Browser Trouble

I'm writing this post, because I really hope someone who has had the same issues comments back to me. Maybe not with an answer or a solution, but merely to commiserate!

Okay, let me start with the fact that I use my computer in a certain way, mostly because I'm self-taught, and have been doing this for 25 years. I started with MS-DOS 2.something, up to Windows 3.0, through Windows 8.1 (not to mention OS-X in various versions). I'm a relatively tech-savvy guy, though I've sort of tromped my own path, and continue to. One thing I use, I get criticized for: I still use AOL. I know, I know, people hate it. I hate it too, but I like it for certain things. It's a legacy "thing" for me, that became part of my work habits, and I've seen no reason to expunge it--or my 20+ year email address--when I still have use for it.

So, please, no, "Why would anyone still use that?" okay? I get that from my brother. Besides, the fact of the matter is, there is no browser on any platform that doesn't have issues. There is none that doesn't eventually irritate me beyond measure at some point. They've all got their quirks, strengths and weaknesses. So, I tend to use them in tandem, and use different ones for different things.

To be fair, it doesn't look like this anymore.

For instance, I toggle between AOL and Internet Explorer 11 on my main monitor, and Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome on my secondary monitor. If they are freshly opened (and for a while thereafter), this is a great setup, and works very well for me, and for how I work. Ultimately, however, cracks start to show. Firefox has the unnerving tendency to lose its title bar utterly, and for other features to sort of fade away, and randomly crashes (very apologetically). Internet Explorer loses its tab names, has many issues with "not responding" and "long-running scripts," and always foists responsibility off of itself, and onto whatever web page(s) you're visiting. Chrome tends to follow Firefox with its goofy error messages, but hey, at least will point the finger at itself, where IE never does. All are pretty lousy at offering help when something goes wrong, unless you are a real nuts-and-bolts techie, instead of a bumbler like me.

But here is my number one irritation, so ***eyes down here***  if you care to help me with this question:

Every. Damned. Time.  And no, it was NOT incorrect.

Why is it almost impossible to log on to anything from Internet Explorer? And why is it impossible to find help, an answer, or even any evidence that it's a problem? Here's what I mean. From IE11, I may wish to comment on a story at Salon or Slate or another national site. Or maybe it's even a local or regional newspaper. If I can get remember whatever arcane password and username system they're using (really, web developers, you could do better with some helpful hints*), I'll find that logging in is futile. Salon for example. I'd recently set up a new user name and password, because I kept getting shut out. I know what it is. But from IE, it failed. No problem, right? They've got helpful logins for Google+, Twitter and Facebook. I have all of those! Nope. Useless. Utterly and completely useless. Nothing gets me in, it always, always fails.

Sometimes AOL will get me in, sometimes not. Usually Firefox or Chrome will do it, so I'll do a few copies and pastes (if my comment didn't evaporate in the mean time), and get in. By then though, usually, I'm well past caring about whatever issue I wanted to comment on in the first place. But beyond this issue--which I can replicate on other computers by the way, and isn't even unheard of using Safari on a Mac--how am I the only person this seemingly happens to? I can find nothing out in the cyber-universe about it.

Irritating. But so very usual for the problems I've run into over the years. I especially detest the "helpful" answers you sometimes get on forums to these kinds of questions: "Well, what version of xx are you using when this happens? What site were you trying to go to? How much RAM do you have? Why would you be trying to. . ."  AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!! Whenever you start getting those sorts of "answering a question with a question" types of responses, you know they're fishing. They don't know the answer, and possibly don't understand the question. Anyone with me?

 

Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 Beta: An Early Review

Screenshot of what I see as I type this post in IE9 Beta. Exciting, right?

I've been a beta tester for various products going way back to the early nineties. I like being an "early adopter," but not so much if I have to pay for it. Beta testing software is usually free, and only involves the frustrations of dealing with bugs in the product. I've beta tested AOL since version 4 or so. I've beta tested some sign software. Also Windows XP and Windows 7.  Most of the time, it's pretty cool. Sometimes, you're itching to "undo."

I use software in ways others do not, which is obvious by the number of times I've been able to crash software and hardware, beta or not. When perusing (I hate the term surfing) the internet, I most often use AOL, even after all these years. I like the container aspect of it, with all my windows arranged as I want them. Doing the same thing with other browsers involves too much shifting windows to the front. AOL just works for me.  But when it comes to blogging, checking my page hits, using Facebook, TDAmeritrade, Twitter and such, I mostly use Microsoft Internet Explorer. And so far, I'm making no fans among PC geeks (or the Cult of Mac either).  I do use Safari on my Mac PowerBook, and both Firefox and Google Chrome on the PC on occasion, so simmer down.

