Safari for Windows downloads Top 1 million

[AppleInsider]

More than 1 million copies of Apple Inc.'s Safari web browser for Windows were downloaded in its first two days of availability, the company said Thursday.

Earlier this week, Apple used its annual developers conference to introduce the Windows browser, a first for the Cupertino-based firm. It touted speed gains in excess of 200 percent when compared to Internet Explorer (IE), the flagship browser of long-time rival Microsoft.

Apple claims Safari 3 is the fastest browser running on Windows, rendering web pages up to twice as fast as IE 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2, based on the industry standard iBench tests.

The software has been available as a pre-release beta for Windows XP and Vista since Monday. Once downloaded, users will receive updates delivered through a Software Update mechanism. Apple issued the first such update on Wednesday, fixing "some early reported bugs."

Safari 3 for Windows requires Windows XP or Windows Vista, a minimum of 256 MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[hmurchison]

I was probably download 546,730


I must say my stability hasn't been bad on my work laptop. I'm guessing that I'm a member of the "lucky" crew. On my Mac I find the Beta of S3 to be less beachball prone than S2. I'm nothing but pleased.

Hopefully Apple has some future tricks to keep the download counter moving briskly. I like the "merge windows" feature for those errant sites that pop up in a new window when clicked.

[EruIthildur]

Poor people who are downloading it and have issues. Most people don't understand that beta does not equivocate to stable.

[addabox]

Originally Posted by EruIthildur

Poor people who are downloading it and have issues. Most people don't understand that beta does not equivocate to stable.

By God, poor people always seem to get the short end of the stick, don't they?

[TednDi]

It's windows. They are used to unstable systems.

[kupan787]

Originally Posted by TednDi

It's windows. They are used to unstable systems.

I am using it at work currently (formerly using Firefox), and I must say I haven’t have any major issues thus far. A few annoyances (like lack of spell check), but that is to be expected in a "beta". However, I’ll probably have to switch back to Firefox, because of the IE Tabs extension. If someone could incorporate this into a Safari plugin for windows (so I can access certain corporate websites, and our application for testing), I would be a permanent Safari user.

[Elixir]

Originally Posted by kupan787

I am using it at work currently (formerly using Firefox), and I must say I haven’t have any major issues thus far. A few annoyances (like lack of spell check), but that is to be expected in a "beta". However, I’ll probably have to switch back to Firefox, because of the IE Tabs extension. If someone could incorporate this into a Safari plugin for windows (so I can access certain corporate websites, and our application for testing), I would be a permanent Safari user.

do you notice it being that much faster?

[dmwogan]

I think its fast. It seems faster than anything else I've used recently, including Safari on OS X. Is anyone else slightly disturbed by all of the improvements in windows programs made by apple, but less for the os x side of things? It seems a lot of attention is going to wooing windows users, I hope enough is given to making sure os x is still good..

it seems like there is a convergence btw windows and os x..at least aesthetically.

how about a decent paint program in os x, and half decent keyboard nav?

[EruIthildur]

Originally Posted by addabox

By God, poor people always seem to get the short end of the stick, don't they?

They do, why? They are stupid, but I still feel sorry for them. And me when they complain about their issues to me.

Originally Posted by TednDi

It's windows. They are used to unstable systems.

Good point.

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by dmwogan

Is anyone else slightly disturbed by all of the improvements in windows programs made by apple, but less for the os x side of things? It seems a lot of attention is going to wooing windows users, I hope enough is given to making sure os x is still good..

Yes, I'm glad other people are seeing this too. It's really irritating me.

Originally Posted by dmwogan

how about a decent paint program in os x, and half decent keyboard nav?

Again I agree and how about a decent word processor?

[coolfactor]

Originally Posted by dmwogan

I think its fast. It seems faster than anything else I've used recently, including Safari on OS X. Is anyone else slightly disturbed by all of the improvements in windows programs made by apple, but less for the os x side of things? It seems a lot of attention is going to wooing windows users, I hope enough is given to making sure os x is still good..

it seems like there is a convergence btw windows and os x..at least aesthetically.

how about a decent paint program in os x, and half decent keyboard nav?

I agree with the inconsistent keyboard navigation (in dialog boxes). iTunes is particular annoyance for me. I *really* want to see this addressed, and hope that Leopard puts this issue to bed.

I don't agree that Apple is focusing more on their Windows apps than Mac apps. That's plainly unfounded. If you follow the development of the WebKit.org project (the engine in Safari), they work on both platforms equally. Updates for their apps tend to come out simultaneously for Mac and Windows, as well.

