Any input on Firefox?

[SmokingMan]

I've been hearing a lot about Firefox lately. Is this as good of a browser as it's been said to be? I've heard that it's more secure than IE and also blocks all popups. Could it be possible that there's another browser that's better and more secure than IE? It's hard to imagine (really......it is), but I thought I'd check anyway.

[trackrat]

This is my opinion: firefox is more secure than IE, it also has tabbed browsing and it stops pop ups, but SP2 also stops pop ups. It also takes a fraction longer to load than IE.

And you cannot download microsoft updates without IE.

I prefer Opera, the only downside is the adverts which are not that intrusive but are their.

[SmokingMan]

I have the Google toolbar that stops most popups. I'm not that thrilled with the new security settings in SP2 for IE. It seems to block more than I would like. I have the popup block feature turned off. It won't even display simple DHTML code that creates a gradient on a web page without giving permission to do so.

[-pops-]

I.E is almost never used on my machines now. I much prefer Firefox as a general purpose browser.

There are a few things where only IE will do - like things connected with Microsoft (obviously) and some banking sites (not so obvious) so don't think you can un-install it :)

[expertec]

I didn't believe in Firefox before I tried it (associated it with bad memories of Netscape for some reason), but now I couldn't live without it.

Hardly ever use IE... only when I have to :angry: (Like on the :censored: computers at college)

[SmokingMan]

I'm beginning to get the picture here that Firefox might just be all it's cracked up to be. I like the idea of tabbed browsing. It's not unusual for me to have several windows open and have to go back and forth. Does Firefox support the evcryption protocols that IE does when it comes to handling online transactions? Is it as secure in that respect? I couldn't seem to find any detailed info on Mozilla's website, at least not to answer the questions I have.

[Tony]

Hi

I have IE & FireFox installed on my system, but IE still tends to be my default browser, i do prefer it to Firefox, to be honest i don't really know why i have FF installed as i hardly ever use it.

But i have never had any problems with IE either, before SP2 came out i used to use the google toolbar with it to stop popups, but i don't need that now. I always keep IE upto date with the updates, and yes there was a lot of them, but i believe that is because IE is on 92% of computers world wide, and if you are one of the scum that likes to write virus & worms you would go for the best way of spreading it around. I'm sure that when & if FireFox takes a huge share of the browser market you will get people starting to exploit it the same way as IE gets exploited.

Tony

[SmokingMan]

Well, I installed and tried to use Firefox. I've checked all of my sites and, ads don't display, DHTML gradient code doesn't work, javascript effects don't work, embedded audio doesn't work, javascript image transitions don't work, and pages configured with <div> tags don't display correctly,. Someone tell me again why I should use this browser.

[scuzzman]

I've not got a single problem with Firefox...

You may need to install certain plugins to get certain things to work, but stock firefox, when I installed it, did everything you said it doesn't do.

Want reasons why you should use Firefox? I take it you like spyware/adware/trojans installing themselves on your computers? I take it you like popups? I take it you LIKE the idea that the FILE MANAGER you use for restricted private content on your computer is THE SAME BROWSER you use to view the unrestriced jungle which is the internet??? No thanks...

[lester1]

I tried it and at first it seamed alright, after a while I started having problems when clicking on links in OE, I also could not get a spell checker to work despite many attempts.

Went back to IE :D

[-pops-]

As I wrote previously here, I have few if an problems with Firefox and certainly not those things things you have complained about, SmokingMan.

As with most software (or things in general) you have to learn how to use them. Firefox is NOT Internet Explorer and it requires somewhat different techniques to be able to use it effectively. When you have learned these things, possibly by reading the instructions, you may find that Firefox is as good as is said about it. A quick download and expectation that you will be able to use it immediately as an IE replacement is unfair.

Obviously there is no obligation on you to use Firefox but don't condemn it out of hand because it didn't work as you expected after just a few minutes or hours of using it.

[SmokingMan]

Maybe I jumped the gun a little. I have discovered the reasdon my sites don't display properly is because they're not W3C compliant. I'm not a professional developer, but do it as a hobby. I have to find a way to make these pages compliant so they display properly across all platforms. I'll withold judgement for a while.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

The only "problem" I have with FF is that a great number of sites are exclusively designed to work with IE only, and naturally don't display correctly with other browsers. Our company's intranet site even checks for IE6, and disaplys an error message for everything else.

