diff --git a/python/csconverter.py b/python/csconverter.py
index 135c7fa0..4e5de086 100644
--- a/python/csconverter.py
+++ b/python/csconverter.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 '''
 
-from PyQt4.QtCore import QObject, QFile, QVariant, QString
+from PyQt4.QtCore import QObject, QFile
 from PyQt4.QtWebKit import QWebPage
 
 class CSConverter(QObject):
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class CSConverter(QObject):
         converter = QFile(':/resources/coffee-script.js')
         converter.open(QFile.ReadOnly)
 
-        script = QString.fromUtf8(converter.readAll())
+        script = str(converter.readAll())
         converter.close()
         self.m_webPage.mainFrame().evaluateJavaScript(script)
         self.m_webPage.mainFrame().addToJavaScriptWindowObject('converter', self)
@@ -37,6 +37,6 @@ class CSConverter(QObject):
     def convert(self, script):
         self.setProperty('source', script)
         result = self.m_webPage.mainFrame().evaluateJavaScript('this.CoffeeScript.compile(converter.source)')
-        if result.type() == QVariant.String:
-            return result.toString()
-        return QString()
+        if len(result):
+            return result
+        return ''
diff --git a/python/networkaccessmanager.py b/python/networkaccessmanager.py
index c8b63e4c..24a495d4 100644
--- a/python/networkaccessmanager.py
+++ b/python/networkaccessmanager.py
@@ -19,14 +19,14 @@
 '''
 
 from PyQt4.QtGui import QDesktopServices
-from PyQt4.QtCore import SIGNAL, QString, qDebug, qWarning
+from PyQt4.QtCore import qDebug, qWarning
 from PyQt4.QtNetwork import QNetworkAccessManager, QNetworkDiskCache, \
                             QNetworkRequest
 
 class NetworkAccessManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
     def __init__(self, diskCacheEnabled, parent = None):
         QNetworkAccessManager.__init__(self, parent)
-        self.connect(self, SIGNAL('finished(QNetworkReply *)'), self.handleFinished)
+        self.finished.connect(self.handleFinished)
 
         if diskCacheEnabled == 'yes':
             m_networkDiskCache = QNetworkDiskCache()
@@ -49,16 +49,16 @@ class NetworkAccessManager(QNetworkAccessManager):
         else:
             qWarning('Unexpected HTTP Operation Type')
 
-        qDebug(QString('URL %s' % req.url().toString()))
+        qDebug('URL %s' % req.url().toString())
 
         return QNetworkAccessManager.createRequest(self, op, req, outgoingData)
 
     def handleFinished(self, reply):
         qDebug('HTTP/1.1 Response')
-        qDebug(QString('URL %s' % reply.url().toString()))
-        code = reply.attribute(QNetworkRequest.HttpStatusCodeAttribute).toString()
+        qDebug('URL %s' % reply.url().toString())
+        code = reply.attribute(QNetworkRequest.HttpStatusCodeAttribute)
         if code:
-            qDebug('Status code: %s' % code)
+            qDebug('Status code: %d' % code)
 
         headerPairs = reply.rawHeaderPairs()
         for pair in headerPairs:
diff --git a/python/phantom.py b/python/phantom.py
index d2ca811c..808fcdaa 100644
--- a/python/phantom.py
+++ b/python/phantom.py
@@ -18,17 +18,18 @@
   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 '''
 
-import os
+import sys, os
 
+from utils import version_major, version_minor, version_patch
 from csconverter import CSConverter
 from math import ceil, floor
 from time import sleep as usleep
 from webpage import WebPage
 from networkaccessmanager import NetworkAccessManager
 
-from PyQt4.QtCore import pyqtProperty, pyqtSlot, Qt, QObject, QString, \
-                         QRect, SIGNAL, SLOT, QTimer, QUrl, QFileInfo, \
-                         QDir, QSize, QSizeF, QTime, QEventLoop, qDebug
+from PyQt4.QtCore import pyqtProperty, pyqtSlot, Qt, QObject, QRect, \
+                         SLOT, QTimer, QUrl, QFileInfo, QDir, QSize, \
+                         QSizeF, QTime, QEventLoop, qDebug
 from PyQt4.QtGui import QPalette, QDesktopServices, qApp, QPrinter, \
                         QImage, QPainter, QRegion, QApplication, qRgba
 from PyQt4.QtWebKit import QWebSettings, QWebPage
@@ -43,14 +44,19 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
         QObject.__init__(self, parent)
 
