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A Safari into the Wilderness
One thing that gets me about Apple's new Safari web browser.
I can't install and use it to test my pages as a web designer. I have a 601-based Mac running OS9 that I use for testing and a Mac SE running System 6. The fact that I can't install and run it unless I buy the latest and greatest Mac is a Microsoft like maneuver. They should make a version of Safari that runs on OS9 if they really want web designers and developers to take it seriously. I mean I am going to design for Valid XHTML and CSS2. It ends up my site looks fine in Safari but my friend down in SF had to test it for me.
I know that Safari is still in Beta pre-1.0 and apple seams committed in making a standards compliant browser. In that case I look forward to seeing future versions of Konquer that are up to par with Safari. So I can use Konquer on Linux and pretend it is Safari.
But there are going to be a lot of designers and developers who are going to have to buy a new Mac just to test for that browser. And to think Apple only got money from Microsoft when they announced a partner ship.
I am running System6, Mac OS9, Windows2k and RedHat8 how the hell am I supposed to download and try the browser?
I actually use AbiWord and Open Office and the only Microsoft product that I use on a regular basis is my Xbox and Microsoft Keyboard.
I am surprised that Apple hasn't made an official port of Open Office to Mac OSX yet. Who knows now that X11 has been ported to Mac OSX. As a Linux user I would have to say that Apple reliance on Microsoft is not significant in 2003. I think they should allow MS to sell Office for OSX but if I were Steve Jobs I would order a port of Open Office and start selling it for 20 bucks.
But that might be at next Mac World.
Update:I decided to check out the FAQ on OpenOffice.org
Does the OpenOffice.org open source license give me the right to modify and distribute any version of StarOffice, for example, the currently StarOffice? For example, can I undertake and ship a current version of StarOffice for Catalan?
No. The OpenOffice.org source license does not allow anyone to modify, repackage, or redistribute any version of StarOffice, or any other commercial version of the OpenOffice.org source code without an assignment from the vendor. For StarOffice the vendor is Sun Microsystems. Additionally, the source code in the OpenOffice.org project is the development project for future releases, starting with StarOffice 6.0. StarOffice 5.2 code is not part of the OpenOffice.org project.
So it looks like Apple would have to get permission from Sun to make their own version of Open Office but since Sun does not make Mac software and has no love for Microsoft it is still a possibility.
Jake at January 9, 2003 
WebDev
Comments
Hm. I did see a program for sale at MacWorld with an orange "O" on the front, creatively titled "Office Programs." I'm not sure if it's a Linux port, but it did posit itself as the low-cost alternative to Office.
Posted by: Evilninja at January 9, 2003 1:52 PM
True, some will have to buy new Macs to test their web pages, but from my standpoint, that's a good thing. ;P For me though, I simply don't care if my page looks right in Safari. Why? Well, it's standards based, and I create all my sites based on the standards, so it should look fine. And I'm sure there'll be lots of people who won't be using it because it's something new and different and doesn't offer features they want (such as Mozilla's tabbed browsing or Mac IE's Explorer bar). As for you Jake, you should worry about getting you site to look right in Mac IE. I don't know if it's just IE 5.1, but your permanant URL pages look like this: . Maybe that should be your first priority before worry about some browsers that a few thousand people are using. You know Jake, if you just used a few simple tables.... ;P
Posted by: Kyle Thompson at January 9, 2003 7:42 PM
The only real problem that I have had with this site and Mac IE is aligning the feet of the little guys on the top of the page. Same thing with Opera. The problem is that Compliant code browsers do not show all site's exaclty the same just close.
Adding tables to my CSS design?!?!!? is that a joke? what you think this is 1994?!?!?
Posted by: Jake at January 9, 2003 8:11 PM
Opps... that url didn't go through because I put ><'s around it. Here it is again: http://geocities.com/zapohoo/8bitjoyonie51onmacos922.jpeg
Posted by: Kyle Thompson at January 9, 2003 8:25 PM
OK, that sucks, it needs the www before it. Well this one works: http://www.geocities.com/zapohoo/8bitjoyonie51onmacos922.jpeg Sorry for poluting your comments Jake!
Posted by: Kyle Thompson at January 9, 2003 8:30 PM
OK, you can't click on that URL, just copy and paste it and it will work... *grumble* *grumble* stupid geocities *grumble*
Posted by: Kyle Thompson at January 9, 2003 8:38 PM
And do you think Microsoft needs to make IE 6 for Windows 3.1 too?
Jacob, why do you think wed developers won't take Safari seriously if it doesn't work on Mac OS 9? You can't expect Apple to continue developing for a machine that is hardly in use anymore. Apple said a few years ago they were fully transitioning to X, and a year ago they introduced their first X only application (iPhoto)
Serious web developers and designers are running on at least a G3 by now.
When you buy a computer, you're buying a snapshot of technology. You'll only be able to upgrade it so far before you need a new one. If you keep running the older programs on it, it's fine. You just can't expect the newer stuff to run. You've got IE 5.1 for 9 still, it hasn't stopped working has it?
If you want to run Safari, you'll need to get a system capable of Running Jaguar (that's most G3's and later right?)
So maybe now is the time to consider the purchase of a new 17" PowerBook G4 Aluminium.
Posted by: Jamison at January 9, 2003 11:33 PM
I haven't seen any hard adoption rates but there are still a lot of Macintosh users who are still using a pre-Mac OSX system. I am not worried about my site because has no problems with Safari and in a couple months I bet there will be an update to Konquerer that will bring the changes to it's rendering core up to Safari but there are +80% of people making webpages on the net who use a windows OS. So the closest thing they can do to test a site in Safari is buy a new mac or install Linux. I am betting that they will just say to hell with testing in Safari. BBQ is still using Mac OS9 and I doubt he plans on changing to OSX for as long as he has his current computer.
I am glad you mentioned IE on Windows. IE6 actually still supports Windows NT4 and Window 98.
Safari represents one of the end of cross browser testing of major browsers. I guess from now on designers will build their sites preferable using CSS and just taking their luck at how it it looks in other OSes and platform specific browsers.
I can't really afford to blow 2k on a new Mac right about now just to to test websites in Safari. To me as a web designer who does not own a Mac OSX capable Mac and who does not use an Apple OS on a regular basis Safari seems to be as a plot to sell more iMacs.
Posted by: Jake at January 10, 2003 1:05 AM
Jake your site is backwards! the sky is falling!
Posted by: pete at January 10, 2003 9:39 AM
