Browser for 10.3.9

Question

Level 1

4 points

Browser for 10.3.9

Any suggestions for what browser is currently working effectively for 10.3.9. Safari 1.3.2 started crashing about 12 months ago. Went to Firefox which was working well until the latest upgrade didn't support 10.3.9, and now starting to be problematic. So do we 10.3.9 users have anywhere to go, or are we forced to upgrade the OS? Any help appreciated. Txs.

G4 ibook, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jun 6, 2009 4:17 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 6, 2009 6:08 AM in response to kaym

Hello kaym,

First of all, Welcome to the  Discussion forums!

Have a try with Camino 1.6.7.

Most browsers, now, are no longer being supported by the developers for 10.3.9 Panther.

Firefox announced back in December of '08 that it would no longer update Firefox for Panther. Camino, so far, is still being updated for Panther 10.3.

Cheers,

littleshoulders 🙂

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Answer 2

kaym Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 7, 2009 3:04 AM in response to littleshoulders

Thank you littleshoulders for your advice. Will go to Camino.
Do Safara & Firefox not care that we are leaving them? K

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Answer 3

Jun 7, 2009 4:28 AM in response to kaym

Hi again kaym,

Do Safara & Firefox not care that we are leaving them?

I don't think that it is a matter of the developer's not caring about 10.3.9 users (and their respective browsers) but rather that the newer versions of the browsers take advantage of later components of the newer operating systems, ie. 10.4 and 10.5.

The older browsers still function for the most part, but some sites, such as Google (maps,etc) and some banking sites take advantage of security features and Flash features that these older browsers are not capable of handling.

Most likely, we will all have to update our OS's (and most likely are hardware) to accommodate the evolving technologies/newer browsers. Of course, as always, it boils down to $ and the ability to keep up. I don't feel slighted as I understand the evolving technology, but for me, I just wish I could keep up with it financially 😉

I don't use it, but you might want to search for the browser, Opera for 10.3.9, if you don't like Camino. I think (but I'm not sure) that the developers of Opera are still supporting that browser for 10.3.9. As always, just make sure you don't install a browser that is incompatible with your OS. Many users downloaded and installed Safari 3 from their 1.3.2 version and found they had to reinstall their OS. It has caused many problems for users. Always check the System Requirements for any software that you install before! I can't tell you how many people come to the discussion forums every day with that type of problem whereas if they had only checked first they most likely wouldn't have any problem at all.

post back and let us know how you do with another browser....

best regards,

littleshoulders 🙂

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Answer 4

Jun 7, 2009 3:11 PM in response to littleshoulders

Opera 9.64 - 10.3 to 10.5 official support.

unofficially - 10.2, but works fine for me 🙂

http://www.opera.com/

::tonyd::

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Answer 5

Jun 7, 2009 5:35 PM in response to Tony Da Silva

Hi Tony,

Thanks for posting that. I thought it was still being supported for 10.3.9 but wasn't sure. Helps to have someone that is using it post in with their experience with it for the OP. I've been using Camino now for quite sometime and like it a lot. It seemed that every time I turned around, Safari 1.3.2 for 10.3.9, was crashing on sites 😟

With the customizing ability of most of these browsers these days you can make a browser so similar to the next it doesn't make much sense to stick with one over the other anymore. Just as long as security updates are still being taken care of by the browser's developers I'm fine with any of them! At least for my needs....

regards,

LS 🙂

PS. It's funny, I was checking earlier today through the Apple Discussion User Contributed tips and there didn't seem to be one for a list of compatible Mac OS X browsers. I thought that was kind of odd that no one had written one yet. I know lists can be found online but I would have thought someone would have made one as a user contribute tip here in the AD. Maybe I have just missed it or something but I couldn't find anything in the tips.

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Answer 6

Jun 8, 2009 4:29 PM in response to littleshoulders

You're welcome LS. Here is a link to THE king-list of mac browsers.
(ttl=166) last updated = 6/7/09

http://www.knutson.de/mac/www/browsers.html

**note - Opera 10 beta is available also. Same sys req.

Maybe AD could just add that link? 🙂

Cheers ::tonyd::

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Answer 7

Jun 8, 2009 6:20 PM in response to littleshoulders

As always, just make sure you don't install a browser that is incompatible with your OS. Many users downloaded and installed Safari 3 from their 1.3.2 version and found they had to reinstall their OS. It has caused many problems for users. Always check the System Requirements for any software that you install before! I can't tell you how many people come to the discussion forums every day with that type of problem whereas if they had only checked first they most likely wouldn't have any problem at all.<<</div>

Hi: wish I'd read this before Friday morning!! I made the above mistake Friday morning because previously, when I'd tried to install an "upgrade" that wasn't for panther, there was always a warning message that wouldn't allow me to install. Friday, there was no such warning, so I thought is was safe!
Afterwards, the old 1.3.2 would not open, could not re-install, the Installer program told me that 1.3.2 would not work on my system etc. Then the real fun began.... Mail would not open, my acrobat reader would not open, (could not re-install it either) then kodak camera interface software would not open or re-install, and so on.... ran the "short" version of the hardware test that came on the "additional software" disc with the computer and all tests passed. Worked with firefox and thunderbird all weekend because I've got a couple work deadlines approaching. Then firefox quit/crashed 3 times yesterday. So, I ran the extended hardware test this morning twice and got same error message both times indicating a problem with one of the memory cards. Now, here's where it gets really wierd, one local tech I talked to today says I clearly need to replace the memory card and do a "clean re-install" the other local tech says, bring it in and we'll look at it. Might be the memory card, or not... (???) if the machine says it's the memory card, how can it not be that???? But these last ones are the same people who put in a new logic board and processor, then a new hard drive due to kernel panics 10 days apart around Labor day of last year, and may or may not have checked the RAM out first.... Help!!! what do I do and whom do I trust????
The guy who stands to make 5-600 dollars replacing the memory card and backing up/re-installing my software/data, or the ones who worked on it in Sept. who want $60/hour bench time (with at least a 2 day backlog, bring it in and we'll get to it in 2-3 days) to test it and then tell me what's wrong with it.... I'm confused, feeling very paranoid, and broke (spent almost $1000 in sept on the logic/processor/hard drive, only to find out from my husband today that the tech in sept. told him they got their drives from best buy!?!?!?)
Help!
private replies okay with me to: mail@heartconsortmusic.com
run my own business with my mac so every day that I spend messing with this is a day I'm not working....
thanks!
Catherine

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Answer 8

Jun 8, 2009 6:26 PM in response to catherinehcm

p.s. the one tech (who wants to replace the memory card and re-install) says I could try taking out the memory card that the computer says is bad and try running the computer without it to see if that solves the problem... Is this safe? is it possible?, I mean to run this OS etc with 1.25 gb ram and not cause more damage, since the manual says the Ram needs to run in pairs, and/or will it further "corrupt" the software, os, etc? and also, could the problem with the RAM have been what caused the Kernel panic in Sept???? since some of the software has been "quirky" ever since.....
to quote Vini Barbarino, "I'm so confused!"
Catherine

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Answer 9

Jun 8, 2009 7:16 PM in response to catherinehcm

Hi Catherine,

I'm so sorry to hear you are having all the problems you list. Hang in there Catherine and hopefully you can get some good advice here in the AD.

You may (and most surely will) get some excellent help advice here in the Discussions but I would heartily suggest posting a new topic in the iMac G5 Usage forum for your problems. It won't get passed over which is likely when tagged onto an existing thread here.

I'm not an expert with G5 iMacs, but I know they were very prone to all the problems that you seem to be experiencing. As far as the memory make sure to state if it (both memory chips) are original to the iMac or added later and if third party ram or Apple ram (memory). Bad memory certainly can cause KP's (kernel panics).

Make sure to copy/paste your post from here to the new topic to save all the work of retyping it all there and just edit it to include that info.

Here is a link to a FAQ that might help to arm you with some info when trying to understand your issue with Kernel Panics (authored by Dr. Smoke of the X-Lab):

Resolving Kernel Panics

If you tried upgrading your Safari to a newer version incompatible to Panther what happens is it changes what are known as WebKit system files that will cause many of your applications (not just Safari) to not work anymore. The most common troubleshooting that I have seen is that users had to reinstall their OS.

I totally agree that it was incredibly bad on Apple's part to write this upgrade in such a way that allows older Safari version users to attempt to install it without a warning. The only "warning" is their System Requirements on the download page that many novice users seem to miss or fail to understand.

