Advice on Netscape Browser

[playsoul]

No, I'm not asking about the Netscape 6.0 version, which I won't touch yet. Right now I'm using Netscape version 4.61. I'm finally thinking about upgrading to version 4.7X (although I understand that's the version AOL first got their hands on before they came out with Netscape 6.0). Does anyone have any experience with which version better - 4.74, 4.75 or 4.76? I'm looking for the stability first, security second, and speed third. I just switched from 56K access to AT&T roadrunner, and have had some connectivity problems (password dialog errors) which cause the PC to lock up. AT&T says I should upgrade the browser (they suggested Netscape 6.0 since I prefer that over IE) - hence my question.

thanks,
playsoul

P.S. Please forgive me if this topic has already been covered in the past. I'm new to this site, but I've been lurking for a few weeks and find it to be a great service.

[Roy]

I use "old" NS on 4 machines. Some are 4.61, the others are 4.72. I'm not sure if it was the version difference or the machines on the ones that I restored to 4.61 after having some mysterious glitches. Now that I think about it, some of that was happening today on one of the 4.72 machines. I guess I'll put it back to 4.61 too. I can't figure out the difference, operationally, anyway.

I tried the beta 6.0 and unloaded it right away. It didn't recognize my Bookmark file ... or was it my Address Book? Well, one or the other, so I dumped it. Also, they touted it as being smaller ... right! I don't recall how many MB larger it was, but it was enough!

I hope this helps.

[TechJumper]

My dad is running 4.76 and it seems to run the best. One noticable difference is 4.7's spell check, there are simply more words.


Version 6.0 download resulted in a nice little REFORMAT. I would strongly suggest keeping IE 5.0 on reserve Just in case.


Best of luck,

Michael

[Gutter Ball]

Eh, if you're not having problems with your current version, don't upgrade! I've been keeping up with the upgrades(4.76 right now) and it still keeps crashing :/ Shoulda just left it at 4.61...that version was very stable for me!

[golfcart]

4.73 is where i started experiencing problems. anything below that works great for me. I have found that no matter which i use, it runs a lot better if i reinstall every few months or so. just make a backup of the bookmarks and it only takes a few minutes.

[bub]

I don't have an answer to your connect problems cause I have some myself since I switched to a new hard drive with a new install of Win98SE.

However, I DID have Netscape 4.61 & 4.74 (used currently) crash & freeze troubles UNTIL I made 2 maneuvers:

1. In Netscape Preferences>Advanced: change Memory Cache to 2045 and Disk Cache to 15360.

I got this tip from: "http://www.knowplace.org/tips.html"
This kat has a great site!

2. I downloaded & installed a 'freeware' memory leak program called Ram Booster v1.6.
Go here: "http://www.sci.fi/~borg/rambooster/index.ht"

[This message has been edited by bub (edited 12-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by bub (edited 12-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by bub (edited 12-13-2000).]

[sharder8]

First, I'm running 98Lite with the IE 5.0 core installed on top! I use Opera as my primary Browser and ocassionaly run Netscape 4.76 as my back-up. I haven't had any of the problems I used to have with Netscape since I went to 98Lite and removed 30MB of IE. (The reason I reloaded the IE 5.0 core was so that I could still use WM Player and a couple of other things that required IE to be installed.)

I did download and install Netscape 6.0 and immediately removed it due to configuation problems with AdSubtract and I didn't care much for the way it looked or handled. (It wasn't as small as I would have liked either.)

Opera was good at 4.02 and I've up-graded to 5.0, and it is by far the fastest, smallest, and most stable of the browsers that I've used. Plus, it has some nice little extras!

[doctj]

I've found N6 to be just as unstable as it's predecessors. Offline browsing doesn't work either.Hopefully they'll correct the glitches cos I prefer it to IE, it's cookie manager just rocks. Talk about browsing bliss. I used opera 4 but found the interface to be too primitive if ver 5 has a nicer interfaae i'll start using it again.

[rowan]

I would agree that Opera is a fine browser, though I've had some trouble with it on message boards regarding password cookies and such.

I use IE 5 as my back up, but would strongly recommend Opera. Visit www.opera.com. (http://www.opera.com.)

r.