Big Problems (Netscape 6.2)

[LibbieL]

Previously used 4.78.Installed 6.1 from CD, then downloaded and installed 6.2 None of these are upgrades, but full versions. The mail client is awful. Can't use the "send later" function, the spellcheck has to be closed manually, the mail sound notification is an anemic "ding", can't search address book by entering a letter and I got no help in resolving these problems from Netscape Tech support. Finally uninstalled 6.2 and went back to 4.78. The 6.2 browser seemed more stable and I like the feature of saving logins to specific sites, but I use the mail client instead of Outlook Express and that is my main gripe. Anyone else have these problems?

[kaplinb]

I use Netscape for testing only (it's not my default browser), but you can use them both (v. 4.7x and 6.x) at the same time. Another words, you can use 6.2 for browsing and 4.78 for e-mail without any conflicts (that is impossible for IE - you can not use v.4.x and 5.x or 6.x in the same configuration.)

[LibbieL]

Thanks, I realize that I can use the two versions, but is there no fix for the problems with the mail client?

[mdchachi]

I use NS 6.1 as my primary mailer. I used to use Netscape 4.something but have been on 6.x for close to a year now. I didn't consider going back to the 4.x version I had because it didn't allow me to have multiple mail boxes. Also most of the concerns you list haven't affected me. I don't use "send later," spell check, the address book and the "ding" doesn't bother me. Every once in a while, the mailbox has frozen, not allowing me to delete or move mail but removing the mail summary file that holds config information and restarting has fixed that so far. And the mail editor which sort of operates in a hidden html mode can take a little getting used to at first.

I have literally received a half-dozen Badtrans and other worms within the last couple of weeks -- I actually got attacked by Aliz within 48 hours of its initial detection. Each time I see these critters, I pat myself on the back for not using Outlook. <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15> Yes, I know precautions can be taken with Outlook but it's a lot easier if I'm not using the targeted software at all!

[LibbieL]

Thanks for the info. I love the send later, CTRL-R to reply and CTRL-enter to send immediately features. Just had too much trouble with 6.1 and 6.2 to justify changing.

I appreciate Norton Anti-Virus as it detected a few worms lately. Outlook isn't worth it.
Libbie

[LibbieL]

After reading the messages posted in the newsgroup of Netscape 6.x, I think I will just stick to 4.78. Seems as though people had all kinds of sticky situations with 6.

Maybe they will have a final and unbuggy version in the next year or two!

[mdchachi]

I just tried the send-later and it worked for me. I guess I've never used it because if I'm not ready to send something I just save it to Draft. And when I'm ready to send, I just send it (I'm online 24x7).

[LibbieL]

Thanks. No matter what I did, I couldn't get it send later. I will try your way. But I really do like the way 4.78 allows me to search the address book and the way the spell check works. Also like the message notification that checks for new mail and plays a wav file I select. But I will give 6.2 another try. Hopefully they will get out all the bugs and improve it. Libbie

[mdchachi]

Well if 4.78 does the job, I'd stick with it. No need to upgrade for the sake of upgrading. I mainly switched because 6.x lets me have any number of email accounts & associated mailboxes. Best o' luck to you.

[LibbieL]

Success, I recently installed a 6.2B version of Netscape and the mail client works very well. Can send later, etc. I do like the 6.2 browser and am now content. Even imported my address book from Netscape 4.78.
<img src=/S/clapping.gif border=0 alt=clapping width=19 height=23>

[Viking2001]

Is the newsgroup function any better?

Can 6.2B be applied without undoing everything (like a normal upgrade) or will I have to reinstall and copy back config/setting files?

As with others here, I also upped from 4.78 (to 6.2). I hate not being able to filter newsgroup threads in 6.2. Yuck! And Ignore Thread is barely better than just marking it read manually. Also, it sometimes shows that there are unread posts in the totals column, but in the threads there's nothing unread! Where are these unread posts? Am I missing them? Is the total column wrong or the thread window?

That stupid frame in mail has to be moved to activate the scroll bar, and half the time it leaves a netscp6 process out there if I close it with the X rather than exiting from the menu. If I forget to look I get ugly lock-ups when I shut down.

The whole reason I tried 6.2 was to see if it fixed the browsing bugs - 4.78 seemed to be falling behind a lot of web content. Well.....6.2 doesn't browse any better (stuff like vb and java forms still don't work right) and the mail/news client is just too buggy. Unless you've got a specific problem with 4.78, I'd stick with it.

Oops, there I went on a rant! [img]/forums/images/smilies/ohmy.gif[/img])

Dave