/**
   * constructor
   *
   * usage:
   *        var theBrowser = new browser;
   *        theBrowser.isIE()
   *
   */
  function browser()
  {
    //define properties
    this.appCodeName    = navigator.appCodeName;
    this.appName        = navigator.appName;
    this.appVersion     = navigator.appVersion;
    this.cookieEnabled  = navigator.cookieEnabled;
    this.platform       = navigator.platform;
    this.userAgent      = navigator.userAgent;

    //define methods
    this.isIE = function() { if( this.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE") != -1 ) return true; else return false; };

  }