What on earth is wrong with NS6? [Archive] - HTML Forums - Free Webmaster Forums and Help Forums

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Ian

01-22-2001, 10:20 AM

What on earth is wrong with the Netscape 6 browser?
Apart from the most slowest browser I have ever had to use to surf with, I have found it can not even display pages correctly. Yes, we have all heard this before, and found simple html errors that prevented pages being displayed properly, but this time, there are no errors, NS6 just cant work it out...
Sometimes it doesn't render images for no reason, some basic html tags are totally ignored, in one place on A1 it is even ignoring the <center></center> tags, it does not recognize the "topmargin" or "marginheight" tags commonly used in <body> tags, font face and size within forms doesn't work and unless table cells are sized individually, it sprawls them all over your page.
These are only some of the common html problems I have found with NS6 so far so what does this mean for NS6? Is it here to stay? Has NS just signed its own death certificate? Will users actually use this or will it become a "white elephant"?
For something that took 2 years to develop, this piece of work in my eyes is rubbish. Sure, it is ment to be more closer to the "Standard" and able to display some advanced html properties, but have they forgotten the essential basics?
What is the future of the NS6 browser?

brobe

01-22-2001, 11:59 AM

My impression from a while back is that they were supposed to get rid of alot of the differences between IE and Netscape as far as the displaying of web pages. (Something to do with XML) When the first couple of betas came out i tried them on sites that looked good in IE and of course they still looked like crap in Netscape.

It's pointless...sure a few people use Netscape but come on... why do we have to design 2 web sites...or play with your pages until you use the same techniques that work for both browsers. It's stupid... There IS SUPPOSED TO BE A STANDARD. It's almost like you are segregating the way you develope your web pages on the net.

Anyway, now with handhelds becoming more popular, it's going to be necessary to start thinking about developing for them as well which is a totally different topic all together.

They never said it was going to be easy when you became a webmaster...hehe

Jason

01-22-2001, 01:23 PM

Guess that's what happens when you try to skip version 5.

kevin

01-22-2001, 01:29 PM

I very recently installed N6, and what a dissapointment it is. I noticed it is not recognizing onLoad events in the BODY tag, at least mine isn't. As I haven't used it much I have not noticed it's inability to decode simple HTML tags correctly. When AOL purchased Netscape I was hoping there would be a serious attempt to revive it, Netscape was a great product, and a sentimental favorite, and a Netscape based AOL browser would have been interesting. Looks like Netscape needs to be started over from scratch, if that is even possible. I don't see how their skeleton staff can compete with MicroSoft's vast resources (and marketing tactics) and commitment. Say adios to the little lighthouse.

Regards,
Kevin

brobe

01-22-2001, 01:49 PM

Well,

They had to go and create that whole Mozilla project where developers can download the source and do what they want with it and then they submit modifications to the mozilla.org page and if the mod is popular enough or "Cool Enough" then it would be put into the final cut for Netscape 6.

This is my understanding, i could be wrong. Normally this would be cool as it gives us the chance to speak out on how the product should direct itself but i don't know what happened.

Maybe Netscape 8 will be better, that is the next version isn't it? (hehe...just kidding)

Dr. Web

01-22-2001, 02:27 PM

Netscape6....
I work with my share of developers who hate microsoft (and adore Linux), so they would rather use anything-than submit and use IE. In our developement, we have found it much easier to code for nn4.7. We aren't required to test on Netscape6 yet. And for good reason, its a far leap from IE and even NN4.7. I know we are all supposed to go forward to a more XML like scripting (XHTML), but N6? What a joke, I have had to modify simple pages, so that they will render the same in 3 different browsers. Try adding some advanced javascripts, or DHTML. Big headache. Oh well, N6 will probably doom itself anyway!

Wabanaki Web

01-23-2001, 10:46 AM

Originally posted by Ian
Apart from the most slowest browser I have ever had to use to surf with...

This is the biggest reason I don't use it. I can't go anywhere with it! Who cares how it renders anything when you can't get it to go to the page in the first place.

Have any of you tried Opera? I've heard it is the fastest browser and a friend recommended I try it. I would like to hear what people who have tried it think especially since I already have both IE and Netscape on this pc, why add to the confusion unless it is markedly better.

whkoh

01-27-2001, 02:03 AM

Try Opera 5 for the fastest web browsing ever:

With JRE
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-3364666-100-4493749.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-2.4493749

Without JRE
http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-3364666-100-4493748.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.4493748

whkoh

01-27-2001, 02:07 AM

Actually, browsers aren't bad or good, just depends on how you see it. But for me, I don't like Netscape. Slow pages, and over 85% of all surfers use IE, so, IE is the choice.