alternative browsers the choices

[Michael_aust]

I'm looking round for alternative browsers to IE. In january I made the switch to Firefox. Can anyone sugest anyother browsers that are generally secure and relativly easy to use?

[Paranoid2000]

A good overview of available browsers (for all platforms) can be found here (http://www.upsdell.com/BrowserNews/overview.htm).

The most likely options are Mozilla (free) or Opera (ad-supported with the option to register to get rid of them - see Should I Buy Opera? (http://tntluoma.com/opera/lover/7/ads/) for more details).

[bellgamin]

I highly recommend K-meleon.

Get it HERE (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/download.php).

Main site HERE (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/).

Support Forum (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/forum/list.php?f=1)

Tutorials (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/?id=Tutorials)

Manual (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/manual/)

Also good is Streamlined Netscape (http://sillydog.org/narchive/sd/71.html).

Or (if you are adventurous) you can become a tester/user of proto-Netscape 8 at THIS site (http://sillydog.org/narchive/ns8.php).

[Trooper]

I just downloaded and installed K-meleon tonight. I am curious tho. Can you import Firefox bookmarks? By default, it only pick up IE.

Also, can you get the tabbed browsing feel (again similar to FF).

Like keeping only one session of K-meleon open and each new link opens up a new tab.

I know, I have not had much time with it yet, but I found FF much easier to learn when I first started back in the old days. :P

So if there are any K-meleon users, here, can ya give me a hand here?

Thanks,

Jag

P.S. I must say this browser is fast as hell! :o

EDIT: I got the bookmarks figured out but what about the tabbed browsing feature(s)? ???

[Meltdown]

To run KM in single window mode:

http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?id=SingleWindow

You can configure the way tabs (layers) open in Edit - Preferences - Configs - Accelerators

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "To run KM in single window mode:

http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?id=SingleWindow

You can configure the way tabs (layers) open in Edit - Preferences - Configs - Accelerators" }-

Thanks very much for that link. Single Window is working great right now. ;D

I still dunno how to change anything in the Accelerators as you stated. To much coding for me. :P

Is there anyway to get FF extensions to work with this I wonder? ???

Also as far as speed goes, this is fast but some sites are NOT as fast as FF. So far tho if I can get it configured the way I like it, it will be a good backup browser to FF.

Thanks again,

Jag

P.S. Are there any good adblocking things available for this browser a la Adblock like FF has?

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: "
P.S. Are there any good adblocking things available for this browser a la Adblock like FF has?" }-
Jag, Proximitron and AdMuncher; almost for sure either one of these programs should work to kill ads for you with K-Meleon.

Acadia

[Trooper]

Acadia,

I have heard of Proximitron but always was told it was difficult to setup and configure, is this true by chance?

I have not really heard much about Admuncher however. Is it similar in some way to Proximitron?

Sorry for all of the questions.

Thanks Acadia.

Regards,

Jag

[squash]

Windows - GUI Browsers

IE Rendering engine
- Internet Explorer (By itself, Compatible with nearly all sites but as you know has vulerabilities and easier to catch spyware because of it's ActiveX component etc. I recommend you don't you this, and use a shell if you really need to use IE)
- Maxthon
- Avant
- NetCaptor (I used it once, nice browser with security features such as deleting catch with numerous passes, disable activex etc.)

Gecko Rendering engine
- Mozilla Firefox (What I use)
- Mozilla (Suite, "dumped" in favour of Firefox)
- Netscape 7.1 (based on suite, soon to be dumped in favour of 8.0) or 8.0 beta (based on FF)
- K-Meleon (If you are running Windows, I heard it is a extremely fast browser with native Windows widgets)

Presto Rendering engine
- Opera (Another viable alternative to Firefox, if you can stick with the Google ads, generic ads or you can buy it to remove the ads)

Other
- Amaya (Made by W3C)

Windows - Text Browsers
- Lynx (Slow development rate, but it's a text browser and those do not require much development as GUI browsers, nice to use as a secondary browser for checking on "questionable" websites)
- Links (Windows version no longer developed, as far as I know)

[chew]

hmmm ... K-meleon ... never actually tried it but feel tempted.

So how good is K-meleon in terms of security? Same or better than Firefox?

Can I have 3 browsers? For example, IE for WindowsUpdate only, Firefox for everything ... and K-meleon for everything as well? Conflict?

I still don't know where K-meleon get the bookmarks from ...

