Web Browser

[jerseydevil]

I thought there was a thread on this - but I can't find it.

Anyway - I was wondering what web browsers people use. I've used Netscape since it came out. I've also used IE - at work and to make sure my website looks okay in it. I recently downloaded Firefox to see what that was like - but it's missing too many of the functions I like with Netscape (both Netscape and Firefox are built on the Mozilla code).

I can add my pros and cons of the different browsers as people post and express theirs - but right now Netscape still seems like the best browser with the most functionality still.

[BeardofPants]

I used to use mozilla, now I use safari (mac equivalent of mozilla/netscape). I LOVE, LOVE tabs. Tabs freakin' rule. I haven't downloaded firefox yet, but I will take a gander at it, and see if it's any good.

[Count Comfect]

I generally use IE, but I also have Mozilla, just because.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by BeardofPants

I used to use mozilla, now I use safari (mac equivalent of mozilla/netscape). I LOVE, LOVE tabs. Tabs freakin' rule. I haven't downloaded firefox yet, but I will take a gander at it, and see if it's any good.

I love tabs too. In Firefox the tabs aren't as easy to manage as in Netscape though it seems. You can't just press a button and create the tab - you actually have to go into the menu (also the order for the "close tab" and "close all tabs" seems to be backward). The other thing that I really miss though with firefox and one of the reasons I'm not switching yet - is because I love the side bar that has my search engines for searching and my bookmarks right there in verticle tabs. Netscape is so easy with the multiple tabs and with the side bar. I will NOT give up those things.

Also - I can't believe how many people think that Netscape costs money. Microsoft must have done some really slanderous advertising against Netscape for so many people to think that it's not free.

[BeardofPants]

Yeah, that's why I love safari - it has a built in google bar right next to the address bar:



It's nifty cos all ya hafta do is tab across to it, and enter in the search criteria, and hit enter. Does netscape have close-buttons on their tabs, or is it like the old mozilla where you have to right-click on them to close them? (it's been ages since I used mozilla, so I have no idea what it's like now).

[Nurvingiel]

I use IE because it hasn't annoyed me too much yet. When it does, it's back to Mozilla (which I had downloaded on my old computer and liked).

The thing that saves IE for me actually has nothing to do with it. I have Norton Internet Security which is a good pop-up blocker. IE doesn't have one AFAIK, and Mozilla has a built in blocker.

Safari looks spiffy!

[The Gaffer]

IE, Netscape, Safari and Mozilla (I use macs at home and PC at work)

IIRC, Netscape has problems with HTML 4.

[Fat middle]

Why some of you have two or more web browsers in the same computer?

It looks like a waste of space...

[Linaewen]

I've used Netscape since my IE stuffed up. The only downside to it really is that you can't copy images from the pages directly- you have to save them to your hard drive first. Annoying.
Oh wait, I forgot to mention that I also dislike the way images in Netscape load. Gives me the irrits.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

i always used IE till i got AOL, and then it was just too much trouble to
open the IE up after logging on - i use IE at college simply as that is only
one here!!

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

i always used IE till i got AOL, and then it was just too much trouble to
open the IE up after logging on - i use IE at college simply as that is only
one here!!

AOL is IE, but when AOL goes down, or there is a problem with it, you can still use IE to surf the web.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Sister Golden Hair

AOL is IE, but when AOL goes down, or there is a problem with it, you can still use IE to surf the web.

That's only because you don't use AOL to get into the net - you have cable modem. If you were getting in through aol - you wouldn't be able to get in with IE or any other browser. You're just using AOL as your browser - not to actually connect into the net.

God it sounds like the Matrix.

[Earniel]

I use IE, basically because it was one the computer when I got it.

Originally Posted by Fat middle

Why some of you have two or more web browsers in the same computer?

It looks like a waste of space...

I didn't even know you could have two or more web browsers on the same computer without having them interfere with one another.

*Eärniel shows her blatant ignorance again*

Fne, I'm so clueless....

[Fat middle]

LOL

Originally Posted by Eärniel

I use IE, basically because it was on the computer when I got it.

Same as me.

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by Fat middle

LOL

Same as me.

That's why IE is so far behind in fucntionality - they don't have to improve it because most people are happy to use it because it came with their computer. That's why so many companies took Microsoft to court to prevent them from loading up computers with their own software. People just don't download anything else - even if there are a ton of better browsers or other software out there.

[brownjenkins]

IE on the PC... my job's all about web work, so i have to use what the majority uses

safari on the mac is great too... though i don't do much of my browsing there

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

IE on the PC... my job's all about web work, so i have to use what the majority uses

Do you do web development? because in that case you should be checking out how things work in all browsers. I know Ruinel for a job recently was going to various websites and seeing how they work in IE versus Netscape and documenting the problems with them - quite a few didn't work in Netscape and most likely had never been tested. IE includes too many things that don't conform to the standards. I check my site out in IE, Netscape, AOL (even though they use IE - I just make sure it still works in there) and try to develop it so it works and looks good in all browsers.

Here are samples of the various browsers...


Netscape 7.1


Firefox 1.0


IE 6.0

[brownjenkins]

i do check out with other browsers for certain customers... unfortunately, some of the larger ones (mutual fund companies in particular) do not want to spend the extra time/money involved for browser compliance (at least beyond aol/netscape)... they want it to work in IE first and foremost

that said, in most cases i try to keep things basic enough so that browser compliance is not much of an issue

[jerseydevil]

Originally Posted by brownjenkins

i do check out with other browsers for certain customers... unfortunately, some of the larger ones (mutual fund companies in particular) do not want to spend the extra time/money involved for browser compliance (at least beyond aol/netscape)... they want it to work in IE first and foremost

that said, in most cases i try to keep things basic enough so that browser compliance is not much of an issue

Okay. Yeah if you're doing intranet applications also - they usually only have one standard browser. Merck's standard was also IE - so that's all I had to worry about when developing their internal sites.

I've come up with problems with my site between IE and Netscape. For instance - I have a spacer graphic between the blue tables to space them out properly vertically (you can see the tables in the pages above). Netscape will display the two tables properly - no matter where the <table> tag appears in the code. IE however will show a full space between the two tables unless the <table> tag is right next to (on the same line as) the <img>tag used for the spacer graphic. It was so annoying to figure this out and correct it so it looks right in both browsers.

[brownjenkins]

i agree... there are a many little annoyances like that