Initially met with some skepticism, the Windows version of Apple's Safari browser has developed into a strong Web-surfing candidate. Previous versions felt unfinished, but Safari 4 can stand should to shoulder with the other major Windows Web browsers--depending on what kind of experience you want. Safari lacks most customization features. Skins and other aesthetic tweaks exist in the Mac version, but not here. Just about the only thing you can alter is the font. However, the new version represents a radical departure in look and feel, and the changes are for the better. Safari now looks much more like Google Chrome, although the tabs are placed below the navigation bar, not above it. The status bar and menu bar do exist, but they're hidden by default. You can make toolbar changes and customizations by clicking on the gear icon--another similarity to Chrome. Both browsers are built on the open-source Webkit rendering engine, although they use different JavaScript engines. Safari's Nitro is definitely fast, although Apple's claims that it's the fastest browser on the market might depend more on your hardware than anything else. In our testing, it ran a bit slowly after heavy tab and video playback, and still consumed more RAM in general than Firefox. You can also opt out of automatic updates when you install Safari. Features unique to Safari 4 include Cover Flow, for visually searching your history and bookmarks, and Top Sites. This presents a "speed dial"-style list of favorites on blank tabs, melded with the visual flair of Cover Flow. There's a decent built-in roboform, too. Overall, this Safari is the best one yet, and graduates from mere Windows-based developers' tool to a reasonable choice for average users.

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• Rebecca Hickin: My blog & Safari hate each other! Urgh!
• Pee Wee: @LizzieTimaya if it's for a boy, buy Ralph Lauren Safari
• Nathan Chase: FYI to iPad Flickcharters: the weird Safari crashing bug should be resolved now. Let us know if you still have any issues.
• Justin: @KYanru When's Halloween ah? Lol! We go night Safari this year leh. From sec 3 say till now sia! Ask the usual Clique :)
• Paul S Melendez: @MBWPodcast Works for me Matt. I'm on a mac using Safari if that helps.
• Dana Bishop: You know you are a creepy stalker when one of your Safari top sites is the wikipedia page of your target. Mine is currently Matthew Goode.
• Sarah Kellysen ?: @Mirandawarp :D yes Safari rocks ;) Same with GUGGLE :DDDDD
• Miranda's Husband : @Victorrious Safari :D
• Kyle Juvers: Anyone else been having to 'force quit' Safari much more often the past two weeks?
• YOUR FAVORITE ZETA: So I'm @ underground and somebody comes and ask me for an autograph....asked me if I was Safari from Flavor of Love #GTFOH

Despite its slightly non-standard interface, Safari wins a "Thumbs Up" from us for its lovely interface, startup speed, Top Sites feature (despite the mechanical manner it decides what to display there) and other innovative features, as well as its rock-solid stability. We are sure that future versions will sport a more standard interface (for Windows users), while continuing to exhibit Apple's excellent innovation skills! . -    Welloiledpc.com

Overall, it was nice to see Safari back on my desktop. Welcome back. -    Larry Dignan, ZDNet.com

A perfectly decent Web browser, but not one that adds a great deal new - apart from its looks - to the PC world. Worth a try if you're an Apple devotee, otherwise stick to one of the other three main browsers. -    ITReviews.co.uk

Apple claims that Safari has 150 futures. You can read the full list on Apple.com/Safari/features.html.