Why is Firefox so great?

chewmanfoo · Post by **chewmanfoo** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 8:52 pm

Hey,

I downloaded and installed Firefox and Thunderbird a couple of weeks ago, used them both for a while, then uninstalled them.

I didn't think either had an advantage over IE, with the exception of Firefox's ability to delete history, cookies, temp files and address bar contents through one button.

I've been hearing a lot of positive things about Firefox, and I do think it's a good browser, but it seems like everyone is jumping the bandwagon in spite of Microsoft. What are your thoughts about Firefox and do you really think it's better than IE?

dadx2mj · Post by **dadx2mj** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:00 pm

I dont think it is even a close comparison. The biggest thing about IE is has more security holes than a piece of swiss cheese. Not saying that Firefox has none but compared to IE it feels like it. Tab browsing is the other big PLUS for me. It also feels more customizable to me with the addition of plugs in and options I have it looking and feeling just the way I want it.

nexus_7 · Post by **nexus_7** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:09 pm

i like the fact that I dont get anywpyware with firefox. thats more then enough reason to switch for me.

Greg

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 9:37 pm

Originally posted by nexus_7
i like the fact that I dont get anywpyware with firefox. thats more then enough reason to switch for me.

Greg

Ditto.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:55 pm

No ActiveX or BHO exploits = less spyware, less security breaches.

I also find it runs snappier and is less buggy. IE just loves to crash occasionally for no good reason.

I don't like IE because it's too closely integrated with the operating system. You pickup a nasty BHO (Browser Helper Object) browsing a website, and then just opening My Computer executes it because Window's file Explorer runs under IE.

I prefer my browsers to just be browsers thank you.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:13 am

I agree with the others so far, and would also like to add it does a much better job of resizing pics it seems!

Many times on various forums I go to people upload pics that IE displays as amost 2 screen wide, bad enough having to pan left/right to view the image, but then every message in that thread is also 2 screens wide! Trying to pan left/right to read each line of text is a bunch of bull! Firefox normally resizes the image to fill the screen correctly and thus no panning required and all the messages are formatted correctly for reading still also. That was the biggest thing that moved me to Firefox. I had downoaded it and used it a couple times, but by BAD habit I was still using IE, just the Icon I was used to clicking. Once I found the images were handled so much better with firefox I seldom use IE anymore.

With all the things I have installed like Spysweeper and such, it's kinda hard to tell rather Firefox is doing things or something else, but I too have noticed alot less garbage getting on my system lattely. I think Firefox is helping there because after the wife and kid have used IE I end up with more of the trash again.

Not completely sure, but I think Firefox is blocking banners and adds for me at times also which speeds up my page loads sometimes ALOT! Could be something else I have installed, but I THINK it only happens when using Firefox, I load a page and various places will be boxes with the unable to load page or error contacting server type messages!! Yep, we know what those were don't we

Banner adds being served from some spyware home site. I don't want those banners anymore than I want the spyware so my surfing speed just went up alittle when those images don't download

The more images NOT downloading the faster the rest of the page does load. Sometimes it just doesn't seem to look right like that, but who cares, I wasn't going to click the banners anyway. It just isn't quite as pretty, but the page is still formatted correctly and that's what counts.

I'm still new to FireFox myself but the more I use it the more I like it, and the more I find it does useful things. Actually I am about to take the Icon for IE off my systems just to avoid using it by accident or habit.
Or I may leave it there and change the path to start Firefox instead, for those wanting to use the net here and not knowing what the browser icon looks like yet,

rndmtask · Post by **rndmtask** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 9:28 pm

You must not use the web too much. I know people who use IE and have no spyware problems but I'd rather not risk it. Tabs for me is what seals the deal. I can't live without tabs in my browser anymore.

Hell even if it weren't better I'd still use it. I like to be able to figure out why things don't work and have a chance at fixing them. Can't do that with proprietary software.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 10:02 am

You must not use the web too much.

I know that was not directed towards me

I practically LIVE on the web! The only system at home I'll connect to the web is on it about 20 hrs a day if someone is home. That's actaul use, not just the always on type non-use connections (We don't do those).
With 3 people hitting the same system we sometimes wait in line

Most of mine is late night.
We each have our own system that is important that is NOT online EVER.

tabs for me is what seals the deal. I can't live without tabs in my browser anymore.

I'll have to check into those, I keep hearing about them, never used them though. Is that like having 4 EI windows running at once and switching back and forth as you want? I do that all the time anyway, same thing with Firefox, I preffer having alot of open windows than one and swapping with tabs if that's what a tab is.

If you like to fix things that aren't working, stick with MS apps

Just saw something today about new flaws in EI 6, was posted yesterday, didn't read the artical though as it's the same old thing every few weeks or a couple months and you will hear of another problem.
Supposedly this one is not yet patched.

dave_sz · Post by **dave_sz** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:19 pm

I had firefox 1.0 for a week. Not a single GIF worked on any website. I tried everything possible, asked all the questions and did everything I was told. Everyone at the FF board was stumped so I decided to go back to the FF.9X which I've had for a LOOOOOOOONG time and I loved it. Guess what, now I have the same problem with my .9x. So I switched to mozilla and couldn't be happier. Only thing I use IE for is win updates.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 3:45 pm

For me

*FF is faster
*I can disable the proxey server ( I cant in IE @ Work )
*Tab'd browing ( This is great for forums )
*I haven't gotten any spyware crap since I started using it
*@ work, I have everyting I open in one fav folder, there is an open to open each in a new tab. Very nice

That is all I can think of for now

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:04 am

Something I just noticed is my URLs list has my most visited sites missing!
Like normally I hit just pc and the urls drop down and right there is the url to click for pcabusers. 3 forums I visit most are seldom in that list, I get other thing that have been loaded, but not some of the ones I been to most recently and often.

Is Firefox clearing the list automatically? If so how do I shut that off? What I don't understand on it is some sites I been to only once or twice are there, but almost every day I am at pca and a couple others and they are not there. Not that big a deal but it bugs me.

DoPeY5007 · Post by **DoPeY5007** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 1:49 am

hmmm, I type pca and it is there for me, so it may be something about your history time line or something

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 8:19 am

Tools->Options->History. By default it's cleared out every few days.

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 9:24 am

Thanks, FP
I hadn't seen that option in there when I looked before.
It was set to 20 days, I changed it to 100 days now maybe that will fix it. Funny thing though is I been to all those forums nearly every day at home, and many times this year from the office. That's far less than 20 days, which here at the office it shows (probably the default). I'll check the one at home when I get there.

I checked for spyware last night before shutting down at home, NONE found

I think I like the combo FireFox and Spysweeper

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Wed Jan 12, 2005 6:10 pm

If you haven't installed it yet, do a search for a Firefox extension called Flash Block. Single best extension for FF. It replaces all annoying flash ads, controls and banners with a button. If you want to see the flash then click on the button, otherwise it doesn't waste your time loading it. It's great for sites with a lot of annoying flash ads.