Comments on: The New Browser ‘War’? http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/ The Apple Blog, published by and for the day-to-day Apple user, is a prominent source for news, reviews, walkthroughs, and real life application of all Apple products. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:42:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: sojourner http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80989 sojourner Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:59:49 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80989 OmniWeb. No contest. OmniWeb. No contest.

]]> By: Reza http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80456 Reza Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:32:23 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80456 Firefox is great for web development. (although Nightly Webkit has two great tools) but for regular browsing Safari is far more better. I'm on a G4 and Firefox sucks up all my CPU, text rendering is bad (especially non latin characters) and I miss my favorite aqua theme. (I know there are FF themes but they're not ideal) Firefox is great for web development. (although Nightly Webkit has two great tools) but for regular browsing Safari is far more better. I’m on a G4 and Firefox sucks up all my CPU, text rendering is bad (especially non latin characters) and I miss my favorite aqua theme. (I know there are FF themes but they’re not ideal)

]]> By: Nick http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80418 Nick Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:35:26 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80418 I really don't think there is a winner and that is the best part of it all. Imagine how silly! A winner when there are so many different types of people needing so many different things? A browser for everyone and a browser for for different things. I use Firefox because I like to make my browser do the things I like doing. I love it's increcdible array of plugins. I love Safari because it is native, auick and real Mac! Yet, I love using Camino for simple searches as I need a quick browser with no frills. Opera is great but I don't use it anymore. There are no winners and that is what makes our platform truly amazing and a head and shoulder above Windows constricted world. I really don’t think there is a winner and that is the best part of it all.

Imagine how silly! A winner when there are so many different types of people needing so many different things?

A browser for everyone and a browser for for different things. I use Firefox because I like to make my browser do the things I like doing. I love it’s increcdible array of plugins. I love Safari because it is native, auick and real Mac! Yet, I love using Camino for simple searches as I need a quick browser with no frills. Opera is great but I don’t use it anymore.

There are no winners and that is what makes our platform truly amazing and a head and shoulder above Windows constricted world.

]]> By: Matt http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80410 Matt Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:11:06 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80410 On windows I was a die hard Opera user. Firefox always just felt a little sluggish to me in browsing and starting up. I never really needed the plugins that firefox offered (although I do miss stumbleupon). Since my conversion to mac I have used Safari exclusively. For me it comes down to two things, speed and security, and I think Safari has both. It renders webpage text extremely well and it passed the acid2 test which I think is important, and I think it is a secure browser. The integration with the other mac programs works very well for me. The Mac OSX widgets have covered the few plugins I used in firefox. Firefox I think for most people comes down to the plugins as the decision maker and not neccisarily the browser itself. On windows I was a die hard Opera user. Firefox always just felt a little sluggish to me in browsing and starting up. I never really needed the plugins that firefox offered (although I do miss stumbleupon).

Since my conversion to mac I have used Safari exclusively. For me it comes down to two things, speed and security, and I think Safari has both.

It renders webpage text extremely well and it passed the acid2 test which I think is important, and I think it is a secure browser. The integration with the other mac programs works very well for me.

The Mac OSX widgets have covered the few plugins I used in firefox. Firefox I think for most people comes down to the plugins as the decision maker and not neccisarily the browser itself.

]]> By: Ben H http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80283 Ben H Fri, 01 Dec 2006 07:55:06 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80283 I use only opera, then sometimes safari. I love opera because it has been rated the fastest browser in the world. My time with it has backed up this claim as well. Safari is very good too. I mean its made by Apple. I use only opera, then sometimes safari. I love opera because it has been rated the fastest browser in the world. My time with it has backed up this claim as well. Safari is very good too. I mean its made by Apple.

]]> By: go5oh http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80250 go5oh Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:02:57 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80250 I while back I had a problem with Safari running extremely slow which actually turned out to be my wireless router. So at the time I tried Firefox, Opera, and Camino to see if they were faster and easier to use. To me Firefox is an ok alternative to Safari while I'm on a Windows machine. Opera had too much going on in the menu bar and Camino was nice, but not Safari. Needless to say, when I got a new router I dumped all the other browsers and couldn't wait to enjoy Safari again! Safari just feels right and I prefer the tabs of Safari over ANY of the other browsers. I while back I had a problem with Safari running extremely slow which actually turned out to be my wireless router. So at the time I tried Firefox, Opera, and Camino to see if they were faster and easier to use. To me Firefox is an ok alternative to Safari while I’m on a Windows machine. Opera had too much going on in the menu bar and Camino was nice, but not Safari. Needless to say, when I got a new router I dumped all the other browsers and couldn’t wait to enjoy Safari again!

