NeoPlanet is a very interesting and innovative web browser. While it doesn't introduce any technical innovations, it's unique interface greatly simplifies web browsing and searching. NeoPlanet has done an exceptional job in organizing the information and resources that are already available on the Internet. It just makes it a lot easier to use these resources. It does this in four ways.

The first and most obvious is the interface look and feel. While this is the most obvious feature of NeoPlanet, it serve no real useful purpose, other than making the software seem less intimidating. You can easily change the standard look and feel to some 20 different looks that range from a bright red valentines look with buttons shaped like hearts to an interface that looks like a children's drawing. There is actually very little difference between the NeoPlanet browser and  Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. NeoPlanet has menus and and a tool bar just like its competitors.  It even uses the Internet Explore rendering engine.

What NeoPlanet seems to excel at is letting people quickly and easily find lots of different and interesting sites. The browser includes links to a wide variety of interesting sites. Instead of burying these site in a hidden list of favorites or bookmarks, NeoPlanet puts them front and center. They are part of the interface. When you click a category in the right column, NeoPlanet displays a set of subcategories below the tool bar. You can click on a subcategory to display a list of sites. Surfing is easy and simple. 

I admit it. I really love NeoPlanet's internet search feature. To search the Internet you simply click the Search button in the toolbar.  NeoPlanet displays the search dialog show below.  You simply select the type of search you want to perform by clicking an option in the left frame and then fill in the search form. You no longer have to bookmark a list of the different types of search engines. NeoPlanet puts it right in front of you and its more than enough to satisfy the needs of the casual web browser.

Finally, NeoPlanet embeds the Alexa what's related web site listing. This very useful web service tracks related website. With the Alexa software you can easily view a list of sites that are similar to the current site.  Clicking the What's Related link in NeoPlanet opens a dialog box with a list of related websites.

I found NeoPlanet to be fun to use and I easily found lots of site I never knew existed. I loaded NeoPlanet on the computer of someone who really likes AOL, but they quickly became a NeoPlanet convert. They can still use their AOL account to logon on to the internet but then switch to the NeoPlanet browser. 

You can download a free copy form the NeoPlanet website