6 ms·
Old idealist geek alert. I realize that 192% of everyone who ever lived uses Facebook for every possible task 27 hours per day, but every time I read "Facebook
by edw519 16y ago
Old idealist geek alert.
I realize that 192% of everyone who ever lived uses Facebook for every possible task 27 hours per day, but every time I read "Facebook", I can't help thinking about AOL in the late 90's..."This is not the way is was meant to be."
We got away from the pseudo-monopolistic controls of AT&T, IBM, the US government, and finally AOL to enjoy the golden days of the world wide web from 2000 to 2005. Oh how glorious it almost was. Then, like self-mutilating OCD addicts on Xanex, we couldn't stand the freedom and quickly jumped to the next most promising walled garden.
FWIW, I used Chrome for the first time yesterday and I love it! No going back to ie or Firefox for me. Can't access Facebook? No problem for me; all I ever wanted was a simple browser and access to the open world.
No, yahoo, I won't use my Facebook id to get my email. No, <insert Website 2.whatever name>, I don't use Facebook. And no Facebook, Twitter, itunes, and the rest of you guys who want to wall us off, I will not use you. (And don't think I'm not starting to worry about you too, Google.)
I know, I know, I still use my Giant Eagle/GetGo frequent buyer card, so everyone on the internets probably knows that I bought aspirin last night, but I'm still clinging to my last little bit of freedom.
Respectfully yours,
The last free hacker standing, clinging tightly to my mouse and keyboard
- RiderOfGiraffes 16y agoCo-signed - fellow free hacker. You're not alone. I realised that Facebook makes it possible for completely non-computery people to share pictures, write notes, have on-line conversations, have a sort-of blog, all in a one-stop shop. When my older niece started to use it I realised that there were half a dozen other facilities that would serve her better, but it's the 80/20 rule. For essentially zero effort she got more than she otherwise could have. I sigh, but it's the way it is. It's the way it was with AOL, and maybe something will kill it eventually, but it's the way it is now. I look forward to seeing where it will go, and I hope it's better than anything we can currently imagine. It probably will. ADDED IN EDIT: When I clicked the link I got: You are using an incompatible web browser. Sorry, we're not able to support your browser. Please use one of the following browsers: * Mozilla Firefox * Safari * Microsoft Internet Explorer I'm using a very old Firefox.
- vinsan 16y agoI don't think the page checks for the browser version. I am using the latest version of Firefox (3.6.13) and still get the same message.
- MediaBehavior 16y agoYes. http://www.facebook.com/common/browser.php http://www.facebook.com/common/browser.php is a direct link - and displays from Safari 5.x or FF 3.6.13/Mac EDIT: So, presumably one could access it from IE as well (not something I can test from here).
- thornjm 16y agoI don't think the page is doing any processing or browser identification. I think it just displays the same static message regardless of how and who visits it.
- Charuru 16y agoThat's because that's the page you're directed to when they detect an incompatible browser. This page is probably static.
- ja27 16y agoThe message when browsing with Chrome is "Sorry, we're not cool enough to support your browser. Please keep it real with one of the following browsers:"
- ams6110 16y agoI've tried Chrome on Mac OS X and found it to be generally faster than Safari but also a bit unstable. Freezing up occasionally etc. It's solid and blazing fast on Windows though.
- tvon 16y agoI'd probably be using Chrome if a) you could open external links in new windows and b) the "loading" indicator wasn't some kind of horrible practical joke.
- tvon 16y agoYou can access Facebook fine with Chrome, fwiw.