         # variable declarations
-        self.m_loadStatus = self.m_state = QString()
+        self.m_loadStatus = self.m_state = ''
         self.m_var = self.m_paperSize = self.m_loadScript_cache = {}
         self.m_verbose = args.verbose
         self.m_page = WebPage(self)
         self.m_clipRect = QRect()
         # setup the values from args
-        self.m_script = QString.fromUtf8(args.script.read())
+        self.m_script = args.script.read()
         self.m_scriptFile = args.script.name
+        self.m_scriptDir = os.path.dirname(args.script.name)
+        if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
+            self.m_scriptDir += '\\'
+        else:
+            self.m_scriptDir += '/'
         self.m_args = args.script_args
         self.m_upload_file = args.upload_file
         autoLoadImages = False if args.load_images == 'no' else True
@@ -82,24 +88,19 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
         self.m_page.mainFrame().setScrollBarPolicy(Qt.Horizontal, Qt.ScrollBarAlwaysOff)
         self.m_page.mainFrame().setScrollBarPolicy(Qt.Vertical, Qt.ScrollBarAlwaysOff)
 
-        # if our script was called in a different directory, change to it
-        # to make any dealings with files be relative to the scripts directory
-        if os.path.dirname(self.m_scriptFile):
-            os.chdir(os.path.dirname(self.m_scriptFile))
-
         if self.m_verbose:
             m_netAccessMan = NetworkAccessManager(args.disk_cache, self)
             self.m_page.setNetworkAccessManager(m_netAccessMan)
 
         # inject our properties and slots into javascript
-        self.connect(self.m_page.mainFrame(), SIGNAL('javaScriptWindowObjectCleared()'), self.inject)
-        self.connect(self.m_page, SIGNAL('loadFinished(bool)'), self.finish)
+        self.m_page.mainFrame().javaScriptWindowObjectCleared.connect(self.inject)
+        self.m_page.loadFinished.connect(self.finish)
 
     def execute(self):
-        if self.m_script.startsWith('#!'):
-            self.m_script.prepend('//')
+        if self.m_script.startswith('#!'):
+            self.m_script = '//' + self.m_script
 
-        if self.m_scriptFile.endswith('.coffee'):
+        if self.m_scriptFile.lower().endswith('.coffee'):
             coffee = CSConverter(self)
             self.m_script = coffee.convert(self.m_script)
 
@@ -195,15 +196,19 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
 
     @clipRect.setter
     def clipRect(self, size):
-        w = int(size[QString('width')])
-        h = int(size[QString('height')])
-        top = int(size[QString('top')])
-        left = int(size[QString('left')])
+        names = ('width', 'height', 'top', 'left')
+        for item in names:
+            try:
+                globals()[item] = int(size[item])
+                if globals()[item] < 0:
+                    if item not in ('top', 'left'):
+                        globals()[item] = 0
+            except KeyError:
+                globals()[item] = getattr(self.m_clipRect, item)()
 
-        if w >= 0 and h >= 0:
-            self.m_clipRect = QRect(left, top, w, h)
+        self.m_clipRect = QRect(left, top, width, height)
 
-    @pyqtProperty('QString')
+    @pyqtProperty(str)
     def content(self):
         return self.m_page.mainFrame().toHtml()
 
@@ -215,7 +220,7 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
     @pyqtSlot(int)
     def exit(self, code = 0):
         self.m_returnValue = code
-        self.disconnect(self.m_page, SIGNAL('loadFinished(bool)'), self.finish)
+        self.m_page.loadFinished.disconnect(self.finish)
         QTimer.singleShot(0, qApp, SLOT('quit()'))
 
