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Jbroad572 · Dec 9, 2003, 10:50 PM

I've been having problems with Safarit lately. My webpages won't load at all after I browse for awhile. I will have to shut Safari down before it will work again. It has been doing this frequently. I can't load Sprintpcs site with Safari either. Whenever it has its problems I've been using Mozilla Firebird. It is definately faster, IMO and from a few test I've done. It seems like a "new" browser, but it's decent. I also like Netscape. I like Safari, but with all the problems I'm thinking of making one of these my default browser. I have already tried resetting Safari numerous times as well, but I have the same problem. How do I change the default browser? Are these the best alternatives?

CharlesS · Dec 9, 2003, 11:35 PM

To change the default browser in 10.3, you have to go to Safari's preferences. I know - it's really stupid. There used to be an "Internet" preference pane in 10.2, but they removed it for some reason that is a mystery to me.

You should also look at OmniWeb and Camino - they are both nice browsers.

RayX · 07:05 AM

I use Mozilla 1.6b as default.

angelmb · Dec 10, 2003, 12:37 AM

I use iCab. Expect the version 3 will be a winner.

'How do I change the default browser?'

Not only the browser but every internet app, try:

http://www.clauss-net.de/misfox/misfox.html

it�s only 192 kb --> (http://www.clauss-net.de/misfox/misfox.sit)

Moonray · Dec 10, 2003, 03:08 AM

After changing your default browser you might also want to change the preferred application for opening .html files in the Finder (select one, 'get info', choose your browser under 'open with' and then press 'change all'

-

Johnny_B · Dec 10, 2003, 08:48 AM

Safari has PithHelmet. I know of Privoxy, and iCab has also great add blocking, but PithHelmet is so nice and easy. iCab ?? Maybe 3 will be good, but now it's rather dead compared to Safari, Mozilla, Camino, etc.

trash80 · Dec 10, 2003, 09:00 AM

my default browser is Mozilla Firebird, its nice, fast and stable and i like to be able to use the same browser at home and work (where i am forced to use a PeeCee ugh)

wataru · Dec 10, 2003, 01:53 PM

Safari is great, but it seems to wait until it has all or almost all of the images downloaded before it renders the page. Firebird renders almost immediately. I'm on dialup most of the time now

so I've switched to Firebird.

It's also kind of fun following the nightlies. You get to see all sorts of improvements as they are added in.

Terri · Dec 10, 2003, 02:41 PM

Mozilla for me, currently 1.6b.

Safari maybe someday after they get the bugs worked out.

petehammer · Dec 10, 2003, 02:47 PM

Lord knows why, but everything besides Safari (mozilla, explorer, etc) freezes my system.

And because I'm not a huge Safari fan, I actually use Explorer 5.1.6 in Classic as I browse. It's MUCH faster and has better download management. Plus, it has a lot more options to control. Safari seemed to have all of 5.

Brass · Dec 10, 2003, 05:58 PM

Camino is the ideal browser for me. Very nice Aqua-native GUI, which no other Mozilla derivative has, and very fast and compatible (like every other Mozilla derivative).

Safari is very nice, but it's just not ready yet. I get irritated with it after a while when I try to use it as a default browser (which I've tried with every release). It has too many incompatabilities with web pages, and has too many other bugs (most recently, the latest version refuses to download using FTP! on several Macs here).

barbarian · Dec 10, 2003, 06:16 PM

I use Firebird as default.

I'd like to use Safari, but it just has too many issues with forms and https connections. It is incompatible with virtually all the banking, airline sites I use on a regular bases. Normally it fails on the critical last step where you input your info or click to buy. Annoying.

But I still use it for regular browsing of news & info.

sodamnregistered2 · Dec 10, 2003, 07:27 PM

Firebird as default here as well.

Safari is kinda wacked. It mostly works well, but then acts poorly and fails me or unexpectedly quits.

Hooey.

Thor · Dec 12, 2003, 07:41 AM

Mozilla 1.4 (until Pinstripe is updated)
Camino as an alternate.

One trip to Firebird's preferences convinced me not to use it.

philcozz · Dec 12, 2003, 08:39 AM

Firebird here, too! Great browser.

Chris O'Brien · Dec 12, 2003, 02:41 PM

I tried to get into firebird since a lot of the people I know who use windows rave about it, but I just couldn't. It really is not made for aqua (at the moment).

I love Ghecko based browsers and use Moz as my default, basically because I do a hell of a lot of web development and there's so much stuff in moz for the likes of me. Camino has been the most usable in terms of just browsing for me, although my girlfriend insists on using Safari for everything...

madmacgames · Dec 12, 2003, 03:07 PM

yeah I noticed the problem with the SprintPCS account site today too... but I think that is mostly due to Sprint's fault. For starters, 330 items have to load before the page text can be displayed.

cpac · Dec 12, 2003, 04:31 PM

I use OmniWeb 4.5 as default with occasional recourse to Camino

Arkham_c · Dec 12, 2003, 05:11 PM

I sue Safari + PithHelmet at home, and Firebird on my Windows PC at work.

Truepop · Dec 12, 2003, 07:52 PM

I use safari on my Power Mac because I am too lazy not to but I like the bookmark management drawer of OmniWeb and use 4.5 on my PowerBook.

Jim Paradise · Dec 12, 2003, 07:58 PM

Safari can continue to kiss my January 2002 build of Camino using ass.

mitchell_pgh · Dec 12, 2003, 08:18 PM

I guess I'm the only one that just uses Safari in it's native form...

It work for me (most of the time)