DON"T BOTHER!
Even the developer can't give me a single reason why I might like Camino better than Safari or Firefox.
I recently contacted them, and here's our email messages:
ME:
"On the homepage, there this link that says "We’ve created a page which points out some of the common differences between Camino and Safari ..."
But on that page there is NO comparison, just paragraphs explaining how to migrate from Safari. I want to see a chart or screenshots or, preferably, a screencast showing the differences.
On the What makes Camino special? page, everything I see looks just like what Safari and Firefox already do, so why would I want to switch? Is it faster, uses less resources (Safari's a hog!), what?
QUOTE: "Built from the ground up exclusively for Mac OS X, Camino is designed to make your browsing experience better. With features like annoyance blocking, tab overview, and phishing and malware detection, Camino keeps you browsing safer and faster on the Web."
Safari and FF both have annoyance blocking and tab overview, as well as anti-phishing and malware protection. So, what makes Camino so great?
I'd need a very good reason to invest the amount of time necessary to setup and learn a new browser. And then there's Opera, which I know nothing about, but hate the name."
CAMINO DEV'S REPLY:
"Taste in browsers is extremely personal; everyone has a different idea
about what differences are important. No matter what we put on the web
site, the only way for someone to find out if they like Camino better
than other browsers is to try it for themselves.
We continue developing Camino because many people like it, and we want
to keep offering that choice--we aren't trying to convince people to
switch if they aren't interested.
It sounds like you are happy with the browser you are using then,
which is great!
Stuart Morgan
Camino Developer"
ME:
"So, you can't tell me a single thing about how Camino is different or better than Safari or Firefox? That doesn't say much for Camino!
Doesn't matter how happy I am with them - if there's some valid reason to change, or at least try another, I would.
But they must be faster, easier, less resource-hogging or SOMETHING! If they're nearly identical in all aspects, why bother?
When I buy a new car, I don't buy the same year, and model as the last, I want one that's newer, faster or better in some regard."
CAMINO DEV'S REPLY:
"I could tell you about lots of differences--or you try Camino, for
free, and see them for yourself. I can't tell you what's "better"
because it's subjective. I have yet to see a browser that some people
don't claim is faster than all the other browsers they tried, or takes
fewer resources than the other browsers they've tried, or has the best
feature set of all the browsers they've tried.
Camino is developed by volunteers, working in our free time. I'd much
rather spend my free time improving Camino than trying to hard-sell it
to people. If you want to try Camino and see if you like it better
than your current browser, great! If not, that's fine with us too.
We're not selling cars; we don't have a financial interest in
convincing you to use Camino.
Stuart Morgan
Camino Developer"
Although I took the time twice to inquire as to the benefits of Camino, not a single one was noted - all I was given was a bad impression of it.
Stuart seems pompous and apathetic - he said he could tell me "about lots of differences," but didn't.
Evidently, Camino isn't faster, easier or better in any way, just different, and that's not enough to make me switch. It's not as simple as installing and knowing within minutes if I like it; At a minimum it will take several hours to discover all the features of a new browser and to know if I want to continue using it. I'm not willing to invest that much time without knowing WHY I might want to try it, and if Stuart's attitude is an omen of the way Camino's dev's respond to questions and support issues, I'll pass.