February 26, 2009 2:03 PM PST
A first look at Safari 4 beta for Windows
Safari's currently the third-most popular browser for Windows, but is Apple aiming for number two? The Safari 4 beta debuts a completely reworked program, from the Nitro JavaScript engine to the Chrome-styled interface and Top Sites.
Some users are already swearing by the faster speeds in the beta, while others won't touch a browser without extension support. Let us know your favorite browser and why in the comments.
Seth peers into the deep, dark corners of software so that you don't have to. He has yet to suffer a single nightmare about OS/2. You can follow him on Twitter. 
Such bleating about Apple is the sure sign of a Microsoft sycophant. It weakens your argument. Try a different tack. Say something intelligent.
Safari 4's really impressing me, though...if only it re-opened all my open tabs if/when the browser crashed, I'd make it my only browser, without hesitation.
I think you just pushed me to switch to Safari 4 permanently. haha
Any ideas?
As Firefox has gotten more bloated (read: slow, buggy) I find myself using Safari more.
Safari and Camino are my two top browsers on my Mac. I use Firefox or Safari about evenly at work.
I'm not all *that* crazy about extensions - give me something like AdBlock (I use SafariBlock for Safari) and I'm happy.
Other than the very un-Mac-like UI of Safari 4PB, the program seems to work faster and be very stable. I've only encountered one site that didn't like it, live.com. Big surprise, it's a Micro$oft site. I could not get the "new" message button to work in Safari 4 PB. Undoubtedly, it's because Micro$oft is using some non-standard code.
You can't compare the version on the Mac to the version on Windows. It's like comparing the speed of IE on Windows to IE on Mac.
Be careful what you wish for.
I'm not against a website making money, I'm against it annoying me while infesting my computer with malware while I pay for the "privilege".
There are ways to advertise which make sense. Some of the podcasts I watch regularly have sponsored advertisements which work with the show. If CNet had tech related advertisements rather than weight loss ads, I'd actually look at those and enjoy them. Text based ads next to a video, even silent, flash-based ads next to the video and I would glance over, read the ad while the video loaded, maybe even be interested without being annoyed.
The adblock crowd isn't looking for no advertisements ever. At least, not all of us. We're just looking for a little sanity.
For Seth Rosenblatt Quote "from the Nitro JavaScript engine to the Chrome-styled interface and Top Sites. "
Excuse me, can you say Opera. Safari and Chrome's interface are a complete rip of Opera speed dial. Lets give credit where credit is do.
Quality magazines are full of glossy ad's for things that most of us will never be able to afford. But those ads are often pleasant to look at. When you're next at a news-stand just flick through a copy of Vanity Fair and take a look at the jewellery, perfume and other luxury good ads.
I've yet to see a web ad that is worth looking at for even a microsecond on account of its aesthetic merit, or indeed any other merit.
Why can't we have some classy ads on the web, even tho' I'll never buy one, I'd much rather see a slick ad for a Maserati, than some turgid rubbish about Dell PCs or yet more employment agency staff clapping their hands with glee as the dole queues lengthen with each passing day.
@queticomn: I know that Speed Dial originated with Opera, but it's been around for long enough that plenty of other browsers use it. I don't cite Safari every time I mention cache-disabled browsing, even though they got to it years ago. It'd be a mighty long video if I cited which company originated which innovation for every major browser development, but since Chome is new and the until now the only other browser that natively sports the top-level tabs I figured it was worth a mention.
On the Macintosh it is: Safari, Firefox/Camino/Flock, Opera
Still, I admit surprise at the notion that Safari is the 3rd most popular browser under Windows.
Therefore, its
IE, FireFox, Other, Safari
However, you are correct that Safari isn't the 3rd most used browser on Windows. I never saw anybody used Safari for Windows besides those that already own a Mac and like to use the same software, as much as they can, on Windows.
I use Safari 3.1.1 on my Ancient Xp machine all the time
you'd be surprised by how fast and memory efficient it is
not to mention how user friendly the interface is
even without extension it does half the stuff FF could do !
but Safari 4 just plain sux, nobody should use it on a Windows machine !
I tried Safari 3 on my 3-yr-old Dell and it...... was..... very.... slow.... to... do.... anything.... including.... go.... to.... the.... apple.... start.... page, and wasn't good on RAM or processor.
Now, I'm not saying Apple makes bad products, but their Windows software isn't up to par with their OS X software, just as MS's OS X software isn't up to par with their Windows SW.
MS Office 2004 + 2008 aren't fast on the Macs @ school (1GB RAM, 125GHz Intel processor), and Office 2003 on my Dell (1 GB RAM, 1.86 GHz processor) is nice and fast.
I use Firefox, and Chrome if i'm in a hurry.
JoshuaVining's post (about the render speed and passing the acid test) is a much better reason for me, and others, to try Safari for Windows.
if you like safari 4 so much
you should give safari 3.1.1 a try
it's a much much better version.... IMO safari 4 sux
@IanX211
I was a long time Opera user who switched to Safari on windows
more than a year back
{believe it or not Safari was the primary reason I started giving Apple a chance and eventually Bought a macbook }
FF has always been a bloated browser to me,
So I never bothered with it too much,So I can't comment on that !
Give Safari v3.1.1 a try the new version sux in comparison !
safari is all about usability over features
opera and firefox have more features but safari is more usable ,atleast IMO !
till Apple bring back the old OSX elements to the Safari I'll be using v3.1.1 on my XP machine,
Why do folks care so much about ***** browsers anyway, especially as they are all more-or-less free-ish and more-or-less the same; where I live the network and servers are the main limits on the speed of web access, not the #### browser.
It's reminiscent of the endless arguments about 123, Visicalc, Quattro and Excel in pre-historic times, hands up all those who can remember Javelin - they can all go home, it's past their bed time.
I'm personally Very disappointed in Safari 4 for windows
at first I thought it was a great improvement
because on the Mac side ,it really is
but the windows Port is total crap !
First of there r too many borrowed elements brought into the mix
If I wanted chrome like UI I'll be using the original
not some flashy knock-off
Secondly it's a ungodly ram hog which uses more than 300 MB
just for a 5-10 tabs, thats totally unacceptable IMO
The old 3.1.1 version was Very efficient at memory management
I have about 80-90 tabs open in general and it uses only about
300 MB of Ram , so the new version blows in comparison !
Finally the new windows interface looks like total crap
it's neither Completely Aqua nor windows
it's looks like a unfinished rip-off !
the UI has been made more space efficient but is not user friendly
and requires more effort on the user's part to get things done
and it looks crappy too ,something not reminiscent of Apple products !
the only plus points r the most used sites and
Cover flow history search features
also the browsing speed has definitely been improved
But I've never generally cared for the speed of a Browser
cause a second here or there will hardly make a difference IMO
In general
Safari 3.1.1 is so much better than this crap
it's probably the first time I ever used Crap to describe a Apple product
having said all this, it's funny how
on the mac side it's actually a good improvement
but thats only after hacking to get back the old tabs UI !
- by rick hutchinson February 28, 2009 7:11 AM PST
- Some neat features;some of which can also be found in Opera.Slow to load.Crashed after 5 minutes of use and wouldn't re-open. Got rid of Safari just like Opera.I'm staying With Firefox;it doesn't crash and loads faster and is very customizable.
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