MacUpdate: ericg's Profile

Jun 17 2008

ROBK I think you are missing the whole point about Firefox. The real advantage of Firefox over all other browsers (including Opera and Safari) is its extensibility with Firefox extensions (like GooglePedia etc). There are so many great Firefox extensions that make your life so much easier. Many people cannot live without a particular Firefox extension that they have come to rely upon.

Until Safari or Opera add extensions, they just can't compete with Firefox IMHO.

But if you are just surfingthe web and don't need any extra functionality (that extensions give you), then either Safari or Opera are fine choices.

But even then there are some websites that throw up a warning message saying Opera or Safari is not supported please use IE or FireFox. Some won't even let you continue and use the website unless you use IE or Firefox. So it is good idea for all Mac users to install Firefox.
(Version 3.0)

Jun 17 2008

ERICG I agree with your comments. Some of the Firefox Extensions are great. If they are important to a user, then Firefox is the clear choice. Several are important to me. You are also correct to point out that some sites require IE, Firefox, or Safari. I think I noted that in my review, where I said, that my purposes, Opera serves about 95% of my web needs (info, news, downloads, networking). I use Firefox for the rest (banking - and a handful of sites that require it).
(Version 3.0)

Jun 17 2008

STEVEN GOODHEART I basically agree with your comments about Opera 9.5. I have an iMac G5, 1.8 Ghz, 2.0 GB ram, and of all the browsers I use, Opera the easiest on resources, and I think it renders pages faster than any of them, though Safari and Firefox may be more accurate.

As for this new FF 3.0, on my machine, I find it uses *less* resources than Safari, on average about 26% to 36%, accoring to my iStats menu, which seems to be similar to your experience. (BTW, I also find this 3.0 version uses much less cpu than FF 2.0)

When I get 10 or more tabs open in Safari, I often find it using 40% to 65% of CPU, and my machine really crawls and works hard. (I really want to get a new Intel iMac!) So, besides all the way cool Add-ons in FF, like Stumble Upon :) and Tab Mix Plus, I actually switched to FF 3.0 *because* of how much Safari slows things down when I have lots of tabs open in it.

I'm wondering if my different experience might be due to the fact that I have both lots of add-ons for Safari installed: Safari Stand, Saft, Acid Search, Keywurl, and Safari Tabs. I do know that my cpu usage is less in Safari when I have Saft uninstalled, for example.

Anyway, I too am really impressed with Opera 9.5...it's got tons of features and great speed and you can cutomize the hell out of it.....but the add-ons and low-resource use of FF 3.0 (compared to Safari on my machine) have converted me to FF 3.0 for the time being...the great thing is, if I want to switch between any of these great browsers, with Bookdog, it's a snap to move my bookmarks around, replace, merge, whatever I want, and I don't have to worry about being stuck in one browser.

For now, I'm loving the cool new features of FF 3.0, and especially all the cool add-ons for Delicious, and Digg, as well as great add-ons like InterClue, Adblock Plus, BlueOrganizer, Colorful Tabs, Firefox Showcase, FlashGot, Session Manager, Surf Canyon, and of course, Stumble Upon. The only thing I *really* miss is the ability to use Mac OS Services with FF. In Safari, via the Service menu, I have much more horsepower to interact with OmniFocus, DevonThink Pro, and MacJournal, and of course, this is something that will never be "fixed" with FF.
(Version 3.0)

Jun 17 2008

SHOCK J One of my primary criteria for using a browser is does it correctly render the web sites I visit. Now, I don't know what site you guys visit, but there hasn't been a single version of Opera that has outperformed Safari or Firefox when it comes to correctly rendering web site. Being a web developer myself, I certainly know that there are some poorly developed web sites out there, but there is not a more "standards compliant" web browser than Firefox. You WILL see more web site rendered as they were intended by the developer (if they know what they're doing and they build to correct standards) by using Firefox.
(Version 3.0)

Jun 17 2008

ERICG I reported in my initial review that Firefox outperformed Opera 9.5. I've always been a Firefox user because of Opera's relatively poor performance in page rendering. But the difference is now a lot smaller than it was. Firefox still does a better job, but Opera's failure rate is low. Gmail is a good test and Firefox does a better job. There are other sites that require IE7 and Firefox and Safari that will prohibit Opera, but they are few and far between.
(Version 3.0)

