Windows Safari Browser version 3.1 has now gone final! I’ve been using the version 3.0.4 beta + its nightly build for a while now and I’m so happy that Apple has finally released the final version.
What’s new?
From Apple’s claim:
In addition to loading web pages 1.9 times faster than Internet Explorer 7 and 1.7 times faster than FireFox 2, Safari 3.1 runs JavaScript up to six times faster than other browsers
Well from my experience in using Safari 3.1, it’s more robust than before, more stable, smoother, and faster than ever! I haven’t checked the JavaScript part as I’m not too sure on how to check it or whether it is a worth to check 
I was having a problem before when my Vista gave me a blue screen when I asked it to go to Sleep mode. Safari was opened and since then I wasn’t able to run Safari anymore. Not even with an uninstall or reinstall. It always gave me an error message: “Safari cannot open a browser window and may be missing important resources. Try installing Safari again.”
Well it seems that the problem is fixed in version 3.1 final. I can now reinstall Safari and use it again.
I still notice though that sometimes it freezes for some seconds before I can start browsing using the browser again. I’m not sure why, though. It doesn’t happen often but can be a pain in the butt.
Safari 3.1 never crashes on me, so it’s a plus, except for the occasional a few seconds of freeze on certain times.
What’s not new?
Same font rendering, in which people love and hate. I love the font rendering and that is the main reason why I’m using Safari to browse around. It’s easier on the eyes especially when I’m reading articles or news.
Same stupid confirmation window:
Notice anything wrong with the Yes and No button positioning?
Still no new Tab button on the toolbar (so you have to use CTRL-T or go through the menu bar)
Apart from that, feel free to give Safari a brand new try @ Apple Safari webpage.
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Great news, I ll try now on my apple kits!
Looks like the scraper got you on this one again. LOL. Will try this browser – out of curiosity. I haven’t seen it yet. I already dropped IE a long time ago.
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I am a Mozilla fan and dedicated user. I might try the new Safari to see how it works out. I could use a better browser now that my laptop is dead!
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I have just installed the new Safari on my WinXP system, and hey … now I can actually test it. When I tried to install the beta it crashed immediately.
So these are the first impressions:
It’s very apple smooth and I to love the font smoothing – very easy on the eyes. And it is very fast. My bank uses Java as a secure user and password software, and it works like a charm – actually twice as fast as the FF2 browser.
If you like customizing your browser this is not for you. Apart from adding buttons (which is more difficult than it should be), there’s not much you can do.
All in all and after using it for a couple of hours – You should really try it out
One notable lack with Safari for windows (which ISN’T lacking in safari for mac) is the ability to click the click wheel for ultra fast um… moving up and down the page. What I mean to say is that the wheel works when you spin it, but the function where you click it and it leaves that little circle on your page and you can move the mouse around and the page moves according to the distance and direction of the mouse from that circle… yeah, that doesn’t work. Otherwise, it’s pretty great. Importing your stuff from firefox is pretty easy and it’s a lot faster than firefox – which constantly writes to the HD.
So, Mozilla can, for now, suck it.
I have just checked the RAM usage on this sucker: I have 2Gigs on my machine and it uses between 300 and 350 Mb … that’s a lot. 3 times more than FF2 and 6 times more than Opera …. Guess that’s why it tuns so smooth
Well I still love Firefox because of its extensions.. I used lots of them (auto display of my internet bandwith usage, built-in FTP program, showing CSS styles and javascript errors, and many more)
I love Safari because of the font smoothing and quicker to open + I can feel it smoother than Firefox.
@Mr. Wallentin: My Firefox can sometimes go up to 800-900 Mb even after I’ve closed all of the windows except one
Ok … I have never experienced that with FF2. It has at one time gone as high as 200 mb (about 10 windows open with at least one YouTube video running), but to be fair I have also tweaked my FF a bit, because of the memory usage.
Safari sure is smooth, and as a web developer I am very happy now that I don’t have to bother all my Mac friends to see if my work renders and works smoothly in the Safari browser.
I use all the 4 major browsers regularly and have to say Safari is by far the fastest, but also love Firefox’s add ons. Opera is somewhere inbetween. IE – I’m sorry I just have a dislike to it.
Sorry for the kinda of topic stuff. But it kinda comes with the discussing-browsers teritory. After all it all comes down to personal likes/dislikes, and what get’s the job done for you.
Thats one problem of FF2. It eats a lot of memory because of the extensions you have.
FF3 has said to fix the memory leak issue but to tell you the truth, it still eats alot of memory.
But every curious joe should try FF3 b4.
I love the new version of FF, especially the intelligent Address Bar that searches the site address that you already have visited by just typing a tag or keyword that relates to that site.
Safari is ok but I don’t think works with the new Yahoo Mail Design.
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