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Safari for Windows Tops 1 Million Downloads

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 15, 2007, 11:28 AM

Despite security concerns and Microsoft pundits like Paul Thurrott wondering "who would ever use" it, Safari 3 Beta for Windows was downloaded over 1 million times in the first 48 hours, Apple announced. The company continues to tout the speed and standards support of its browser, which was previously Mac-only.

Even with 1 million downloads, however, Apple has its work cut out for it in order to retain those users. The initial Safari 3 beta was noticeably buggy on Windows, and many reported slower performance than both IE7 and Firefox 2. In addition, Apple is now facing the same security issues that have long plagued its rivals on Windows, with upwards of 10 vulnerabilities already discovered in the beta. Some analysts speculate that Safari for Windows exists primarily to aid development of applications for Apple's upcoming iPhone, not to compete with IE or Firefox.

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By robmanic44

posted Jun 19, 2007 - 11:43 AM

I will never use it. It seems to me that we have enough crippled browsers already. I used Seamonkey for a while, but it has gotten worse instead of better. I don't know of a single software program that works "flawlessly" and certainly not IE7. Use the one you like best and good luck to you.

Score: 0

By bigsexy022870

posted Jun 17, 2007 - 8:39 PM

Why do we need another browser. I mean why now. They are so late to the game it's not even funny. Besides IE7 works flawlessly. I know some of you will cry foul, but IE is all I ever used. It just works perfect.

Score: 0

By The Dave

posted Jun 18, 2007 - 11:27 AM

Because competition is good and IE sucks.

Firefox kicks butt but in my opinion Netscape and Opera are a joke.

Apple makes some kick a** products and Safari will be a good browser eventually. Give it some time.

Score: 0

By shelb

posted Jun 17, 2007 - 3:16 AM

I'm one of those million downloaders. But, I never installed it. As it downloaded, I went to Apple's addons page and saw that there was only Flash, etc., and no capability for actual extensions. A browser that I can't customize is useless to me, so I trashed it.

Lesson to apple: If you make it open source and allow a way for people to write addons for it, then it might be good someday. This same lesson applies to the i-phone. If it could run 3rd party software, it might be worth something. But only allowing browser apps means it is worthless.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Jun 18, 2007 - 10:01 PM

Then you get the mess that FF has become... the last thing Safari wants to do is become more like its top nemesis FF.

Score: 0

By philosopher_dog

edited Jun 17, 2007 - 12:29 AM

Maybe if this thing becomes popular enough it will be better supported by web developers. It's a great looking browser but doesn't come close to FF even on the Mac in my view. But it has potential for sure.

Score: 0

By rcadams

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 8:16 PM

Should Read. "Safari for Windows Tops 1 Million Downloads in 48 hours."

World record, 98% for those who downloaded -Uninstalled within the first 5 mins!!

It totally sucks.

Score: 0

By jkamenetz

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 3:02 PM

I can not install Safari on my computer.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 6:04 PM

you're not missing much except headache. Wait about 3-4 months for a better build, then install again.

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 11:41 AM

Apple is really great at over hyping their products. Like most of their hardware & software, though nice, they're mediocre.

But when it comes to browsers Firefox can't be beat for Windows or Linux (and maybe even MAC) I don't recall FF ever using 100% of my CPU to open a web page or play a video on youtube. I know, I know it's a beta. But S.J. Said their sh!t were build right the first time. That's false advertising (like all their commercials) or in laments terms LYING.

Another over hyped Apple software, iTunes for windows. Of course it looks nice but after all this time it's still a memory and CPU hog and leaves footprints the rival Bigfoot. On Windows, Winamp (not as good looking) leaves a small footprint and has a really fast media library. On Linux Amarok rulez!!!

But I would love to see a Linux version of Safari, who knows it might work better on Linux.

Score: 0

By sturgess

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 7:47 AM

I love this browser.Tried them all Opera/Firefox/K-Meleon/I.E.7 they all have their good and bad points.But this is the fastest browser I have used.Love how it looks.No crashes or problems in the last three days.The security bothers me a little,if this is sorted then I will be a happy chappie.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 10:59 AM

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or delusional.

Score: 0

By GS5

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 11:51 AM

I think sturgess might be on a acid trip :-) LOL

Score: 0

By sturgess

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 2:13 PM

Nope, but it feels like it when I use this magnificent browser.