Opera	Jun 13 2008	ERICG I believe that Opera 9.5 is an outstanding browser and I cannot understand another reviewer's comment about having problems with the application's interface. It is efficient (far more so than Firefox or Safari), useful, and beautiful. What more do you want. But the best part of the Opera is how it compares with Safari and Firefox with respect to its highly economical use of my iMac G5 process resouces. Where Safari and Firefox use an everage of 35-45% of the computer's resources, Opera uses a minimal 3-8%. The computer runs cooler and quieter. This is a huge advantage. Also page rendering is very fast in Opera. I would say, however, that Firefox and Safari have very slightly better standards conformance than Opera. That being said, I much prefer using Opera and will use Firefox/Safari only for those very few pages that do not render properly with Opera. (Version 9.5)		0
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OmniGraffle Pro	Mar 5 2008	ERICG Great point! Maybe it's time for Omni to take a page from the Microsoft book. They could do a lot worse. (Version 5.0)		0
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OmniGraffle Pro	Mar 5 2008	ERICG Don't get me wrong. Omnigaffle Pro is great software and, in general Omni Group has terrific products. But they have worked really hard to develop loyal customers. There are too many high cost upgrades and this one, in particular, really does not have so many indispensable features. It is a little like Microsoft - over-marketing and over-selling. There was a time when the Apple world was a lot different and more consumer friendly from the Windows world. They are a lot more a like nowadays...but I wouldn't part with my iMac or my Powerbook. (Version 5.0)		0
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OmniGraffle Pro	Mar 5 2008	ERICG The improvements contained in version 5 do not merit the cost of the upgrade. It's also a really good way for a company to sacrifice the good will they have worked hard to build up with their customers. I will not purchase the upgrade and will also be a lot more inclined to review and purchase software offered by companies that have more respect for their customers. (Version 5.0)		0
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Mar 5 2008

SHERMAN WILCOX Like Microsoft?

That's all well and good, but this is a really excellent piece of software, and virtually unique in its capabilities. Also, I have found this company to offer outstanding technical and customer support.

So, while $79 is a sum of money (this is for the Pro upgrade, by the way), I think it is not unreasonable, given the quality of this software.

That said, I expect that I will only upgrade to the non-Pro version this time.
(Version 5.0)

Mar 5 2008

ERICG Don't get me wrong. Omnigaffle Pro is great software and, in general Omni Group has terrific products. But they have worked really hard to develop loyal customers. There are too many high cost upgrades and this one, in particular, really does not have so many indispensable features. It is a little like Microsoft - over-marketing and over-selling. There was a time when the Apple world was a lot different and more consumer friendly from the Windows world. They are a lot more a like nowadays...but I wouldn't part with my iMac or my Powerbook.
(Version 5.0)

Mar 5 2008

ESPIRIDION Interesting that you mention Microsoft.

I don't recall paying for a single upgrade of Office 2004. When Office 2008 was not yet released, Microsoft made it available for around $30-$40 one day. Very nice!

I missed that offer, and got Office 2008 for Mac

Special Media Edition for around $130.

Not bad for upgrading 4 programs, getting added features, and getting a "new" program called Expression Media. :-)
(Version 5.0)

Mar 5 2008

ERICG Great point!

Maybe it's time for Omni to take a page from the Microsoft book. They could do a lot worse.
(Version 5.0)

myNotes	Feb 20 2008	ERICG My initial impression of this app is very positive. Does anyone know how to move a MyNotes file from one Mac to another? I sent this inquiry to the developer, but have not heard back from him. Without this capacity (which is essential, I believe), the application is of little use to me, despite its many useful features. (Version 1.4.12)		0
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myNotes

Feb 20 2008

MACUPDATE ADMIN Went to the developer's site and then to the developer's blog . It appears that the file you want to move to your other Macs would be found here:

Home/Library/Application Support/myNotes

Not sure, as I do not use this app.
(Version 1.4.12)

myNotes

Mar 5 2008

EASER That is correct. It's in Application Support. I've moved my files before with complete success.
(Version 1.4.12)

Demeter	Feb 19 2008	ERICG Demeter is a browser with great promise. When I first start using it, I noticed that it failed to follow an essential script in google mail (gmail). I alerted the developer of the problem and in less than two days, the problem was resolved and a new version of the application was provided fully corrected. The sidebar feature (from Shiira) is great. The iTunes controller shows lots of promise. All I can say is that Safari and Firefox ought to be looking over their shoulders. (Version 1.0.9)		0
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Demeter	Feb 17 2008	ERICG My Gmail account with over 1000 saved "conversations" loads without a problem. I doubt it's a matter of carrying capacity. I would suggest that it is a conflict with a Google script, which often pose problems for browsers, such as Opera. (Version 1.0.8)		0
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Demeter	Feb 17 2008	ERICG Demeter looked very cool at first, but it has a very major problem, which makes is unusable for me. When attempting to "send" an email from gmail, the screen went blank and failed to operationalize the gmail script. The email was sent, but the screen failed to restore, thus requiring me to reload the gmail page from scratch. This is the only problem I have thus far discovered. (Version 1.0.8)		0
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Feb 17 2008

HURRIKENUX I assure that I take bugs very seriously and am looking into this among others. Thank you for your report.
(Version 1.0.8)

Feb 17 2008

FYREFLYE I can't even get my GMail inbox with its 171 saved messages to load. Demeter needs a larger carrying capacity.
(Version 1.0.8)

Feb 17 2008

ERICG My Gmail account with over 1000 saved "conversations" loads without a problem. I doubt it's a matter of carrying capacity. I would suggest that it is a conflict with a Google script, which often pose problems for browsers, such as Opera.
(Version 1.0.8)