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I was tempted to use Safari more, but with InputManagers getting the whack in Leopard, allegedly, I didn't want to get hooked functionality that would go away.

Zall wrote:

I was tempted to use Safari more, but with InputManagers getting the whack in Leopard, allegedly, I didn't want to get hooked functionality that would go away.

Hopefully Leopard's Safari will include a new (leakless) version of WebKit and drag-able tabs.  I'm not a big fan of input managers anyway.

As a PC-convert, of course I was very used to and fond of Firefox.  Recently, I have been seriously considering switching browsers simply in the hopes that one might be better (in the way that Firefox blew my mind although I was content with IE at the time).

I can quickly rule out Safari (terrible tabs management), Opera (it's ugly), and Omniweb (internet should not cost money).  The fight is then between Firefox and Camino.  I think I will stick with Firefox, and here is why:

1. Search Bar: I like to search with many different search engines, and Firefox allows for easy customization of the search bar.

2. Middle Clicking on toolbar items in Firefox opens that item in a new tab.

3. Tabs are drag-able in Firefox.

4. Downloads: Firefox allows you to choose specific download locations for each file.

5. Display: Certain web pages are displayed slightly better in Firefox (specifically mail.yahoo.com).

6. Maximizing is a problem for almost every Mac OS X application, but Firefox at least maximizes to a consistent size that takes up most of the screen

7. Addons: Firefox allows for easy integration of a large existing library of add-ons.

8. Style: Firefox is still slightly more polished than Camino.


Of course, some of the features of Camino are very mildly useful, but in general (for me) they are far outweighed by the arguments above.  Analyzing the advertised features of Camino:

1. Spell-checking: I rarely have spelling troubles.
2. Session Saving: I actually prefer to start fresh every time.
3. Annoyance Blocking: This is nice.
4. Feed detection: I don't use feeds.
5. Improved Tabs: Ha!  This is a lie; don't believe it.
6. Open Source: So is Firefox.
7. Even More!: Compatibility with Mac OS X's Keychain and the Mac-like display of some fields and buttons is nice.

So 3. and 7. show improvements over Firefox, but, again, this is not nearly enough to tip the scales.

I hope this post helps people in a similar dilemma about Web Browsers for Mac OS X.  Comments are very welcome!

Last edited by VvWolverinevV (2007-11-02 12:43 pm)

Has anybody tried Flock?  I use it on occasion, it's awesome if you use lots of social sites, and it makes blogging ridiculously easy, but uses lots of screen real estate and with so much information coming in at all times makes me easily distracted.
http://www.flock.com

I prefer either Camino or BonEcho (optimized Firefox).  Once camino gets drag-able tabs I will never have to see firefox again.  Although one awesome thing about firefox that no browser has matched is extensions, those are great.

Camino doesn't have dragable tabs like maleko said. That is why its my backup browser. Now I use Omniweb all the time.

I was using Camino since I got my first Mac about a year and a half ago. I started using Safari for some reason after upgrading to Leopard. I really like it. The only thing that bothers me is I can't find a way to view all the previous addresses in my address bar (like Firefox, and even dare I say...IE, you know, with he little arrow and then it expands).

I like Camino, but I noticed that it would start having problems if you had it open for too long, especially if you closed it (but didn't quit) and reopened.

... or is it Herstory?

Safari 2, Shiira as a backup.

Part of why I stopped using Safari was I got attached to the look of Camino. I know it's minor but UI is huge for me. Now, in Leopard, Camino is starting to look like Safari with the brushed metal and it's driving me nuts.