Safari Turns 20 Today: 'Fastest Web Browser Ever Created for the Mac'

[eRondeau]

Safari is a compact 3MB download that occupies only 7.1MB of hard drive space.

These days an average web page is 3MB -- the same size as the Safari download in 2003!

My first Mac was an iBook G4 purchased in Fall 2003. It shipped with Jaguar (2002) and Internet Explorer but Panther with Safari was released almost at the same time I bought it. I remember thinking Internet Explorer looked a hundred years old at the time, while Safari felt like it came from the future. Twenty years later I still use Safari 95% of the time. I won't install Chrome due to its auto-updating requirements but I do like the look and performance of Microsoft Edge, and I find Edge plays nicer with MailChimp (which I use regularly).

 

[SpotOnT]

Funny to talk about innovation when I have to use Safari technology preview as my default browser just to load content on basic websites like Nike. Additionally, I have to actually download extensions onto my computer just to use them inside my browser…why?

What doesn’t work with the Nike website?

I just tried playing on the Nike website with both Safari and Firefox and they look the same to me.

 

[eatrains]

For web developers, Safari is the new IE6 because of its slowness to adopt new updates in technology and divergence in implementation of them. It was not always the case. Average users are obviously not aware about it.

This isn’t true, Safari leads the pack on adoption of new features.

 

[Stella]

Still the best for me. I only use Chrome for one of my client's CMS because their IT team broke full Safari compatibility and are being lazy fixing it.

That's Safari's weakness. Apple need to make Safari cross platform, even if it's low adoption, it will make it easier to ensure Safari is supported. Testing /developing webapps on a non Apple device is difficult. There are solutions such as SourceLabs, but quite often it's not a great experience, especially on a free tier.

 

[eatrains]

the thing most annoying about safari is the fact it’s integrated into MacOS.

Why can’t I install/update it seperatly?
My perfectly fine 2014 Mbp is now forced to use Chrome or Opera since the latest version of Safari on that machine is so old.

Developer tools on other browsers are better to in my opinion.

You can update it separately from OS updates on macOS. It’s iOS where you cannot.

 

[T Coma]

There is nothing unusual about my surfing, no “underground” sites or janky outdated sites — pretty humdrum, civilian stuff, and only a couple extensions.

I still end up going to Brave at least a few times a week because something doesn’t display correctly, or load at all. This applies to desktop, M1 MBP, or mobile.

I’ve made a real effort to go all-in on apple software since getting the MBP (even replacing MS Office), but Safari is absolutely the sticking point in my experience - especially with online forms.

Since the LastPass debacle, I’ve transferred all of my internet passwords to Keychain since that seems like a safe alternative, but I haven’t researched the Brave password mgmt solution, outside of 3rd party managers. If I can bother to look into that, I may end up dumping safari altogether.

 

[3xBoom]

Despite all of its shortcomings, Safari is a great product, especially for those taking full advantage of the Apple environment. I am more stunned that it has been 20 years already... who needs a time machine when time flies so fast anyways.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I'm surprised they haven't updated your work browser to Edge. It's light years better than IE.

Which is not saying much. There was a brief shining moment where Edge was the best browser, full stop. But just as soon as Microsoft finished with the actual functionality, they’ve spent the last couple years absolutely stuffing it to the brim with ads and garbage. I can’t even get work done because half the time when I open it there’s another full screen takeover trying to trick users into signing into a Microsoft account, agreeing to advanced monitoring for advertising, trying to get them to change their default browser, trying to change their home page back to MSN, etc etc etc.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I love Safari. It is my favorite browser at all times.

 

[OneDunya]

Safari the default browser on iOS but on Mac OS I am an avid Firefox user.

 

[Fyrus]

You can update it separately from OS updates on macOS. It’s iOS where you cannot.

Where? Even those previews/beta versions can’t be installed as far as I know.

So if you could provide a link, that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[olavsu1]

I've only ever used firefox. Other browsers are for downloading firefox or just in case you come across a page that doesn't work with firefox. Speed is not important, security is more important.