But I tend to mostly toggle between AOL and IE8. But the other day, Internet Explorer was having fits with Blogger, the Google application on which I write this blog. It just wouldn't behave. But I remembered that I'd seen a "try IE9 Beta!" ad recently, and thought I'd give it a try. What the hey, right? So I went to Microsoft's web site, and there it was. Downloading and installation was a breeze, and very quick. It asked me to reboot, as expected, so I did.

After the quick reboot (something I truly dig about Windows 7), I noticed that the blue "e" logo on the IE button was slightly (but not very) different. I clicked it, and greeted my new browser. There is no "title bar" as there is in most Windows programs. Nothing is up there to indicate what program you're using. The "Back" button is the largest thing in the top area of the screen for some reason, but its bottom is lopped off (which looks like an error). The address bar is right up there next to "back" and "forward", and the page tabs line up right beside that, higher than they used to be. And that's it. There's no menu bar, no shortcut buttons, no "home" no "print" no nothing. It's very disconcerting.

After a Google search, I found that you can bring the menu bar back by pressing an "ALT" key. But so far, I have to do that every time I want the menus. It won't stay put. The shortcut buttons can be accessed from the "View" menu after you press "ALT." Same with the Command Bar, Status Bar and other things. Curious that there is no obvious place to do this if you don't know about pressing "ALT."  But you know the worst part? Everything seems to work fine in Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 Beta. . .except Blogger. Every Blogger blog is herky jerky, and scrolls like you've got a bad connection. Grrrr. Maybe the next release will be better.

Computer Woes: Blogger's Busted!

If there is one truism among computer users, whether we're Macs or PCs, it's that we're set in our ways. We like the way we do things, and we want to keep doing them that way. Every once in a while, we're thrown a curve, like updating to a new version of our operating system, or they make a change to software we're used to. Other times, a glitch or a bug appears that becomes infuriating.

Last night, I started getting one of those bugs. When I blog, I tend to use AOL 9.5 and Internet Explorer 8 in tandem. Why? Because that's the way I likes it! I do all my research in AOL, and I do the blogging from IE. It's worked pretty well, if not always perfectly. Last night, The Blogger software's "New Post" window stopped accepting the "paste" command. It doesn't work from the mouse, from the toolbar, or from pressing CTRL+V on the keyboard. The only thing that works is to go into "Edit HTML" mode, and paste there. Which is cumbersome for the way I work.

I sought help on Blogger's help board, but found the typical "well have you tried. . ." type non-solutions, suggestions to use FireFox or Google Chrome, and other work-arounds. But no solution was to be found. So, in lieu of a fix, I'm now blogging from Chrome. This is going to take some getting used to.

Browser Wars Over? Peace Achieved!

I've been using Internet Explorer since it was first released. Of course, I also still use AOL, so what do I know? But back in the day, there was a real battle between Netscape and IE, akin to the Mac vs. PC wars of today. There have been many others, but those were the two biggies.

Nowadays, Firefox is the leading challenger, though there is also Safari, Opera, and Google Chrome. IE (and AOL for that matter) have significant flaws. I use them for the reason that I use most of the software on my computer, I guess. I grew up with them, metaphorically. I learned their quirks, their advantages and their flaws. I do use Firefox or Chrome for certain things, things that simply will not load or take too long in IE or AOL. And my familiarity with them may eventually lead me to switch.

But fortunately, we don't really need to fight. They're all free. We can use them all. And I found it kind of nifty that my SiteMeter "browser share" graphic--a chart that shows what my visitors are using--forms a nearly perfect peace sign! Well, I thought it was cool. . .

Blogger Alert! SiteMeter Fixed

UPDATE 08/02/08: SiteMeter is working again. Too bad it was out too. At the time I removed the meter, I was on the road to my best day ever for visitors. Rats!

ORIGINAL POST:

Apparently, the cause of my Blogger woes was a problem for many of you too. If you're using Internet Explorer and the site you're visiting contains a SiteMeter. So, this is a public service announcement:

BLOGGER ALERT, BLOGGER ALERT!

The SiteMeter service--which I love, and a complete addict of--is apparently being upgraded right now. But something is causing Internet Explorer (and AOL) to crash, if the site contains the SiteMeter script. Use FireFox to open your blog (FireFox seems unaffected), remove the widget for SiteMeter, and your blog will work again.

It breaks my heart to do this. I love and probably obsess too much over my "hits" for the day. I'm pretty sure removing the script will halt them completely. I'm definitely going to be going through withdrawal! I'm not sure if SiteMeter itself knows about this glitchy little problem yet. I'll be sending them a letter forthwith.

The error message that appears when hitting a blog with a SiteMeter is: "Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet Site"

Computer Woes: Internet Explorer 7 Issues

I may not have much up on the blog tonight, due to computer issues. For some reason, every time I try to load my blog, I get an error halfway through loading. I read that installing Internet Explorer 8 (Beta) might solve the issue, but that keeps hitting a glitch as well.

I'm using FireFox, but unlike many, I'm not as fond of that program. Once I get this all sorted out, I'll be back. Thanks for visiting anyway!