changing default browser universally?

[tergo]

Being new to Mac, it took me some time to manage browser preferences. First, I learned to use "Get Info | Open with:" for single files, then discovered the "Change All" option affecting files with the same extension.

So right now, double clicking on HTM and HTML files will have them open in my preferred browser. However, whenever I try to access HTM(L) links from a dashboard widget, or from an email program, they will still be handled by Safari instead of my preferred browser.

So I have two questions: (1) Where can I set my preferred browser as a universal default? (2) Can I uninstall Safari without running into problems?

I am running OSX 10.4.7 on an Intel Core Duo universal chip.

Thanks for any hints!

[jh2112]

Open Safari, then go to Preferences and on the General tab, change the default browser.

[Mikuro]

You could uninstall Safari, but since that's currently the only place you can specify your default browser (), it would be inadvisable. But once you change the default browser like jh explained, Safari will stay out of your way.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by Mikuro

... but since that's currently the only place you can specify your default browser (), it would be inadvisable. ...

It is not true that Safari is the only place to specific the default browser. However, it also serves on purpose to delete the browser.

[Mikuro]

Originally Posted by MisterMe

It is not true that Safari is the only place to specific the default browser.

Where else? Some third-party tools?

[barhar]

Well, I use 'Jaguar's 'Mac.prefPane' and 'Internet.prefPane' ('/System/Library/PreferencePanes/' folder) in place of 'Tiger's (respective files) - and can once again select the desired 'e-Mail'er application and 'Web browser' - without using 'Mail' or 'Safari', respectively.

Also, I use 'Panther's 'System Preferences' in place of 'Tiger's (respective application).

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by Mikuro

Where else? Some third-party tools?

Camino and OmniWeb, to name two.

[fryke]

To put it more generally for Tiger:

1.) You have to set preferences for different file types you want to open in your browser (you already did that) with the Get-Info window in the Finder. Use "Change all" to keep the default behaviour. This, AFAIK, is *not* handled by number 2.)

2.) Set the default browser in Safari's preferences or any other browser's preferences which has an option for that preference.

Apparently, Apple intended a glorious future, where you'd always open the Mail/Web/FTP/whatever handler of your choice and choose _its_ preferences to set the default. Of course not all 3rd party developers follow Apple's plans religiously, hence there's still software out there unaware of it, although it gets less with users asking the developers for adding it.