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Jun 16, 2007 - 5:26 AM

When you are so used to firefox being setup just the way you like with addons, trying out safari, while I did get it to install ok on vista. Just seemed overly simple, lack of features and just plain boring. Some of the animations and setup/options screen were nifty though. But when you have a mature browser like firefox, with skins and addons for everything you can think of and want. That is what makes it so great and wonderful. The support for firefox now is great on all websites, safari feels like firefox did when it first came out, websites saying sorry your browser isn't supported. I mean it sucks and its annoying.

Granted if I judged firefox by itself without add ons I would say ie7 and firefox are on par, and safari given some bug fixes would rate the same. I mean what can you say, they all do the same thing, allow you to view web pages from the internet.

It is noticably faster though, I was saying wow thats fast a few times while using it. I mean the web pages when your used at least some kind of a load/appear time granted its 1 or 2 seconds with firefox/ie. It appears instantly, I wonder what makes it so much faster?

Score: 0

By pctech5189

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 10:17 PM

This browser is the fastest ive ever used and idk what these people are talking about with these bugs they see only thing ive seen isthat java takes a little too long and some websites are bold.

Score: 0

By sturgess

posted Jun 16, 2007 - 2:15 PM

I'm with you friend it's a nice browser.I care not what the other folks say I like it !

Score: 0

By RejZoR

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 9:19 PM

1) nothing special
2) integrates badly into OS (mostly visually)
3) full of bugs
4) why the **** they always have to bundle freakin QuickTime with anything they release!?

Just use Firefox/Opera with MacOS theme... better choice imo.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 8:06 PM

I just downloaded it out of curiosity myself. First time I've actually seen (other than screen shots) and been able to use Safari. I'll be sticking with Firefox though. From what I've seen so far Safari is worse than IE....and I really didn't think that was possible.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 7:51 PM

Safari's great-- it's pleasing/easy on the eyes, fast... Certainly better than the bloated, crash-prone & memory-hogging messes most Moz variants have become.

I rate it the equal of avant/maxthon/kmeleon/opera/netscape9... if not better, it's certainly no worse.

Score: 0

By drmessano

posted Jun 18, 2007 - 11:36 AM

Netscape 9? You realize that's one of those bloated, crash-prone & memory-hooging messes from Moz that you just bashed? Netscape 8 was based on FF 2, and Netscape 9 is going to be FF 3 based.

People never cease to amaze me.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Jun 18, 2007 - 10:14 PM

I know that N9 is based on FF2... and it's actually better for production machines-- more ready to use out of the box while more friendly to extensions & plugins if one wants to go that route.
Less bugs, less crashes, less incompatibilities. less hand-holding, less muss, less fuzz.
Have you compared them side by side + on multiple systems to boot?
Glad to know i was able to dazzle you.

Score: 0

By shelb

posted Jun 17, 2007 - 3:19 AM

My Firefox never crashes, and it never uses much memory now that I block Flash ads. With an ad-blocker, Firefox is very stable.

Score: 0

By skimore

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 6:51 PM

This is apples way of rooting alot of windows machines.!!! way to go apple!!

Score: 0

By AshG

edited Jun 15, 2007 - 4:26 PM

I have to quote an [H] poster for this one...

***
Hey Mac, Hey PC.
MAC: why you so blue PC?
PC: Well I tried this Safari browser and now I keep crashing.
MAC: Well if you were a Mac and used our browser you wouldn’t have this problem.
PC: What browse do you use Mac?
Mac: Firefox…
***

Safari hasn't crashed me, but boy is it ever a memory hog. I don't plan on trying it again until it is closer to final release.

Score: 0

By Jegar48

edited Jun 15, 2007 - 1:53 PM

WOW. I am an Apple fan (my iMac G5 is my primary computer, the Intel Based Machine is used primarily for my Outsource work), but after a day or so of playing with Safari for Windows, I have decided this thing sucks big time.

Right now, with no more activity than having one web page open, Process Explorer is telling me the CPU usage is fluctuating between 75-92%. RAM usage has jumped from 34 MB at start up to 65 MB in about 10 minutes. I have decided the crashing problems users are reporting are simply a result of Safari sucking all the free RAM out of the system, eventually it runs out of RAM then simply stops loading web pages with any amount of graphics and goes to sleep. Has a LONG way to go.

