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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Netscape Compatibility Issues With Tiger
707av8or - Jul 22, 2005 - 11:29 am
I am running Netscape 7.2 (latest Mac version available) on my Mac G4/1.25Ghz desktop. Since updating to Tiger (10.4 thru current 10.4.2) Netscape has exhibited numerous compatibility problems. [Note: Firefox 1.0.5 has same problems].
Specifically, if printing to either laser printer (via AppleTalk/Ethernet) or inkjet (via USB), the print window will not respond to anything but single copy. Also, many websites that worked fine before OS upgrade have dead links that at best can only by opened by Contextual Menu opening in a separate (new) browser window. One of worst is eBay where alternate picture of sale item cannot be viewed from thumbnail.
Questions:
1) Are there any known patches or upgrades affecting Netscape/Mozilla that address Tiger compatibility?
2) Is Netscape aware of these problems, since they do not make any open communiocations channels for their clients to dialogue with them?
3) Is there an insider URL or email address available to get Netscape attention to these problems?
4) Is Netscape planning an 8.0 upgrade for the Mac?
Specifically, if printing to either laser printer (via AppleTalk/Ethernet) or inkjet (via USB), the print window will not respond to anything but single copy. Also, many websites that worked fine before OS upgrade have dead links that at best can only by opened by Contextual Menu opening in a separate (new) browser window. One of worst is eBay where alternate picture of sale item cannot be viewed from thumbnail.
Questions:
1) Are there any known patches or upgrades affecting Netscape/Mozilla that address Tiger compatibility?
2) Is Netscape aware of these problems, since they do not make any open communiocations channels for their clients to dialogue with them?
3) Is there an insider URL or email address available to get Netscape attention to these problems?
4) Is Netscape planning an 8.0 upgrade for the Mac?
skapp - Jul 22, 2005 - 1:45 pm
There are new versions of Mozilla and Firefox recently released that address Tiger incompatibilities. However, Netscape has not released a newer version than the one you have.
707av8or - Jul 22, 2005 - 7:46 pm
I checked your auggestion and downloaded Firefox 1.0.6. The Mozilla update was Mozilla Firefox 1.0.6 (apparently the same program with the name "Mozilla" added). Both have the same issues as I described in my original posting???
skapp - Jul 23, 2005 - 1:54 am
Have you tried alternate browsers such as Safari, OmniWeb, or Opera?
707av8or - Jul 23, 2005 - 6:51 pm
Of course Safari 2.0 works OK, as it is an Apple product and was updated concurrently and bundled with Tiger. But Safari doesn't have many features that I use and prefer in Netscape (like an integrated eMail client, and auto log-in saved passwords, etc.). I have not tried Opera,or OmniWeb and I won;t use Internet Explorer because of its extreme lack of security against viruses and worms. But thanks for the alternative suggestions.
skapp - Jul 23, 2005 - 10:37 pm
Safari has auto-logins and saved passwords as do OmniWeb and Opera. They may not work the same as Netscape, but they are there. In fact, I think Safari's autofill feature works much better than any other browser.
However, none of these other browsers has a built-in mail program, but then Netscape's mail app is available as a separate application and OS X can be set to default to any chosen mail application.
I know this isn't the "best" substitute for what you want, but no one knows when the next Netscape version for OS X will appear.
Personally, I use Safari and OmniWeb, but prefer Safari overall. I use Entourage for mail. Netscape's mail used to be pretty impressive long ago, but after a while I found mail apps I liked better.
However, none of these other browsers has a built-in mail program, but then Netscape's mail app is available as a separate application and OS X can be set to default to any chosen mail application.
I know this isn't the "best" substitute for what you want, but no one knows when the next Netscape version for OS X will appear.
Personally, I use Safari and OmniWeb, but prefer Safari overall. I use Entourage for mail. Netscape's mail used to be pretty impressive long ago, but after a while I found mail apps I liked better.
707av8or - Jul 24, 2005 - 8:20 am
Thanks for all your help. I have been reluctantly waiting for an excuse to learn Safari in-depth and set it as my default browser. Version 2.0 has fixed some of my main objections (inability to import Netscape bookmarks, for example). As for auto-logins and saved passwords, I have not seen anything on these features in Safari and will have to do some research, (Any suggestions?)
Maybe this will be the issue that forces me to make the effort.
Maybe this will be the issue that forces me to make the effort.
skapp - Jul 24, 2005 - 1:16 pm
Generally the first time you log into a site Safari will query if you want to save the login info. If you answer, Yes, then every time you go to that site your login info is automatically filled in. You can limit this to user ids only if you don't want the password saved.
Safari also remembers everything you enter into any form and will automatically fill in forms if the form is recognized. If the form is different but the info is the same, there's an auto-fill tool you can use that will then fill in the form for you.
The Safari Support Site would be a good starting point.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that Safari does have some potential problems (but what software doesn't.) The Tiger version tends to slow down after extended usage. Clearing some caches and deleting a pref file seems to return it to typical operation. An Applescript is available to automate that process. Also, Safari caches site icons from all the sites you visit. After a while the cache folder can become bloated with icon files. Unless this is an essential need for you, I recommend you set the permissions on the Icon folder to read-only and delete all the enclosed icons. This also tends to keep Safari running better.
Of all the other browser options I guess I like OmniWeb best, but it isn't freeware. Opera is relatively new on the scene and I haven't used the latest version at all, and have limited time on the previous one. I didn't care for it as much as Safari, but it seemed a worthy competitor to FireFox.
It couldn't hurt to try them. It shouldn't take you very long to sort out what you like and dislike in each, and whether any of them would make a good replacement for Netscape, at least on the browser side. Email is another question altogether!
I don't know what I would suggest for email. Personally, I don't like OS X Mail, although thousands of people use it. I use Entourage because all the PIM functions are there in one application, and I prefer that to Apple's option of multiple applicatons. If you're used to Netscape Mail, then you could probably transition pretty quickly to Thunderbird which is the Mozilla mail app. separated from the browser. But there are a lot of good email programs out there. You'd have to just try them.
Safari also remembers everything you enter into any form and will automatically fill in forms if the form is recognized. If the form is different but the info is the same, there's an auto-fill tool you can use that will then fill in the form for you.
The Safari Support Site would be a good starting point.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that Safari does have some potential problems (but what software doesn't.) The Tiger version tends to slow down after extended usage. Clearing some caches and deleting a pref file seems to return it to typical operation. An Applescript is available to automate that process. Also, Safari caches site icons from all the sites you visit. After a while the cache folder can become bloated with icon files. Unless this is an essential need for you, I recommend you set the permissions on the Icon folder to read-only and delete all the enclosed icons. This also tends to keep Safari running better.
Of all the other browser options I guess I like OmniWeb best, but it isn't freeware. Opera is relatively new on the scene and I haven't used the latest version at all, and have limited time on the previous one. I didn't care for it as much as Safari, but it seemed a worthy competitor to FireFox.
It couldn't hurt to try them. It shouldn't take you very long to sort out what you like and dislike in each, and whether any of them would make a good replacement for Netscape, at least on the browser side. Email is another question altogether!
I don't know what I would suggest for email. Personally, I don't like OS X Mail, although thousands of people use it. I use Entourage because all the PIM functions are there in one application, and I prefer that to Apple's option of multiple applicatons. If you're used to Netscape Mail, then you could probably transition pretty quickly to Thunderbird which is the Mozilla mail app. separated from the browser. But there are a lot of good email programs out there. You'd have to just try them.
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