Slashdot Mirror
Netscape 7.0 is Out
MrJones was one of many many users to submit that Netscape has released
Navigator 7.0 unto the world. With their dwindling market share, it'll be interesting to see what affect this has on internet users. But here's hoping it makes a dent.
But where is the platform support?
...
Some of us have SPARCs on our desk. Or PA-RISC machines. Or RS6k's.
These were all supported with Communicator
NS7 is useless to me till I can run it on these platforms...
--NBVB
Why should/would I use Netscape instead of Mozilla? Not getting enough pop-up windows in my life? Feel the need for a more closed solution?
Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
The CNET review of 7.0 is here.
Title: Don't switch browsers
Summary:
We had high hopes for Netscape 7.0, but we're sorely disappointed, especially by the missing pop-up suppressor. There's no practical reason to switch from either IE or Mozilla.
"Um, so what, Netscape is dead, use mozilla"
"yeah, big deal, it's based on Mozilla 1.0 when the Mozilla Organization just released 1.1, kudos to Netscape's already outdated browser".
Yes, but a lot of the time it's easier to:
1- have users download the familiar Netscape product instead of "that mozilla dinosaur thingy".
2- Introduce Netscape to organizations; at least it's a familiar name and brand for them.
I'm a rabid mozilla user, but still I'm pleased to see that Netscape is still alive, if maybe under AOL's life support infrastructure.
Netscape 6 was based on mozilla 0.9.4 which is pretty old now.
So that you wont have to /. mozillazine.org here's the text with links:
Netscape Communications Corporation today launched the final version of Netscape 7.0. This latest release is based on Mozilla 1.0.1, making it the first Netscape browser to be built upon post-1.0 code. The new version boasts several enhancements over the 0.9.4-based Netscape 6.2, including tabbed browsing, the ability to save complete web pages, print preview, site icons (Favicons), a download manager, full screen mode (Windows only), Quick Search within Mail Newsgroups and Address Book, return receipts, mail labels, (Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) S/MIME mail encryption, CSS support in Composer and one-click web page publishing.
Netscape 7.0 also has several features not found in Mozilla. These include the ability to access Netscape Webmail and AOL accounts directly from within Mail Newsgroups, a button to easily toggle the display of My Sidebar in Navigator and P3P (Platform for Privacy Preferences) support for automated cookie handling. Improved instant messaging features including file transfers, Buddy Alerts and Buddy Icons are provided by AOL Instant Messenger for Netscape and ICQ for Netscape. There's also a round throbber with a cool animation.
Netscape 7.0 can be downloaded from Netscape's web site or FTP server. More details can be found at Netscape Browser Central or in the Release Notes.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
If you prefer bleeding edge code with more bugs then use Mozilla. It doesn't have any of the above and has the popup blocker UI. Web developers will also appreciate stuff like the DOM inspector and JS Debugger modules.
Yes there is, there is just no UI for it. If you want to enable support then read this or search for a popup blocker ui extension.
One of the main challenges faced in getting users to use standards-compliant browsers over obsolete programs such as Netscape 4-series is also the computers. At places still using older systems or franken-systems, Moz (may just be too hefty for Windows. It doesn't seem as much of a problem on PCs, because IE is available, but many people still use NS4 for the mail client (and I cannot in good conscience tell them that Moz's is overwhelmingly superior, despite weird stuff like NS4 Mail encoding all messages in Rot13 by accident). It is an even bigger challenge with Macs, because many older Macs just won't comfortably run IE/mac, so NS4/mac is the browser of choice for aging Macs.
But saturating the market with standards-compliant browsers is helpful anyway. I could only wish more people knew about Mozilla, for their sake.
Karma: T-rexcellent.
Please,
As a webdesigner, a web game developer, and as an internet user, please for the love of God, start the browser war back up.
When we have competition, at a scale over 20% for the browser, we will FINALLY see standards begin to matter!
AOL needs to:
- Aggressively work with computer makers to ship NS as the default browser in place of IE. More power to them if they also get AOL on it.
- Aggressively work to woo corporations to using Netscape again. Thats where Netscape was immensely powerful before, and where they can be again!
- Replace AOL's IE rendering engine with NS. They began with a closed beta, continued to Compuserve, moved it to AOL 4 Macs, now they need to do it on ALL of AOL.
With that, we may see a reverse in the tides. ANYTHING short of all of that, and it will be just a ripple.
PLEEEEEASE AOL, NS7 *IS READY*!
GPL'd web-based tradewars themed space game
many people hate Netscape what with the AOL stuff the ads etc etc. But just about everyday here at work I convert someone to Mozilla and/or show them some way in which it is better than IE. This has gotten to the point where next week I have a meeting with our MIS department to implement Mozilla in addition to IE as a standard. The moral of the story start using it and when people have a problem with IE test using Mozilla many times it will work and people will start to use it and love it. Also the whole blocking popup thing is a good way to sell people on it. :)
Cypherpunks: Civil Liberty Through Complex Mathematics. Those who live by the sword die by the arrow.
Either it's not happening (the comments I've seen so far might explain why), or NS is withstanding it quite well.
I was shocked how fast I downloaded all 28 megs (NS, RealPlayer, Java 2, Flash, etc.) for a full install, even over my company's typically laggy connection.
Yes, I use NS7. It's more polished than Moz overall. I've been using the PR all summer (Why didn't they go through multiple PRs??? There was PR1 and that was it...) Yes, Moz might have some neat features, but overall I've had too many negative experiences with it. (Like refusing to access SSL pages - "Please download the PSM" - I DOWNLOADED AND INSTALLED IT, DELETED AND REINSTALLED IT AGAIN - WORK GODDAMNIT!)
Interesting how Netscape Radio compares to (say) Musicmatch's radio offering. Haven't checked to see if it runs under Linux yet (2 hours 'till I get home), but it's gonna hurt MM if it can compare, considering that it appears to be free.
retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Argh! Things don't have an affect!
Aw, that statement makes me feel bad.
If you must do it, the least you could do is email the site and let them know they are losing potential customers. At least then there is a chance that they will fix the markup and so next mozilla user to come along won't have to change their UA string.
I had turned popups on (a blog comment page required them) and forgotten about it. Visiting Netscape's page pops up a BIG HUGE ad for Netscape 7.
Frankly, it might be better if they just skipped that altogether, and renamed the product. Half the comments on here are people trashing the product just because it's named, "Netscape".
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
Microsoft's rival browser, Internet Explorer, by contrast, has an estimated 96% of the market...
because everyone sets their browser ident to IE...
because everyone thinks that IE is all anyone uses...
because everyone sets their browser ident to IE...
because everyone thinks that IE is all anyone uses...
For Gods sake, people, don't set Konq/Moz/Opera to say it's IE, or we'll never get a true picture. And, if a site doesn't let you in as your true self, don't go to the site, and send them an email telling them that you didn't.
Get your own free personal location tracker
Given the raft of security bugs surrounding IE and forged certs, isn't it kind of dangerous to do your banking on IE? Wouldn't Mozilla or Konqueror be a safer choice?
They support it because some large companies require Netscape 4 for apps built in house.