Browsers...

Posted by: Top Cat on 13 September 2004

Hi folks.

Just curious what everyone's using re: web browsers. I've recently discovered Mozilla Firefox (using v0.9.something) and it's liberating after sticking by IE for so long. I can recommend it heartily, though I've found the odd site with rendering problems and at least one internet bank whose login details' fields don't respond to mouseclicks via Firefox (not mine, I hasten to add!).

I'm also using Safari on OS 10.3.5, but to be honest I prefer Firefox. On the PC I have made it as difficult as possible to use IE6 (short of uninstalling it) by removing all shortcuts, etc. to keep the machine free of popups and spyware and other nasties.

Link: Mozilla/Firefox homepage
John
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by Mekon
I like it a lot, but it was a pain setting up all the associations, and I don't seem to be able to figure out how to tell it to open files automatically, rather than having to dip into the download directory.

Also, although others seem to love it, I find mouse gestures completely unintuitive.

Tabbed browsing is brilliant tho', and I was chuffed to find that ftxBrowser for the PPC also has it. It is as good a replacement for Pocket IE as Firefox is for IE.
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by Top Cat
quote:
I don't seem to be able to figure out how to tell it to open files automatically
Therein lies the great power of Firefox - it's not going to just do stuff without your say so - IE would open that dodgy file and before you knew it, whatever payload was deployed onto your PC and "your pc is belong to us" and you are effectively 0wn3d, or some such nonsense.

Take your point about the auto-opening stuff - but then, apart from native webby stuff, I really am quite happy explicitly choosing what my browser displays...

John
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by scottyhammer
hi,
im currently using avant,which i find is pretty good.
scotty
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by David Stewart
I've never used IE except for those few web-sites which won't work with anything else. I used to use Netscape V7, but as it's no longer supported, recently switched to Mozilla 1.7 which is similar and is. I intend to try FireFox though, as soon as they announce the full release version, hopefully on 10th October if it stays on schedule.

David
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by garyi
Topcat on OSX you might want to try out Camino.

Its based on the geko engine but is a lot more polished that firefox, which looks like a windows programme on OSX, (Not at all nice)
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by David Stewart
To be fair though Gary, the MAC version of FireFox, is only in Alpha Release at the moment and no date is scheduled for a full release version yet (I think).
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by garyi
Thing is dave at no point in its development has it used the GUI of OSX, for instance buttons etc in web browsers look like windows, and even changing skins does not help.

I am not having a go, I think it is promising (And of course free) but it just feels like windows, and thats enough for me I am afraid.

Now if someone could put a rocket up OmniWeb I would be one happy bunny because that pisses all over the others for look and feel, just to damn slow.
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by David Stewart
Yup I guess Camino makes more sense for the MAC user really - wot's Omniweb?
Posted on: 13 September 2004 by garyi
Here is a screen dump David:



Basically its a fantastic looking product which will pull up mine images on the side for you to browse through. At the bottom is a site area showing everything that has loaded up, (Not required but interesting) and you can also set up 'work spaces' one click and it will open various sites you specify.

It has lots of features and is great eye candy, but still slow
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Top Cat
Lusting after that screen, mate.

I'm thinking of going back to uni to do a PhD (after deciding against an MBA) and so pennies will likely be tight. However, Apple do do educational discounts... I digress.

I'll check out that browser, it looks good.

John
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Mekon
Get funding and buy it out of your research grant Wink.
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Mike Hughes
I use Opera and also love its' tabbed browsing. Heartily reccommend it.

Mike
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Basil
quote:
I've never used IE except for those few web-sites which won't work with anything else.



Big Grin
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Ancipital
Sometimes those sites that only work in IE suddenly work in Opera when you spoof IE6.0

For instance the National Lottery website - managed to grab the underlying code for their secure website and discovered a whole bunch of checks for Netscape & IE but nothing else. Did query them about "support" of other browsers but they said "Not at this time".

Useful thing, browser spoofing! Big Grin

Steve.
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Mekon
Erm, now I am a bit worried. It appears Firefox is pretty vunerable to phishing.

Should I be concerned?. That demo link is pretty worrying, but I do keep an eye on my status bar when I follow links (one too many lemonparty links).
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by David Stewart
quote:
the National Lottery website
One of my Betes Noir! For some reason you can't use Mozilla 1.7 on the NatLot site, but you can use Netscape 7, which is all but identical and based on the same engine.

When I emailed their tech support about this, they'd never heard of Mozilla and said they had no plans to extend the browser coverage outside the 2 presently offered. What hope is there with such blinkered thinking?

David
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by garyi
Well the latest firefox is now available for OSX if anyone wnats to give it a punt.

Its quick i'll give um that
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by Paul Hutchings
Garyi,

What res is that screenshot taken at?

I'm still thinking 20" imac and if that's the sort of res/eye candy on offer it's still selling itself nicely when they become available!

cheers,
Paul
Posted on: 14 September 2004 by garyi
hi Paul, that screen shot is for the 23 inch apple display. So you won't get as much real estate, but the picture you see is OSX which is the OS for the new imacs.

The advantage of this OS, is that its unix, graphics are PDF based (Meaning you can print to PDF in any programme) and rock solid.

And yes, it looks that cool!
Posted on: 15 September 2004 by Roy T
The Lizard has all the answers

A visit to the Mozilla Security Center every now and then might be in order for all Mozilla FanBoys.