Score: 0

By DeadFly

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:35 PM

I think quoting the number of downloads is just stupid... it's just curiosity. I got it just to check website rendering rather than going to a Mac to check a site. It's a useful tool, but no one is going to "switch".

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

edited Jun 15, 2007 - 12:28 PM

"The company continues to tout the speed and standards support of its browser, which was previously Mac-only."

Notice they're now not touting the security.

Also, "Safari 3 Beta for Windows was downloaded over 1 million times in the first 48 hours". In reality that's 500,000 as everyone had to re-download the fixed version.

It is still handy however, being a web developer.

Score: 0

By Tms

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:27 PM

Then, Safari 3 Beta for Windows was unistalled over 1 million times in the first 48.1 hours.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:27 PM

...and malware writers are now smiling.

I'm using Minefield(FF3) and IE7 and I am quite happy with the security/features in both.

Score: 0

By ommy

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:06 PM

They still have a long way 2 go. FF is no match, great of the greatest

Score: 0

By arossetti

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:00 PM

So, over a million folks using a browser with more holes than IE? Sounds like fun!

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 11:38 AM

Curiosity is what mainly spurred those. Now that the curiosity is passed I am guessing those numbers will drop off a bit. I personally wasn't too impressed. I will stick with my FF.

Score: 0

By neapolis

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:34 PM

Yep. Me too, just wanted to see one of the worlds most primitive and underpowered browsers at work :-) This piece of "software" is so offputting and desastrous i just can't tell.
Why does S.J. always lie instead of making something good?:
SJ: it's fast Reality: it's not
SJ: it supports standards Reality: it really lacks a lot compared to all the others
SJ: it's secure like OSX Reality: well OK, probably ;-)))

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 7:28 PM

From a standards compliance perspective, I personally believe it's hard to beat Opera... but that doesn't stop me from using Firefox almost exclusively.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 10:29 PM

True, Opera is the most standards-compliant browser available, but much better than Firefox in that I can customize it to my workflow. Firefox is just to hit-and-miss with all the buggy plugins and extensions that Mozilla refuses to certify.

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 3:50 PM

SJ: it's fast Reality: it's not

-- he benchmarked it right on the keynote

SJ: it supports standards Reality: it really lacks a lot compared to all the others

-- it passes ACID2 when neither firefox nor IE does

SJ: it's secure like OSX Reality: well OK, probably ;-)))

-- except that right now its not

you're 0 for 3

Score: 0

By neapolis

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 5:53 PM

SJ: it's fast Reality: it's not

-- he benchmarked it right on the keynote
----I tested it myself on a normal config (no tricks! lots of (random (not prepared!) websites) Lots of others have too.

SJ: it supports standards Reality: it really lacks a lot compared to all the others
-- it passes ACID2 when neither firefox nor IE does
---- I also tested support for standards (I am a proffesional in this field). ACID does not tell everything. Safari has problems that would be too stupid to test in ACID

SJ: it's secure like OSX Reality: well OK, probably ;-)))

-- except that right now its not
---- no comment :-)

you're 0 for 3
---- count again

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 4:29 PM

Why is there an OSX vs Windows?

It's like my software is perfect until people start using it.

Score: 0

By lucianct

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 11:56 AM

i agree with you. i downloaded it for testing purposes only.
well, the test result is: works after install, but when i reboot and try to launch safari again, it crashes.
i'm also a firefox/netscape9 fan and i'll keep on using them

Score: 0

By bakura

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:01 PM

I'm sure they'll get those stability issues worked out before it is out of beta.

Score: 0

By frankwick

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:26 PM

sure they will... just like they do with each new itunes release.

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 12:29 PM

Comment of the day.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 2:41 PM

I second that lol!

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 3:03 PM

Can I third it? :D

Score: 0

By Sysop

edited Jun 15, 2007 - 3:15 PM

Mozilla Firefox = The Best

Torpark = FF with extra security through Tor Network

SeaMonkey = for you netscape lovers out there

Safari = ???

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Jun 15, 2007 - 3:51 PM

different animal. webkit = konqueror or galleon i think. maybe not galleon

Score: 0

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