Netscape Better Than Ie And Firefox? Netscape is attempting a comeback

[Dodger 0]

whyme says: you have copied and pastesd this entire chunk of text from the link below. http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Please note that your warn level is at 80% right now.

The once-mighty Netscape browser is attempting a comeback. How, you ask? Simple. By combining the best elements of its two leading rivals.

 

Netscape is out with a test release of version 8.0, and the new browser is nothing like its recent predecessors, which were mostly about fixing bugs and playing catch-up.

 

I just wish Netscape didn't constantly try to dispatch me to content from its developer, America Online Inc., or its partners. But more on that later.

 

More than 90 percent of the world's surfing is still done on Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer, but many users complain of its numerous security vulnerabilities and lack of modern features like tabbed browsing, which lets you visit multiple Web sites without opening multiple browser windows.

 

 

Enter Mozilla Firefox, which debuted last fall to much fanfare. It lacks many of the IE features, like ActiveX, which is often blamed for enabling security breaches, and with its relatively low usage, malicious hackers don't target Firefox as much. But some sites won't work with Firefox because they need the IE features.

 

The new Netscape, which is only available for Windows PCs, addresses the quandary through a regularly updated list of "good" and "bad" sites.

 

If Netscape deems a site good, a green shield appears and the browser displays the site using the IE software engine that is built into Windows. Netscape figures such sites present little security risk, so why not enable all the features?

 

I succeeded in accessing Microsoft's Windows Update site along with the advanced features of my company's Web-based Outlook e-mail, neither of which works with Firefox.

 

Netscape displays a yellow shield when a site is absent from its list. In such cases, deeming Firefox safer, Netscape uses a Firefox engine that is embedded in Netscape's software.

 

Red shields along with a warning page appear when sites are on the bad list.

 

Not only does Netscape use Firefox, thus disabling ActiveX, but it also blocks that site from leaving data trackers called "cookies" and turns off support for Java and JavaScript, which can launch programs designed to steal information or perform other nasty tricks.

 

In this sense, Netscape is safer than Firefox or IE alone. I ran on all three browsers a site that tries to steal AOL billing information, and only Netscape successfully blocked the program from running.

 

Whether Netscape uses Firefox or IE, the site appears within the Netscape environment, and you always have access to tabbed browsing. You get IE's functionality and Firefox's security when you need them most.

 

Netscape also sports "multibars," a way to cram the equivalent of 10 toolbars into the space of a single one. Just click on "1," "2" and so on to switch among them. Each is customizable with whatever features you happen to want. Choose from Netscape's preprogrammed tools, like news headlines or maps, or add your own using Really Simple Syndication, or RSS, a technology for pulling content from sites (A bug that's supposed to be fixed before the final release in the next several weeks currently prevents you from fully doing so, though).

 

I particularly liked the feature that lets you check Web-based e-mail from Netscape, AOL, Excite, Gmail, Hotmail, Lycos, Mail.com or Yahoo. You get automatically logged in with a single click, though for now you don't get alerts for new mail. I did have occasional problems with the auto sign-in, but found the tool useful overall.

 

Netscape also sports a few improvements to Firefox: It's easier to open and close tabs and to instantly clear sensitive information like Web sites visited.

 

And while Firefox has a tool for remembering passwords, Netscape automatically logs you in.

 

My one major fault with Netscape is, however, a show stopper.

 

Most of its tools are geared toward generating traffic for AOL properties. The maps tool gets you MapQuest, the movies tool reaches Moviefone. Weather gets you AOL partner WeatherBug.

 

AOL says other companies, such as Yahoo Inc. and Fandango, are free to develop tools for Netscape, but that'll take time, limiting choice in the meantime. And while some of the third-party add-ons already developed for Firefox may work with Netscape, the ones I tried didn't.

 

Likewise, the built-in search box automatically runs Netscape's search engine, unlike Firefox, which lets you easily switch among Google, Yahoo and four others, while letting you add hundreds more.

 

The tools for the other engines weren't done in time for the test release, and even so, switching is more complicated with Netscape.

 

So until I get more choice, I plan on sticking with Firefox, even if it means occasionally having to run IE for those sites that need it.

Edited March 23, 2005 by whyme (see edit history)

[ill 0]

Is Netscape better than IE or Firefox?better than Internet Explorer? yes.better than Firefox? i think not.great info here, good job. i would give you respect, but firefox messes that stuff up. so i'm too lazy to open up ie. ::gives pat on the back::

[Dragonfly 0]

Netscape navigator 8.0 is expected to improve much more than it had been in the past. However I doubt if it can compete with firefox. In the world of graphics and designs people don't go only for fast, speed and security but also for looks and appearances. If one says netscape will be a better choice than IE I may well agree. But to say that it will be better an firefox makes me laugh at least for now.