Cheers

Chew

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: "Acadia,
I have heard of Proximitron but always was told it was difficult to setup and configure, is this true by chance?
I have not really heard much about Admuncher however. Is it similar in some way to Proximitron?
Jag" }-
Yes, Proximitron does have a learning curve. AdMuncher is easier to use and does almost as much but is not free. I have used AM in the past and like it very much; I'm using FireFox right now so I do not need AM. You only pay for AM once; you will get free upgrades for life for all future versions. (Hello, are you listening Norton! :P )

Acadia

[bigc73542]

I have been useing the netscape beta 8 since it's release and I think it is probably one of the best browsers around. It is as fast or faster than Firefox and doesn't have the graphics rendering problem FF has. The only other browser that is close to the new netscape in my opinion is opera 8.

bigc

[Meltdown]

KM has plugins to use Opera hotlists and IE favorites. To share Firefox bookmarks, go to Tools - Bookmark Options - Settings.

On speed, there's a modified version of K-Meleon available here (http://rapidshare.de/files/1365723/Wald_Wolf.exe.html) - thanks bellgamin ;) - that renders slightly faster than the standard build.

[nameless]

-{ Quote: "see Should I Buy Opera? (http://tntluoma.com/opera/lover/7/ads/)" }-I enjoyed that link. I first purchased Opera back in version 2.12, when it was not much more than a novelty. The new Opera 8 is truly a viable alternative.

I think Opera is the most secure browser available for Windows. (I know, I know... You can't ever know for sure with these things.) But at least Bruce Schneier (http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid14_gci1011474,00.html) agrees with me. :)

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "

Can I have 3 browsers? For example, IE for WindowsUpdate only, Firefox for everything ... and K-meleon for everything as well? Conflict?" }-

Yes you can, that is what I am doing as of right now. ;D

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "KM has plugins to use Opera hotlists and IE favorites. To share Firefox bookmarks, go to Tools - Bookmark Options - Settings.

On speed, there's a modified version of K-Meleon available here (http://rapidshare.de/files/1365723/Wald_Wolf.exe.html) - thanks bellgamin ;) - that renders slightly faster than the standard build." }-

Meltdown, your linky does not seem to work for K-Meleon.

Jag

[bigc73542]

even four doesn't hurt ;) ;D

[Trooper]

That's cool bigc. ;D

I tried out the new Opera 8 for like a week or so, but I honestly did not understand what all the hype was about. I still think FF is/was faster, at least on my machines.

As for Netscape 8, I think I might give it a shot when it goes final based upon your comments here. 8)

Jag

[bigc73542]

The new netscape is very nice. it takes a little while to find all of the goodies but it has a few ;)

[Trooper]

That's great. I assume its pretty speedy as well a la FF and Opera? 8)

[bigc73542]

It is every bit as fast as firefox, I really think it is more responsive.

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "It is every bit as fast as firefox, I really think it is more responsive." }-


Hmmm I know you are just trying to get me into the four browsers club right? :P

[bigc73542]

;D even so you can only use one at a time ;)

[Trooper]

Very true Master Yoda! :P ;D

[drake456]

-{ Quote: "That's great. I assume its pretty speedy as well a la FF and Opera? 8)" }-

Being still in beta it has some problems with loading some web pages,
netscape isnt bad but id wait for it to be released first, less you like trying betas, and for me its about 1 sec slower then the fox, you can go to this website to test browser speeds

http://www.numion.com/stopwatch/

have fun.

[bigc73542]

here are two results from stopwatch useing netscape8

[bigc73542]

here is the other

[drake456]

You should clear your cache if you hadnt already, with my 24k useing firefox i get to mozilla.org in 37seconds, it takes 38 with netscape.

[bigc73542]

I just got to wilders in 1.297 seconds that is 1and 1/4 seconds and It opened google in a half a second. That is fast enough in anyones book.

[drake456]

Ahh yes the power of high speed, wish i still had it!

[bigc73542]

Thank goodness for cable internet :D ;)

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "Thank goodness for cable internet :D ;)" }-


For sure!

Thanks for stopwatch link to! Its cool! ;D 8)

[cluessnewbie]

-{ Quote: "It is every bit as fast as firefox, I really think it is more responsive." }-

Not surprising considering that the latest Netscape is a modified older version of firefox. This mean it is not patched against the latest exploits unlike firefox 1.0.3

Thanks but no thanks

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: "Hmmm I know you are just trying to get me into the four browsers club right? :P" }-
Just wait till BigC tries to get you to join the Eight Virus Scanners Club! ;D

Acadia

[ronjor]

Weighing in: I have Firefox, Mozilla, K-Meleon, Opera 8, and IE.

I've had four of those in use at once with no conflicts. IE is used for updates.

I do not use instant messaging which I believe Netscape installs. Correct?

Having used all these, comparing speeds, usability, etc, I prefer Firefox.

The good news is: we have a choice.