But as FF gains quickly in popularity, webmasters should think twice before they implement IE-only websites. It simply prevents more and more users from visiting their sites.

P.S. Don't forget to install the SUN Java JRE, as FF doesn't come with its own Java engine.

[scuzzman]

Maybe I jumped the gun a little.  I have discovered the reasdon my sites don't display properly is because they're not W3C compliant.  I'm not a professional developer, but do it as a hobby.  I have to find a way to make these pages compliant so they display properly across all platforms.  I'll withold judgement for a while.

This is probably it - FF is a standards-compliant browser...

[SmokingMan]

I'm so embarrassed, I'll be working on making my sites W3C compliant :wallbash:

[expertec]

The only "problem" I have with FF is that a great number of sites are exclusively designed to work with IE only...

Before I started using FireFox, I didn't think it would display a lot of pages, I was surprised how few didn't work properly. :rolleyes:

Only occasionally do I come across an IE only site, and for those I have IEView which adds the options "View this page in IE" and "Open link target in IE" to the contect menu.

[andsome]

I tried it and at first it seamed alright, after a while I started having problems when clicking on links in OE, I also could not get a spell checker to work despite many attempts.

Went back to IE  :D

DITTO

[Ash]

Once you get used to it, the extensions keep you using it. I didn't switch for security really - IE isn't that bad if you know what you're doing on it. It's brilliant extensions like Adblock, DownThemAll, BugmeNot and site-specific ones that improve browsing tenfold, as well as a better options menu (in my opinion.)

[rong]

They recommended it on the gadget show on Friday

[Zfactor]

I like firefox over IE for many reasons.

1. There are alot of extensions that you can get secure from Mozilla's site, like an FTP program, RSS news feed, and other just useful apps that IE does not have.

2. The tabbed browsing is something you can't live without once you get it.

3. The popup blocker works extremely well, even with IE blocking them I still had some get through

4. You can configure Firefox to take out pretty much every ad banner on the net. A few get through, but I rarely see an ad banner anymore.

5. The search bar built in has not only google, but other sites like Dictionary.com where you can search/look things up. (so you can use alternatve search engines if you want, and you don't have to download anything).

6. It is more secure, hands down.

7. I like the cookie manager better, especially because you can allow cookies for session only so you do not wind up accidently allowing spyware cookies on.

8. The password manager is more consistent than IE (e.g. it doesn't sometimes randomly forget your information). and you can protect all your passwords with another master password if you wan't.

I won't tell you which is better, that is a matter of personal preferences, but you should definately try it out and see for yourself.

[z3ncha0s]

The tabbed browsing in Firefox is excellent and I like the extensions that are available for download, expecially the weather (doesn't add functionality, but its cool) and Fireftp (best little ftp client I have ever used). But the one thing that really sells Firefox for me is that it DOES NOT SUPPORT ACTIVEX thank god! Before I switched I was constantly plagued with spyware and addware and I was constantly running ad aware and spybot to clean my system. Now my system is always clean, no matter where I browse (not that I surf unreputable places). I think the only thing I will ever use IE for again are updates.

[Scarecrow Man]

Firefox has more plugins, and therefore can be more versitile. But you still need Internet Explorer for Windows Update.

[primavera]

What I like about Firefox is:

- tabbed browsing

- you can doubleclick to select just one part of a URL in the location bar, e.g. to change neoplanet.co.uk to guardian.co.uk

- you can set it to delete all cookies every time you exit

- seems to manage bookmarks better

- feels safer

Only downside is/are:

- it "feels heavier" than IE, which loads faster

- when you select File-> New window the new window is your default homepage (IE duplicates the existing window) which creates some navigation problems (can't remember what, next time it happens I'll let you know)

That's Firefox 1.0, maybe there's a newer version.

PV

[CurlyWhirly]

I have recently been having an annoying Active X problem using Internet Explorer, so I thought that I would give Mozilla Firefox a try, and I must admit that I am converted.

I will now only use Internet Explorer for access to Microsoft's website like for example when I need to download security patches.

It seems to me to be noticeably faster than IE but with Microsoft due to release version 7 of IE later in the summer, I wonder whether it will give Firefox a run for it's money?

[scuzzman]

Considering Microsoft's track record and current market share, my thoughts are that the current people using FF are going to probably continue to do so, and more will probably convert. Simple fact of the matter is, people are getting sick of the way MS laughs off security.