Safari just feels right and I prefer the tabs of Safari over ANY of the other browsers.

]]> By: JulesLt http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80122 JulesLt Thu, 30 Nov 2006 22:51:37 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80122 I tend to use Safari mostly because I like the RSS integration - I should probably use an RSS reader, but I like the ability to open up pages and links into tabs. If OmniWeb or Shiira handled RSS the same / better I'd probably use them over Safari. I tend to use Safari mostly because I like the RSS integration - I should probably use an RSS reader, but I like the ability to open up pages and links into tabs. If OmniWeb or Shiira handled RSS the same / better I’d probably use them over Safari.

]]> By: Horst Gutmann http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80090 Horst Gutmann Thu, 30 Nov 2006 21:05:22 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80090 I'm also switching from Safari to FF and back again every few weeks since Firefox simply feels to slow for me but then again has some great extensions I couldn't live without. And on the other hand Safari simply is too far behind in the keyboard navigation area for me :-( I’m also switching from Safari to FF and back again every few weeks since Firefox simply feels to slow for me but then again has some great extensions I couldn’t live without. And on the other hand Safari simply is too far behind in the keyboard navigation area for me :-(

]]> By: Zach http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80073 Zach Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:22:05 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80073 I also cycle between Safari and Camino, but I've stuck with camino for quite a while now, just due to the amount of ram Safari eats up, especially if you have more than 5 or so tabs open, it bogs down big time. I'm on a 1.5Ghz Powerbook with 1.25 RAM, and there is no reason I shouldn't be able to browse with that many tabs open and have the browser freeze up for a second or two whenever I do anything. I also cycle between Safari and Camino, but I’ve stuck with camino for quite a while now, just due to the amount of ram Safari eats up, especially if you have more than 5 or so tabs open, it bogs down big time. I’m on a 1.5Ghz Powerbook with 1.25 RAM, and there is no reason I shouldn’t be able to browse with that many tabs open and have the browser freeze up for a second or two whenever I do anything.

]]> By: Weldon Dodd http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80033 Weldon Dodd Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:35:59 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-80033 I went through a similar cycle. I started with Safari, but switched to Firefox with the SessionSaver extension after crashing and losing all my open tabs a couple times. When I do research for the classes I teach, I often have 20+ tabs open as I click on links from google searches or references from other articles. Losing all those tabs is a heart breaker. I loved being able to save all the tabs open in a session and also the feature to bookmark all open tabs and save them in a folder. But then, Firefox 1.5 or 2.0 wouldn't run reliably on my PowerBook and I switched back to Safari when I found the Saft plug-in. That solved most of my tab issues with Safari because it allowed me to do those two things I needed - restore tabs in a session and bookmark all open tabs. Now, I'm mostly working on my Windows box (sold my PowerBook G4 to get a new Intel Mac after MWSF) and I'm addicted to the new del.icio.us extension for Firefox 2.0. The browser has been rock solid and the del.icio.us extension replaces the bookmarking features for pretty seamless integration in Firefox. Of course, Firefox 2.0 adds more tab management and session restoring so I don't need an extension for that anymore either. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I get a Mac again. I suppose it might depend heavily on how well I can integrate del.icio.us into Safari. Any tips for that? I went through a similar cycle. I started with Safari, but switched to Firefox with the SessionSaver extension after crashing and losing all my open tabs a couple times. When I do research for the classes I teach, I often have 20+ tabs open as I click on links from google searches or references from other articles. Losing all those tabs is a heart breaker.

I loved being able to save all the tabs open in a session and also the feature to bookmark all open tabs and save them in a folder.

But then, Firefox 1.5 or 2.0 wouldn’t run reliably on my PowerBook and I switched back to Safari when I found the Saft plug-in. That solved most of my tab issues with Safari because it allowed me to do those two things I needed - restore tabs in a session and bookmark all open tabs.

