guys,
i just read an article about newest version of netscape , i just want what
is performance of this browser.. Is it faster thasn IE 5.5.
thank you very much,
I
AOL's looking uncool and Netscrape, as usual., is looking once again (they
seem to NEVER be able to get their core code right) buggy...Here's a copy of
Fred Langa's latest emaillist detailing these things...links to his website
detailing still deeper these issues and past related articles are also
listed herein.
Best advice for now...steer clear of both...personally, I much prefer the
solid reliability of IE.
:)Sky
---------------------
Please email the LangaList to a friend! See
http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm !
An easier-to read formatted HTML version of this newsletter is
available on line at http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-12-07.htm
The LangaList
2000-12-07
A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware,
Software, and Time Online
1) AOL's Heavy Hand
2) Bypassing Your Browser's Auto-Setup
3) Netscape 6 Minus The Extra Baggage?
4) Resource Issues, and A Great Search Engine
5) WinME's "Fatal exception O3H" Glitch
6) Want $10,000 To Spend On The Holidays?
7) More Reader Sites!
8) Twenty Questions
9) Just For Grins
More!
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
FREE Tax Software!
Download TaxACT free and begin preparing your taxes
today! TaxACT is complete with an interview process,
automatically calculates your return and prints IRS
approved forms FREE. Plus, you can e-file for under $8.
http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/9720//5901
<a href="http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/9720//5901"> AOL users
click here </a>
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
1) AOL's Heavy Hand
In this week's "Explorer" column, I recount how AOL6 took my
perfectly good, secure, five-element networking setup and changed it
to an INsecure 16-element networking setup. Worse, it installed an
unusual (VPN--virtual private networking) technology for reasons
unknown and unexplained. Worst of all, AOL made no mention of any of
these changes: I only found them because I went looking for them. My
guess is that most users never would even notice that AOL had made
major -- and potentially very unsafe -- modifications to their
networking setup. (See
http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/25.htm )
Also, in that column, I'll show you how AOL insists on setting up a
VPN (Virtual private networking) connection that potentially gives
AOL access to your files and to other computers on your LAN (if
you're on a LAN).
None of AOL's help systems or human support techs could tell me
anything at all about AOL's use of VPN--- which is strange, because
AOL has offered optional VPN services since at least version 4. But
AOL6 is the first version that force-feeds VPN to you, unasked-for,
and with no option to decline; and none of the AOL support people or
mechanisms can explain why.
Some LangaList readers had ideas. For example, Steve Klimback wrote:
[R]egarding the VPN technology that AOL6 is installing.
First and foremost, I had a similar experience with AOL
technical support wherein the technician didn't know or
understand VPN technology. After pointing him to the
Microsoft site and explaining it in layman's terms, he
concluded that it was unnecessary and should be removed
from the system. When I explained that it prevented AOL
from connecting, he found that "very strange." [I]
concluded that it could really only be used for one or two
things:
1. Create a secure connection to the AOL server via TCP/IP
on a LAN with broadband internet access. This is done in an
attempt to subvert various security measures implemented by
IT staff so that a connection can be created regardless of
existing firewall/proxy security services.
2. Create a secure connection to the AOL server via TCP/IP
over a modem connection.
In my mind, not only are both scenarios pointless but they
are potentially harmful (as you noted in your article).
Short of that, I really cannot come up with any sort of
reason for using VPN technology.
Joel Diamond (Technical Director of WUGNET http://www.wugnet.com/ )
also wrote:
This may explain the file sharing on the part of AOL6...
1)AOL5 stored IM buddy lists locally, AOL6 puts your buddy
lists on AOL servers
2)AOL5 stored your address book locally, AOL6 puts your
address book on AOL servers
I figured that in order for AOL6.0 software to accomplish
this change from AOL 5.0 users to AOL 6.0, they had to
enable file sharing. Yeh, it's all part of AOL ANYWHERE
strategy, but AOL 6.0 is mandating these significant
changes in their software without telling their customers
nor providing the information through it's help system,
it's website, it's companion documentation, it's customer
service, etc...
As to the VPN and Printer Sharing changes instituted with
AOL 6.0, that is is beyond my ability to reason why...
