In my previous article, we looked at 68k Mac
browser and email options. Now we'll look at options for PowerPC
(PPC) Macs running the classic Mac OS.
Email is less an issue with PPC Macs; certainly there are more
options available than for the 68k platform. However, like the
older Macs, the classic Mac OS/PPC platform is not overflowing with
options for viewing the Web.
Still, we should be thankful there are any available options,
since Mac OS 9 was officially declared dead over two years
ago. There are, in fact, two very solid choices - iCab 3.0 beta and
WaMCom - to go along with a host of less ideal, although still
somewhat functional, browsers.
Unless otherwise noted, expect that you'll need Mac OS 8.6 to
9.2.2 in order to run the following applications.
iCab 3.0 beta
Take all the good things I said about iCab 2.9.8 and subtract
most of the negatives. iCab 3.0,
hereafter referred to simply as iCab, truly improves upon the very
promising base present in older versions. All of the neat little
customizable treats remain in place, and a few are even easier to
implement.
iCab continues to refine the power user tools that were
previously hidden and/or too complex for the average user by
bringing them to the foreground. Now the casual user can more
easily discover what sets iCab apart from other browsers.
Although I didn't touch upon this feature in my earlier article,
the ability to change how your browser identifies itself to
websites remains present in the updated iCab. Why is this feature
useful? Some designers insist on restricting access to their sites
to specific browsers, even when there's no technical reason to do
so. As long as the offending website doesn't actually need a
technology present in a specific browser, iCab makes it easy to
trick the site into granting you the privilege of viewing its
content.
In iCab 2.9.8, activating this feature required navigating to
the Edit Menu, selecting Preferences, and changing two different
settings - a somewhat hidden and complicated process. Now, when
visiting such rudely designed websites, all you need to do is
navigate to the View menu and select the Default Identity you want
iCab to pretend to be.
Another addition are shortcuts for adding filters with a simple
right click or a drag-and-drop maneuver. Very handy indeed. Don't
worry, more to come on how to use the filter manager in a future
installment. For now, suffice it to say these features are an
improvement over the iCab 2.9.8 way of setting up filters.
The newest version of iCab is not simply a refinement of
previously available tools - many months of hard work have gone
into extending the feature set.
Of the many additions, my favorite is the included RSS reader.
True, the reader is very bare bones, but now you have access to
Podcasts and other RSS feeds. In a limited sense, anyway, but there
are tricks to making this feature work more like a normal RSS
reader. Again we will delve into customizing iCab in a future
installment. I won't leave you hanging for too long, I promise.
There are two small complaints that slightly mar an otherwise
positive browsing experience. One, the beta is not tuned for speed,
and two, there are a few bugs that spring up from time to time when
attempting to render a page or interact with forms.
Most bugs are ironed out between updates, but there is a
definite beta pallor to iCab that colors your browsing experience a
wee bit.
Also, if you want the latest build of iCab, you will need to pay
the registration fee. I decided to register my version about a year
ago, because I wanted to encourage the iCab developers to keep the
classic Mac OS platform relevant. I also enjoy getting access to
the latest builds as soon as they are released.
If you feel the same way, I'm sure the development team would
love the support. By the way, this goes for any Mac software
developer. There are three ways to show how much you love a
particular application:
- Provide feedback
- Tell your friends
- Pay registration fees or, in the case of freeware, donate money
to the cause. Every little bit helps.
End of public service announcement.
Overall, I urge all readers to give iCab 3.0 a try. You may come
away impressed with what the classic Mac OS can still do for your
web browsing needs.
WaMCom
I find iCab 3.0 beta to be my browser of choice with the classic
Mac OS, but I realize different people have different needs from a
web browser. Some users prefer the suite approach, which WaMCom (for Web and Mail Communicator)
brings to the table with spades. (Download
WaMCom here.)
This section will be dutifully succinct. If you're familiar with
the old Netscape Communicator, Mozilla, or SeaMonkey, you'll be
instantly at home with WaMCom. Indeed, you are looking at the last
version of Mozilla produced for the classic Mac OS.
Email, IRC chat, WYSIWYG web editor, and web browser are all
found in one convenient application.
The advantages to WaMCom:
- Tabs.
- Popup blocker.
- Contains most web related features, most users will want in one
convenient package.
- Relatively stable.
- Good compatibility with web sites.
- Open source, which means any enterprising Mac user could
continue development
The negatives:
- Buggy, not prone to crashes, but basic operations may randomly
malfunction.
- No longer being maintained. There are known bugs and possible
security holes, but no one is addressing these issues. However,
because the code is open, there is always a chance a group of users
could start maintaining the application again.
WannaBe
Although there are other full featured browsers, you can still
get good mileage out WannaBe, a sweet, little browser.
The same comments apply from the 68k version. WannaBe is great for
PPC users with low RAM, slow connections (such as dialup), or who
don't have access to Mac OS 8.6 or higher.
Opera 6.0.3
All the basic
Opera goodies from yesteryear are still here. Tabs, popup
blocker, and the flexible and quirky interface are all intact.
Unfortunately, Opera is a little unstable and not terribly
compatible with every site. (If you have OS X, I suggest
giving Opera 8.5 a try. It's my primary browser for any OS X Mac I
have to maintain.)
Netscape
I have not dealt with any version of Netscape past the 4.x
versions, but I'm sure if you really want one, a download link
shouldn't be too hard to find. Netscape is a suite and generally
contains the same basic components I listed under WaMCom: email,
chat, composer, and browser in one application. I have no real
experience here, so I must ask for reader input.
Internet Explorer 4.5 - 5.1.7
Way too many crashes for me while running any version of
Internet Explorer (IE). No tabs, no popup blocker, and slow
rendering.
Okay, compatibility with websites, decent printing, and the
auction manager are kind of neat. I refuse to provide a link, as I
cannot in good conscious recommend Internet Explorer over iCab 3.0
or WaMCom. If you must subject yourself to IE, I'll bet Google will help you locate the
information. Good luck - you'll need it.
- Editor's note: The best thing about IE is that it comes free
with a lot of older versions of the Mac OS, so you have a tool for
browsing the Web and downloading better browsers. If you must use
IE,
version 5.1.7 supports Mac OS 8.1 through 9.2.2. Like Nathan, I
don't recommend IE. dk
I now implore Low End Mac readers to regale me with tales of
their favorite browsers, email clients, and other web software (FTP
client, chat, etc.) for 68k and PPC Macs. I've already received
feedback on the first article, and I welcome any additional
information you, the readers, can provide.
Please look forward to a part three followup to our Web Options
for the Classic Mac OS series and other future installments of
Embracing Obsolescence.
Remember, old does not equal useless. We are Mac users after
all.
Further Reading
