Alternatives to Netscape

[Ahimsa]

Greetings all & sundry
Is there a viable alternative to Netscape as a java enabled browser? There is a site that I want to access, but it requires java. Netscape seems to handle java okay, whereas with Konqueror, Galeon and Mozilla, it requires that the java plug-in be downloaded (which I did - but then have no idea where it went nor what to do with it). The reason I am seeking an alternative to Netscape is because Netscape hangs, doesn't open entirely, and I have had to kill the &^%$$ process several times aready today.
So, if someone could recommend either (a) an alternate java friendly browser, or (b) the correct way to handle a java plugin download for Mozilla/Galeon/Konqueror that doesn't just vanish into the bowels of my machine, that would be a great help.
Thanx in anticipation.

[Radar]

I think your best bet is to try getting the plugin to work. I'm not aware of any java enabled browsers without it. If you can't find the downloaded plugin in home, /tmp, or /usr/tmp - try re downloading it. If you use netscape to dl it, you should have the option to tell it where to go. After that, just follow the install directions.

[Ahimsa]

Thanks Radar
As a relative newcomer to Linux from the Windows I am now being spoilt for choice about the apps I use - isn't it GREAT!!!:D

I've heard little about Opera: what is your take on it. What I've heard is that it is really fast opening.

[mrBen]

On my older machine (PII 300Mhz, 128Mb RAM), Opera is by far the fastest web browser (graphical, that is) - Netscape and Mozilla are too bloated, and even Galeon is slow, so I just use Opera.

Seems fairly featureful, but very quick. Renders well, tabbed browsing, skinning, etc. ,etc.

[Brazil2002]

Ok,
The reason Netscape hangs during viewing a java applet is bcos, the JVM is buggy.
First i would suggest a better JVM than sun's.
try www.blackdown.org, it has a better JVM.
Next to get Java working in mozilla /galeon u will have to create a symbolic link to the JAVA Plugin, in ur mozilla/galeon's plugins directory.

mozilla plugins are kept in /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins.
in this directory simply do a
ln -s /usr/local/share/j2sdk1.4.0/jre/plugin/i386/ns610/* /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins

put the appropriate JDK path in ur command.
HTH

[Allen614]

Opera has integrated Java on the static version. It's 8.4 meg I believe. Check the size if you download with Netscape. It tends to come up short on some downloads.

[Ahimsa]

You guys (gender-neutral!!:) ) are a wealth of info. You're great. I'll follow up on this!!

[Ahimsa]

Originally posted by Allen614
Opera has integrated Java on the static version.

Er ... excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by 'static version'?

[Ahimsa]

Brazil2002 (gee! I wonder what inspired that name???)
Can you check your URL for blackdown. I got a 502 Bad Gateway response.
Thanks for the info on the Galeon/Mozilla stuff.

[Brazil2002]

Brazil rocks ....go brazil.
anyway sorry for the URL the correct one is
http://java.blackdown.org

[Arjay]

This is my opinion on web browsers...

1. Internet Explorer is to slow and i can never get my proxy setting correct or they never work with it (more the latter) and most of all it's also made by Micro****.

2. Nutscrape i think was alright in windows (better than Micro****) but very unstable in linux (but maybe it could be fixed). Also when viewing webpages and they are designed for IE users everything looks like ****. It's a ***** when your designing your own webpage and you test it in IE and Nutscrape and can't get a happy medium on how everything looks.

3. Mozilla is to much like Nutscrape and i thought very slow.

4. Galeon i haven't tried.

5. Opera is loads up fast and is very stable, webpages are very neat and tidy (IE - Nutcrape thing).

My overall choice is definetly Opera, it is by far the best web browser that i have used and i am never slow in recommending it to friends.

Arjay :D

[carlywarly]

Opera - static version. There are usually 2 versions downloadable for each distro etc. One will be dynamically linked to libraries already installed on your distro - smaller download, therefore. The static version also downloads the libs - longer download, but pretty much certain to run perfectly.

[Ahimsa]

Can anyone recommend a site from which to download Opera? I went to Tucows (linux - naturally :)), but they only had a demo that would cost some US$39 to buy!!! Hmmm. Anyone know of a freebie? I might be pushing my luck here :D

[Allen614]

http://www.opera.com/linux

As stated above static has no dependencies. It will install to /usr/lib/ with a slnk to /usr/bin/.

