Tech: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?

Subject: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:28 PM

This seems to be my day for nonmusical computer-related questions. I've been happily using Netscape for quite a while, finding it more comfortable than IE, which I also use occasionally. Netscape has been acting squirrely recently ("This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down...") and I was going to reload it. Apparently, though, the only Netscape browser I can now get is the new 6.2, or maybe 6.1. Since I don't assume big-company software engineers will make anything better when they change it, I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with this new browser that would make me think twice about using it.

I know, I know, there are alternatives to both Netscrape and Microshaft...but I'm lazy.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:29 PM

(I'm currently using 4.77, if that makes any difference.)

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Max
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:42 PM

Stay in the 4's if you can. The 6's are huge and clunky.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: 53
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:45 PM

yeah man, go for it. BOB

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 10:49 PM

Tell ya' Mark, I think your problem is in the cooling. Not enough air across the boards. Let me suggest one of the Gordon Bok Fans. You can have Gordon's own special rotating fan with the unique Bok touches. First it has the signature Gordon Bok Cookie Duster HEPA Filter lining all four sides of the inlet keeping dust to a minimum. Each fan is also equipped with an auto-sensing switch so it always Turns On Toward Morning!!! An yet another feature!!!! The DownEast Crapper Whapper!!! Mark, if you're in a position where you can expect the shit to hit the fan on a regular basis, then THIS is the Fan for you! I understand this feature has been tested extensively and is guaranteed to keep the crap off of you! The testing was done by having Kendall Morse tell stories into the fan because everyone knows that Kendall is full of shit. After wearing his voice out over the three day testing period, listeners said they never heard a word he said! Oughta' work on your Netscape problem!

Order two and you get a free Amish-Australian Pitchfork Moustache Tuner!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:00 PM

Mark,

I've been using 6.1 for a couple months now - didn't know abot 6.2 until you mentioned it. I got 6.1 because 6.0 was having a lot of problems, though they seemed to be connected to certain websites - for instance, all of a sudden, my Yahoo mail account would crash if I tried to open it in 6.0.

I haven't had any problems with 6.1. Yes it's big, but everything seems to run fine and I still appreciate the easy of turning of Java - I do a lot of research for work and I run into far to many "legitimate" sites that have pop-ups. Since I have a relativly basic computer, those pop-up screens tend to really slow down my loading.

I still have Netscape 4.7 and yes it's simpler, but it also doesn't do a lot of thing I like in the new versions - like remembering sign-ins and passwords.

I just wish it could stop my Mudcat cookie from expiring...

All in all, I'm happy, and yes I know I should look into other web browzing options, but I don't know where to look. pax yall

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:10 PM

I just got a new PC, and loaded 6.2 as part of my migration to the 21st century. However, I don't like the interface at all, the c are much harder to edit, and 6.2 tends to seize control of searchs, substituting the Netscape search engine (complete with ads) for whatever your preference is. It doesn't include the option of loading other programs as part of the initial download (eg, Real Player), but instead refers you to "ZD Net" to get that stuff. I killed it and downloaded 4.79. Its there on home.netscape.com...you need to look for a link to "other Netscape downloads" or some such thing. Save your BOOKMARKS to a floppy before you upgrade, just in case. And yes, you will probably kill your Mudcat cookie in the process.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Nov 01 - 11:29 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Don't do it. Download an archival version of 4.71 or 4.77, and you will have an easier time. Cheers, Owl.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 12:27 AM

Both Netscape and Explorer nave been playing games with the Java code and Sun is unhappy about it. I've seen several academic sites that tell their users not to go above navagator 4,78 or Explorer 5.5 or else the cgi Java won't work right. Do a search for the number you want, you'll find it.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Banjer
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 05:06 AM

I;ve been using Nescape 4.7 for quite some time. Last year I downloaded version 6.0 and consider it one of the biggest waste of time I have ever done. I have since gotten rid of it and gone back to 4.7 which I am much happier with. True, 6.0 will remember log ins for many occasions, and can probably be useful in other areas where your own memory is slacking, but I could never warm up to it. Another thing I recall I didn't like was the display of the bookmarks, all in one column instead of full page like 4.7 shows them. Oh, another thing I found, which they may have fixed in later versions is that once you open an e-mail with an attachment such as a .jpg file, it was impossible to go back and view it again. Nope, 4.7 for me...!!

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 05:31 AM

6.2 I haven't come across - but 6.1 In have, and it is a great improvement on 6.0. Seems pretty good to me.

I tend to use Internet Explorer 5.5, but I've got Netscape 6.1 on my computer as well, and I've never had any problem when I've used it.

But when I use a browser other than IE it tends to be Opera, which is fast and neat in all kind of ways. It's easy to adjust your preferences, and it's free and quite a small download (far smaller than Netscape or Explorer would be). (There's a small and unobtrusive advert on the free version - which I never notice. I don't know why anybody ever thinks it's worth paying for banner adverts.)

