through the long load time of a real estate listing's photo gallery (who hasn't?) you know the pain. For a browser, speed is the sum or many small things. Right now, there are two browsers that are far and away faster than everything else - Maxthon 3 and Google Chrome. At this writing, early 2012, Maxthon 3 is faster than Chrome. Use one of these two and over time you'll save time and a lot of frustration.

What about security?

Because a web browser is an intermediary between your local machine and the open Internet you want one that proactively protects you. The term is âsandboxedâ processing. The stuff that comes in to your machine should be processed in a safe, closed environment that doesnât allow malicious cyber attacks access to the rest of your computer - for example where your contacts and quicken files are stored.

Next, think of portability and out of the box features. Look for a web browser that moves your bookmarks, page viewing history and notes from your desktop to your phone or tablet, securely -- for free. Cloud services like that are made for those times when a client says, "Wait, what was that listing we saw in your office earlier today?" Of the two browsers mentioned before, Maxthon 3 does this easier and more simply than Chrome without having to expose your online life to all of Google's data mining.

Finally Maxthon 3 has features that make it easy to research and access information out of the box without having to install add-on applications or plug-ins to the browser. Look for a great screen grab utility. Look for a simple notepad feature that syncs to the cloud and other devices. Look for a great video streaming utility. These features are a quick way to give real estate professionals an advantage online.

Maxthon is an innovative software company and developer of superior web browsers which continue to set new standards for simplicity, speed and security.  Each month more than 130,000,000 people use Maxthon's web browser in 120 countries across the world.

Published: February 9, 2012

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