Can't access some sites?

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rlswine
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Can't access some sites?

Post by rlswine »

Mozilla Firebird newbie!!
Some web sites won't load completely. See accompanying url (which I access with IE on a daily basis) with apparent explanation. What can I do to access with Firebird?

http://www.flipdog.com/index.html (Has explanation?)
http://www.flipdog.com/js/loc.html;jses ... stid=52204 (This one only loads partially!)
Last edited by rlswine on July 22nd, 2003, 7:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
nosebleed
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Post by nosebleed »

That's the stupid webmaster who did that. The best way to access such site in Firebird is via UA spoofing. Another idea is to email the webmaster as to why they do not support Firebird. Believe me, there are tons of sites that block Mozilla!
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jareha
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Post by jareha »

As for UA spoofing, which nosebleed mentioned, try either the <a href="http://www.texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html#User%20Agent%20Toolbar%20Widget">User Agent Toolbar Widget</a> or the <a href="http://www.texturizer.net/firebird/extensions.html#User%20Agent%20Switcher">User Agent Switcher</a>.

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rlswine
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Post by rlswine »

>The best way to access such site in Firebird is via UA spoofing.<
Please exlpaine "UA spoofing".
nosebleed
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Post by nosebleed »

rlswine wrote:>The best way to access such site in Firebird is via UA spoofing.<
Please exlpaine "UA spoofing".


Your web browser uses a UA string so that websites can identify it. UA spoofing changes your string so that your web browser is disguised as another.

e.g. You can disguise Firebird 0.6 as IE 6.0.
rlswine
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Post by rlswine »

>e.g. You can disguise Firebird 0.6 as IE 6.0.<
How is this accomplished? Please be somewhat explicit. I'm new to Mozilla and Firebird.
nosebleed
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Post by nosebleed »

Try one of the extensions jareha mentioned above. :)
old Neil Parks
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Post by old Neil Parks »

nosebleed wrote:... The best way to access such site in Firebird is via UA spoofing. ...


That's a workaround, but it isn't the "best" way. Your other suggestion (email the web designer) is a better way.
old Neil Parks
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Post by old Neil Parks »

Tried to access the flipdog site using other UA strings and kept running into the same problems as the orig poster. Home page says I need to downgrade to NS between 4.01 and 4.79. That's even if UA Switcher claims to be NS 4.8!

And the second link loads only partially.

Source view shows lots of browser-specific, version-specific code (e.g., looks for IE3, IE4, IE5, etc.) It is (IMNSHO) a ridiculous design.
rlswine
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Post by rlswine »

I'm the original "poster". I downloaded and installed each of the UA spoofing extensions. Still no access to the "flipdog" site. (See also post from Neil Parks above - Same results with "all" of the alternate "spoofing" protocols.)
I have also sent an e-mail to FlipDog indicating my disappointment and chagrine over not being able to access their site with Mozilla Firebird. I have not received any response from their support team.

Thank you all for your interest.

Incidentally, how often is a scenario like this going to occur should I choose Mozilla to be my browser of choice. Nosebleed above indicated >Believe me, there are tons of sites that block Mozilla!< How true is that?
nosebleed
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Post by nosebleed »

rlswine wrote:Incidentally, how often is a scenario like this going to occur should I choose Mozilla to be my browser of choice. Nosebleed above indicated >Believe me, there are tons of sites that block Mozilla!< How true is that?


http://toastytech.com/good/badsitelist.html
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jareha
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Post by jareha »

rlswine wrote:Incidentally, how often is a scenario like this going to occur should I choose Mozilla to be my browser of choice. Nosebleed above indicated >Believe me, there are tons of sites that block Mozilla!< How true is that?

This will happen from time to time. Don't be too dismayed.

I surf the web for countless hours every day, but only happen upon such a site once every week or so. When I do, I email the webmaster and then open the page (grudgingly) in Internet Explorer. Such is the life for <a href="http://www.webstandards.org/">Web Standards</a> supporting, loyal Mozillites.

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chrisgeleven
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Post by chrisgeleven »

In my experience this problem is very infrequent and is getting better all the time. I visit a lot of web sites too. Usually the problem has to do with bad rendering (misplaced table, bad formatting, etc) then anything that prevents use of the web site. The content is usually still accessable and usable.

Most businesses are smart enough to realize how much 5% of their visitors could effect their profits that the extra effort (which is usually pretty small) is worth it.
rlswine
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Post by rlswine »

I guess that "beginners luck" has to play into my experience. I don't generally "surf" a great deal, but do have specific sites which I visit regularly. None but the one which prompted this thread have been affected thus far. I'll remain hopeful. I would like to effectively reduce my reliance on and support of MS products.
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Post by scragz »

Another thing you can do is check if it's a known tech evangelism bug by searching bugzilla and reporting it if necessary. Usually the best thing to do is to contact the person who maintains the site.
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