Now, I’m mostly working on my Windows box (sold my PowerBook G4 to get a new Intel Mac after MWSF) and I’m addicted to the new del.icio.us extension for Firefox 2.0. The browser has been rock solid and the del.icio.us extension replaces the bookmarking features for pretty seamless integration in Firefox. Of course, Firefox 2.0 adds more tab management and session restoring so I don’t need an extension for that anymore either.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do when I get a Mac again. I suppose it might depend heavily on how well I can integrate del.icio.us into Safari. Any tips for that?

]]> By: oj http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79990 oj Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:02:49 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79990 Flash works in safari works perfectly for me. Safari and flash 9 are the most up to date versions available. No problems Flash works in safari works perfectly for me. Safari and flash 9 are the most up to date versions available. No problems

]]> By: Moofius http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79973 Moofius Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:24:42 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79973 I use safari for everything except when I am going into a site with many things in flash. This is due to that safari crashes every 10 min if you do that, firefox only does that every 30 mins. I have tried to reinstall flash 9, but no success :( I use safari for everything except when I am going into a site with many things in flash. This is due to that safari crashes every 10 min if you do that, firefox only does that every 30 mins. I have tried to reinstall flash 9, but no success :(

]]> By: oj http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79961 oj Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:43:56 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79961 I tried to use several browsers for up to one week each as an experiment. Opera, flock, shiria, omniweb, firefox, camino, icab, IE. Have not tried vienna. I came back to Safari because it just worked for me. Inquisitor, tabs, cmd S, cmd I, shift cmd I, RSS one click addition in URL bar to Newsfire (or any RSS reader), and many others that I am so accustomed to that unless I go to another browser I don't realize how smoothly safari is integrated with other OS X features. I tried to use several browsers for up to one week each as an experiment.
Opera, flock, shiria, omniweb, firefox, camino, icab, IE. Have not tried vienna.

I came back to Safari because it just worked for me.

Inquisitor, tabs, cmd S, cmd I, shift cmd I, RSS one click addition in URL bar to Newsfire (or any RSS reader), and many others that I am so accustomed to that unless I go to another browser I don’t realize how smoothly safari is integrated with other OS X features.

]]> By: Brutal http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79929 Brutal Thu, 30 Nov 2006 09:38:01 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79929 Camino right now. I usually switch between Firefox and Camino. Safari is just too much of a memory hog for my taste. Camino right now. I usually switch between Firefox and Camino. Safari is just too much of a memory hog for my taste.

]]> By: Ton55 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79906 Ton55 Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:54:02 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79906 Hey Brett: Safari HAS an application like Roboform. It's called 1Passwd. Works in Firefox and a bunch of other browsers too. Can't live without it, as a Web Dev. As for the browser itself: I used to be an OmniWeb user, but I'm all Safari now. 'Cept of course for the sites that choke on it (not too many these days). So Firefox (transformed with GrApple (UNO) and fixed with Firefoxy) is just always on too. Tolerated. Would use it more if the Mozilla team would build a regular Cocoa version. Would toss it rightaway though if some Mac dev would write a Firefox Extension to Safari plugin converter. Hey Brett: Safari HAS an application like Roboform. It’s called 1Passwd. Works in Firefox and a bunch of other browsers too. Can’t live without it, as a Web Dev.
As for the browser itself: I used to be an OmniWeb user, but I’m all Safari now. ‘Cept of course for the sites that choke on it (not too many these days). So Firefox (transformed with GrApple (UNO) and fixed with Firefoxy) is just always on too. Tolerated. Would use it more if the Mozilla team would build a regular Cocoa version. Would toss it rightaway though if some Mac dev would write a Firefox Extension to Safari plugin converter.

]]> By: Lars-Erik Dahle http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79901 Lars-Erik Dahle Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:41:02 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79901 I was an Opera user for my first year with the Mac, and while the overall browsing experience and password management features were great, there were some minor niggles - like youtube not working properly, and lack of OS integration. Opera also has some features I couldn't do without, mainly session saving. I finally switched to Safari when I discovered SAFT, a plugin that gives Safari a lot of useful options, the two major ones for me being session saving and search shortcuts/bookmark shortcuts. Together with PithHelmet for adblocking and Inquisitor for slick googling, SAFT makes Safari the superior OS X browser for me. I was an Opera user for my first year with the Mac, and while the overall browsing experience and password management features were great, there were some minor niggles - like youtube not working properly, and lack of OS integration. Opera also has some features I couldn’t do without, mainly session saving.

