The site that linked to this page is part of a growing international effort to standardize the content on the internet to make it accessible not only to every computer user, but every user of any device that accesses the internet.
Part of the problem in transitioning to this global vision is coping with the mistakes of the past, such as browsers designed not to comply with these established standards.
Fortunately for computer users, there are options. Free options.
The following table shows some of them. Bear in mind that as time passes, new versions are released. This table only represents some of what's available as of July 2004.
| Macintosh | |
|---|---|
| OS 8.6 to OS 9.2.2 | OS X |
| Mozilla 1.2.1 · Mozilla
Interface can be a bit slow on older machines. |
Mozilla 1.7 · Mozilla
The ultimate multiplatform browser suite. Usually at least one version ahead of Netscape's latest. Includes email and IRC chat. |
| Netscape 7.0 · Netscape
Interface can be a bit slow on older machines. |
Netscape 7.1 · Netscape
Mozilla's sister suite. Includes email and IRC chat. Development is lagging behind the Mozilla clients (July 2004). |
| OS X only. | Firefox 0.9 · Mozilla
Mozilla's bleeding edge multiplatform browser. |
| OS X only. | Camino 0.7 · Mozilla
Mozilla's bleeding edge OS X-only browser. |
| OS X only. | OmniWeb 4.5 · The Omni Group
Earlier versions are less compliant. |
| OS X only. | Safari · Apple
Apple's answer to Internet Explorer. OS 10.2 (Jaguar) and later only. v 1.0 is the latest available for Jaguar, Panther can use v 1.0 and later versions (1.2 as of this writing). |
| Opera 5 · Opera
Allegedly standards-compliant version. Version 6 runs on OS 8.6 and up (link not provided). |
Opera 7.5.2 · Opera
A multiplatform, standards-compliant browser with built-in email and IRC chat tools. |
| Internet Explorer 5.1.7 · Microsoft
Earlier versions are less compliant. |
Internet Explorer 5.2.3 · Microsoft
Earlier versions are less compliant. |
|
|
|
| Windows PC | |
| Windows 98 & M.E. | Windows NT, 2000 & XP |
| Mozilla 1.7 · Mozilla
The ultimate multiplatform browser suite. Usually at least one version ahead of Netscape's latest. Includes email and IRC chat. |
Mozilla 1.7 · Mozilla
The ultimate multiplatform browser suite. Usually at least one version ahead of Netscape's latest. Includes email and IRC chat. |
| Netscape 7.1 · Netscape
Mozilla's sister suite. Includes email and IRC chat. Development is lagging behind the Mozilla clients (July 2004). |
Netscape 7.1 · Netscape
Mozilla's sister suite. Includes email and IRC chat. Development is lagging behind the Mozilla clients (July 2004). |
| Firefox 0.9 · Mozilla
Mozilla's bleeding edge multiplatform browser. |
Firefox 0.9 · Mozilla
Mozilla's bleeding edge multiplatform browser. |
| Opera 7.5.2 · Opera
A multiplatform, standards-compliant browser with built-in email and IRC chat tools. |
Opera 7.5.2 · Opera
A multiplatform, standards-compliant browser with built-in email and IRC chat tools. |
| Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 · Microsoft
The least secure browsing experience (July, 2004). Please ALWAYS use the very latest version and make sure you've installed all of the latest patches from Microsoft. |
Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 · Microsoft
The least secure browsing experience (July, 2004). Please ALWAYS use the very latest version and make sure you've installed all of the latest patches from Microsoft. |
This list is not comprehensive. It's even listed in order of what choices would make life easier from a design and accessibility standpoint, rather than those that might be more familiar to a majority of surfers.
In terms of operating systems, Windows 95 and Mac OS 7x are not represented, though some of the software here may work on those versions. There are versions of Opera, Firefox and Mozilla (among others) for Linux users.