About the new forum software

G

gunhou

Joined
Jan 20, 1999
Messages
199
Posting a new thread here because the other is a bit full.
Blade Forums has adapted about the same software as The Firing Line has recently done. That changeover created problems for me over there, and so I was able to handle the new stuff here better than an antique like me might otherwise have done.
The new forum doesn't like old versions of Netscape, and displays its myriad of buttons, bells and whistles in peculiar (and lethargic) fashion on Macs running Navigator 4-point anything. If you are having problems with the new forum format, that may be the reason. The solution is to upgrade everything you can.
I downloaded iCab, a German browser that is in free beta at present, and it works with the new forum software pretty well, except that I'm having a time getting it to recognize a cookie. Had to manually log in at the home page to put this on.
How do I like it? It violates Occam's Rule with a vengence, being bloated, stuffed with 'cute' features that don't add to its usability but DO bog down slower older computers. This software clearly is meant for Microsoft Windoze/Microsoft browser users of machines no more than a year or two old. The old forum was very compatible with my six-year old machine. This one isn't. But knowing there isn't anything I can do about it, I've found workarounds. In a year or so when I finally replace this old machine, I can join you in appreciation of the many new 'features' offered by this new version of the Forum.
I complained mildly on The Firing Line, too, and got shot down. No sympathy for antiques or their old machines over there.

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb//rolleyes.gif
 
Have you tried Opera. It shouldn't have any problems, and is a real lightweight, without the Java compiler it weighs in at only about 3 megs, it's really fast, fully HTML 4.0 compliant, supports just about all plug ins, and has a really neat zoom feature.

Bob
 
bobwill:
I've read about Opera, but it's my understanding that it's a PC-only app. Have they ported it to the Macintosh without my hearing about it?
 
believe it or not, there is a mac version.
go to www.opera.com the only caveat, is it's only a beta.

Whew, covered myself pretty well on that one. <i>maybe nobody will notice I didn't notice he stated that he had a mac, and they'll just think I'm really up on my game</i> did I type that outloud? :D

Bob
 
I hate to be seen in public recommending a Microsloth product but .... sometimes you have to be honest. I'm posting this from a Mac 9600. It started out life as a PPC 604e at 200 MHz. I upgraded it last year to a G3 running at 400 MHz. It is running OS 9.1 and I'm viewing this in Netscape Communicator 4.77. The forum looks uglier to me and uses up screen real estate in an unnecessary way but it is running fine. It has been my experience that some web pages are so totally optimized for Internet Explorer that they turn into problem children with Netscape. AR15.com is one of those. I keep an up to date copy of Internet Explorer 5.0 installed on the hard drive for just those types of sites. If I want to go to ar15.com I just fire up IE and use it. BF might work better for you in this case.

Six years old huh? That's at least three computer generations. What kind of Mac is it? You aren't using something that is pre-Power Mac are you? Please say no. I have a sister still using a 68040 Mac and I hate, hate, hate it. Well, it isn't its fault. They were good machines in their day but nowdays its hard to even find software that was meant to run on such things.

There should be a bunch of new Macs (including something really interesting in the iMac area) being introduced at Mac World Expo in July. Stay tuned. I work in the computer field and it you would like help picking something out, feel free to email me.

Gregg
 
Hey, bobwill

Do you have any trouble using Opera here? I'm trying to use it and I just can't seem to get it to remember that I logged in. I've tried just about all the various cookie settings (by preference allowing cookies only from specified servers, and listing www.bladeforums.com among the permitted ones). Right now, I have it set to allow all cookies and it still isn't holding my login. Then I went to the control panel and set it to browsing without cookies (presumably using URL munging?) but I still had to login specially to post this reply.

I just upgraded from Opera 5.01 to 5.12 (the latest) in case there was some difference there.

Are you getting it to work? Any clues? I'm getting an automatic login with Netscape 6, but no luck with Opera so far.

Paul
 
I just downloaded 5.12. I haven't noticed any problems with it. But I downloaded it yesterday. I recently rebuilt my box, and upgraded to Win' 2000 and have had some bad lockup issues with AT&T's dialup software, so I got a work around setup.

Bob
 
Please don't talk about computers. I'm ready to smash this one with a 30 inch Sirupati I have laying here.
 
Hee, Hee, love the way you work computer talk around to the obligatory knife chat, Bill!
In the same spirit, and to answer questions above, my 'puter is far from 'cutting edge'. It IS a Performa 636, 68LC040. Get the 'point'? I SAID it was antique! In defense of the old dear, 'til now it has been perfectly satisfactory, it can 'hack' all my typing, Web surfing and e-mail chores. I don't care that there are no applications written for it anymore...I already have a good word processor since writing is my 'forte'.
Re: the problem with cookies, I find that I can 'slice through' my own difficulty by authorizing all cookies in the preferences. Then I don't need to log in. This is with that German app, iCab. Still haven't tried Opera.
Now I think we have belabored the topic 'up to the hilt' don't you guys?
:D
 
OK, OK! I know guys like you! Proud to get the very last mile out of the oldest car. (Like I've got room to talk. I drive a 91 Toyota Extra Cab four cylinder with 205,000+ miles on it.) I just want to point out that your time is worth something. If you are using that pre-Power Mac to make a living you have to consider whether it is helping you as much as it is hindering you. At the end of July, go to your local Apple dealer and check out one of the new flat panel iMacs running OS X. You just might decide it is time to move up! And the prices on new Macs today is nothing compared to the bad old days. That cute litte iBook laptop starts at $1299. Two models of iMacs are below $1000 (one down at 799).

Enjoy shopping!

Gregg
 
Thanks, Gregg. I took my 1972 special order El Camino out for a spin a week ago. 240,000 miles and still running pretty well.
 
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