Apple opens Safari to Windows users

[BDBohnzie]

Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com

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]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com



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]

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]

Originally Posted by cpayne5

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.

Originally Posted by hooskins

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

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

[BleedBurgundy]

Seems to be working fine so far for me with XP Pro SP2 and Vista Ultimate 64.

[SmootSmack]

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]

Safari doesn't do much for me. I prefer the extensibility of Firefox.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

Safari doesn't do much for me. I prefer the extensibility of Firefox.

Could you elaborate? Thanks

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

Apple colonizes Windows through Safari | John Carroll | ZDNet.com



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]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

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?

Mostly IE6/7 and Firefox. Before I upgraded to Vista, I had IE 6 as a standalone running side by side with IE7, but haven't set it up yet.

We have little to no Mac users within my company, so testing Safari isn't a big deal. I keep pushing to get a Mac for testing purposes, but the my boss isn't biting yet...

If Safari's rendering engine allows users to see sites based on other browsers properly, it'll help in the long run as far as web developers and designers trying to make sites cross-browser capable.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

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.

I wholeheartedly agree. Firefox has really set the standard as far as add-ons go. I actually stopped using Safari this morning because I was so used to the add-ons I use in Firefox.

[SmootSmack]

I think maybe I need to take advantage of the Firefox add-ons to appreciate them, something I really haven't done quite yet.

[EternalEnigma21]

wow... you guys introduced me to firefox and I d/l different utilities and entertaining add ons all the time... its fun to give your browser a face/fucntion lift every once in a while...

[GeneParmesan]

tunafish stinks