Safari 3.0 Public Beta (Windows)

Frazier Barretto, Jun 25, 2007 1100 hrs IST

Are you ready for a simple and smooth Safari? Still in Beta stages, here's our preview of the budding browser for the good old Windows.

E-Mail Print

EXPERT REVIEW

The internet browser world has been dominated by IE for a long time. There were many browsers that came along, tried to shake IE from its comfortable position, but hardly did they manage to cause any damage. Some of them couldn't tackle the heat of the competition and even turned to free software like Opera. Later on, others like Firefox, being open source, gained immense popularity on their release. These eventually did pose a strong threat to the position IE was enjoying. Just when we were enjoying that, not many anticipated another big player in the Windows internet browser world. And that's when Safari came in the picture. Safari 3.0 Beta has recently been released for the public to get a feel of its browsing capabilities. Here is a preview of Safari 3.0 Beta; it's still in its early stages, therefore it is difficult to speculate whether it would take over.

Versions

The Safari 3.0 is available for download in two versions. There is one which has Quicktime installation embedded in the Safari setup, while the other is plain with just the Safari installation. There is no real difference otherwise; it is better to download the simple version and save those few MBs of data for some other precious download or simply save time.

Looks

Coming from Apple's Mac platform, I don't really need to mention that the Safari looks neat and simple. This is what makes it different from the current top browsers and it is a refreshing change. The looks of Safari are such that you'd feel comfortable working with it. The page setup is very similar to most browsers; i.e., a few buttons, with the address bar and search bar beside it. Safari provides ease of internet browsing by being swift with its interface. Talking about interface, let's look at it in detail.

USER COMMENTS

i have several problems with the safari browser 3 public beta. i cant get java script to work period. also i cant get live video feed from my fav horse tracks. it tells me i need window media 7.0 or higher which i have. i have downloaded the neccessary plugins but still it does not work. i need some help lol

by jeet, faridabad, on Sep 16, 2008 01:49 PM, Report abuse Reply

by william, powell, ohio, on Oct 22, 2007 09:36 AM, Report abuse Reply

new way is always better to new life

by tariq, riyadh, on Jun 26, 2007 07:40 PM, Report abuse Reply

hello tariq, if you use an applemacbook and are connected to the internet please contact me, as I am desperately trying to get online with my new macbookpro and have no success. apparently Riyadh is still a 100 percent MS Win platform country. Pls reply soon.

by Thomas, Riyadh, on Sep 25, 2007 12:12 PM, Report abuse

success step

by Mallik, Bangalore, on Aug 19, 2007 01:48 PM, Report abuse Reply

need some testing

by helpdesk, chennai, on Jul 27, 2007 10:15 AM, Report abuse Reply

nice

by anil, hyderabad, on Jul 24, 2007 12:14 PM, Report abuse Reply

good.

by raj, bangalore, on Jul 24, 2007 10:24 AM, Report abuse Reply

its a nice try to make safari for windows but right now its not a complete version its beta version i will say ...Firefox is the best web Browser at this time and we can also use google toolbar with firefox.

by Ahmadji, Osnabr?, on Jun 27, 2007 04:12 AM, Report abuse Reply

firefox is let down badly by its inability to edit or delete bookmarks, if you delete a bookmark in firefox the whole thing goes back to home unlike IE6 which stays open and at the same place, so you can delete or move another favourite

by bryan catmull, melbourne AUSTRALIA, on Jul 05, 2007 04:26 AM, Report abuse

even the basic shortcut like ctrl+enter, which would add the http:// and .com before and after the website name doesn't work, which leads us to type the full website name, consuming our time.

by Karthik Muthu, Chennai, on Jul 02, 2007 07:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

I have tried the Safari for the last 10-15days and have been using it almost 2-3hrs a day. The browser is not ver efficient in scripting java, as promised and though the interface is easy to use, there are a no of sites (and def not restricted ones) which give some error and the browser has to close. There is a "report bug" button on top, guess it was primarily for this reason only, and apple thoguht lets face it... safari gotta have bugs. Hope the actual version comes out sans all these bugs. The font it shows on screen is wonderful with a shadow type appearance on text, making it a very attractive look. However, on rating with Firefox and IE, I think firefox wins on the simple fact that it's open source and has lots of additional features / addins/plugins that keep coming due to this. The launch time of both applications is equal while IE is a tad faster than both.

by Varun Ahuja, Mumbai, on Jul 02, 2007 11:23 AM, Report abuse Reply

very good

by t s saini, chandigarh, on Jun 30, 2007 03:51 PM, Report abuse Reply

Opera rocks and always will

by OSD, Delhi, on Jun 30, 2007 01:55 PM, Report abuse Reply

abe really kaun hai ye ******* reviewer opera is far far far more better then IE and firefox both are free so u think they are useless :P
** Message edited by moderator **

by Gab, delhi, on Jun 30, 2007 11:17 AM, Report abuse Reply

just waste of time using safari...it has many bugs...shuts down easily....Firefox rocks....

by Sasi, Mumbai, on Jun 28, 2007 06:41 PM, Report abuse Reply

Hi I have installed the safari but when i am opening the program just the program body opens no menu or buttons is visible. As a result the software is not functional. Can you please help me with this?