[Delfoniq]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple claims Safari 3 is the fastest browser running on Windows, rendering web pages up to twice as fast as IE 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2, based on the industry standard iBench tests.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

I use it too and the rumors' true, it's really fast, still has a few bugs though. Wooing XP users like that is a cool strategy by Apple. Nice also coming up fast with a new release that supposedly will rectify safety flaws. IE 7 is like web browsing with a tool from stone age compared to Safari .

[Cleverboy]

It is BLAZING fast. Whenever I open up a popular Digg page (commented all to Hell) both Microsoft IE and Firefox choke. Firefox is somewhat better, but not much. Safari swallows it whole, and keeps on truckin'. This is almost immediately my favorite new browser on Windows. I'll probably never open IE again. I'll use Firefox with IE tab and Safari. Someone really needs to write up all the great Safari features. They're mostly hidden... which makes it feel so clean.

[meelash]

Originally Posted by kupan787

I am using it at work currently (formerly using Firefox), and I must say I haven’t have any major issues thus far. A few annoyances (like lack of spell check), but that is to be expected in a "beta". However, I’ll probably have to switch back to Firefox, because of the IE Tabs extension. If someone could incorporate this into a Safari plugin for windows (so I can access certain corporate websites, and our application for testing), I would be a permanent Safari user.

Is there no spell check in the Windows version? The 3.0 for mac now has spell check within web forms which is new and pretty convenient. Maybe it's because Windows doesn't have system wide spell check service so the program would have to include its own dictionaries to have spell check? Do IE and firefox have spell check?

Windows has resizable forms, right?

[jasong]

Spell check in forms isn't new, it just apparently wasn't on by default before.

[josephwinters]

speaking of,

did AI and all the rest of the rumor sites miss Safari for windows ? They are slackin on their pimpin.

[icfireball]

Of course that 1 million is probably mostly people running BootCamp and Windows on their Mac...

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by icfireball

Of course that 1 million is probably mostly people running BootCamp and Windows on their Mac...

Or probably 500,000 downloading the beta, then another 500,000 downloading the first patch.

[meelash]

Originally Posted by jasong

Spell check in forms isn't new, it just apparently wasn't on by default before.

I don't see a preference for it anywhere. How do you turn it on and off?

EDIT: Never mind, I see it in the Edit menu...

[oceans777@gmail.com]

I wish we'd get back to why poor people are stupid? Because they use Windows? Safari for Windows?

Now I'll be up all night trying to figure it out. And I'm not even poor.

[oceans777@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by oceans777@gmail.com

I wish we'd get back to why poor people are stupid? Because they use Windows? Safari for Windows?

Now I'll be up all night trying to figure it out. And I'm not even poor.

Oh I see now.

[Elixir]

did they release safari 3 for mac? how is that running?

[Buck]

Anyone figured how to get rid of the "Are you sure you want to quit Safari" message? It's really annoying.

Also, just noticed after posting it doesn't want to close the tab: "You have entered text on “Safari for Windows downloads Top 1 million - AppleInsider”. If you close the tab, your changes will be lost. Do you want to close the tab anyway?"

All this "are you sure?" weirdness. I wonder if they've taken some nasty design cues from Windows?

[xsmi]

Also on the mac version which is slower on my machine than 2.0 if you open a pdf in the browser it crashes.

[ActionJaxon]

I'm really glad they release Safari for Windows, I have the shame of using a scratty old PC at work with no IE7 for tabbed browsing etc. Besides all the other Safari benefits this was somthing I really needed.

My only problem so far, which is to be kinda expected of a Beta, is that it freezes up every now and then, only to kick back into life again after about 30 seconds. Same happens on my other XP-based laptop at home which is a much higher-spec than the work PC.

I'm sure it'll get sorted

[PB]

Originally Posted by TednDi

It's windows. They are used to unstable systems.

If you talk about Windows 95, 98, Me, then yes, those were the joke OS's of the '90 (although Mac OS 8 and 9 were not better in stability). But with Windows 2000 and afterwards the situation is much improved. Actually I have yet to experience a hard system crach under Win2000 and XP, while OS X already gave me 5 or 6 kernel panics in the last 4 years. So, not everyone has a bad experience with the last Windows versions in the stability front.

[AISI]

Originally Posted by ActionJaxon

I'm really glad they release Safari for Windows, I have the shame of using a scratty old PC at work with no IE7 for tabbed browsing etc. Besides all the other Safari benefits this was somthing I really needed.

Why haven't you tried Opera and Firefox?