I finally switched to Safari when I discovered SAFT, a plugin that gives Safari a lot of useful options, the two major ones for me being session saving and search shortcuts/bookmark shortcuts. Together with PithHelmet for adblocking and Inquisitor for slick googling, SAFT makes Safari the superior OS X browser for me.

]]> By: Ben http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79899 Ben Thu, 30 Nov 2006 08:34:55 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79899 I really like Firefox 2.0, there's a lot of nice things that they've implemented. I am going to be floored come 3.0 as they are building in things like using Cocoa widgtets. The text rendering in minefield (codename) is already a lot better, and the memory foot print is slightly reduced. I think that FF3 will be for the win. Also I absolutely adore furbism's optimized build for the g4, it also has the great mac centric replacement icon. I really like Firefox 2.0, there’s a lot of nice things that they’ve implemented. I am going to be floored come 3.0 as they are building in things like using Cocoa widgtets. The text rendering in minefield (codename) is already a lot better, and the memory foot print is slightly reduced. I think that FF3 will be for the win.

Also I absolutely adore furbism’s optimized build for the g4, it also has the great mac centric replacement icon.

]]> By: Brett http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79893 Brett Thu, 30 Nov 2006 07:52:34 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79893 Safari needs an application like Roboform, Actually Safari need "Roboform" - a cross platform password manager app would be killer. Safari needs an application like Roboform, Actually Safari need “Roboform” - a cross platform password manager app would be killer.

]]> By: Rick Shangle http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79876 Rick Shangle Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:33:06 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79876 I'd use Safari if I could (speed), but I'm more or less forced to use Firefox due to a number of work-related intranet sites that break under Safari. Firefox just feels bloated IMO. I really can't deal with using more than one browser on a regular basis, simple creature that I am. Talked about my personal search in link below. From about five months ago, but I'm pretty much still at the same point: http://rickshangle.com/rds_wordpress/archives/261 I’d use Safari if I could (speed), but I’m more or less forced to use Firefox due to a number of work-related intranet sites that break under Safari. Firefox just feels bloated IMO. I really can’t deal with using more than one browser on a regular basis, simple creature that I am.

Talked about my personal search in link below. From about five months ago, but I’m pretty much still at the same point:

http://rickshangle.com/rds_wordpress/archives/261

]]> By: Sunny http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79868 Sunny Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:05:07 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79868 I will choose Firefox over IE because soon enough Microsoft will start forcing everyone to use their stupid IE7 which is very slow and it doesn't display the web page right like a webmaster wanted it to look like. I will choose Firefox over IE because soon enough Microsoft will start forcing everyone to use their stupid IE7 which is very slow and it doesn’t display the web page right like a webmaster wanted it to look like.

]]> By: Scott Stevenson http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79861 Scott Stevenson Thu, 30 Nov 2006 05:18:15 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79861 I like Safari for its simplicity and polish. Firefox just doesn't feel like a Mac app to me. It could very well be that I'm missing out on some life-altering Firefox extension and not know it, but I'd rather have more attention to detail on the basics than extra features. I like Safari for its simplicity and polish. Firefox just doesn’t feel like a Mac app to me. It could very well be that I’m missing out on some life-altering Firefox extension and not know it, but I’d rather have more attention to detail on the basics than extra features.

]]> By: Jeff S. http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79849 Jeff S. Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:41:34 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79849 Right now I am using Flock as the default browser. It works well with gmail, vox, flickr, del.icio.us, clipmarks, etc, and has not crashed since the latest update. Camino is darn fine and uses less memory than Flock, but with my recent addiction to flickr I am liking Flock more. OmniWeb would be my favorite if it worked well with all the sites I use frequently. Right now I am using Flock as the default browser. It works well with gmail, vox, flickr, del.icio.us, clipmarks, etc, and has not crashed since the latest update. Camino is darn fine and uses less memory than Flock, but with my recent addiction to flickr I am liking Flock more. OmniWeb would be my favorite if it worked well with all the sites I use frequently.