[mrBen]

The full version of Opera does still cost money, but the free version only differs by having an Advertising banner in the top right of the screen. It's pretty unobtrusive, as far as I'm concerned. Having said that, I would consider buying the full version because its such a good product, IMHO.

[z0mbix]

I use Mozilla in Windows, Mac and Linux, and sometimes use Galeon in Linux if I'm feeling cheeky

[Ahimsa]

Well I'm d/l the 4MB static version now. With the rate of exchange at 1 - 10, US$39 is the equivalent to ZAR390 - almost a fifth of my month's rent!!!
I'll go for the freebie for now!!

[Saptech]

I like using Mozilla and Beonex browser (http://www.beonex.com) , and use them both when I'm in Windoze also.

Beonex is based on Mozilla 1.0 using the Gecko engine.

[UnrealFragger]

You Could Always Use IE In Linux.

Just Take A CD And Flat Copy It To Your HD.

Run Wine And Launch It.

It Will Take A While To Load And Is Unstable.

But It Will Work If All You Do Is Browse.

NO TWEAKING SETTINGS!!

THE WINDOWS REGISTRY IS UNAVAILABLE! (obviously)

[N0RKX]

Getting Java to work in Mozilla and it's variants ( Galeon, Skipstone, etc...) isn't that big a deal. You only need to stick one file in the pluggin's directory.

[MkIII_Supra]

I am using it with my SuSE 8.0 and Win2K systems, works fine so far....

[JohnT]

Evidently some have not tried the 1.0.+ Moz. I have used Opera in the recent past in Win and Linux and find the new Moz as fast and very stable in both environments.(I only use the Navigator)
http://mozilla.org/

[Ahimsa]

Thanks for the suggestion about using IE, but to be honest, after having spent several years using Bill's stuff, I'm wanting to wean myself from my Windependency. I recently downloaded and installed opera (ad-supported version). It runs well, seems stable and is fast. Plus I like the options it includes for flushing cookies and its cache, etc.
My only concern was a particular site that uses some java script plug-in, that doesn't load up correctly using any non-Netscape (or "nutscrape" as some punster here called it :D) browser. Also, when I did download the plug-in it (a) took ages to download from the ftp.netscape.com site and then (b) once it did download it disappeared never to be seen again, and sure as s%#t did NOT install to enable java to be read by the moz or the Galeon, nor the Knoqueror browsers!!! Hmmm. I was mighty disappointed!!! So, for that one particular site I use Netscape (with all of its bloat and so on). It might be worthwhile for to download the later version since I'm using the RH7.2 default.

[nram]

Galeon has some neat features (though not exclisive ) that deserve some consideration:

* Find/Search tab in the menu bar
* Tab browsing
* myportal:

Remember ... galeon looks at mozilla lib dir for most of pluggins. By default most pluggins go to netscape lib dir.

The downside ofcourse is that its based on Mozilla and suffers from the inherent bulkiness. Another (minor) probelm is when sending links (thru email) the subject like simply says "Check this out".. not very helpful!

Hope this helps,
nram

[Ahimsa]

Hi nram
As it so happens I do already use Galeon (which I quite like, esp the tabs at the top), Opera (mentioned previously), Netscape (if I must, and then only for that one site I mentioned), and Mozilla - if I'm reading HTML off-line. The other browser I use is the Konqueror, for no real reason other than that is the default browser that opens when I click a link in my Kmail client. I had a look at some of the code and the runtime libraries of Netscape, and couldn't see anything that might offer any clue as to why it freezes/crashes/hangs/and otherwise discombobulates itself. I think that what I'll do is upgrade the Netscape version, since I'm only using the 4.78. I'm hoping that that might help. Either that or send out a search party for that bloody java-plug-in that never materialised!! :)
Cheers

[nram]

I had used Netscape 6+ for a while before trying Galeon and haven't noticed any freezes. But its a memory monster though!
Another thing I like about Galeon is (actually two) the zoom controls in the tab and the Bookmarkets. (again not exclusive). Iam sure its a matter of taste and convinience... not an abslolute!

Btw, if you haven't already, try evolution (if you have 128+ RAM - a real memory eater). KMail is sleek and fast, but evolution is rich in features. If you get over its MS Outlook look and feel, you will love it.

nram

[Ahimsa]

Hey nram
You got a link for that evolution?
You mean Galeon is a mem monster? I hadn't noticed that actually.
:cool: