Enhanced Image Viewers

Question

Level 1

0 points

Enhanced Image Viewers

I have a subscription to Ancestry.com that isn't fully compatible with this computer: iMac G5 with OS X 10.3.9; Safari 1.3.2 (v312.5). I have written to them about this problem but apparently they are not interested in being compatible with Mac.
They sent me the following message:

Question (from me to Ancestry.com): What do I need to get my system to accept the Enhanced Image Viewer?

Answer: 'The Enhanced Image Viewer is designed specifically for use with the Internet Explorer browser on a Windows PC computer. Please se below for the specific system requirements for the Enhanced Image Viewer.

Compatible Operating Systems:
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 2000
Microsoft Windows ME
Microsoft Windows XP

Compatible Processors:
200 MHz processor (or faster)

Compatible Internet Browsers:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher (the most recent version of Internet Explorer is recommended)

At this time the Enhanced Image Viewer will not function with Netscape, Opera, Firefox, or other Internet browsers not built on an Internet Explorer framework. It is also not supported on Macintosh operating systems of any kind. You will still be able to fully access the Census Images Online using the Basic Image Viewer, which provides about the same functionality as the Enhanced Image Viewer.'

My Question to You: Your system is partially compatible with their program but not completely. Is it possible that you would be upgrading Safari soon so that it would be compatible with those programs that have Enhanced Image Viewers?

1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 512 MB DDR SDRAM

Posted on Jan 29, 2006 3:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 29, 2006 4:16 AM in response to Aurie

Hi, Aurie, welcome to Apple's user-to-user discussion forums.

If they are saying that only Internet Explorer for Windows will work, and not any other browser, Windows or Mac, then they are using ActiveX which is a proprietary Microsoft technology that only works with Internet Explorer for Windows and no other browser, Windows or Mac. They do not care about accepted html/xhtml standards and they are basically saying do it our way or don't do it.

Reply

Answer 2

Eme

Level 5

5,636 points

Jan 29, 2006 4:59 AM in response to Aurie

They are joking right ?

For the prices they charge for one document & with all the volunteer
work they get they also expect us to come down to the lower level of IE.

Here is an Idea Ask them to broaden their horizons give US some support.
One of the Fore mentioned browsers should work .

Nonsense!!!!!

Eme

Reply

Answer 3

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 29, 2006 5:13 AM in response to Eme

They are joking right ?

Unfortunately, no.

And there has been a consolidation amongst the commercial genealogy sites so there is little competition out there. I have refused to pay for their services, partly out of principal and partly because of horror stories I've heard about customer service and charges continuing after canceling and such (although things may have changed with all the consolidation - I'm not that current with them). I do love the databases provided by the New England Historic Genealogolical Society as part of their membership dues, however. But these are only helpful if you have a New England ancestry, which I happen to have.

Reply

Answer 4

Eme

Level 5

5,636 points

Jan 29, 2006 5:50 AM in response to Tom Graves

Would Debug work for Aurie then.?

Our experience with them was just a
circuitous mess of dead ends with
possible doors opened only after
paying for each & every document.
We therefore cancelled our trail subscription.

Now I would not give them one red cent
that has been flattened on a trolly track.

The link should help with the research i was
trying to do on my beaus adopted cousin.
They are from New England also. The link
you posted will come in handy, thank for your ever
ready reply & vast knowledge.

Regards, Eme

Reply

Answer 5

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 29, 2006 6:42 AM in response to Eme

Would Debug work for Aurie then.?

You mean so she could change the User Agent? No, that would not work. All changing the user agent does is change the calling card a browser uses when it goes to a web site. It does not make a browser emulate another browser. If ActiveX is being used on a web site, the only way to use that web site on a Mac is to install VirtualPC (or Guest PC) and Windows and then use Internet Explorer for Windows.

The NEHGS dues are not cheep, but they do include a journal, and a magazine as well as access to their online databases and the library at their headquarters (The lowest level of membership does not give access to the databases or free access to the Library).

Reply

Answer 6

Eme

Level 5

5,636 points

Jan 29, 2006 7:12 AM in response to Tom Graves

I thought it did have I even said that somewhere. oops!

the only way to use that web site on a Mac is to install VirtualPC (or Guest PC) and Windows and then use Internet Explorer for Windows.

so then If Aurie did that she should run Virus protection like ClamXAv, right.
would that be true for Guest PC. also

the NEHGS dues are not cheap, but they do include a journal, and a magazine as well as access to their online databases and the library at their headquarters (The lowest level of membership does not give access to the databases or free access to the Library).

Seems worthy of the cost, it really is not that high.

Reply

Answer 7

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 29, 2006 9:48 AM in response to Eme

so then If Aurie did that she should run Virus protection like ClamXAv, right.
would that be true for Guest PC. also

That is correct. And it is Windows that is at risk, not whether you are using VirtualPC or Guest PC. The trouble is, from what I hear, running an anti-virus program slows things down and VirtualPC/Windows is no speed demon to begin with.

Changing the User Agent works if all a web site does is check to see what browser you are using. There are many sites that will work perfectly well in almost any browser, but for some reason the developers check to see if you are using IE/Win or Netscape and lock you out if you aren't.

Seems worthy of the cost, it really is not that high.

High or Low - it's all relative to what you think its worth, as you say. The same is true of .Mac subscriptions and shareware programs. So often here and other forums I hear things like "but that costs, isn't there someway I can do (get) it for free?"

Reply

Answer 8

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 29, 2006 10:28 AM in response to Eme

Seems worthy of the cost, it really is not that high.

BTW, I see they have added access to HeritageQuest databases, including all the census records and images, as a premium addition to individual (not institutional) memberships.

Reply

Answer 9

Eme

Level 5

5,636 points

Jan 29, 2006 5:03 PM in response to Aurie

Hi Aurie ,

Has Tom answered your question ? Seems so to me, but only you can say.

I also emailed Ancestry.com & asked if they could consider, some support for our browsers, for i had interest in this site as well, which I mentioned. but have decided against for the obvious reasons, posted here in your thread.

from Help & Terms of Use, i know most of us do not read these so i thought
this excerpt might help you decide.

What are question answers?

When a community member posts a question as a topic starter, other members can post an answer in reply. Please note that not all replies actually answer the question.

In some cases, an answer can be just some hints or helpful information to help the poster solve an issue. The originator of the topic can mark such a reply as a Helpful post. In other cases, a community member may post a specific answer that provides a solution to the original poster's issue. The originator can then mark this reply as a Solved post.

The original topic poster has the choice to mark replies as either Helpful or Solved, or not mark a reply at all. In addition, the originator can end the discussion by marking the topic as Answered, which provides a visual cue—a green star—to the community members. This lets everyone know that the topic contains valid helpful information.

Note: Only two replies may be classified as Helpful and only one reply may be classified as Solved in any question topic. Non-question topics do not offer these classifications.
Enjoy Apples Users helping Users Discussions Forum.
Best regards, Eme : )

Reply

Answer 10

Eme

Level 5

5,636 points

Jan 29, 2006 5:14 PM in response to Tom Graves

Hey Tom,

High or Low - it's all relative to what you think its worth, as you say. The same is true of .Mac subscriptions and shareware

Always from a relative point to me , it is all i have to gauge by ,

BTW, I see they have added access to HeritageQuest databases, including all the census records and images, as a premium addition to individual (not institutional) memberships.

yes , why i think it is a reasonable price all things considered.

Again, i thank you for your time, it is most appreciated. Pearls.
Eme ^L^

Reply

Answer 11

Aurie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2006 4:46 PM in response to Tom Graves

Tom: Your answer has been very enlightening and I appreciate your taking the time to answer me.
Yes, they are saying only Internet Explorer for Windows will work. If they are using ActiveX why can't Safari come up with something similar that will work with these Enhanced Image Viewers. I had a similar problem with Earthlink on my home page. They had Enhanced Image Viewers which were great when they worked but they were constantly breaking down. They have now done away with them where Macs are concerned. I understand that IE is not going to upgrade for the Mac so Safari needs to take care of this situation since they are probably going to be the Browser of Choice for Mac users.

1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 512 MB DDR SDRAM

Reply

Answer 12

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 30, 2006 5:00 PM in response to Aurie

Apple can't legally copy ActiveX technology. They would have to license it and so far Microsoft has not even made it available to other Windows browsers. Remember - only Internet Explorer will work for this extended browser - people using other Windows browsers, OS 9, OS X, Linux, Unix, or anything else is locked out.

There are cross-platform viewer formats out there. One of the ones used by the Library of Congress for some of their digitized maps and other documents is the MrSID format. Some digitized libraries are also using this format. Less well know and not was widely used is the DjVu format. There are free plugins for both of these formats available for both Windows and OS X. These are just two formats that I am aware of, there may be others. So a web developer is not limited to to using proprietary Microsoft technologies, but many developers have bought into the Microsoft development tools which, in turn, can lock visitors to their sites into Windows, which was Microsoft's intention in developing these tools.

Reply

Answer 13

Aurie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2006 5:52 PM in response to Eme

Eme: Tom is right about the consolidation amongst the commercial genealogy sites. Almost all of them are owned by Ancestry.com. They have a monopoly and their attitude is not good. It is either them or NEHGS. If I were researching the other side of my family I would use NEHGS but this side of my family is from Virginia and Maryland. The cost of belonging to either is really not bad if they do what they say they are going to do but in my opinion Ancestry.com has not been helpful to me and they have made mistakes on my account which they refuse to acknowledge or fix. You are right they should broaden their horizons and give us some support. I really am very disappointed in them and plan to discontinue my membership. However, that does not solve the problem that exists.

It is to bad that Ancestry.com has taken the attitude that they have. There is an old Southern expression that 'you catch more flys with honey than with vinegar'. It sure would be great if Safari could make some changes and take care of this situation.

I will think about Guest PC and the Virus protection like ClamXAv. I sure hate to slow things down on my computer.

My question has been answered but the problem has not been solved. I really appreciate all your input. You have been most helpful.

Sincerely,

Aurie

1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9) 512 MB DDR SDRAM

Reply

Answer 14

Aurie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 30, 2006 6:07 PM in response to Tom Graves

Tom: You have been most helpful. My question has been answered but my problem is not solved. Ancestry.com has a monopoly and their attitude is not good. The cost of membership is not bad if they would co-operate and really do what they promised.

Your suggestions will be considered but I sure hate to slow things down on this computer. Hopefully Safari will come up with something that will solve this problem. Let me know if you hear of something.

Sincerely,

Aurie

Reply

Answer 15

Tom Graves

Level 7

20,627 points

Jan 30, 2006 6:13 PM in response to Aurie

Aurie,

If I hear of something, I will post back here. But I am not too optimistic.

If you installed Guest PC & Windows, you would only have a slow-down while using Windows. Your OS X programs would not be affected.

Out of curiosity, what advantages does their enhanced viewer have over the basic one that they claim should work with most any browser?

Tom

Reply