Firefox helping to make Web better for all

Boston Globe ^ | November 22, 2004 | Hiawatha Bray

[Radix]

In the past two weeks, Internet users have downloaded over 4.5 million copies of Firefox, the excellent browser available for free from the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation. Yes, there are hundreds of millions of IE users, but Firefox is gaining fast, and IE is losing market share for the first time in years. The switch to Firefox will happen even faster as more people realize the full power of this browser, much of it provided by computer hobbyists who are scrambling to create a cornucopia of useful add-ons.

[FierceDraka]

As soon as it gets popular enough to get on the hackers' radar screen, it'll be attacked like everything else.

True. But since IE comes bundled with windows (and most users are either uninformed or just don't care), I doubt that security problems with Mozilla browsers will reach the level associated with IE any time soon.

[shellshocked]

"I'd be upset too! :-)"

hardy har-har.

[Starboard]

Just started using it this weekend. Like it so far.

[Tribune7]

I've been using Firefox for about 3 months. I rarely use IE. When I do I feel frustration and wonder where all these popups are coming from.

[Ramius]

I use both IE and Firefox. Both are good for different reasons.

I dunno why people get so wrapped up in whosever browser or whatever software they use. I started out on Mosaic, and it was pretty much the best (or only) game in town. Then Netscape, and then IE, and Opera and Mozilla...

I thought it was particularly funny for Netscape to sue Microsoft for giving away a browser with their OS. Particularly funny since the way that Netscape had taken over some 80% of the browser market share from Mosaic was that Netscape gave away their browser for free... while everybody else was trying sell theirs.

boo fargin' hoo...

[Tribune7]

I dunno why people get so wrapped up in whosever browser or whatever software they use.

It's just something new to talk about. IE was better than Netscape 3.0 & 4.0 and I migrated to there from there. Firefox is better than IE.

[Eagle9]

If you liked the pop-up blocker, you'll love the Adblock 0.5.2.039 extension.

[billbears]

Bugmenot

Didn't even know about that feature. Been using Firefox for about two weeks or so and I love it. IE usually would freeze or have a fatal error at least once a week.

[kezekiel]

Same here. All must know Firefox's greatness and be converted... :-D

I want to have Firefox's baby.

[SouthTexas]

Alright guys, ya'lls hype got the best of me and am trying FireFox, although I haven't had any problem with IE. Am re-downloading plug-ins because I don't know what will cross and what will not, a blast on dial-up. Tabs are OK, seems no different that those on the bottom, which are still there at the moment. Suggestions to a new user?

[arasina]

I use Mozilla because it includes the email as part of the package. Should I switch to Firefox and the stand-alone email?

[kingu]

I wish I could take the leap and go to Linux full time; but the tools available for desktop publishing are still a little too raw for my production work. I figure in a year, I won't have a Windows box in the house.

[backhoe]

Thanks for the info- I'll take a look at it.

[evilC]

I have been using it for a long time, I love it. I have only found a few sites that it can not display (I have an add-on that allows me to open a page in IE with a right-click).

[Jonx6]

bttt

[Timeout]

I've been using FireFox for about 3 months.

It runs great except I do have a problem with some video sites (Daily Recycler, for instance). Should I revert to IE when I run into that problem or is there an extension that will solve it for me?

[Musket]

Problem is since the default on the Download Manager is "Manually" and I didn't realize this, my Download Manager got so full that it would hang my system indefinitely. After much looking around on the net to see how to empty this thing, I finally suceeded by just clicking clean-up and letting it hang, and going to bed. The next morning it was empty.

So beware new FF users, this default is "Manually" and if you don't change it or empty it regularly - manually - eventually it will get so full that it will hang your system something fierce.

[Musket]

Probably your file associations are screwed up. Sure, switch to IE when you go to that site, that's what I do. Or if you want to dig around you can probably change your files associations. Either way is good.

[melbell]

Each old download should have a way to remove them one at a time. I think. I can't remember well because I use and extension to change my download manager a bit.

[Musket]

Each old download should have a way to remove them one at a time.

Yes it does - if you change the setting from the default, which is "Manual" which is in effect Never, if you don't remove them manually. IMHO, "Manual" is a bad setting for the default. Most people aren't gonna know that they have to remove them so they will accumulate until there is a bad problem.