Alternative Browser

Hi

For what it's worth, I use: Netscape/7.02 (CK-SillyDog). Once in a blue moon I'm forced to use IE 5.5 because some website is not configured for Netscape but it's a very, very rare occurence.

You can start at: http://sillydog.org/ to find it. These are stripped down, but legal, versions. I find it more user friendly and faster to load. There is one downside that is a pain. At the moment, it doesn't handle the sorting of bookmarks but I understand that correction is in the works.

Ramona, who posts here to Windows BBS re Netscape, runs a superb help site exclusively for Netscape users and there are other sites including Silly Dog.

I have NO personal stake in Netscape or these sites. I'm just a happy user.

 

Alternative browsers

I've heard not-so-good things about Netscape, so I flipped a coin between Opera and Mozilla as a backup browser. Perhaps the lack of enthusiasm I've picked up on regarding Netscape is unwarranted, and I can't now recall exactly what the problems were, but I did get a negative impression, so when I was strongly recommended to choose between Opera and Mozilla that's what I did. I'd never thought before of having such a thing, but it seems to me, especially with an iffy future for IE, a sensible step. The coin came up Opera, so now I have that for insurance.

I have found a most surprising thing - since switching to MSN/IE I have yet to receive any and I do mean ANY spam! This can't last, I'm sure, but it's awfully restful while it does...

Frankly, although I was - until recently - quite content with AOL, I feel as if a whole new world has opened up now that I've switched.

 

Hi

I had Opera once but dropped it when I was forever encountering sites that woldn't respond to it. Otherwise, it was quite a good browser.

I know nothing about Modzilla.

Thanks for commenting.

 

Welt, You are already using a Mozilla-based browser, Netscape 7.02!

According to http://www.mozilla.org/university/hof.xml
"Netscape 7.02 is the latest Netscape commercial distribution of Mozilla 1.0.2 for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
It has user interface is tuned for end-users rather
than development and additional features such as
AIM and a spell checker. "

This page gives more information to potential Mozilla browser users:
http://mozilla.org/why/users.html

 

Using alternative browsers


Hi, I use Crazy Browser and I like it pretty well.

I used Avant Browser but it kept crashing and it didn't have some of the features I like to have, i.e. *dragging* the site address to my desktop.But right now, Crazy Browser is great. I have a DELL Dimension 8100 1.3ghz 512 RAM (2 years old) and run Windows XP

 

Im already crazy enough, don't need no crazy browser!

Christer, oh Christerrrrr!

Hee hee!

mike

 

Hi Alice

I was aware of a Mozilla relationship with Netscape but didn't realize that the former also comes as a full fledged browser. This said, I perused the line to Mozilla and which you provided.

When I chose to examine it's features, I thought I'd been transported to the Moon where they speak gibberish. Seriously, those features left me not knowing whether to swing, bunt or just sit down.

I've bookmarked the site for another visit when I'm less tired.

Many thanks `fer edicatin' me'. I appreciate the references.

 

Hi Welt.

Look throught this page... might be easier to 'take' (as in take a pitch??.. never mind.........)
http://mozilla.gunnars.net/

Holger Metzger's Netscape/Moziila help site has more Mozilla links:
http://www.holgermetzger.de/elinks.html

 

Again Alice, I am indebted.

I have bookmarked each site for further reading.

Thanks and hope the day is going well for you.

 

You're welcome.

If you want more links, go to my PC Bookmarks page at
http://home.att.net/~wymette/bookmark.html

I have a Netscape/Mozilla section, about half-way down the page, and more Mozilla links scatered around in other sections (use "Edit Find in this Page" and type in "Mozilla" to find more)

Have a good day!

Alice

 

And more Mozilla links... I might add that Mozilla 1.4 RC1 is rock solid, and soon to be replaced by the 1.4 RC2 Release. EDIT: make that newly released 1.4.RC2. Lots of nice features in these new Releases.

Although Mozilla is not intended for end users, it has evolved into such a stable browser, that many users favor it over Netscape 7.02. See the Mozilla 1.4RC2 Release Notes for all the components of Mozilla. Just a few: improved Popup blocking, Image blocking, Cookie Manager, Junk Mail filtering, improved Bookmark management....

This is not to exclude Opera as an excellent browser. I experience Netscape, Mozilla, and Opera, and find that each one has its own excellent merits. Opera is by far the fastest, if that's what you seek, but somewhat lacking in the Mail program.

FWIW,

Ramona

 

The IE6 policy of MS will , as far I as can tell, only affect those that are running 9X versions of Windows.

Another way to "encourage" upgrade to XP.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Ramona

I finally got around to perusing the Mozilla 1.4RC2 Release Notes and, having read about the known `bugs' related to Windows 98SE, I have decided I don't need the hassles especially given that I use an ATI video card [Rage IIC PCI] and a Logitech mouse, deliberately `downgraded' to Version 9.25. I had 9.60 installed and when Windows kept crashing, I removed both the 9.60 driver and the Logitech keyboard controls and my crashes ceased.

Touch wood: oops, I can't find my head!

If Mozilla requires me to back-track, no-no, a thousand times no.