Because the File Sharing and VPN are installed together, one
reasonable conclusion is that both Steve and Joel are right: Perhaps
AOL wants to synchronize its files with yours, and is setting itself
up to do so "under the covers" via VPN, without your knowledge.
But once any shared files are accessible via a network connection,
*all* your shared files--- up to the entire contents of your hard
drive--- may also be accessible. Depending on what security measures
you've set up, it may be ridiculously easy for someone to hack in and
take whatever they want from your system.
I admit this is guesswork because AOL won't or can't explain itself.
It won't or can't say why it needs an ongoing live VPN connection
between you and its servers. It won't or can't say why it wants
access to your files and LAN traffic.
I seriously doubt that AOL is malevolent or has evil intent. But I do
believe that AOL's programming abilities are lackluster at best, and
thus I will not entrust my online security to them. Plus, even if
AOL's intentions are completely benign, AOL6 users may well become an
irresistible target for crackers who wish to try to exploit the
software's needlessly complex and potentially insecure setups.
What's your AOL experience? Am I being too harsh? Click over to
http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/2000/25.htm and join in the
discussion!
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
return to top of page
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
**FREE POST IT NOTES**
You've got personality... so express it at iPrint with 5 pads of FREE
personalized Post-it(R) Notes! Have some fun! Create your message
online in just minutes and have it printed your way. This special
offer is valid for a limited-time to new iPrint customers.
Pay just $2.97 for shipping.
Click here to order: http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/9362//5901
<a href="http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/9362//5901"> AOL users
click here </a>
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
2) Bypassing Your Browser's Auto-Setup
Reader Mike Champion most recently asked a question I've gotten
repeatedly. I guess it's a factoid many people are looking for:
I'm looking for a download of the *entire* IE5 setup
without having to order the cd. Can you point me to a link
or ftp?
Indeed it can be handy to download all the setup files once, without
installing them, and to store the files locally for later
installation (or reinstallation); or to download once and then post
the files on a LAN for others to use without having to re-download
the whole shebang again.
Microsoft still has a vestigial public FTP site (
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/ ) and there's some interesting (and free)
stuff there; but they no longer offer browser downloads that way.
However, you can still easily download the entire IE5 package without
installing anything; instead storing the full setup files locally:
Go to the IE download site ( http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/ ),
and start the download process. The first piece that comes down
(Ie5setup.exe) is a very small front end that's actually the download
manager for the full install. That Setup/Download Manager gives you
the option to save files locally. Here's how:
After you've downloaded the small Ie5setup.exe file, run it, and
select the "Install Minimal, Or Customize Your Browser" option when
it appears. On the "Component Options" dialog, click the "advanced"
button and select "download only" and click OK, and Next. The setup
program will then download all of IE5 to whatever location on your
hard drive you select. You can then install the browser from there,
and/or leave the files there for later use.
There's a closely analogous process for installing Netscape 6 via a
small front-end download manager at
http://home.netscape.com/download/ . However, Netscape does still
offer the browser via public FTP, and the simplest way to grab the
entire N6 file is simply to click to:
ftp://ftp.netscape.com/pub/netscape6/english/6.0/windows/win32/sea/
and then download N6Setup.exe . Although this file has the same name
as the small N6 download manager, it's actually the whole enchilada.
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
3) Netscape 6 Minus The Extra Baggage?
"Gecko" is the open-source browser engine produced by the Mozilla
project. It's at the heart of Netscape 6. But Netscape 6 is much more
than just Gecko--- it also includes all kinds of AOL-mandated gizmos
and widgets and add-ons that turn the lean, efficient central core
into a 25MB behemoth.
But because Gecko is open sourced, Netscape isn't the only browser
using it. For example, Reader Kshitiz Chandra points out that:
http://www.beonex.com/ claims to have the exact same code
as N6 final ver but yet is beta. The only difference I can
smell is it doesn't have annoying AOL codes in it. I think
you will find it useful to compare...
Indeed, Beonex is still in beta, does use the Gecko guts, and (as a
result) looks like a cleaner, less-cluttered, version of N6.
But while its core is the same as Netscape's, Beonex does almost
everything else differently. For example, instead of using AOL's
proprietary Instant Messenger, Boenex provides "Chatzilla" which uses
the widely-supported and nonproprietary IRC (Internet Relay Chat) for
online chatting.