[sandymc 0]

Bah... firefox is far more better than anything, it is 5 times faster than IE and 3 times faster then netscape... on rank 2 is Opera.. but i'm agree that there are too many security flaw in IE, so does FireFox. but if you are an advance on editing FireFox-opensource-code... that's should be no problem... even my crazy-coding-friend can make his firefox run 8 to 10 faster than IE... that's great...

[kummy 0]

will Netscape navigator 8.0 defeat IE? how about IE7? i think IE7 will much improve than we used to be... but, i love Opera than other browser. it fast... but sometimes it's screw up when i go to gmail.com

[Casanova 0]

These improvements are only going to benefit its currently existing users. I doubt that netscape will ever make a comback unless its starts getting similar ammounts of publicity like firefox has, which is unlikely.

[no9t9 0]

Bah... firefox is far more better than anything, it is 5 times faster than IE and 3 times faster then netscape... on rank 2 is Opera.. but i'm agree that there are too many security flaw in IE, so does FireFox. but if you are an advance on editing FireFox-opensource-code... that's should be no problem... even my crazy-coding-friend can make his firefox run 8 to 10 faster than IE... that's great...

62855[/snapback]

I like how you people MAKE UP stats! Firefox isn't 5 times or 3 times faster than a piece of *BLEEP*. You haven't even tried netscape 8 and are already bashing it. The article clearly states that netscape 8 is going to run off both IE and firefox engines. How are you gonna say that netscape is slower? Did you even bother to read the article before posting?

 

And FYI, Firefox is *BLEEP* because it can't display as many webpages as IE. How can it be the best browser if it can't even display webpages properly?? The article clearly states that the guy can't access his company email site with FireFox but works with the new netscape and IE. Next, he clearly states (As another poster here states), they have to run IE from time to time because Firefox can't display a webpage properly.

 

And don't give me the garbage that Firefox is more secure. It is software and software has bugs and security holes. The difference is that not enough people use Firefox to make it a viable target for hackers. Besides, the article is taking about a firefox engine in netscape anyway... so how would firefox be more secure than netscape???

 

Firefox is a good browser, yes.... the best? NO. The BEST browser depends on what the user needs. I am perfectly happy with IE6 except that it doesn't have tabbed browsing. I don't get browser hijacks or viruses on my computer at all. And no, I don't have any that I don't know about. You guys should just stop going to warez and PORN sites. I guess if you must goto those sites... Firefox is a good PORN browser.

[whyme 0]

Netscape simply ins't getting the attention it got 10 years ago, when it dominated more than 80% of the interent market. Most people don't even know that Netscape was a broswer company. What Netscape needs is to boost interest in its broswer and make everyone want to use it. I've tested the Netscape broswer, but find that I just doesn't suit me. Furthermore, most people are afraid of changes, and they don't want to change from FireFox to Netscape

[Hellmonkeys 0]

I don't think Netscape is better than Firefox at all. Firefox is such a solid browser, and so many awesome features that nothing else has. An example is the tabbed browsing system. Also, it has excellent secruity, and when there is even a slight exploit it fixes it extremely quickly. And on top of all of this, it is open-source. Go Firefox!

[Erika 0]

I love Firefox. I definetly don't think even a new Netscape could beat Firefox. FF has been completly flawless for me, excellent security, organized, looks great and of course, the tabbing. I honestly didn't know that Netscape was still around anymore. This should be interesting.

[rustypaulin 0]

i use Netscape and i have done for quite a long time becuase of the amount of ads and stuff on IE but there are a few problems that i have with Netscape but they aren't that important i might download Firefox but i doubt i ever will

[huls 0]

they say that netscape has the best of both worlds, but until then,firefox is my friend

[tonic 0]

If Netscape can use Firefox's theme or extensions, then its worth the try.

[Good Grief Graphics 0]

A large reason that firefox won't run all sites is its lack of support for activex, which is one of the largest problems with ie. (spyware) The sites it dosen't show right are the sites that aren't coded right, also.

[stevey 0]

well i used to think that netscape and mozilla were just one of the same thing, but considering what i have heard of the new netscape 8.0 well i guess my perspective just changed a whole lot, well, its pretty good to actually visit the microsoft windows update without internet explorer and to do so with a tabbed browsing is so kool, the only current dissapointement is that since it uses the windows software base for some features in interenet explorer, i doubt if they will be able to port a version for linux and other operating systemes, well anyway netscape out did themselves this time, no doubt about that.