Are there any browsers that are free AND work?

[daisyd681]

I ordered a Q a month ago (back order blows) so I can't try any that I've seen. I'll give PIE a shot, but I really don't like IE so I doubt I'll like the paired down version. I've heard good and bad about Yahoo!go 2.0, Minimo, and a couple other more obscure browsers. I'm not sure if there is a browser out there that will let me pick the homepage that comes up at first. I would like to try Opera mini (I'm pretty sure it's free, but have heard it's a nightmare to install). I'd also like to be able to bookmark, and have multiple tabs/windows open. Any thoughts and opinions would be helpful.

Also I don't want to buy any programs until I get an idea as to what I really need, so does anyone know of a Facade style freeware, or just something that will let me add things (links, documents, etc.) to the homescreen?

One last thing, what do people use to save battery life. I don't care to monitor it, but I heard of a program that helps with this.

ETA: I know this is kind of a random post, I'm just trying to keep my mind off the fact that I don't have my flipping phone yet.
TIA
Meira