I'll keep an eye out for your topic in the iMac G5 forum if you decide to post over there and if I can add anything to it I will be happy to.

best of luck,

littleshoulders 🙂

PS. You list your computer as just a G5 so if it is not an "iMac" G5 make sure to pick the correct forum from the AD homepage for your particular model computer and pick the Usage forum in that particular category for it. Also, make sure to state which G5 model you are discussing. I have a feeling though it must be an iMac but it will save alot of trouble if you include that in your topic.

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Answer 10

Jun 8, 2009 8:00 PM in response to littleshoulders

Hi:
I've got a PowerPC G5 (tower) with a 1.8GHZ processor and a "superdrive" NOT an Imac. My G5 was brand new in Feb of '05. In Feb of '06 my old Mac monitor burnt up, literally, and I replaced it with a Samsung "flat screen".
When I originally purchased the computer, I bought extended apple care which ran out in Feb of 08. About 1 month before the warranty was up, Safari started crashing randomly and some of the other software got "quirky" as well. I called apple shortly before the end of the warranty and learned about the "repair permissions/empty caches" routine that one is supposed to run and was told that this would probably "cure" the symptoms the computer was having at that time. It did, mostly. When they would recur, I would run the "permissions" routine again etc. The kernel panic occurred last fall, first on labor day. I took it to the only local "authorized" apple service place. They supposedly ran some tests and initially couldn't find what was wrong, so they benched it and came up with one test that "supposedly" showed a problem with the logic board/processor. So they replaced that and sent it home. The machine ran fine for 4 days then went into kernel panic again, so I took it back over there and that time they replaced the hard drive with one they bought at best buy. The first time they had the computer they did a "clean" install and when I got the computer back here, I re-installed all the "extra" software like MS word, illustrator, etc.
The second time they had the computer, they did an "archive and install" and some of the software hasn't worked properly ever since, but I was told by them that they wouldn't know what was causing that so I might as well just use it the way it was.... When I asked these guys today if they had checked the RAM before they put in the logic board etc. they couldn't tell me for sure if they had....

I haven't had any Kernel panics since then (knock on wood) but the software has been "quirky"....
You mention the WebKit system files problem. Would that cause the hardware test to report a bad memory card that wasn't really bad????
The memory cards that I have were purchased (from mac zone) with the computer as a 2GB kit for powermac G5 brand name I think was "edge" and they were professionally installed here by a computer geek friend who owed me a favor. They've performed well since Feb of 2005...
I would like to post this elsewhere in the forums, as you suggest, but am not sure where to do so.... any suggestions?
thanks for your answer, and hope you will write more.
Catherine

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Answer 11

Jun 9, 2009 6:39 AM in response to catherinehcm

Hi again Catherine,

"I've got a PowerPC G5 (tower) with a 1.8GHZ processor and a "superdrive" NOT an Imac"

Ahhh....it's a G5 tower....

All of the Discussions forums can be found by first going to the Discussions "Home" page found at http://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa . The correct path for your G5 tower (or Power Mac) problems is Apple.com > Support > Discussions > Power Mac G5 > Using your Power Mac G5. Keep in mind that many forums are sub fora in categories. You must first select the correct category and then the correct forum in that category to find a link to post. You will want to post in the "Forum: Using your Power Mac G5".

Make sure to include all the comptuter specs, troubleshooting done up till now, and any relevant information that you can think of regarding the issue/s such as problems you feel have led to where you are now.

I would definitely post over there. There are some really smart clever folks that post over there and are happy to help out fellow Mac users. Don't panic and if you don't understand any advice that you recieve ask politely for the person assisting if they can explain further.....but most of all don't panic....many things can be fixed without full reinstalls of OS's and/or purchase of a new machine. I wish you the best as I know how expensive computer repairs can be and of course the loss of work time due to that. Been there....done that.... 😉

As for "You mention the WebKit system files problem. Would that cause the hardware test to report a bad memory card that wasn't really bad????" I can't answer. I know that when users upgraded their Safari 1.3.2 to Safari 3 it breaks these files and many applications are affected and won't open etc. I don't think that would have anything to do with the AHT (apple hardware test) reporting bad memory problems but I'm no expert there.

good luck and I will keep an eye on your topic there and if I can help I will certainly will pop in,

littleshoulders 🙂

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