Need New Netscape?

Ramona: Hi! It's Larry

I am running Netscape 4.78 and getting more and mor 'javascript errors', plus some sites require a much later version of either Nestcape or IE.

I'm only running W95B+MS Plus, 200 MHz Pentium, 64 MB RAM, 56K V.90 modem.

What is a good choice for a newer version of Netscape? I do nor want to use IE!

Or, can javascript be updated for Netscape 4.78?

Thanks

 

Hi Larry,

The system requirements for Netscape 7.02 are as follows:

Minimum Hardware
Pentium 233 MHz
64 MB RAM
52 MB hard drive space

Note: this is a minimum requirement.

I have Netscape 7.02 on a Windows 95 machine with a 166 MHz processor, and it is very, very, slow. I have 75% available HD space on a 2 GB HD. It is still very, very, slow. It will run, but since your system is below the minimum requirement, you may not like the results. Upgrading Java on Communicator would be of little to no value.

You might try the Streamline Version at SillyDog, or the Compact Version from Holger Metzger, and do a Custom Install, in order to cut down on the size:

SillyDog Streamline - 12.65 MB
Holger Metzger's Compact - 14.3 MB

You could also try Mozilla, but I believe you will see the same results, in that it will be very slow on your system.

Let me know if you have more questions.

Ramona

 

Is all you need is the browser portion and don't mind using the current mail portion, than you might want to check out the Mozilla Firebird/Phoenix browser.

It is a lot leaner than the regular Mozilla, or any of the streamlined versions. The code has been optimized tremendously and the download is only about 6.5 megs. (No email, composer or other stuff, just a pure browser).

Just download the March 20 build,(it was the last stable build) http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/phoenix/nightly/2003-03-20-08-trunk/phoenix-win32.zip

or the last milestone http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/phoenix/releases/0.5/phoenix-0.5-win32.zip

Keep in mind that these are still pre-release browsers, so you may run into a bug here or there, but they really do a great job and those two versions have been very stable.

You will also need to download and install the latest Java from Sun.
http://java.sun.com/getjava/manual.html

 

Almost forgot to give you the Unofficial Firebird/Phoenix Help page.

http://texturizer.net/firebird/index.html

(They are still in the process of updating the name to Firebird from Phoenix, so you may see references to Phoenix and those two builds will also call themselves Phoenix)

 

Ramona:

Thanks. I was afraid of that!

Looks like I need to upgrade Windows or more likely it's time for a new PC.

 

Still Looking For W95 Browser

Ramona:
HI!
I'm still trying to find a reasonable browser for W95B MS Plus, 200MHz Pentium, 64MB RAM, 56K V.90 Modem, to replace slowly failing Netscape 4.78.

No, I have not as yet bought the Dell Dimension XPS, but it's on my list.

Is there a version of IE which is available and might outperform Netscape 4.78?

Best regards,

 

Hi Larry,

You ask moi about IE?

I think you are SOL where IE is concerned, altho you might also ask the folks over on the IE Forum. IE 5.5 SP2 is no longer available for download, as it has reached its extended support phase. IE 6 SP1 system requirements don't list Windows 95 at all... System Requirements. But again, you could check with the IE folks about this, as I have little to no experience with IE....

You might try using Mozilla 1.4b, or 1.4 RC1. You can still use 4.78 for Mail, and opt out of the Mail & Newsgroups feature in Mozilla. I can tell you that 1.4b is quite stable, including Mail. I haven't installed 1.4 RC1 as yet, but the reports are good! Mozilla 1.4 Final should be out very soon, and you might choose to wait...

Ramona

 

IE to replace Netscape

Ramona:

Thanks.

I was afraid of that. Like we discussed before, what I really need to do is upgrade this old-dog PC.

I'll try the IE forum, but I'm not holding my breath.

Plus, practically every piece of Internet/Search software now seems to rely on having IE installed!

Guess Microsoft has won that battle!

Thanks, and best regards,

 

Hi Larry,

Have been following your IE thread and saw this:

No misgivings here. I didn't bring Opera into the discussion, as we were discussing Mozilla and Netscape.

I installed Opera, Version 7.11 today just to see if it performs as well on my 166 clunker, as it does on the Dell, and it's quite peppy! It runs circles around Communicator and Mozilla 1.4b!!

The ads are insignificant, not a distraction at all, and in fact you can F11 for a full window view, no ads. I'm no Opera aficionada, but I'll be glad to help you via PM. In addition Opera has a good NG and Tech Forum. There are lots of Opera users on WindowsBBS, who would be more than happy to answer questions on the "Other Internet Software" Forum.

Download Opera 7.11 (Without Java)

J2SE 1.4.1_02 Sun Java Plugin
There are newer Java versions, but this one is very stable. It's best to download the Sun Java Plugin separately. Makes for a smaller package. In addition, you can use this plugin in lieu of the Microsoft Java VM. A more secure alternative...

Ramona

 

Please forgive me for sticking my nose into this discussion. Couple of points for LDunham. Please, please do not use the IE POS ( you can guess what it stands for ). Just look at the security updates they have had to issue for it. As for a computer or operating system, please, please do not buy a POS canned ( Dell, Gateway, etc ) computer that ships with XP. If you check around you should be able to find a custom builder that can builded you a barn burner for arount 400 to 500 dollars. Get Windows 2000 Pro as the operating system. It has all the good features of XP but a lot less of the eye candy of XP. I am no rocket scientist when it come to computers but my first one was a Comadore Vic 20.

erg

 

Thanks for your advice!

I've pretty much committed to Opera 7.11 for my W95 PC for now.

Your advice on the IE POS and buying a new PC, which is the ultimate solution, are well reasoned.

Thanks and Best regards,