No more Safari for Windows based PCs

[teh603]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Gasp! Windows and Mac users really are different in how they view the world and what they expect from their computers. I think to a certain extent, Apple has always assumed that PC users have always secretly wanted a Mac, so anything that emulates that experience will be successful.

But PC users have consistently avoided the Mac experience regardless of how many times it is offered and emulated. I think this result was inevitable (once Jobs died, probably wouldn't happen if he were alive).

Been there, experienced that. Some of the arguments I've seen varied from the valid, like the fact that Apple didn't support parallel port printers, to the absurd and inane, like the spring strength in Apple's keyboards. And then there are all the sacred cows of corporate culture based around business running windows.

That having been said, I don't think I used Safari on any platform for more than downloading Firefox.

That also may be why the new Windows 8 is viewed so skeptically by the PC user community. It may be very useful, but it ain't Windows as defined by the user community.

Haven't run into that, actually. I've only seen one Windows user who is even a little nervous about Win8; most of them are welcoming it with open arms like its going to be the next Windows XP or something.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by HarryT

In what sense is it "not Windows", Glen?

Well, clearly, it's Windows because Microsoft says' it's Windows. But I think if you review the criticism aimed at Win 8, a very consistent thread emerges. "It's too different", It makes people leery that it will add anything to the PC experience.

Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but I think it is clear that a significant number of people who are not only 'just users' are concerned, but a group of people who regularly think about the direction and uses of personal automation are made uneasy.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Well, clearly, it's Windows because Microsoft says' it's Windows. But I think if you review the criticism aimed at Win 8, a very consistent thread emerges. "It's too different", It makes people leery that it will add anything to the PC experience.

Maybe it will, maybe it won't, but I think it is clear that a significant number of people who are not only 'just users' are concerned, but a group of people who regularly think about the direction and uses of personal automation are made uneasy.

I guess you're talking about the "Metro" interface? It's certainly different, but personally I rather like it. It's very like using a tablet. But the Windows desktop is still there, and you can still run all your current apps on the desktop, just as you do today.

I'm running the "Consumer Preview" version of Win8 on one of my old PCs, and I like it.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by teh603

Haven't run into that, actually. I've only seen one Windows user who is even a little nervous about Win8; most of them are welcoming it with open arms like its going to be the next Windows XP or something.

Well before I replied, I thought I do a little internet search on the issue. And two things I noticed, (see links below)

1. While the words vary, the consistent theme is that that WIN 8 is too different.
2. Even the articles in support of Win 8, for the most part, are refutations of criticism.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/75748.html

http://www.extremetech.com/computing...osoft-flailing

http://evonet.com.au/apple-and-micro...m-convergence/

http://mobileopportunity.blogspot.co...windows-8.html

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/For...c-d81fd6de96d0

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I guess you're talking about the "Metro" interface? It's certainly different, but personally I rather like it. It's very like using a tablet. But the Windows desktop is still there, and you can still run all your current apps on the desktop, just as you do today.

I'm running the "Consumer Preview" version of Win8 on one of my old PCs, and I like it.

Actually, I'm talking more about people's reaction to it. See my post lower in the thread, no need to double post.

[HarryT]

Ah well, time will tell, I guess. It's clear that Metro is optimised for use on a touch-screen, rather than a mouse, that's for sure. I suspect we're going to see a convergence of the tablet and laptop markets over the next few years.

[JoeD]

Originally Posted by teh603

Haven't run into that, actually. I've only seen one Windows user who is even a little nervous about Win8; most of them are welcoming it with open arms like its going to be the next Windows XP or something.

I'm not looking forward to it. I've upgraded with each release of windows (including vista) since msdos and never have I seen a pre-release I've dreaded having to use full time until windows 8.

I think a large part of that is, I don't like the way metro apps will only be available from the ms app store. That, and I really don't like the tile based interface.

I know I'm not alone in this view based on a straw pole, but as usual, we're likely in the minority, quite a few are welcoming the GUI changes. I could probably learn to live with it, if it wasn't for the store lock down. For the first time with windows I'll be sticking with the current release as long as I can and avoid windows 8 as long as possible. In fact I'll go as far as saying I'd rather become a 100% mac or Linux user than have to use windows 8.

[BeccaPrice]

I don't like the fact that it will be a subscription-based system.

[JSWolf]

The two worst Windows are WindowsME and Windows Vista. Both look and feel like Windows. But both behave like crap.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

I've been growing somewhat dissatisfied with Firefox of late. It seems slow and, at times, unstable. So I've been playing around with IE and Chrome. I had totally forgotten about Safari. I've got to say IE and Chrome seem VERY good. I think I'll probably switch away from FF, not sure which I'll use though.

Firefox has been very slow and unstable lately. I just had it freeze on me again requiring a program restart. Has it all started with the latest version? I'm hoping for an update to fix the issue.

I'm going to look into other browsers.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The two worst Windows are WindowsME and Windows Vista. Both look and feel like Windows. But both behave like crap.

I hated W8 (when I had a chance to touch it) .

I heeded the warning on ME, and passed on Vista after trying the RC. (I started with MSDOS3,4,5,6, Win3.11 (workgroup), 95,95c, 98, 98SE, 2Kpro, XP pro and now W7HP)

Maybe I am just tablet (gesture) challenged
but then, I am not a fan of the newer 'Unity' interface in Ubuntu, either.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by theducks

I hated W8 (when I had a chance to touch it) .
...but then, I am not a fan of the newer 'Unity' interface in Ubuntu, either.

Unity is also WAY out there, I have tried to like it, but man! It shows a lot of creative thinking. but it proves the concept that just because it is creative that doesn't automatically mean 'good'!

I keep thinking that there's some good stuff in that package, but the unnecessarily complex keeps getting in the way of the good!

[OakdaleMike]

Originally Posted by LiquidGear

"In fact, the only time I even fire it up on Windows is when I’m testing something.”

This is a very real concern for those of us maintaining websites. If you make a significant change, you need to test it on all browsers. The sad truth is that none of them are totally standards-compliant and the only way to know what your users will experience is to test your site using their browsers.

My point is that losing the ability to test with Safari puts me at more risk with my Mac users. That's a shame. Apple, I'm not buying a Mac just to test my website. Your Machiavellian nonsense hurts your customers in the long run. But then, you've never really cared about that, have you?

[piper28]

Originally Posted by teh603

Haven't run into that, actually. I've only seen one Windows user who is even a little nervous about Win8; most of them are welcoming it with open arms like its going to be the next Windows XP or something.

Really? For me it's far the other way around. Most people I know are treating win 8 with skepticism. I'm sorry, but if I'm buying a computer, I want a computer, not a tablet. If I want a tablet, I'll buy a tablet. I personally think win 8 is going to go over worse than Vista did in the business environment, and that was a complete disaster.

Safari? Eh, I don't even like it when I'm using a Mac.

[piper28]

Originally Posted by JoeD

I could probably learn to live with it, if it wasn't for the store lock down. For the first time with windows I'll be sticking with the current release as long as I can and avoid windows 8 as long as possible. In fact I'll go as far as saying I'd rather become a 100% mac or Linux user than have to use windows 8.

Better go with Linux, Apple is really trying to go down the same road. For all that I give my mac users a good natured hard time, I actually feel snow leopard is pretty decent (although I actually think a Mac is far more useful to someone that really knows there way around a computer, for an "average" user I don't feel it's got anywhere near the advantage that a lot of people feel it has). But starting with Lion, and from what I've seen of Mountain Lion, there's some trends there that have me pretty uncomfortable. And Apple is far more draconian when it comes to length of older operating system support than MS is.