Netscape 7.1 Released

Phil writes "Netscape has just released the eagerly-awaited Netscape 7.1 (previously known by its codename, 'Buffy') for Windows, Mac OS and Linux. The new version is based on Mozilla 1.4, which is due out later today. Netscape 7.1 features many improvements over 7.02 including even better CSS support, spam filters, find-as-you-type, automatic image resizing, more customization via about:config, Web development tools, Palm synchronization and more. Plus, for the first time, ChatZilla (Mozilla's IRC client) is included in the full install. More information can be found at Netscape Browser Central and in this MozillaZine article. The release is available from Netscape's download page, via FTP or on CD."

Comments

Re:How does mozilla handle old caches?

[Acidangl]

shift click reload, pulls a new version the page

Mozilla 1.4

[jasondlee]

Mozilla 1.4 is out too. jason

Re:Netscape?

[myawn]

The 'advantage' of the Netscape version is that it hides some of Mozillas pop-up blocking features, because otherwise it would interfere with AOLs preferred method of annoying their users.

There may be other features that are hidden or disabled as well, but that's enough for me to go with the Mozilla flavor.

Re:It just may make me switch back from IE

[Planesdragon]

Press F11 in Mozilla 1.4, and you get a full screen, just like IEs.

Better, actually, as the address bar is still there. :)

Moz's (and NS's) form function is great. Different from IE's, but still great.

Re:Why?

[edwdig]

1) Executives might be willing to try Netscape, but not Mozilla, due to name recognition.

2) Mail client can check AOL accounts & Netscape webmail accounts

3) Integrated AIM. There's integrated ICQ too, but it's worthless as it uses the same UI as AIM (i.e. no single message mode).

4) Spellcheck (yes it's available as an addon to Mozilla)

5) Java and the most popular plugins are included. So it's easier for the average person to set up.

6) Probably not the case on this release due to simultaneous releases, but in the past, Netscape took stable Mozilla branches and did futher bugfixes before releasing, resulting in a better product.

I'd use Netscape over Mozilla if they'd just leave in the "Block Images from Server" option in Netscape.

Re:I'll continue to use Mozilla

[kelnos]

To the average user netscape and IE are the only two browsers in existance.

i would venture to say that the average user is even unaware of netscape these days. i'm a university student - i find that an interesting perspective since most of the people here get a new computer to bring with them to college. back when i started 4 years ago i saw netscape all over. now most of the 1st- and 2nd-years i know have their fresh windows installs and never bother to download netscape (4.x or 7.x) because IE is fine for their purposes.

there is the random anomalous person i see using netscape 4.x (almost always not on windows). i don't know anyone using netscape 7.x. fortunately most of the more tech-savvy people i know are using mozilla (or i gently recommend it every now and then).

on a related note, why use netscape 7 over mozilla? perhaps the integration is a little better, but i don't see anything essential in netscape7 that i can't get out of mozilla. plus with mozilla i get much more frequent releases and the option to grab a nightly or build my own (granted these last two options don't interest that many people). as an added bonus you lose the "netscape activation" and all that bundled AOL crap.

Linux Users Get the Shaft on this release.

[Dolemite_the_Wiz]

In the Release notes, Linux users need to be aware of the following:

- Pages with Flash will, in worst cases, crash or hang your browser.
- Netscape will hang if a Flash plugin tries to play audio and the audio device is already in use
- Flash may crash with Exported X Display
- Java is not included with the Linux installer for Netscape 7.1. Download Java version 1.4.2 or later at the Java web site
- You may encounter problems if you install Netscape in a root user environment then run as another user.
- Loading a page that contains a Flash plugin may cause Netscape to lock up if you are using an audio application.

Everyone else need to be aware of the following:

- For security reasons, Netscape does not allow connections to certain ports. To override this on a per-port basis, add a comma separated list of ports to defaults/all.js
- POP email becomes unusable if the profile is stored on a network drive.
- Stll no NTFS Support
- Netscape does not warn the user of a low disk space condition.
- Netscape may temporarily hang during LDAP autocomplete if network connectivity is broken.
- Do not share a profile between Netscape and Mozilla browsers. Doing this can lead to unpredictable results, which may include loss of Search settings and preferences and unchecked growth of the Bookmarks file (large enough to freeze your system).
- When visiting a SSL enabled site, the lock icon will take on a yellow background, and will not indicate the strength of the SSL encryption used, whether it is 40 bit, 56 bit, or 128 bit.

Dolemite
_________________

Re:Linux Users Get the Shaft on this release.

[BZ]

Every single Flash issue you list is a bug in the Linux version of the Flash plugin....