Firefox Rules
I stopped using Internet Explorer some months ago because I was sick of being constantly clogged with spyware, adware, and browser hijacks. Even though I regularly scan with Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Hijack This, I just got tired of constantly cleaning up. So I switched to Netscape. Which was fine. Until the recent update, Netscape 7.2. Suddenly I could no longer make Google my default search engine in the toolbar, being forced to use Netscape search. I don't like Netscape search. It doesn't open up to a clean URL from the search results page, instead carrying through the Netscape referral information. Screw that. I wanted to use Google. But there is no Google toolbar for Netscape, only IE. A quick websearch, though, did turn up a mock Google toolbar for Firefox (which Netscape 7.2 does not let you install). Add the inability to use Google as a default toolbar search to my existing frustration about not being able to use the browser menu to open Yahoo! mail. So what the hell, said I. I'll try native Firefox.
What a far superior product to Netscape. It gives you tabbed browsing functionality, which I really like. It also gives you a sidebar function, like Netscape, although the Firefox sidebar is a bit more limited than the Netscape one (no ability to have multiple sidebar tabs you can switch between from the sidebar). However, there are multiple fabby extensions you can download for Firefox. I now have an RSS aggregator in my sidebar (Sage), the ability to control iTunes from my browser (FoxyTunes), a "Google" toolbar, and the ability to use my browser menu to check my Yahoo! mail (WebmailCompose). I had none of this in Netscape. I also downloaded the Tabbrowser Preferences extension, which gives me the same tabbed browsing functionality Netscape comes with (e.g., Add New Tab icon by tabs, open home page in new tabs, etc.).
Oh, and by customizing my Bookmarks toolbar, I'm now able to toggle between most of my sidebar options from there. Not quite as nice as doing it from the sidebar itself, but a small price to pay for the rest of the Firefox functionality.
Yo Netscape - Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey, goodbye!
Comments
may i also suggest the following extensions:
1) bugmenot: helps you access those annoying sites which require registration... without actually having to register. great for following that quick like to the ny times for example.
2) undoclosetab: a right-click menu item that lets you undo recently closed tabs.
3) miniT+: lets you reorder your tabs
4) web developer: absolutely a must if you do any amount of web design. you can make tweeks to your CSS on the fly to see how they'd look without constant changes and reloads. turn on table outlines, toggle images, disable/enable java, javascript, cookies, image animation, ...
5) dictionarysearch: highlight the word on the page and right click and it will go find that work at dictionary.com.
and as you can imagine, the list goes on...
Posted by: ac | December 5, 2004 03:07 PM
You may, you may!
I tried them all. I wound up disabling Web Developer. I really don't do much web design, only tinkering around with the CSS of my site, so most of what was in Web Developer didn't make any sense to me (I don't know much HTML and know no Javascript). Edit CSS, another Firefox extension, allows me to tweak the CSS on the fly in what is a much more readable format for me.
I haven't yet had opportunity to check out Bugmenot, although I'm sure it'll be fabby. Undoclosetabs is neat, as is MiniT+ and Dictionarysearch.
Wheeee!
Posted by: Lesley | December 5, 2004 04:06 PM
Well I just downloaded Na Na Hey Hey from iTunes. Given the major effect you seem to have on me, Firefox may come soon.
Posted by: Mom | December 5, 2004 06:49 PM
I've been using Mozilla, in addition to IE, for a year and a half. I was surprised to learn so many people hadn't discovered it prior to the wider release.
From a security standpoint it is so far superior to IE it's not even funny.
My prediction: 30-40% of the market by summer.
Posted by: Jim | December 5, 2004 10:18 PM
Seems Netscape agree's with you, they too are switching to Firefox.
"...AOL ... plans to bring back a refreshed Netscape browser based on Firefox..."
http://www.betanews.com/article/Netscape_Revived_With_Firefox_Backing/1100641540
I've practically given up explaining the problems and fixes for IE. Anybody with less than a significant understanding of OS's, malware protection and fixes and tweaks should not use IE, period. (don't delete it, it is a part of the windows OS just quit using it - and keep your windows security updates current)
Posted by: Justin | December 6, 2004 04:15 PM
I'm kicking the tires on Firefox. There are some things I need to get use to - using the Google toolbar differently and most notably so far not being able to a way to use the middle mouse wheel to "wheel" through pages - but I do love the bugmenot feature. Firefox seems better for preventing those annoying pop-up adds, even those that sneak past other pop-blockers I use.
Posted by: Jon | December 19, 2004 11:40 AM
Not sure what you mean by "wheel" through pages. I use it to scroll up and down the active page.
If you mean to go from one tab to another tab, that I'm not sure about, although there's might be an extension somewhere that lets you do that.
Posted by: Lesley | December 20, 2004 12:21 AM