Apple opens Safari to Windows users

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BDBohnzie
03-24-2008, 03:27 PM
Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com (http://blogs.zdnet.com/carroll/?p=1816)

Apple colonizes Windows through Safari

I have three web browsers installed on my system. One of them, obviously, is Internet Explorer, the browser I use the vast majority of the time. The second is Firefox, a browser I downloaded originally for compatibility testing, but found myself using more than I expected on account of the integrated spell checker functionality. The third is Opera, a browser I never use except for testing.

Adding a fourth browser seemed to be no big deal, so being the inquisitive sort (in the “curiosity” sense, not a “tendency to scald unbelievers with hot irons” sense), I opted to download the recently released 3.1 version of Safari for Windows. Safari is browser based on the open source Konqueror web browser that Apple developed as a way to make itself less dependent on the whims of a certain third-party software company by whom I am employed. These days, it is as identifiable with Mac computers as Internet Explorer is with Windows...(click on link to read more)

I was curious, being that I've used Opera in the past, and use Firefox as my main browser now, so I d/l and am using it the rest of the week to see how it competes. Thus far, I'm very impressed with Safari...I know Mac users will brag about it, but I was wondering what other Windows users thought of it.

The one nice feature I found (being a Web Developer) is the Develop menu (Not installed by default, go into Preferences > Advanced, click on the check box) allows you to manipulate the tab/window you are using to "feel" like a different browser. Will make having multiple browsers for testing obsolete...if it works right.

cpayne5
03-24-2008, 03:49 PM
Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com (http://blogs.zdnet.com/carroll/?p=1816)



I was curious, being that I've used Opera in the past, and use Firefox as my main browser now, so I d/l and am using it the rest of the week to see how it competes. Thus far, I'm very impressed with Safari...I know Mac users will brag about it, but I was wondering what other Windows users thought of it.

The one nice feature I found (being a Web Developer) is the Develop menu (Not installed by default, go into Preferences > Advanced, click on the check box) allows you to manipulate the tab/window you are using to "feel" like a different browser. Will make having multiple browsers for testing obsolete...if it works right.

Yeah, don't count on that. Does it actually switch rendering engines, or does it just send a different user agent and then try its best to emulate?

I played with Safari a year ago when it was first released for Windows and it was OK. It didn't impress me to the point where I felt the need to keep it around. I'll probably try out this release version, though, to check it out.

hooskins
03-24-2008, 03:52 PM
Well I just downloaded and installed it. Right off the bat, my scrolling isn't working for it, while it works perfectly fine with Mozilla.

BDBohnzie
03-24-2008, 03:58 PM
Yeah, don't count on that. Does it actually switch rendering engines, or does it just send a different user agent and then try its best to emulate?
Looks like it's emulating...I'd have to go to a site I know works specifically in one specific browser and see how it relates in this system.

Well I just downloaded and installed it. Right off the bat, my scrolling isn't working for it, while it works perfectly fine with Mozilla.
Safari 3.1 Crashes On Windows XP, Users Complain -- Safari -- InformationWeek (http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206905382)

I have it running fine on Vista Business with SP1 installed. Who knows? I might not make it through the week...

BleedBurgundy
03-24-2008, 04:22 PM
Seems to be working fine so far for me with XP Pro SP2 and Vista Ultimate 64.

SmootSmack
03-25-2008, 10:26 PM
I've been using Safari today for the first time ever. Not bad. No better or worse, IMO, than Firefox. I have yet to try Opera.

Anyone know anything about Flock?

onlydarksets
03-25-2008, 11:29 PM
Safari doesn't do much for me. I prefer the extensibility of Firefox.

SmootSmack
03-25-2008, 11:36 PM
Safari doesn't do much for me. I prefer the extensibility of Firefox.

Could you elaborate? Thanks

FRPLG
03-25-2008, 11:42 PM
Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com (http://blogs.zdnet.com/carroll/?p=1816)



I was curious, being that I've used Opera in the past, and use Firefox as my main browser now, so I d/l and am using it the rest of the week to see how it competes. Thus far, I'm very impressed with Safari...I know Mac users will brag about it, but I was wondering what other Windows users thought of it.

The one nice feature I found (being a Web Developer) is the Develop menu (Not installed by default, go into Preferences > Advanced, click on the check box) allows you to manipulate the tab/window you are using to "feel" like a different browser. Will make having multiple browsers for testing obsolete...if it works right.
Just curious what all do you test for in terms of browsers. I currently run through ie6/7,firefox,safari. Our user base uses almost zero amount of Opera so I ignore it. U?

onlydarksets
03-26-2008, 08:20 AM
Could you elaborate? Thanks

Add-ons. Safari has add-ons hacked in, but Firefox is just ahead of the game. If Safari gets caught up, I'd give it another look, but I won't surf the web without Foxmarks, IEView, Adblock, etc.

To be fair, I haven't played much with the Safari hacks. However, I like the idea that FF built them in. Apple has a history of enjoying closed systems (iTunes,iPod,iPhone,AppleTV,etc.), so I don't like counting on hacks with them.

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