]]> By: Steve http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79847 Steve Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:32:11 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79847 Safari is my main browser but I keep them all of the free ones on my HD for testing web sites. I use FF for the rare web pages that Safari can't handle (like my bank). I want to mention Shiira here for those who have not encountered it. Shiira is being developed in Japan and based on Web Kit and written in Cocoa. It's very responsive and has many nice features, but still feels a little too unfinished or something for daily use. Safari is my main browser but I keep them all of the free ones on my HD for testing web sites. I use FF for the rare web pages that Safari can’t handle (like my bank). I want to mention Shiira here for those who have not encountered it. Shiira is being developed in Japan and based on Web Kit and written in Cocoa. It’s very responsive and has many nice features, but still feels a little too unfinished or something for daily use.

]]> By: Zach Robbins http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79846 Zach Robbins Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:31:47 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79846 I just recently bought a mac after wanting to for several years but never seeing it quite profitable enough for me to do so. Before, I had always used Firefox on Windows as it's the best browser possible (IE is a joke, Opera tries to hard, and don't even get me started on Netscape). As a web designer and developer I'm obligated to use as many browsers for testing though. Having said that, when I converted to Mac, I thought I would get started back up with Firefox. But I was wrong. I've loved Safari and haven't really seen a need to use Firefox all that much. Safari is just so simple for me, and I suprisingly don't need much. What I wish for is a newer version of IE for the mac so I can continue to cross-test my websites on it without have to switch to my laptop. I just recently bought a mac after wanting to for several years but never seeing it quite profitable enough for me to do so. Before, I had always used Firefox on Windows as it’s the best browser possible (IE is a joke, Opera tries to hard, and don’t even get me started on Netscape). As a web designer and developer I’m obligated to use as many browsers for testing though.

Having said that, when I converted to Mac, I thought I would get started back up with Firefox. But I was wrong. I’ve loved Safari and haven’t really seen a need to use Firefox all that much. Safari is just so simple for me, and I suprisingly don’t need much.

What I wish for is a newer version of IE for the mac so I can continue to cross-test my websites on it without have to switch to my laptop.

]]> By: Tim http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79845 Tim Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:29:21 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79845 Since converting to apple 18 months ago I continued to use Firefox. Don't really get the complaints about FF's UI or the support for Safari because "its apple's". Firefox's extensions make it clearly the best. I only use safari on networks away from home because it automatically applies OSX's proxy settings. Since converting to apple 18 months ago I continued to use Firefox. Don’t really get the complaints about FF’s UI or the support for Safari because “its apple’s”. Firefox’s extensions make it clearly the best. I only use safari on networks away from home because it automatically applies OSX’s proxy settings.

]]> By: Adam http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79832 Adam Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:00:17 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79832 Firefox is slow on my Powerbook G4. Safari is faster. Omniweb (recently purchased) is actually faster for page rendering and AJAX apps like Gmail and Google Reader. My wife uses Camino so I use something else so our bookmarks and preferences don't collide. Firefox is slow on my Powerbook G4. Safari is faster. Omniweb (recently purchased) is actually faster for page rendering and AJAX apps like Gmail and Google Reader. My wife uses Camino so I use something else so our bookmarks and preferences don’t collide.

]]> By: Rishabh R. Dassani http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79825 Rishabh R. Dassani Thu, 30 Nov 2006 02:26:07 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79825 i have always used safari, but you know lately, i have been using Camino a lot. its blazing fast, and "lightweight" compared to the other browsers, though it would be nice to have the rss built in. i have also been experimenting with shiira and flock, but when it comes to loading and rendering pages, camino prolly beats the other browsers; it also uses lesser memory than safari and firefox; i like that. i have always used safari, but you know lately, i have been using Camino a lot. its blazing fast, and “lightweight” compared to the other browsers, though it would be nice to have the rss built in. i have also been experimenting with shiira and flock, but when it comes to loading and rendering pages, camino prolly beats the other browsers; it also uses lesser memory than safari and firefox; i like that.