     @pyqtProperty(str)
@@ -228,19 +233,19 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
             self.m_page.mainFrame().evaluateJavaScript(self.m_loadScript_cache[script])
             return True
 
-        scriptFile = QString(script)
+        scriptFile = script
         try:
-            script = open(script)
-            script = QString.fromUtf8(script.read())
+            script = open(self.m_scriptDir + script)
+            script = script.read()
         except IOError:
             return False
 
-        if script.startsWith('#!'):
-            script.prepend('//')
+        if script.startswith('#!'):
+            script = '//' + script
 
-        if scriptFile.endsWith('.coffee'):
+        if scriptFile.lower().endswith('.coffee'):
             coffee = CSConverter(self)
-            script = QString.fromUtf8(coffee.convert(script))
+            script = coffee.convert(script)
 
         self.m_loadScript_cache[scriptFile] = script
         self.m_page.mainFrame().evaluateJavaScript(script)
@@ -259,12 +264,7 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
 
     @paperSize.setter
     def paperSize(self, size):
-        # convert QString to str
-        size_buffer = {}
-        for key, value in size.items():
-            size_buffer[str(key)] = str(value)
-
-        self.m_paperSize = size_buffer
+        self.m_paperSize = size
 
     @pyqtSlot(str, result=bool)
     def render(self, fileName):
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
         path = QDir()
         path.mkpath(fileInfo.absolutePath())
 
-        if fileName.endsWith('.pdf', Qt.CaseInsensitive):
+        if fileName.lower().endswith('.pdf'):
             return self.renderPdf(fileName)
 
         viewportSize = QSize(self.m_page.viewportSize())
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
 
     @pyqtProperty('QVariantMap')
     def viewportSize(self):
-        size = QSize(self.m_page.viewportSize())
+        size = self.m_page.viewportSize()
         result = {
             'width': size.width(),
             'height': size.height()
@@ -370,7 +370,13 @@ class Phantom(QObject):
 
     @viewportSize.setter
     def viewportSize(self, size):
-        w = int(size[QString('width')])
-        h = int(size[QString('height')])
-        if w > 0 and h > 0:
-            self.m_page.setViewportSize(QSize(w, h))
+        names = ('width', 'height')
+        for item in names:
+            try:
+                globals()[item] = int(size[item])
+                if globals()[item] < 0:
+                    globals()[item] = 0
+            except KeyError:
+                globals()[item] = getattr(self.m_page.viewportSize(), item)()
+
+        self.m_page.setViewportSize(QSize(width, height))
diff --git a/python/pyphantomjs.py b/python/pyphantomjs.py
index b7eefba2..8251bd25 100644
--- a/python/pyphantomjs.py
+++ b/python/pyphantomjs.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python 
+#!/usr/bin/env python
 '''
   This file is part of the PyPhantomJS project.
 
@@ -19,35 +19,40 @@
   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 '''
 
+# automatically convert Qt types by using api 2
+import sip
+sip.setapi('QString', 2)
+sip.setapi('QVariant', 2)
+
 import os, sys, resources
 
 from phantom import Phantom
 from utils import argParser, MessageHandler, version
 
-from PyQt4.QtCore import QString, qInstallMsgHandler, qFatal
+from PyQt4.QtCore import qInstallMsgHandler
 from PyQt4.QtGui import QIcon, QApplication
 
 # make keyboard interrupt quit program
 import signal
 signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_DFL)
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
+def parseArgs(args):
     # Handle all command-line options
     p = argParser()
-    arg_data = p.parse_known_args(sys.argv[1:])
+    arg_data = p.parse_known_args(args)
     args = arg_data[0]
     args.script_args = arg_data[1]
 
-    # register an alternative Message Handler
-    messageHandler = MessageHandler(args.verbose)
-    qInstallMsgHandler(messageHandler.process)
-
     if args.upload_file:
+        # process the tags
         item_buffer = {}
         for i in range(len(args.upload_file)):
             item = args.upload_file[i].split('=')
             if len(item) < 2 or not len(item[1]):
-                if len(item_buffer) == 0:
+                # if buffer is empty, or tag has no
+                # value 'tag=', print help and exit
+                if not len(item_buffer) or \
+                item[1:] and not item[1:][0]:
                     p.print_help()
                     sys.exit(1)
 
