Peter Schoenster wrote:
> I use IE 5.0 80% of the time.
How stable has 5.0 been for you? I haven't tried it yet, but have found IE4
to be much more stable than NS4x.x. I used to be a devout NS fan, but even
after a half dozen or more releases of v4, all of which I've tried, IE4 is
still my preference (on NT4). I haven't had a chance to spend much time with
my new buddy, NS4 on Linux, but I see that the fonts draw more like the size
of ones on the Mac browsers.
> I have noticed that IE will "accept"
> what I mean whereas Netscape will require that I be more explicit or
> more correct. As much as I claim that one must code for a standard --
> I really do not do this in practice. If it works in IE and Netscape
> then I am happy.
I don't code to any standard, I code to what will work in the browsers that
I am targeting, which is generally NS3-4 and IE3-4. I try to make things
work fine in NS2, also (usually just by selecting dark fonts and light table
cells, so the design will be readable if the colored cells aren't colored).
I rarely use any v4-specific stuff, such as DHTML...I'll use bits and pieces
as fluff here and there, but never as anything that the design relies on.
For a closed audience, such as an Intranet, where I know what browsers
people will have, I may use more of the v4 specific stuff, but I still try
to temper my use (don't use much), because sometimes the "intranet" has to
be accessed from Aunt Joe's funky browser when someone is on vacation or
travelling.
> I have begun to use stylesheets and a lot more javascript.
I use bits and pieces of stylesheets and wish I could use lots more, but the
implementations on both v4 browsers suck, especially the NS one. As a
workaround, I often use a global Cold Fusion file that sets the value for
fonts and colors, then insert the CF variables in my templates whereever the
font or color should appear. This allows me to change the colors/fonts for
an entire site from one file, which we *could* do with CSS if it was
properly implemented by the browser manufacturers.
> I always
> find that my intent always seems to work in IE and then I have to go
> and modify things to get it to work in Netscape. I am not sure if
> that is the fault of Netscape or my coding (I tend to think my coding
> is initially a little sloppy).
Same for me.... on both counts ;-)
> Who knows what will happen with Netscape nowadays anyhow. Back in the
> 3.0 days I much preferred Netscape, but now it is IE for me. I
> downloaded Gecko and I like it. It is fast.
I've been a bit afraid of testing Gecko...there's so many warnings at the
mozilla.org site.... How stable is it? I've read numerous articles about it
and I really hope it's the bees knees. There are so many things going for
Gecko, I'm really rather eager to start experimenting with it.
> I tried Opera but I just
> didn't like it.
Me too. Rather ugly form elements and unpredictable layouts. Also a
cumbersome interface....takes up too much screen real estate, puts some
things at your fingertips and other things too far away. Just my HO, I'm
sure plenty of people like it.
> Don't any of these companies ever put up a survey to find what
> people want in a browser? Why doesn't anyone create specialized
> browsers? Perhaps this will be possible with Gecko. I just think that
> I would use a browser much differently than your average person.
I'll bet that surveys do exist. As far as specialized browsers and Gecko,
yes, Gecko may allow some fancy stuff. You'll be able to embed Gecko in an
app as a control, which is nice. It'll be small enough to run on many kinds
of devices. It'll implement *some* standards (CSS1 in full, I believe, but
only part of CSS2, poo). It'll have XML built in. And I wonder if AOL will
put it in the hands of millions? I read a little blurb recently about Steve
Case's "AOL anywhere" campaign......
...we shall see....
Jack
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