I've been trying out other web browsers, most recently Apples Safari. It's a nice browser and is faster than Windows IE and any of the Mozilla browsers. For reasons unknown to me, of all the web sites I use there seem to be compatibility problems with astronomy.com and/or its community server software. Every now and then It does some seriously squirrelly things when loading the pages. Everything will be way out of place crammed to one side or just completely mixed up. Thankfully it doesn't do that all the time. The biggest issue is something I should have known since many Apple / Mac users have complained about it in the past. The Text editor does not have the tool bar available as it does with IE or Mozilla browsers. There are a lot of things needed at times in that tool bar which are not available to Apple / Mac users or users of Safari by Apple even when used on a Windows operating system. The Text editors doesn't read the enter / return key when trying to space your paragraphs. You can hit the enter key as many times as you want and when you post all the text will be crammed into a single paragraph. I haven't even tried everything on this site yet, I fear what might happen if I do. Fortunately I spend more time at other forums and sites that do not have any compatibility issues, therefore as of this moment I do not plan to change my system set up just to conform to the software problems of one site. This leaves open the question, How many other prospective members or magazine subscribers have abandoned astronomy.com because of this or similar compatibility issues?

Karri:

Can you tell us more about how Kalmbach configures it's test environment?

Normally you have a suite of PCs of different configurations/operating systems/browser versions, etc., and test any change or new software with each of them to ensure compatibility.

If that's not something you'd want to make public but would share with moderators, let us know on the private side and it wil help us figure out how to answer such questions from the public side.

Just a suggestion ... jb

It's something with the Java and the Safari. Online Publishing is looking into it.

Karri Ferron:

It's something with the Java and the Safari. Online Publishing is looking into it.

I am running the Windows version of Safari which uses the same Java Runtime as Windows IE and it works fine with other web forums which use similar java applets. Additionally, It's not just Safari, other members who use Apple / Mac computers have reported the same problems here on this web site.

In addition, FYI,, I also logged onto the Community Server web site and checked things out on their forums.. Everything works as it should there. If you log in there you will find my test message. Seems everything run smooth and fast there, so that tells me there are other system problems here.

I also have a MAC and have some of the same issues. Has any progress been made on this issue? I'll only suggest that it may be with how Safari is handling the Active X components, or in this case not handling the components. I did check other web sites that the publisher sponsors, and have found they also have some of the same issues. One of the forum moderators on those sites suggested FireFox as an alternative. I'm not going to install another web browser for one web site, so I hope this issue can be resolved. Let me know if you need someone to help test. Have Fun!!! CG

CGRANT:

I also have a MAC and have some of the same issues. Has any progress been made on this issue? I'll only suggest that it may be with how Safari is handling the Active X components, or in this case not handling the components. I did check other web sites that the publisher sponsors, and have found they also have some of the same issues. One of the forum moderators on those sites suggested FireFox as an alternative. I'm not going to install another web browser for one web site, so I hope this issue can be resolved. Let me know if you need someone to help test. Have Fun!!! CG

I've already excluded Safari from the problems. So far this is the only web site I have had any problems with these issues. I even logged onto the Community Server Site where the software used by astronomy.com is developed. Everything works as it should there and other sites that use the same software. ... I'm not about to change what I like that works everywhere else just for one web site it doesn't. I don't spend as much time here anyways.

tkerr:

The Text editors doesn't read the enter / return key when trying to space your paragraphs. You can hit the enter key as many times as you want and when you post all the text will be crammed into a single paragraph.

The same thing happens when Google Chrome is used as a browser.

Dave Mitsky

I posted this message using Google Chrome. I just hit the return key. Here's another sentence that should appear as a third paragraph. Dave Mitsky

The problems with both Safari and Chrome have been reported to the software developers, but they currently do not have a fix for the version of the software we run. So right now our Online Publishing gurus are recommending that forum members use Internet Explorer or Firefox for optimum compatibility with the forums.

 

Karri Ferron:

The problems with both Safari and Chrome have been reported to the software developers, but they currently do not have a fix for the version of the software we run. So right now our Online Publishing gurus are recommending that forum members use Internet Explorer or Firefox for optimum compatibility with the forums.

 

In other words if I understand this suggestion correctly,  you're asking that everyone inconvenience themselves and use a separate web browser from the one they use everywhere else for everyday use. One that consumes more system resources and, when on this site is slower than elsewhere. 
Unfortunately not everyone has that option, not all people have the storage to maintain multiple web browser nor do many people care to. Fortunately I do, but I still prefer not to when I don't have to.   
People that use Apple / Macintosh Computers don't have Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer. What are their options? 
Firefox and Netscape are nice, they're faster than Windows IE but, Firefox also started to have problems here after your last upgrade and is the reason I stopped using that after years.  

It's kinda like asking the whole world to regress to conform to the one that fails to keep up.  Rather than astronomy.com conforming and becoming compatible with the World Wide Web, the World Wide Web is expected to conform to them. ????????? 

I decided to use Windows IE again today, then was reminded why I don't like using it here on this web site. It was taking a minute or more to load or reload a page.. Any long an it would time out and fail, Do you realize how annoying that is?