@@ -75,12 +80,18 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
                 else:
                     args.script = args.upload_file[i]
                     args.script_args = args.upload_file[i+1:]
-
                 break
-            item_buffer[QString(item[0])] = QString(item[1])
+
+            # duplicate tag checking
+            if item[0] in item_buffer:
+                sys.exit('Multiple tags named \'%s\' were found' % item[0])
+
+            item_buffer[item[0]] = item[1]
+
+        # make sure files exist
         for tag in item_buffer:
             if not os.path.exists(item_buffer[tag]):
-                qFatal('No such file or directory: \'%s\'' % item_buffer[tag])
+                sys.exit('No such file or directory: \'%s\'' % item_buffer[tag])
         args.upload_file = item_buffer
 
     if args.proxy:
@@ -97,7 +108,16 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     try:
         args.script = open(args.script)
     except IOError as (errno, stderr):
-        qFatal(str(stderr) + ': \'%s\'' % args.script)
+        sys.exit('%s: \'%s\'' % (stderr, args.script))
+
+    return args
+
+def main():
+    args = parseArgs(sys.argv[1:])
+
+    # register an alternative Message Handler
+    messageHandler = MessageHandler(args.verbose)
+    qInstallMsgHandler(messageHandler.process)
 
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
 
@@ -111,3 +131,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     phantom.execute()
     app.exec_()
     sys.exit(phantom.returnValue())
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/python/utils.py b/python/utils.py
index 9cafb222..5fc0bd8f 100644
--- a/python/utils.py
+++ b/python/utils.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def argParser():
     )
     parser.add_argument('--load-plugins', default='no',
         choices=['yes', 'no'],
-        help='Load all plugins (i.e. Flash, Silverlight, ...)\n(default: %(default)s)'
+        help='Load all plugins (i.e. Flash, Silverlight, ...) (default: %(default)s)'
     )
     parser.add_argument('--proxy', metavar='address:port',
         help='Set the network proxy'
diff --git a/python/webpage.py b/python/webpage.py
index 289eece0..5022add8 100644
--- a/python/webpage.py
+++ b/python/webpage.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
   along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 '''
 
-from PyQt4.QtCore import SIGNAL, QString, QUrl, QEventLoop, qDebug
+from PyQt4.QtCore import QUrl, QEventLoop, qDebug
 from PyQt4.QtGui import QApplication
 from PyQt4.QtWebKit import QWebPage
 
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ class WebPage(QWebPage):
         QWebPage.__init__(self, parent)
 
         self.parent = parent
-        self.m_nextFileTag = QString()
+        self.m_nextFileTag = ''
         self.m_userAgent = QWebPage.userAgentForUrl(self, QUrl())
 
         if self.parent.m_verbose:
-            self.connect(self.currentFrame(), SIGNAL('urlChanged(const QUrl&)'), self.handleFrameUrlChanged)
-            self.connect(self, SIGNAL('linkClicked(const QUrl&)'), self.handleLinkClicked)
+            self.currentFrame().urlChanged.connect(self.handleFrameUrlChanged)
+            self.linkClicked.connect(self.handleLinkClicked)
 
     def handleFrameUrlChanged(self, url):
         qDebug('URL Changed: %s' % url.toString())
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ class WebPage(QWebPage):
 
     def javaScriptConsoleMessage(self, message, lineNumber, sourceID):
         if sourceID:
-            print sourceID + ':%s' % lineNumber + ' %s' % message.toUtf8()
+            print '%s:%s %s' % (sourceID, lineNumber, message)
         else:
-            print message.toUtf8()
+            print message
 
     def shouldInterruptJavaScript(self):
         QApplication.processEvents(QEventLoop.AllEvents, 42)
@@ -59,4 +59,4 @@ class WebPage(QWebPage):
     def chooseFile(self, webframe, suggestedFile):
         if self.m_nextFileTag in self.parent.m_upload_file:
             return self.parent.m_upload_file[self.m_nextFileTag]
-        return QString()
+        return ''