And unlike IE it doesn't keep on kicking in with a Content Control which I've disabled, but which tries to deny me access to my own homepage, and the Mudcat, for example. But I'm used to it, and I've got a spellchecker for Mudcat posts incorporated into it, which I seriously need and haven't got round to adding to Opera.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 07:13 AM

I hate Netscape 6. It looks terrible and I find it clunky. The older ones are better (ahhh, nostalgia...). But then, I actually think IE is one of Microsoft's successes (along with PowerPoint and... er that's about it really).

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: voyager
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 07:28 AM

FOr nostalgia freaks (like me) look at Netscape 0.9 -->

Found this off the home page of Jamie Zawinski, Mozilla software guru.

;-)
voyager

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 07:31 AM

Netscape 6.0 and 6.1 are not the same animal at all. 6.0 was terrible, but you shouldn't judge by it.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: MMario
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 09:17 AM

I much prefer Netscape 4.7x.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 09:39 AM

Just had our computer rebuilt - every tech I talked to said that anything above 4.7 is a waste of time and is "buggy" as all get out. So I stuck with 4.7 and upgraded my Win95 to Win 98 - Very nice setup and makes my old 300 Mhz run like a son of a gun!

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 12:30 PM

Thanks, all, I'm glad to hear my instincts were probably right. Still trying to figure out how to download 4.7, all I can find is how to get a CD in the mail, and I don't want to give them my mailing address (not that they don't have it already...) And thanks for the tip, Kevin, I'll give Opera a try.

I knew I could count on the 'Cat. What a great group!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Les b (U.K.)
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:09 PM

I am an explorer user mainly, I also have netscape 4.5. I put netscape 6 on but it was so over bloated and slow. I have created a couple of web sites and I found that those that worked fine with explorer didn't work so well with netscape
Explorer is much more forgiving, things like spaces left in the code and other assorted small things, explorer either puts code in or just just works around it, but netscape is very unforgiving, any slight error and thats that. I'll stick to explorer thanks. Les

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:57 PM

This site looks as if it has a free download of Netscape Communicator 4.79, and various others.

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 03:49 PM

Mark, How much RAM is in your system? RAM is almost free right now and is absoutely the cheapest and most effective upgrade you can buy. If your CPU runs at, say, 600 MHz or better, and you're running Windows 98/ME/2K/XP, you should have at least 256 MB of RAM—128 MB is absolute minimum—for acceptable performance. Given adequate RAM, the latest IE will give you no trouble and will provide faster response than Netscape. You can still choose the plug-ins and JVM you'd like to run.

I used to be a Netscape loyalist but the browser wars are long over and there is no longer any supplier worthy of your loyality. Once IE achieved the functionality and stability of Netscape and AOL bought Netscape, I saw no need to waste hard disk space storing a second (add-on) browser.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 03:57 PM

Once again - Netscape 6.1 os MUCH BETTER than 6.0

If you didn't like 6.0 - 6.1 has fixed a lot of differnt things. I hardly ever visit a website that doesnt work well with 6.1

On the other hand, I'm going to check out Opera as well.

Pax yall

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Helen
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 04:36 PM

I tried Netscape 6.0 a couple of times and I got so bored sitting waiting waiting waiting for the damn thing to start up so I removed the program and went back to Netscape 4.75. Thanks for the suggestions about N 6.1 or 6.2 & Opera. I'll try them out.

One of the reasons I have preferred using N to IE is the messages and progress bar which tells me how the page loading is going. Nothing worse than watching your computer wondering whether it has stalled, or something else is wrong or whether it is just a slow loading page.

IE has probably done something similar by now, but I haven't tried it unless N was having trouble getting into Mudcat.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 06:36 PM

I tried 6.0 and hated it. Got 6.1 and thought it was better until all of my incoming mail suddenly disappeared from the screen and any new messages I tried to download went off into some mysterious cyberspace. I don't know how many e-pistles I lost, but it must have been at least a couple hundred. I was really pissed! I went back to 4.6 and have stuck with it. If you find 6.2 is really good, please let us know. I'm not going to mess around with leaving something that works until I'm convinced that something new is actually going to work better! Many of these so-called "upgrades" make me think of my dear old mother's frequent reference to "modern INconveniences."

Grumpy

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 01:17 AM

McGrath, thanks, I'd forgotten about CNet. After a couple of false starts, it worked just fine, and I'm happily back with my "old-fashioned" Netscape 4.79. I did try Opera but it didn't seem to work; it may be a better browser, but I'll probably stick to what I'm used to. Thanks, all.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: Should I upgrade to Netscape 6.2?
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Dec 01 - 04:38 AM

I use 4.6 to check HTML pages for my website, (but I use IE a lot for browsing). A lot of people out there are still using IE3 so it pays to keep things simple. If you don't generate HTML there is still the issue bugs v (alledged) bug fixes.
I would consider an older version with upgrades if you can. New features usually throw up new bugs.