Beonex also draws these pointed comparisons between their Gecko-
driven browser and Netscape's Gecko-driven browser:
"Higher level of security / privacy by default
No integration with websites
No membership
We cannot identify you while you are surfing the web
No manipulation on content level
We don't sell links in default bookmarks, ratings in search
engines or similar. We believe in open competition on a distributed
Internet."
You can see a full list of features at
http://beonex.com/communicator/doc/feature/ , or download the 6.44MB
installation package at http://beonex.com/communicator/version/0.6/ .
Although Beonex is beta (and is still buggy) it looks very promising,
especially if you like the core of Netscape, but dislike all the
clutter that comes along with it.
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
FREE TO OUR READERS: Get Lotus SmartSuite Millennium FREE
We've arranged for you to get Lotus SmartSuite Millennium FREE.
That is a $39 Value. This week *only* ComputerSurplusOutlet.com is
making it available to YOU - FREE! Go to
http://www.ComputerSurplusOutlet.com/bannerspecials.asp?p=100
<a href="http://www.ComputerSurplusOutlet.com/bannerspecials.asp?p=100">
AOL Users Click Here</a>
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
4) Resource Issues, and A Great Search Engine
Tom Harley wrote:
Thanks for the excellent article of 5/22/00 explaining the
meaning of the resource items displayed on the MS Resource
Meter (although the System Resouces on
MyComputer|Properties|Performance seems to be always a
percent or two lower than System Resources displayed on the
RM); you've shone a ray of light briefly illuminating the
vague, shadowy world of Windows. By the way, I found the
article by doing a search on Google.
There are two reasons for showing you Tom's letter. One is that (with
this newsletter growing so fast) many newer readers may not have seen
the article Tom refers to: Actually, that article is part of a
detailed series on resource problems, and can help resolve all kinds
of performance issues ranging from sluggishness and weird "out of
memory" errors (even when you have plenty of RAM) up to outright
crashes. If you click to
http://www.winmag.com/columns/explorer/backissu.htm and read all the
"Resource Leak" articles in sequence, you just may never have a
resource-related problem again. 8-)
The other reason I wanted to show you this letter is due to Tom's use
of the Google search engine. I used to be a fan of Altavista's search
because its Boolean capabilities were (at one time) unmatched. Then
AV sort of drove itself into the weeds when it tried to become a
"portal" instead of a search engine. I moved on to the "FAST Search"
at http://www.alltheweb.com/ ; it's still very good, with a hugely
comprehensive listing of sites (almost 600 million URLs!).
More recently, I've also found myself using
http://www.NothernLight.Com because of the excellent job it does in
rank-ordering its results. However, it's starting to show some
clutter in the way it presents results.
I tried Google when it first appeared, and came away underwhelmed:
It's a search engine that determines relevancy (in part) by the
number of other sites that link to a given page. The assumption is
that more more people link to a given page, the better that page must
be.
The obvious problem with this approach is that a stellar but largely
unknown web site may fare poorly in the Google ratings, while a lower-
quality but better-known site will rise to the top.
Still, while the top-ranked results in a Google search may not always
be the very best sites on a topic, they're almost always at least
very good sites. Plus, the Google approach tends to be self-
correcting over time.
I now find myself using Google more and more for my initial searches,
and falling back to Alltheweb or NorthernLight for finer or alternate
searches. In fact, I like Google enough I've added it to the
Langa.Com search options: http://www.langa.com/search2.htm#full
If you haven't tried it yet, click above, and check it out!
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
5) WinME's "Fatal Exception 03H" Glitch
If you have WindowsME and any one of the following programs, you may
be headed for trouble:
Cybermedia's Oil Change
Uninstaller version 5 and earlier
Guard Dog version 2.5 and earlier
First Aid 97, 98 and 2000
McAfee Utilities 3.0
McAfee Office version 2
McAfee Office 2000 (version 3.0)
For example, see what happened to reader Dana Harris:
I have windows ME installed on my computer and everything
was operating as it should, UNTIL I defragged my hard
drive. After defragging, everything appeared okay until I
started up the next day and I kept getting the following
message "Scandskw caused Fatal exception 03H in module
user32.dll". I couldn't even boot up in the safe mode.