[rtdunham]

Originally Posted by addabox

By God, poor people always seem to get the short end of the stick, don't they?

reading that was a great way to start the morning. thanks!

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by TednDi

It's windows. They are used to unstable systems.

Brilliant
ROFL

[digitalclips]

Originally Posted by PB

If you talk about Windows 95, 98, Me, then yes, those were the joke OS's of the '90 (although Mac OS 8 and 9 were not better in stability). But with Windows 2000 and afterwards the situation is much improved. Actually I have yet to experience a hard system crach under Win2000 and XP, while OS X already gave me 5 or 6 kernel panics in the last 4 years. So, not everyone has a bad experience with the last Windows versions in the stability front.

You are one lucky dude, thought about going to Vegas?

[EruIthildur]

Originally Posted by oceans777@gmail.com

I wish we'd get back to why poor people are stupid? Because they use Windows? Safari for Windows?

Now I'll be up all night trying to figure it out. And I'm not even poor.

Poor person. Up all night trying to figure out this fact... Welcome to that group.

[PB]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

You are one lucky dude, thought about going to Vegas?

You pay my journey and I promise to take you with me to play. Oh, and I will bring this magic rabbit's foot, that keeps the Windows machines up and running, to rub your hand with every time you throw the dice.

[kupan787]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

You are one lucky dude, thought about going to Vegas?

While I havn't experienced a hard system crash yet on Windows, if I leave my box on for more than 5 days (my work box), it gets wonky (apps start crashing for no reason). I gerneally restart it once a week. My Mac I only restart after software updates.

[EdRed]

Originally Posted by PB

If you talk about Windows 95, 98, Me, then yes, those were the joke OS's of the '90 (although Mac OS 8 and 9 were not better in stability). But with Windows 2000 and afterwards the situation is much improved. Actually I have yet to experience a hard system crach under Win2000 and XP, while OS X already gave me 5 or 6 kernel panics in the last 4 years. So, not everyone has a bad experience with the last Windows versions in the stability front.

Originally Posted by kupan787

While I havn't experienced a hard system crash yet on Windows, if I leave my box on for more than 5 days (my work box), it gets wonky (apps start crashing for no reason). I gerneally restart it once a week. My Mac I only restart after software updates.

You are both lucky. My XP system at work crashes at least once a week.

On the Mac side I've had about 6 kernel panics in the 5+ year life of my mac. The last time caused by a faulty PCI card

[guinness]

Safari for Windows is OK, but like most Apple software, it's always better on Mac.

It's not very Windows-like, like iTunes, it uses some Mac conventions, and is a RAM hog, but seeing as a lot of PC's have at least 512 MB, it's not that bad, but by and large, Apple doesn't write the best of Windows apps, but at least it's better than the Quicktime.

It does load pages fairly fast, but it scrolls through pages slowly - Opera still smokes it in most areas for me. And with the Tango theme, Opera looks better as well, and since I'm running Vista, the Safari UI/Aero combination looks really odd together.

But what is most disappointing about Safari for Windows, is that it doesn't offer anything to set it apart from FF, Opera, or even IE7. Opera supports nearly all the web standards, passes ACID 2 test, etc...and it has widgets, which aren't nearly as flexible as FF extensions, but I have a couple that do use. Even IE7 has tabs and add-ons, Safari has tabs and a built-in spell checker, which FF also has, and Opera/IE7 can do with add-ons. The only real explanation would be because of the iPhone, but how many web browsers can someone really use?

As for the "it's only beta" thing, most Windows users wouldn't have been so quick to jump, if Apple hadn't made all the claims about being faster and easier to use than every other Windows browser, and for a lot of people, that didn't seem to be the case...so Apple should take the heat for it, they should've just announced the beta release, and left it at that.

[lfe2211]

Originally Posted by guinness

Safari for Windows is OK, but like most Apple software, it's always better on Mac.

It's not very Windows-like, like iTunes, it uses some Mac conventions, and is a RAM hog, but seeing as a lot of PC's have at least 512 MB, it's not that bad, but by and large, Apple doesn't write the best of Windows apps, but at least it's better than the Quicktime.

It does load pages fairly fast, but it scrolls through pages slowly - Opera still smokes it in most areas for me. And with the Tango theme, Opera looks better as well, and since I'm running Vista, the Safari UI/Aero combination looks really odd together.