]]> By: sub http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79817 sub Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:42:47 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79817 I just recently switched back to Safari, I have been juggling between Safari and Shiira, both of them are based on WebKit. Shiira is faster than Firefox on my mac, and it has less crashes too. The sidebar is a plus too. Now waiting for Shiira 2.0 to be released =) I just recently switched back to Safari, I have been juggling between Safari and Shiira, both of them are based on WebKit.
Shiira is faster than Firefox on my mac, and it has less crashes too. The sidebar is a plus too.
Now waiting for Shiira 2.0 to be released =)

]]> By: Howard Melman http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79813 Howard Melman Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:31:47 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79813 Safari gives me cocoa text widgets, so I get dictionary lookups with ctrl-cmd-d, I get spell checking and completion in text fields and I get emacs-like editing key bindings. All just like in most other apps I use. Images drag and drop, and a few other things that make it "feel" like a mac app. When Camino has these things I'll try it but to be honest the other things (speed, RAM, etc.) are similar enough between Safari and FF that they're a wash. Also the Safari plugin for Quicksilver is better than the Firefox plugin and I use Quicksilver for keyword searches. Safari could use a better (free) ad blocking solution, but I've survived so far with a css-based solution. Safari gives me cocoa text widgets, so I get dictionary lookups with ctrl-cmd-d, I get spell checking and completion in text fields and I get emacs-like editing key bindings. All just like in most other apps I use. Images drag and drop, and a few other things that make it “feel” like a mac app. When Camino has these things I’ll try it but to be honest the other things (speed, RAM, etc.) are similar enough between Safari and FF that they’re a wash. Also the Safari plugin for Quicksilver is better than the Firefox plugin and I use Quicksilver for keyword searches. Safari could use a better (free) ad blocking solution, but I’ve survived so far with a css-based solution.

]]> By: jan garcia http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79811 jan garcia Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:30:27 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79811 I, too, have been a browser switcher for the last few months. Trying to decide what's best for me. I used to love Firefox for the extensions, but I realized that I was missing out on the true OS X feeling. I went to Camino and loved the sleek interface and the snappy pefromance, but it was truly week in one area that I am fanatic about, bookmarks management. I went back to Safari a month ago and haven't looked back. With Inquisitor and SafariStand, I'm good to go. I, too, have been a browser switcher for the last few months. Trying to decide what’s best for me. I used to love Firefox for the extensions, but I realized that I was missing out on the true OS X feeling.

I went to Camino and loved the sleek interface and the snappy pefromance, but it was truly week in one area that I am fanatic about, bookmarks management. I went back to Safari a month ago and haven’t looked back. With Inquisitor and SafariStand, I’m good to go.

]]> By: anonymous http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79808 anonymous Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:24:10 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79808 What's important in this era of Macintosh is that we have a choice at all. It used to be such that there was a standard and no alternative, and it seems clear that one browser doesn't satisfy anyone's needs fully (this can be seen simply inconsistencies in page rendering across the browsers in question. Camino's not only sufficient but preferred for over 90% of my usage. For development sake I use Safari and Firefox and for the odd page that Camino renders funny. However, my feeling about Camino is strong enough such that I think it's the best browser built for any platform, and I would love to see some page rendering stats with systematic controls that either proves or disproves that claim! What’s important in this era of Macintosh is that we have a choice at all. It used to be such that there was a standard and no alternative, and it seems clear that one browser doesn’t satisfy anyone’s needs fully (this can be seen simply inconsistencies in page rendering across the browsers in question.

Camino’s not only sufficient but preferred for over 90% of my usage. For development sake I use Safari and Firefox and for the odd page that Camino renders funny.

However, my feeling about Camino is strong enough such that I think it’s the best browser built for any platform, and I would love to see some page rendering stats with systematic controls that either proves or disproves that claim!

]]> By: Tim Altman http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79796 Tim Altman Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:44:57 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79796 I primarily use Opera. If I need to use another browser, I'll use Safari first, then Firefox. @Steve: Yet you use a computer made by Apple? I primarily use Opera. If I need to use another browser, I’ll use Safari first, then Firefox.

@Steve: Yet you use a computer made by Apple?