After many hours of frustration, I booted up with my
windows emergency disk (boy am I glad I made one), then I
reinstalled ME and all is well. I received an update from
Windows addressing this very problem and it gives the
remedy. You can find it at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q275/0/03.ASP?LN=EN-US&SD=S
Thanks, Dana. That support page explains what's going on (it involves
a file corrupted by the above-named apps) and what you can do about
it.
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
6) Want $10,000 To Spend On The Holidays?
The Recommend-It site gives away up to $10,000 as an incentive to use
their service to recommend newsletters like this one!
If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, just use the
following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend
just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a
new subscriber; and you just may win $10,000 or other prizes from the
folks at "Recommend-It:"
http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182
Or, win a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com-
-- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... and more. (Full
details also available via this link):
http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm
Either way, thank you, and good luck!
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
7) More Reader Sites!
Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.)
Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you
can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have
"Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are
wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site,
please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt )
Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites---
some professional, some very personal:
View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site From Among the Hundreds Listed
http://www.langa.com/cgi-local/rand_link.pl
Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm
InterCom (Canada)
http://www.oknetserve.com/
"Must Have" Beginner's Resources
http://www.finderoo.com/
SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) ComputerWorks
http://www.sohocomputerworks.com/
International Real Estate Digest
http://www.ired.com/
Jewish Family Service
http://www.jfsvc.org/
Searchin's Engine
http://www.searchinsengine.com/
SERGETTI'S DIRECTORY
http://www.geocities.com/sergettio/dir.html
PCWare Computer Services
http://www.pcwaresales.com/
The first--- and last--- pages of the Internet
http://members.aol.com/lastpageonthewww/
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
8) Twenty Questions
Would you like the LangaList to zero in on *your* specific areas of
concern? *Your* specific questions? *Your* specific needs?
I've posted a brief, anonymous questionnaire that takes just a couple
minutes to click through. There's nothing to write, type or fill out-
-- it's all point-and-clickable.
The form asks for NO personally-identifiable information whatsoever,
and so is totally private: Your completely anonymous answers will be
placed in a statistical pool that will help me understand better just
what kind of information you're looking for in the LangaList.
There'll be additional polls in the future: This one is the "ground
zero" reader poll, and is focused on some very basic data-gathering.
But it would help me to better serve you if you could spare the 2-5
minutes it takes to click through the form at
http://www.langa.com/poll_one.htm
Thanks for your help!
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
*FREE* *FREE* INKJET CARTRIDGES
Inkjet Cartridges make great stocking stuffers.
Buy 1 get 2 free on all Epson and most Canon
cartridges starting from $10.50 for three.
Separate pricing for HP and Lexmark.
CLICK HERE for complete list of cartridges and information.
http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/8727//5901
<a href="http://by.advertising.com/1/c/23074/8727//5901"> AOL users
click here </a>
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
9) Just For Grins
Reader "GuenRon" sends in this short-but-sweet little gem:
A university creative writing class was asked to write a
concise essay containing these four elements
- religion
- royalty
- sex
- mystery
The prize-winning essay read:
"My God," said the Queen. "I'm pregnant. I wonder who did it?"
Click to email this item to a friend
http://www.langa.com/sendit2.htm
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList Free! ) ---
Have You Noticed The Repeat Advertisers In The LangaList?
Many advertisers come back issue after issue
because advertising in the LangaList
is both EFFECTIVE and AFFORDABLE.
Give it a try for your product, service, web site
or organization. It costs less than you think
and you'll like the results!
Plus: Langa.Com now makes payments easy with
Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover!
See http://www.langa.com/ratecard.htm
<a href="http://www.langa.com/ratecard.htm">AOL Users: Click
here!</a>
--------------( the above is an advertisement )--------------
See you next issue!
Best,
Fred
([EMAIL PROTECTED])
**********Footer message for &LIST mailing list***********
To unsubscribe from cybercafe, send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(NOT to the list itself .. cybercafe@....). In that e-mail type:
unsubscribe cybercafe <your e-mail address (optional)>
end
for details: <http://www.owt.com/users/jlewis/unsub_faq.html>