But what is most disappointing about Safari for Windows, is that it doesn't offer anything to set it apart from FF, Opera, or even IE7. Opera supports nearly all the web standards, passes ACID 2 test, etc...and it has widgets, which aren't nearly as flexible as FF extensions, but I have a couple that do use. Even IE7 has tabs and add-ons, Safari has tabs and a built-in spell checker, which FF also has, and Opera/IE7 can do with add-ons. The only real explanation would be because of the iPhone, but how many web browsers can someone really use?

As for the "it's only beta" thing, most Windows users wouldn't have been so quick to jump, if Apple hadn't made all the claims about being faster and easier to use than every other Windows browser, and for a lot of people, that didn't seem to be the case...so Apple should take the heat for it, they should've just announced the beta release, and left it at that.

I was on eBay and noticed this rather dismal assessment of Safari by some very hard core MS IE 7 lovers over there on the Computers & Networking Board. On that site , only Vista is despised more than Apple & Mac.

http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.js...=1182048861534

Pay particular attention to the post by the_id_that_dash_built

[guinness]

Originally Posted by lfe2211

I was on eBay and noticed this rather dismal assessment of Safari by some very hard core MS IE 7 lovers over there on the Computers & Networking Board. On that site , only Vista is despised more than Apple & Mac.

http://forums.ebay.com/db1/thread.js...=1182048861534

Pay particular attention to the post by the_id_that_dash_built

I usually don't use IE7, even with the Protected Mode security; as for Vista, it's fine, it's mainly that MS completely updated/broke the video and sound subsystem, depending on your POV. If you have Vista drivers, it's smooth sailing, if not, you wonder who to blame first, MS or the OEM.

To me that the beauty/failing of Apple - they control all the hardware and stability should be way high, but you have no real choice in the selection. I've made complants about the lack of $1500 mid-tower, but Apple pidgeon holes everyone with a laptop in a different case (mini, imac, MB, MBP), or a $2500 server. There is no middle ground, the higher prices I could deal with, but the lack of hardware selection keeps me away. For example, I'm still using an AGP system, if I really wanted to, I could buy an AGP DX10 card, I think even Nvidia will release the 8600 as one.

As for Safari, it behaves nearly identical for me in XP too, it does remember my default browser (Opera) correctly though, I can't turn off smooth scrolling, and I still don't see any advantage with it over Opera or FF.

Safari has potential, but it needs an ad blocker, like the one built-in with Opera or the Ad Blocker ext for FF, a tab bar that opens a new tab when you double click on it, and one thing I like about IE7, is the hidden File menu, until you hit Alt; it does make it cleaner.

[lfe2211]

Originally Posted by EdRed

You are both lucky. My XP system at work crashes at least once a week.

On the Mac side I've had about 6 kernel panics in the 5+ year life of my mac. The last time caused by a faulty PCI card

I use XP SP2 and Tiger almost every day. When I work at home (i.e., when I'm not being a road warrior) I have both systems running simultaneously all day. XP has not crashed on me in 2 years and I have never had a Kernel panic on either my Macbook or my desktop Pro. Must be the water on Long Island.

As to Safari on Windows, I have not tried it yet. I use FF exclusively on XP and FF & Camino on the Macs. The list of problems (below) provided by the eBay guy was disturbing, if true. Was this guy accurate in his assessment or did he just not know how to setup Safari correctly?

Re-posted from an eBay commenter on Safari

Just downloaded it an installed it. Ten minutes in and I hate it already.

-You can't turn font smoothing off. If I wanted fuzzy text I'd buy an LCD.
-You can't close a tab by middle clicking on it.
-No page/text resizing/zooming with the scroll wheel.
-Only basic dragging and dropping.
-Tab history isn't portable.
-No going back to the previous tab by clicking on the current one.
-Crashed when I hit the bug report icon.
-No duplicating tabs.
-No extensions or addons.
-Crashed when I tried to customize the toolbars.
-No ad-blocker.
-No "unclosing" of closed tabs.
-No session manager.
-No "Alt-Tab" type function for switching tabs.
-No thumbnail or tiled view of tabs.
-No way to distinguish a read tab from an unread one.
-Very little control over the way pages open in Windows or tabs.
-Non standard title bar.
-Clicking on the address bar doesn't auto select it's contents.
-Tab bar disappears with only one tab open.
-Blue drop down arrows on pages.
-No splitting the window to more than one tab.
-No way to go "up a level" in a website address.
-Tries to autocomplete in the address bar, even with sites you've never visited.
-No "auto suffix" for URLs.

Well I guess it's fine if you only visit a couple of sites a day and don't spend too much time online.
And maybe I'm wrong with some of the above as I did only spend ten minutes with it, but that was enough for me. Feels like going back too far in time. And it's a bit ugly.