]]> By: DrKoob http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79795 DrKoob Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:41:27 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79795 I have really only used two browsers in 15+ years of browsing. I used IE for Mac until Safari came out and I love it. I think it comes down to what your familiar with. I love tabbed browsing and have to do without when I use my work PC that only has an older version of IE on it. (IS won't let us upgrade.) I have Camino, Opera, Firefox and an old version of IE on all my Macs because there are some sites that I still can't access completely with Safari (like Bank of America). I have really only used two browsers in 15+ years of browsing. I used IE for Mac until Safari came out and I love it. I think it comes down to what your familiar with. I love tabbed browsing and have to do without when I use my work PC that only has an older version of IE on it. (IS won’t let us upgrade.)

I have Camino, Opera, Firefox and an old version of IE on all my Macs because there are some sites that I still can’t access completely with Safari (like Bank of America).

]]> By: JMD http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79794 JMD Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:41:05 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79794 I tend to switch back and forth between Safari and Firefox. Safari I like because: - It loads fast and looks sharp, and hey, it's Apple's browser - Inquisitor One nitpicky thing that gets me about Safari, though, is how the tabs hang down from the top rather than coming up from the window like in Firefox, which just seems to completely disconnect the two for no good reason. Firefox I like because: - I tend to use a lot of tabs (see above) and generally like using keyboard shortcuts, and Firefox's cmd-1/cmd-2/cmd-3 tab switching beats the heck out of Safari's cumbersome three-button cmd-shift-bracket nonsense - Lots of searches you can add to the search bar (I have about 15 set up, all of which I use at least occasionally) I also use the GrApple theme, which I highly recommend to anyone who doesn't like Firefox's default look. (Side note: I have no idea which uses more RAM, although I find it funny that one person here commented that they don't like Firefox because it uses too much RAM, and another that they don't like Safari because it uses too much RAM.) Camino I tried for a while, but ultimately couldn't get past the inclusion of the site icons in the favorites bar--I think they look ugly and distracting there and remind me way too much of IE, especially when you have a mix of sites that have icons and a sites just showing the default icon or nothing at all. (Why don't any browsers seem to have this as an option you can turn on and off?) I tend to switch back and forth between Safari and Firefox. Safari I like because:

- It loads fast and looks sharp, and hey, it’s Apple’s browser
- Inquisitor

One nitpicky thing that gets me about Safari, though, is how the tabs hang down from the top rather than coming up from the window like in Firefox, which just seems to completely disconnect the two for no good reason.

Firefox I like because:

- I tend to use a lot of tabs (see above) and generally like using keyboard shortcuts, and Firefox’s cmd-1/cmd-2/cmd-3 tab switching beats the heck out of Safari’s cumbersome three-button cmd-shift-bracket nonsense
- Lots of searches you can add to the search bar (I have about 15 set up, all of which I use at least occasionally)

I also use the GrApple theme, which I highly recommend to anyone who doesn’t like Firefox’s default look.

(Side note: I have no idea which uses more RAM, although I find it funny that one person here commented that they don’t like Firefox because it uses too much RAM, and another that they don’t like Safari because it uses too much RAM.)

Camino I tried for a while, but ultimately couldn’t get past the inclusion of the site icons in the favorites bar–I think they look ugly and distracting there and remind me way too much of IE, especially when you have a mix of sites that have icons and a sites just showing the default icon or nothing at all. (Why don’t any browsers seem to have this as an option you can turn on and off?)

]]> By: Richard Neal http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79793 Richard Neal Thu, 30 Nov 2006 00:40:40 +0000 http://theappleblog.com/2006/11/29/the-new-browser-war/#comment-79793 I've been in love with OmniWeb since early September, after using Safari for a while, but not really being satisfied. I tried pretty much everything, and laughed at the thought of a browser that isn't free, until I tried out OmniWeb. When the trial was over, I couldn't resist paying for it. However, Firefox works a lot better for Wordpress and Blogger, so I need it as well. I’ve been in love with OmniWeb since early September, after using Safari for a while, but not really being satisfied. I tried pretty much everything, and laughed at the thought of a browser that isn’t free, until I tried out OmniWeb. When the trial was over, I couldn’t resist paying for it. However, Firefox works a lot better for Wordpress and Blogger, so I need it as well.

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