[Acadia]

-{ Quote: "I do not use instant messaging which I believe Netscape installs. Correct?" }-
Correct.

Acadia

[Trooper]

So far its a tossup for me as to whether K-Meleon or Firefox is faster.

I wonder tho something strange. I have a pretty powerful desktop and my wife has a laptop. On certain sites, my wife's laptop pwns my desktop when it comes to speed. Acutally the more I think about it, almost every site she visits is faster.

I wonder if this is just some settings or extensions on my FF compared to hers or if it is a hardware issue. I have also heard that FF does not handle HT very well so perhaps that could be the case?

[CN23]

-{ Quote: "So far its a tossup for me as to whether K-Meleon or Firefox is faster.

I wonder tho something strange. I have a pretty powerful desktop and my wife has a laptop. On certain sites, my wife's laptop pwns my desktop when it comes to speed. Acutally the more I think about it, almost every site she visits is faster.

I wonder if this is just some settings or extensions on my FF compared to hers or if it is a hardware issue. I have also heard that FF does not handle HT very well so perhaps that could be the case?" }-

Is the laptop and the desktop running exactly the same software ? difference choices in security software (among others) will sometimes make a difference.

[Trooper]

No they definitely do not have the same software. Her's is a Dell Latitude pretty much not touched from OEM outside of some apps and security tweaks I did for her.

Mine is a pretty fresh install of XP (from like two weeks ago). Hmmm I wonder if its NOD32. Let me try something here. :P

[0pium_Dealer]

Just downloaded K-Meleon to try, worked in my admin account, but refused to run in my limited account (one I use every day)

This is bad..... ??? ??? ??? ???

Surely this cannot be right, have I screwed up my install?

[Trooper]

Not sure. I have no probs running as admin or as a normal "user". How do you have your limited acct setup?

[0pium_Dealer]

It's installed in the xp-home system, limited account being just that, no power user like in the pro version :'(

When launched using the limited account, I get a lot of pop up saying 'blah blah blah' plugin available, want to install now. No matter what option I choose, I get the Window report splash screen at the end.

In the admin account, the browser launches nicely, look rather nice too, just a shame I can't run it in my everyday account.

[Trooper]

That sounds strange. So its just a basic user acct, but it does not run? Weird cos I can run both ways but I am using XP Pro.

Do you have your service pack and all hot fixes up to snuff?

Perhaps you should set everything up the way you like first with your admin, plug-ins etc, and then demote yourself to a basic acct.

[0pium_Dealer]

Just installed it on a different PC, again Win XP home, with one admin account, and a few limited ones.

On this machine, it worked. As to your original question, the first machine is running SP2 with all the latest updates.

What I'm going to do is uninstall it, and try again. Now that I know the install was cocked up ;D

[Trooper]

Cool glad to hear that man. ;D

Make sure you add the tweaks for speed and Single Window Mode. Works really well imho.

So far (on my system anyway) some sites load faster with FF and some load faster with K-Melon. Both seem to be nice browsers tho. I like em both a LOT better than IE.

Good luck, let us know how your other machine turns out. 8)

[bigc73542]

-{ Quote: "Not surprising considering that the latest Netscape is a modified older version of firefox. This mean it is not patched against the latest exploits unlike firefox 1.0.3

Thanks but no thanks" }-


It is patched ;)

[0pium_Dealer]

-{ Quote: "Cool glad to hear that man. ;D

Make sure you add the tweaks for speed and Single Window Mode. Works really well imho.

So far (on my system anyway) some sites load faster with FF and some load faster with K-Melon. Both seem to be nice browsers tho. I like em both a LOT better than IE.

Good luck, let us know how your other machine turns out. 8)" }-

First impression, very very nice :) And boy, it fast :o

Am I understanding you correctly, you can tweak it to make it even faster!!!!!! :o :o :o :o

[Trooper]

-{ Quote: "First impression, very very nice :) And boy, it fast :o

Am I understanding you correctly, you can tweak it to make it even faster!!!!!! :o :o :o :o" }-

Yes sir. Some tips and tricks can be found HERE. (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?id=TipsAndTricks)
and the speed tweaks are HERE. (http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?id=PageSpeed)

Good luck and have fun. ;D Im still learning this browser but I like it a lot so far.

Regards,

Jag

[0pium_Dealer]

Hmmmm, more problems. I can now use it in my everyday account, BUT everytime I close my browser, all my settings are lost. At start, I keep getting a pop up message saying bookmark not found, do I want to create one?

When I close the browser, I get a message saying cannot save to file as I don't have read/write privilege......

Very strange indeed. I posted the problem to the K-Meleon forum. Hope I get some sort of feedback :)