 

[Octavius8]

Try Edge.
Is it’s actually faster and NEVER has my iPhone got warm while using it.
I use it on my iMac, iPads and IPhone. Safari was ok, but they removed several functions (like the customizable Home Screen) and replaced with a useless Home Screen (customizable?, what a joke in Safari…).
Safari is IE of the 90s. But you are not ready for that discussion…

 

[Octavius8]

I use Safari everyday and genuinely have no quarrels - I made the switch with Apple Silicon in 2020 coming from being a Chrome user for a decade plus. I have since ceased all used of Chrome (due to ram use and tracking) and now have Firefox as my secondary browser but use Safari 95% of the time.

My only issue with Safari is the bookmarks, I don't know why but I've never fully clicked with the way Safari does them - on Chrome I would use the bookmarks everyday but on Safari its like I sometimes just forget to use the tab to open them and more generally neglect bookmarks than what I use to on Chrome.
I do use the favourites and frequently visited options in new tabs however they are not without their quirks.

You are right!!.
Bookmarks in Safari are impossible to use since a few years ago.
And the Home Screen is also a mess.
I switched to Edge and I don’t miss it at all in all may devices

 

[eicca]

Mobile Safari has been absolutely flawless for me.

Desktop Safari, on the other hand, no matter what machine I try it on, even with a fresh install, is fast for about five minutes and then starts developing this infuriating lag before the page actually begins to load. No I don’t install extensions. Just basic browsing on common sites.

And then “This website was reloaded because of an error” starts cropping up more and more.

And I inevitably end up back in Firefox, which has never been anything but perfectly stable and faster than Safari.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

What doesn’t work with the Nike website?

I just tried playing on the Nike website with both Safari and Firefox and they look the same to me.

Stops loading pictures of the products while scrolling on MacOS. Been that way for a long time…works on Safari Tech Preview though.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I've only ever used firefox. Other browsers are for downloading firefox or just in case you come across a page that doesn't work with firefox. Speed is not important, security is more important.

You sure about? You have to uncheck multiple data collection settings after install because they are on by default.

 

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Safari user from the start. No complains.

 

[maxdefcon]

Safari is not doing well lately in terms of compatibility, it’s annoying to use chrome when Safari can’t just show the page correctly.

Do you have any examples and have you submitted a bug to bugs.webkit.org? I was having an issue with a forum I frequent that was not spacing correctly in Safari, but worked fine in Firefox. I submitted a bug and in a few weeks, it got fixed and eventually pushed to Safari.

 

[djcerla]

I've tried many browsers over the years only to go back to Safari. I don't know if that's a testament of how good it is or how lazy I am.

Same, I only use Chrome when something does not work (or when recording audio from YouTube as using Safari Google passes audio more aggressively lowpassed).

But Safari feels, and definitely is, snappier.

 

[MBAir2010]

My iTouch 2010 turned 12 years old today, for me!
and sure enough, safari worked on the....... well the  home page.
I splurged and opted for the 32GB version!

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

Do you have any examples and have you submitted a bug to bugs.webkit.org? I was having an issue with a forum I frequent that was not spacing correctly in Safari, but worked fine in Firefox. I submitted a bug and in a few weeks, it got fixed and eventually pushed to Safari.

lectron site check out wasn't loading, txtag wasn't working
Apple should've made reporting submission in Safari. I don't work for them.

 

[boyarka]

And maybe on its 20'th anniversary it will finally be forced out from the iOS monopoly

 

[Promostyle]

Was a good ride Safari! I’ve used Safari every day exclusively since the day it came out, but have recently started transitioning to Chrome since so many pages and platforms have functionality issues in Safari. I resisted for a long time due to thousands of login credentials being stored in Safari, so using both now and transitioning one by one.

 

[Choco Taco]

Was a good ride Safari! I’ve used Safari every day exclusively since the day it came out, but have recently started transitioning to Chrome since so many pages and platforms have functionality issues in Safari. I resisted for a long time due to thousands of login credentials being stored in Safari, so using both now and transitioning one by one.

Get Bitwarden. It'll make the transition 800 times easier.