h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Bel

I have tried the new Google chrome browser and could not understand how to use. More importantly it is not as light weight as it claims, so I removed it and went back to Firefox.

"Every browser has its own limitations, IE is only worse as musof tries (with some success apparently) to hook you to their products"

Total rubbish. What it shows is IE is flexible enough to accept any code and make it work and more importantly, make it work safely.
Don't get me wrong, MS products and software aren't all good, when they change OS systems the way they do and then don't make existing software and games compatable then that shows a lack of foresight in development. I have loads gripes about MS but overall, there is still nothing out there that even begins to get close yet.
I spent over 8 hours playing with this Chrome browser yesterday, in Vista, XP and Linux and frankly it didn't live up to expectation, even though it's still in Beta form.
As for 'users own mistakes', blaming the end user of a product isn't the way to boost sales in any field. The fact is users will make mistakes but the main objective for a designer is to ensure the mistakes don't affect security, structure and data. This applies in all fields of design whether software, hardware or elsewhere for that matter.

I'm with you, ST.

Hello Kat, I'm glad I'm not the only one who found it difficult to use. Maybe it's because I'm so used to IE, but then I never had difficulties using Firefox, and that once was new to me, too.
For a product that is praised by its makers and set out to dent Microsoft, I think it's far from its aim still. Maybe a later version will be better.

found new IE 7 confussing...buttons allover the place...still adds menus without asking or confirming that do that (java menu / messenger)...do not like the cookie management.

I would use independent software, like "firefox" and "open office" to keep ms from "knowing it all". I do same with my apple computer.

One thing that makes IE so insecure - and there's no doubting that it is! - is just that it's so popular, so that's where the attacks are concentrated.

If Google did want to take over the lead role, they'd best patch up their browser very well, or people will just migrate again!

Well, Firefox is closely linked to google, so how indepoendent is it?

ALL browsers are insecure in one form or another, that's why there'll always be a need for firewalls and anti-virus software. When was the last time there was a successful attack by a major trojan or virus? Common sense dictates that there are those around with evil intent and will hack into any system, that's life, both real and cyber. I read only the other week that hacking into Mac's OS is on the increase due to it gaining popularity now. So long as folk remember that there is no such thing as total security and to take sensible precautions then chances of being hacked or having security compromised diminishes.
When Firefox launched their latest version, they spent more time on creating a record for the most downloads in one day they forgot the basics. The result? major security flaws on first day of release. That, frankly, is unforgiveable after all the Beta testing they did.

the browsers may be insecure, but not on a mac

i have w*rked with both pc's and mac's for years and like all others who have tried both i prefer the mac

for one thing i have *never* heard of a virus succesfully attacking a mac - ever!

that alone is worth the extra dough you pay for a mac

firefox has too many users that will not let google's influence run the course...

ms has much bigger influence.
ms is not transparent.

example: IE did not have possibilities to overwrite the letter size used in the webpage until version 6, I think. it was worse IE allowed html tag that even letter could not enlarged at all. unreadability of websites is one of the reasons their disappearance.

n.b. a zapsite can make the following design errors: the use of similar colours for the letters and the background and being arty before usability.

Depends on what you want to use the computer for.

I grew up using Macs at home and PCs elsewhere, and currently mostly use PCs - for the simple reason that they make it easier to work with others at Uni, because the files are notoriously incompatible in the programs we use.

There's no one answer for everyone, whether it be browsers or operating systems.

There was a time I was under the impression that, in movies, more serious and better organised characters had Mac, whereas more independent or fiddling characters had PCs.

Then again, maybe not

well, yes, you are right, mala. and that's exactly why i have both pc's and mac's around:

you *can* convert files from pc to mac and back (well, most files anyway, as far as i am informed), but it's a lot of hassle and who wants that?

but i only use pc for *really* safe internet sites - and sites that don't give a fetid dingos kidneys about mac-users ( them, the buggers! )

when i acces the net with my mac i don't have to be paranoid

i should also add that i got both for free

it's not like i was made of bricks, you know

neither bricks of gold nor clay not anything

toy box, that's just a question of 'product placement'

macs are widely preferred by musicians, film makers, people in the graphics industry and other creative people. plus people in the ed bizz

Macs are very stable, they're good for graphics applications, and, as you say, they're not in much danger from viruses.

On the other hand, there's the converting business and the fact that many programs do not even have a Mac version.

Which is why I'll recommend a Mac to anyone who wants to install basic programs and then use it hassle-free, but never install anything again. Gamers and their ilk, obviously, can't do much with 'em, or anyone who needs specialist software a lot.

So for me, it's not really a question of which is better, just which is better for your current situation.

And Gates' latest wheeze seems to be that if you send someone a MSWord document (written in the Mac 2008 version) you can't open it on a PC!! The odd thing though is that my 1988 version of MacWrite (which I have to open on the old operating system) will open it quite happily.

Also I have worked for years, drawing on a Mac and then sending it to someone running AutoCad on a PC. Just send it as a dxf file, it opens about 98% correctly.

I have also never had a virus but the nice thing is that you sometimes send them (if you send a downloaded document or part thereof) to PC users, totally inadvertently.

Macs maybe a bit more expensive initially but in the long term, they are cost effective. My two laptops were both made in the last century and they are perfectly OK.

the conclusion must be: do like me. get somebody to give you a pc and a mac for free

Hmpf. I was stupid enough to give the old institute macs away without keeping one for myself.

I've only ever once seen hootoo displayed on a Mac and I wasn#t impressed. But then maybe that was to do with the particular settings, not with the Mac as such. I can't tell.

Yup - it's a bit like being colour blind. The whole world is PERFECTLY normal to you and when you suddenly see it like everyone else sees it you thik 'Ohmegawd - how HORRIBLE'.

Which skin?