Do you have any idea of when Netscape 7.1 will be released and about how long it will take Silly Dog to streamline it?

Given what's been said by you and others re Opera, perhaps I might think of giving it another try but then, given my current Netscape experience, I think: if it ain't broke, why fix it' ? [Ouch, horrible grammar]. Your stated downside re Opera mail, is not an issue for me. You may recall that I'm a confirmed Eudora user.

Thanks Ramona.

PS An aside to charlesvar:

IE 6.x is not an issue for me. I don't have it. I don't want it.

I use 5.5 only when some mail link or web site insists overriding my Netscape default. I had a web site like this yesterday. Clicked on a link in Netscape and Explorer opened. Grrrrrrr!

By the way `charlesvar' what do you mean by `encourage upgrade to XP'? Are you suggesting that 6.0, deliberately, will never work with W98 or that MS is planning to drop Windows 98 support? Any timing if the latter?

 

Hello Welt,

"Are you suggesting that 6.0, deliberately, will never work with W98 "

No, what I'm saying is that IE 6.0 will not be available as a "stand alone" download for 9X users and a free standing verion will no longer be updated. Arie's article pointed that out. IE 6.0 is now not available for download at the catalog download site. It is available here for the time being http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

This version is it as far as any "enhancements" are concerned. Any changes in the future to IE 6.0 will be done as an XP update.

EDIT: Forgot to add explicitly that anyone running a 9X OS that has IE6 will no longer be able to update IE6.0 thru the MS update process.




Here is MS's timeline for OS support http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycleconsumer.mspx

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks Charles.

I misunderstood.

I have no plans to DL and install it anyway.

 

Hi Welt,

Always a pleasure, Welt!

I have no date to give you on 7.1, other than sometime this summer. The Mozilla Releases will determine the Netscape Release, date. When Mozilla 1.4 is to the developer's liking, then 7.1 will be ours for the keeping.

Antony always does extensive beta testing on his Streamline Releases, so it will be a week or perhaps more after the official release of 7.1.

Mail is not a problem for me either, re: Opera, as I use Netscape 7.02 for my six mail accounts.

Don't break it, so we don't have to fix it!

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona

Response read with appreciation.

 

I thought that Netscape is being phased out altogether. Where did I get that idea?

 

Having read through this whole thread, I feel compelled to add my 2¢ worth.

It seems as though the contributors to this thread fall into two main camps: the M$IE/OE users, who are running scared, and those (like me) who wouldn't use IE/OE unless no other option were available.

Fortunately, as has been eloquently noted, there are plenty of other options, and the non-IE/OE camp seems to be split into those who want an integrated browser/email suite, a la Netscape 4.x, 6.x, 7.x and Mozilla, and those who want stand-alone browsers and email clients.

I hung onto my beloved NS Communicator 4.79 until just a couple of months ago, when it became apparent that the Navigator browser could no longer handle today's internet, even though the Messenger email client still worked well.

I always had the latest version of M$IE installed for those occasions when Navigator couldn't handle a website but, for someone accustomed to new browser windows opening full-size every time, and Navigator's far superior way of handling bookmarks, compared to IE's "favorites ", IE just wasn't suitable for full-time use.

I had already tried Netscape 6.x and given up on it, feeling that it was a giant step backwards from 4.79, but 7.x seemed to show some promise, despite the facts that the toolbar wasn't configurable, and that I didn't care for the email client.

I tried, and liked Mozilla, but then I heard about the Mozilla Firebird (at that time called Phoenix) browser and the Mozilla Thunderbird email client. They are stand-alone offshoots of the Mozilla project and, as I understand it, may well replace the main Mozilla project altogether.

Both are still pre-release, but are quite solid, for the most part. Bugs are being ironed out with the (almost) nightly releases. Because they are not installed programs, it's a simple matter to unzip a new build and copy it into the existing program folder.

I am now using Firebird and Thunderbird exclusively, and have never been happier. Firebird is the fastest browser I have come across (for some reason IE runs very sluggishly on my system) and Thunderbird has lots of nice features. If you're the least bit adventurous, give them a try ... otherwise, Mozilla would be my suggestion.

 

I'll second that.

I've also kept IE/OE updated on my Win95 machine, mainly for my husband's use, but I have always preferred Netscape, and more recently, Mozilla. Not just for the ease of use, but also for security reasons.. No matter how up-to-date you think your security patches are, there's always the next IE/OE vulnerability around the corner!

I'm running Mozilla 1.0.1 now, but still have Netscape 4.79 installed (you're right, I think that 4.79's mail and newsgroups are mich better than Netscape7/Mozilla).

I've got a relatively slow machine (Pentium II 233Mhz) and limilted ram (64mb) but so far, Mozilla 1.0.1 runs OK. I've looked into Firebird but from what I've gathered, a really fast Mozilla-based browser for low-end machines like mine would be K-Meleon (browser-only...5MB download!) from http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/

So far I'm satisfied with Mozilla 1.0.1 (you gessed it, I'm not a 'bleeding edge' type of person, I tend to stick with stable, tried and tested programs) but when the time comes to move on, I might try K-Meleon, then check out Thunderbird for e-mail.