"What is most stable browser for OS X Jaguar, and the future?"

Safari was made for OS X and is now at Beta 2 (v74). I've been using it exclusively since the first beta release and haven't had any problems yet. Some people say there are sites that they can't get to and must resort to another browser for those sites, but I haven't had that problem since v74 was released. You can find it at the Apple site.

my $0.02:

in OS 9.x I still find IE to be most stable and compatible.
in OS X, I find Safari to be most stable but IE to be most compatible

Can't help you with your IE/9.2.2 question as it's been way too long. From what I remember, I used IE exclusively although there was the occasional crash and burn.

As for your worry about the "beta" stature of Safari - don't be. It's solid, the features are great, and most importantly - it's FAST. I think it's safe to say that Safari is the browser of choice of most OSX users.

If your current OS9 setup is all that you need or desire, there's no reason to jump feet-first into OSX. However, the more you use and get comfortable with OSX, your desires will most likely change. You did the right thing by wanting to migrate slowly. It's really the only way to go. But the "cost to migrate to OSX" is overblown in my opinion. How often do you upgrade software? Are you using the original versions of all software you started with? I'm not. I've been buying software upgrades for nearly 9 years - way before OSX was a gleem in Mr. Jobs' eye. The only OSX app that I can think of that didn't include a real feature improvement (and was purely an upgrade for the sake of OSX compatiblity), is QuickBooks 5. Other than that, I would have bought all my "OSX upgrades" even IF I were still using OS9.

Go on, go ahead - do it now! Boot into OSX, run Software Update to make sure everything is current and ... play.

Phil

Quote: "my OS 9.x software is nearly perfect" --- I have also been frustrated by the overall changes in Operating Systems (including WinXP to a certain extent) --- programs just don't function, drivers just won't work, and even the interface requires a new learning-curve to comprehend. This is an issue that touches upon the Browser question. As the webdesigners utilize more and more fancy (?) Flash/Java/ActiveX features and more sophisticated markup languages, the internet becomes impossible to surf without "updating" browser software. So, if you decide to retain the nice operating system that works great and provides a comfortable environment? Good luck... So, you want to keep IE 4 or Netscape Communicator 5 which have served you well for years? Good luck... ( I was using Internet Mail & News v.1 until just recently, with System 7.6)

Is it all for the better? I recall several years ago, David Pogue used his back-page column in Macworld (which I would always read first) to lament the vast amounts of BLOATWARE inundating the computer market. I suppose the features & upgrades provide a more comprehensive usefulness, and that is the nature of the business

---

but I just wish that it was possible to stay 'fixed in time' and not be forced to change just for the sake of change!

In OS X, which I'm using exclusively now, iCab is my browser of choice. I still use IE ocasionally and will switch to Safari for a few sites that get a 'frown' in iCab. It's still a beta too, but seems to be very popular. It has never crashed on me! (knock on wood)

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Regarding "Safari," when will it be out of beta? I am not a "beta" kind've guy.

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The priviaged few who get to do unofficial beta testing for Apple have reported to the rumor mill the latest version of Safari arrived in a .dmg file named Safari GM (which would imply Gold Master). The final version of Safari should be released on or before Panther's release. I have heard there will be a separate version of Safari for use with Panther.