What is firefox and how is it different from Windows XP?

[therising]

Rising, for troubleshooting purposes, can you paste a link by pressing Ctrl-V as opposed to right clicking? \

Ctrl-V works!

U da man, George.

[GeorgeB]

Thanks, happy to help!

[DelawareDistrict]

Cool. I'm going to have to try that out.

My favorite extension is Sage - an RSS reader right in the browser. No need for a separate program.

I never tried sage, I use the Wizz RSS news reader, it is in a hideable sidebar in firefox, like the favorites bar.

[concernedwnyer]

Firefox is far superior to IE6. Most of the new features that will end up being released in IE7 are already in Firefox - tabbed browsing, downloadable extensions, etc. There are even extensions for Firefox that will allow you to open a page using the IE rendering engine right inside Firefox, in case you run into a stubborn page that doesn't work in FF.

As a developer, my only regret is that I didn't find Firefox sooner. The developer extensions are priceless... and free.

I never said it was not Better. Learn to comprehend the message "developer." I said it is buggie. Big difference. There lots of reports of problems with 1.5.2......

Who cares if it has features up the whazoo if it is flawed those features mean nothing. For security reasons I am not keen on trusting openware like that.... Internet Explorer has enough challanges keeping the security holes locked down. Good luck with the program anyhow.

[concernedwnyer]

You have nothing to lose. The firefox developers go to great lengths to make sure that there is no interference with other programs or settings. You can simply run the Add/Remove Programs utility through your control panel to get rid of it if you so choose, and it will not affect anything else.

I'm strongly in favor of using Firefox in place of IE (IE=Internet Explorer) because it is much safer. In fact I install it and set it up on all the computers for family and friends because it is that important.

You see, Internet Explorer is so tightly intertwined with the operating system that it doesn't take much to take complete control over a computer through an IE vulnerability. It's so easy in fact that sometimes all you have to do is browse a particular website to be compromised, and your antivirus won't stop it because the vulnerability is not a virus!

Let me put it this way, if all the people who come to Res for computer repair started using Firefox, he'd have to find a new line of work to supplement his income, because there would be that many fewer instances of "messed up" computers. This is fact, not opinion.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a magic pill that will solve all your problems. But it WILL keep you from being taken over by the thousands of hostile websites and programs out there that are designed for nothing more than to take over computers through IE vulnerabilities.

I have no stake in your using Firefox, this is simply friendly advice from a computer geek who knows how important it really is. The 'net is a dirty place, I like to say it's similar to the old west, there's very little regulatory control, and very few "sheriffs" to keep the peace. It's up to each user to protect yourself. The easiest way to do so is to stop using software that is proven to be vulnerable time and time again. Using IE is like travelling down the Oregon trail in the old days by yourself, without a rifle, with a big sign on your back saying "free gold". Yes, it's that bad, I'm not exaggerating even a little.

One last bit of anecdotal evidence - up until a year ago I was constantly re-loading and repairing my wife's computer. She no longer uses IE for web browsing, and wouldn't you know it, I haven't had to fix that computer even ONE TIME since she stopped using IE.

...just some friendly advice from a geek who knows

PS - To those who use and love Firefox, try Thunderbird which is an email program made by the same developers. I swear by it and use it on all my systems. No more Outlook vulnerabilities, and it includes *free* junkmail controls that are as high quality as the $30+ add-ons for Outlook. Thunderbird is for email what Firefox is for web browsing

You logic can flow in the other direction too!! Take it from experience.

[DR_GONZO]

I have been using Mozzila for over three years now. I frigging love this browser. If I ever have the misfortune of using IE on another computer, I always try to persuade the owner to ditch IE. Best feature about the tabbed browsing, 'Ctrl' and 't' pressed at the same time opens a new tab ready for exploring. After three years, I expect this for all my web browsing. Mozzila rules!!!!!!

[WNYresident]

Wanna help speakup?

If you don't have firefox go download it from www.onlinebuffalo.com

You'll see the orange button.

Google gives $1 dollar for each download of firefox.

[buffy]

I have IE, downloaded Netscape - been using that - should I switch to firefox, and if I do, should I get rid of Netscape or IE?

[DR_GONZO]

Is there anything wrong with netscape? If you like that browser stick with it. Or if you want to try the firefox/mozzila browser, go for it. You can always remove and restore your preference. I myself, would never go back to IE, no matter what they do to upgrade. They are years behind.

I wouldn't remove IE, just never use it unless something bad would happen to my current browser and I would have to hitch a ride back to the Mozzila website.

[concernedwnyer]

Wanna help speakup?

If you don't have firefox go download it from www.onlinebuffalo.com

You'll see the orange button.

Google gives $1 dollar for each download of firefox.

Always an alternative motive........ No wonder George is all nuts over the product.......... Here is the official WEB site for the product where you can read up on it, be informed and DOWNLOAD IT from the official site....

http://www.mozilla.com/firefox


Incoming........

Netscape is a has been. Nice for its time but there are browsers out there that are much better... Yep, ever since Netscape lost their law suit against Microsoft they just have not been the same. Sold to AOL now Google... Round and around it goes where it stops no one knows.

[DelawareDistrict]

Always an alternative motive........ No wonder George is all nuts over the product.......... Here is the official WEB site for the product where you can read up on it, be informed and DOWNLOAD IT from the official site....

That was really a spiteful post. Attacking a person who provides this forum, and many other websites, free of charge for everyone, including you, is uncalled for. Shame on you!

[buffy]

yea, shame on you, let the guy earn a buck!

[GeorgeB]

To Gonzo and Buffy, Netscape is fine, in fact it uses many of the same "behind the scenes" components as Firefox. If you're familiar and comfortable with Netscape, there is no reason to change. Netscape has come a long way in recent years, it's a fine product. I happen to prefer Firefox because of the extensible architecture, but for most people Netscape is sufficient.

Anything but Internet Explorer is my motto

Another reasonable alternative to Firefox and Netscape is Opera, but I'm not a big fan for some technical reasons.

[steven]

Always an alternative motive........ No wonder George is all nuts over the product..........

Uncalled for man.

[Ragin]

Always an alternative motive........ No wonder George is all nuts over the product..........

Concernedwnyer ... why do you think there's ALWAYS an ulterior motive for most everything???

I'm not making a buck here so I have no ulterior motive to say that I prefer Firefox over Internet Explorer any day of the week. It's faster and doesn't give me those pesky "site not found" pages telling me to clear my files out. What a pain that can be!!

I downloaded my Firefox software from www.onlinebuffalo.com and recommend it.