by Meshach, Bangalore, on Jun 27, 2007 07:54 AM, Report abuse Reply

Huh !! Firefox is the best ... No need of any other browsers in the market

by Harsh Chandra, Shimla, on Jun 26, 2007 12:42 PM, Report abuse Reply

safari is a very promising product and its jus depends on how and under what enviroment one tests the product. i se many ppl saying that safari is beta and it lacks many features but what ppl dont realise that since it is an upcomming product in beta stages, it is bound to be short of some features at the present time. for those who havent used a mac and donot know the full potential of the safari browser should honestly wait b4 letting the world know of their awesome views...dont be surprissed if safari when finally released for windows is better then internet explorer which is anyway out of the browser race and mozilla ff which is trying to hold its own jus bows down to the presence fo safari from apple.

by Vishal_Kadakia, mumbai, on Jun 25, 2007 03:10 PM, Report abuse Reply

Pfff, safari is rubbish. Opera is a better browser and Firefox is open source. Why didn't apple adopt either of those products instead of making another IE clone. Noone on the mac uses safari why should they bother on the PC. Jobs should be fired for this one, then he can retire to his beloved 70s.

by Ahmed, Baghdad, on Jun 26, 2007 08:09 AM, Report abuse

Ahamad you better go to US and f.. the jobs

by you dare, CFL, on Jun 26, 2007 10:01 AM, Report abuse

Safari is firefox. some customizations by apple. does look good but many people have been using the same theme. in fact apple has removed some customization options so you can't even get the new tab icons on the toolbar.

by Anonymous, mum, on Jun 26, 2007 11:06 AM, Report abuse

<a href="http://safarissues.blogspot.com/">Safari: iApple + iGoogle = iHappy</a> Elas 3.0.2 I'll give this one a ride... Next on the list is all the Pimping extensibility that needs to roll-up for v3.X... Still hoping for double click "new tab" option, and or, a normal old fashioned "new tab" button... Oh ya and also a new nightly webkit! <a href="http://safarissues.blogspot.com/">To be continued...</a>

by Anonymous, TO, on Jun 26, 2007 02:52 AM, Report abuse Reply

Opera is the best browser out there - those in doubt just try it & see for yourself. The 9.20 version is very secure too. Firefox latest version comes close in overall estimate but Opera aesthetics wins. Safari 3.01 has a long way to go - hopefully it will. But right now there is no reason to use it except for curiosity. Finally IE - the less said the better

by century, Serampore, on Jun 25, 2007 11:00 PM, Report abuse Reply

I was hacked using Safari.

by Dufus, columbus, on Jun 25, 2007 10:52 PM, Report abuse Reply

Another success from Apple

by tony araya, achrafieh, on Jun 25, 2007 04:11 PM, Report abuse Reply

How do you think that?

by P Smith, Renton, on Jun 25, 2007 10:36 PM, Report abuse

The fastest web browser on any platform, Safari loads pages up to 2 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2.And it executes JavaScript up to 2.8 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2. finally some competition for firefox.

by sachin, goa, on Jun 25, 2007 10:25 PM, Report abuse Reply

If you don't like, beta software, Apple, iPhone, or Macs there is no need to try Safari 3.0.2 for Windows. Go back to MS IE or Firefox and be happy.

by Marco, California, on Jun 25, 2007 10:02 PM, Report abuse Reply

to date, none of the Safari beta's installs properly on my winxppro system. could it have something to do with my ntfs?

by ivar, los angeles, on Jun 25, 2007 10:01 PM, Report abuse Reply

Firefox rocks....No one can beat it....it is the safest internet browser ever made

by Devaraj, Chennai, on Jun 25, 2007 07:18 PM, Report abuse Reply

really hate to disagree, but Opera is the most secure browser available not Firefox.

by bigc, lawton, on Jun 25, 2007 09:56 PM, Report abuse

Opera is the best among all......Who uses opera ..i think will never look at other browsers

by Tulu, Bhubaneswar, on Jun 25, 2007 09:53 PM, Report abuse Reply

Under Safari the graphics on my XP laptop seem to be lacking sharpness compared to my usual Firefox browser. On my iMac I have found Safari to be adequate without being stunning. I'm not sure why this release is such a big deal as I prefer Firefox on my iMac also.

by Keith Thomas, San Bruno, on Jun 25, 2007 08:49 PM, Report abuse Reply

er, i think it's got security issues, don't use for secure purchases, banking etc. yet

by frank, london, on Jun 25, 2007 08:17 PM, Report abuse Reply

Could be a contender!

by Tom Moore, Lawton, OK, on Jun 25, 2007 07:37 PM, Report abuse Reply

still didnot download!

by jesse D.RIchard, Austin TX, on Jun 25, 2007 06:53 PM, Report abuse Reply

Dont forget that apple added a much needed feature to the tabs. You can now tear off a tab into a new window!! (I have been waiting for that one)

by Justin, Rochester, on Jun 25, 2007 05:54 PM, Report abuse Reply

we can even customise firefox to get the look n feel of safari..the performance firefox is unquirestionable..

by satyanjoy, ahmedabad, on Jun 25, 2007 04:21 PM, Report abuse Reply

test