Hatrack River Forum: Recommend a web browser

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Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

My home system somehow "ate" MS Internet Explorer 5.

I've decided since I have to install something from scratch, I might as well at least consider using a different browser. Can people tell me what they like and don't like about:

NetScape
Mozilla
Opera

Others?

I'm running Windows 98, by the way, if that makes a difference.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

The best one right now is Mozilla Firebird.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firebird/

Your system still has internet explorer, probably, by the way. You can open it by going to Start -> Run . . . , then typing "iexplore" and clicking ok. It should open up.

Netscape is just an old version of Mozilla with features removed. Opera is nice, but I'm a big fan of both Free and free; plus, Moz has access to a whole range of technology Opera is missing, XUL. Which essentially makes it very, very easy to extend Mozilla (and its derivatives, such as Firebird); there are already many very cool applications using XUL.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

Also, I know Mozilla is pretty stable on '98, anyone know how Opera is?

BTW, Bob, its time for a new computer with a new operating system. Ditch 98 [Big Grin]

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

New operating system???!!!! [Eek!]

I just got this one working!

Actually, I miss TRS-DOS.

[Razz]

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Bob, do yourself a favor and get off Windows 98. [Smile]

But, given your system speed, you might want to look at Firebird or Opera.

Posted by Dr. Seuss (Member # 2487) on :

I love both Firebird and Opera, Great products.

Posted by Mike (Member # 55) on :

Firebird is pretty nice. I still prefer Safari, but you might have trouble getting that to run under Win98.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

I managed via a backdoor from Norton AntiVirus Subscription services to use a one-instance only of IE 5.0 to get to the Mozilla site. I downloaded firebird and am now happily back online!!!

Thanks everyone!

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

What's wrong with '98? [Confused]

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

Unstable, bug ridden, doesn't support a lot of the latest software well, supports even less of the latest hardware well, doesn't interact well with digital media devices (this is a subcategory of hardware, really), isn't as easily customized, is a lot harder to configure properly for different networks and such.

That sort of thing.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

There are problems with upgrading operating systems, though:

1) Having to hunt for drivers that you aren't sure will work until after you've installed the new system.

2) The surprise ending when you discover that even though your system meets the minimum specs for that O/S, there's a giant drop in performance because all you do is meet the minimum specs.

3) It is often cheaper to replace the machine entirely than to buy everything needed to upgrade to a new O/S.

Let's face it, computers are disposable. They come with a setup and when that is obsolete, so is the computer, for the most part.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

I did say you should get a new computer [Smile]

.

You can get one that runs windows xp quite nicely for under $500.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Actually, Bob, I just upgraded my old machine, and have a computer left over. I'll sell you the old one for $300+shipping.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Tom, that's very generous. But really, to use the machine on which you typed most of your nearly 14,000 Hatrack posts is an honor I simply do not deserve. I'd be afraid to touch it, you know. It has earned icon status, if you really think about it. [Big Grin]

Actually, I've been thinking about a new system for awhile now, so I'll just go do that. I'd like to find out what all this stuff people are raving over is all about. I mean, color monitors?!!! Wow, what'll they think of next, color TV???

[Razz]

I just realized Windows 98 is at least 6 years old. That computer doesn't owe me anything, really.

I added some memory and a bigger hard drive, but I can probably just turn that into a slave drive on my NEW system, no?

I think I'd better back up my stuff tonight, though. The machine is flakey. And not in a good pie-crust kind of way either.

When I'm done with this one, maybe I'll turn it into a Linux machine. I tried that with an older machine once, but there was definitely a lack of drivers for my old junk. Maybe I can do something with the newer junk.?

Anyway, Mozilla Firebird seems to work okay. I think IE was somewhat "faster" if that makes sense.

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

I second mozilla. Sooooo pleasant to use, you forget that it's related to Slash. . .

[Smile]

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

IE was faster to load, yes, but because it cheats. IE is already loaded into memory, so when you click on it there's really no loading to be done.

You can do similar things for Moz, but its a bit of a hack.

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

Actually, most Windows upgrades are fairly painless on the hardware front these days. You may not get the most recent drivers, but you'll get drivers that work.

-Bok

Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :

Bob, if you're looking for a new computer, this is a deal you may want to look into, in short, it's a p4 2.4 w/ 256mb ram and a 15" flat screen starting at $349.
Satyagraha

Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :

Being that you already have it, I don't really need to recommend it, but mozilla firebird is a great browser, although on my old, slow, "computer", it took awhile to start up, on my new one it loads just as fast as IE...before I loaded it with extensions.

Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :

Make sure you download a theme, like Pinball
Or something else here

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

*can't resist*

Bob, just for the record....I just installed a new operating system on my PowerBook, and it couldn't have gone more slowly. I didn't have to do a *thing* except change CDs in and out and push the restart button when it told me to.

Upgrading Windows 95 to Windows 98 on an older laptop was *nightmarish,* however, and don't even get me started about the time we tried to upgrade my friend's computer from Windows ME to Windows XP.

Granted, XP is a big improvement in general....but if you're getting a new computer...*coughbuyamaccough*

[Big Grin]