What is Firefox?

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Friends bugging me to install Firefox yet fail to explain what's better than IE. So ... should I install Firefox? What do I have to gain over IE?

[Husky01]

"FireFox is a web browser created by Mozilla, the original creators of the Netscape series of browsers. Version one was released in November 2004 and quickly gained new fans because of its open source license and multitude of features.

Open source means that the source code for the program is available to anyone who cares to download it. Any programmer can use the initial code to develop FireFox, whether they are creating customized options for themselves or working to improve the browser for all users. Being open source makes FireFox infinitely adaptable.

Some of FireFox's specialized features include pop-up blockers and advanced privacy settings. FireFox also offers tabbed browsing. You can open more than one website in your browser window and tabs on the screen allow you to easily switch between them.

The browser also has several advanced search options. There is a Google search built into the toolbar, but that's not necessarily unique. What makes FireFox stand out is the ability to create Smart Keywords that will work with your favorite sites the same way a Google toolbar search does. You can go straight to the information you want without having to visit unnecessary websites and menus. In addition, a specialized Find bar allows you to search for text within a site without having to bring up any additional editing prompts.

FireFox can be a highly personalized browser. And not just for programmers who can download the source code and tweak the browser to fit their needs. The average user can modify their toolbar look and settings and download extensions and themes. Themes simply change the look of the browser while extensions provide additional capabilities like mouse gestures or games."

-www.wisegeek.com


I downloaded Firefox sometime last year and haven't used IE since. My schools even switch over to firefox if I recall correctly.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

I absolutely LOVE FireFox, but I don't like the latest version, I think it is 3.0, when I upgraded I wasn't happy. Fortunately it allowed me to revert immediately.

[CAP1]

Friends bugging me to install Firefox yet fail to explain what's better than IE. So ... should I install Firefox? What do I have to gain over IE?

firefox is that super secret russian fighter that is invisible to radar, faster than anything in the air, and can be controled just by thinking what you want it to do.
 it's only problem is that you have to think it in russian.























sorry, couldn't resist

[trax1]

I would definitely recommend Firefox, about 9 months ago I switched to it and have never looked back.  I just find it works alot better then I.E and the one feature that I really like about it is that it has a built in spell checker, whenever you misspell a word a red line goes under it, you just right click it and it will give you a list of possible words.  So if I were you I'd atleast d/l it and try it for a week, a bet at the end of that week you'll never want I.E again.

[Gunthr]

the best part about firefox is that it is more secure that IE.   I used FF for years, but now use Opera because it uses less resources and seems to be just as secure as FF if not more. 

[Nilsen]

I use Firefox and Opera. Only time i use IE is when windows takes me to the windows update site.

[Denholm]

Ever since I started using firefox about 3 months ago I haven't been receiving any trojans or spyware. Before then I would average one for every couple months by using Internet Explorer. The only time I use I.E. is during certain Java sessions which FireFox can't handle.

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Since I switched, I've had a LOT less trouble with security. I keep most of my email online, I had switched to Outlook, but what I am keeping on my computer I'm changing over to ThunderBird. Outlook Express is as crappy, if not more so, than IE.

Of course, they say the NEW IE is going to have a "pron mode".

[bozon]

If the only thing you do is open one web page at a time browse a bit and close, you will not feel any difference between firefox and explorer. Firefox real power is in its flexibility and add-ons.

My firefox has split screen FTP in it (that opens in a regular tab) email checkers, advanced downloaders, easy image zoom inside web pages, script blocker and spell checkers in English and Hebrew. There are a billion add-ons available to suit every need, to fit things that you didn't know you needed and some you don't need at all but are still cool. The extra security is just the cherry.

It is not like you will go WOW when you try it. Explorer already copied all the important features that Firefox had years before, but it is still better especially if you are a heavy user.

[titanic3]

  Lots more options, if not better.

[uberslet]

I would definitely recommend Firefox, about 9 months ago I switched to it and have never looked back.  I just find it works alot better then I.E and the one feature that I really like about it is that it has a built in spell checker, whenever you misspell a word a red line goes under it, you just right click it and it will give you a list of possible words.  So if I were you I'd atleast d/l it and try it for a week, a bet at the end of that week you'll never want I.E again.

agreed. at least on my desktop...

my laptop runs fine on IE, dont know why.

[Sundowner]

It's a great web browser!

Here are my most excellent Firefox addon recommendations:

1)Adblock Plus
   Get rid of annoying advertisments and banners.
   https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865
   
2)Autohide 1.2:Firefox "true" full screen-Use ALL of your monitor!
   Firefox forums topic:                                                                                              http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=657792&sid=b2ebfb3478379b9bfc30c123561ca249
   Autohide homepage:
   http://www.krickelkrackel.de/autohide/

3)FasterFox: An addon with all the speed tweaks for Firefox so you don't have to 
   edit them manually.
   https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1269

4)Download Status Bar: View and manage downloads from a tidy statusbar,without the download window getting in the way of your web browsing.
   https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/26

Regards,
Sun
   

[REP0MAN]

Great browser.

New version just loaded up the other day, looks surprisingly like Safari. So much so, I thought my wife was using Safari on the iMac here. I sat down and asked why she was using Safari. She called me a dolt.

[Chalenge]

Firefox uses a lot less resources so if your system is one of those with 'onboard everything' and sharing memory with everything also then Firefox is certainly a good thing. It loads faster and is generally more secure (as others have said).