Rob Cheng
Dave Methvin
Steve Hogan
Lyle Schuknecht
Bill ZahrenFirefox 3, A Must Or A Bust?
Mozilla’s download day was a huge record breaking success. What I want to know is, why I never use it? What’s keeping me from feeling the warm and fuzzys that everyone else feels?
Firefox always gets an Icon on my desktop, I always download the latest, but it never gets much use. Is the reason habit or preferences? I decided to give it a week of concentrated effort and see if I could kick the IE habit. I clicked my Firefox icon, clicked Help, and Check for updates. The program updated to the new Firefox 3 without a hitch. I will spend a whole complete week trying to accustom myself to using Firefox3. By weeks end this article will be ready to share and I’ll include the results.
Day 1 of using Firefox. Updated it and played around with some plugins for thumbnails for the “about blank” page. Got a cool looking page but it wasn’t as easy to use as I thought it would be. My mistake, a links bar works better.
Day 2 of using Firefox. Well I’m barely into day 2 and have my browser looking like this: Browser jpg . The two browsers look very similar but I’m still finding things that aren’t convenient for me. Like inserting a picture into a word document. With Internet Explorer I open the “Insert Hyperlink” function in MS Word, open the file in IE from my storage area and bingo the link inserts and gives me a chance to type the displayed text. Using Firefox that doesn’t happen. I’m sure there’s a plugin to get around it. I’ve spent about half an hour searching, but so far “no cigar”.
Day 3 of using Firefox. Went to check my e-mail today and immediately realized that my Outlook Express wasn’t integrated into Firefox. Did some more looking and found that including Outlook Express may be a bit of a task. Two and a half hours later I am able to send messages using OE in Firefox but no way can I receive them. Don’t have any more time for configuring today. I’ll have to try again tomorrow. So far, it’s getting a little tedious, and because of the time, costly.
Day 4 of trying to use Firefox. The honest truth is that I didn’t use Firefox today. I had too much work and that involved using Email and some other functions that I just couldn’t find in Firefox. At the end of the workday I gave it a go again just to live up to my pledge but basically my work requirements prevented me from using Firefox. Well to be fair, my preference for Outlook Express makes Firefox less convenient.
Day 5 of using Firefox. Day 5 has me back on track. Even without the integration of Outlook Express I managed to focus on using Firefox. I used Firefox faithfully all day and only a couple of times clicked the IE icon by accident. It’s not very convenient and I must tell you that I’m not comfortable with it. I hate leaving the browser to check and send e-mail.
Day 6 of using FireFox and IE. Today I know why I don’t like Firefox. It’s because I can’t integrate the things I like into it. I gave it a halfhearted attempt but I know the switch is doomed.
Day 7 I'm using IE. Sorry, just not going to happen. I love Outlook Express for my e-mail and although I’ve tried others, including Thunderbird, I’m staying with Outlook and as a result Internet Explorer. Not only that but I just like IE. No use switching just for the sake of switching.
Firefox vs. IE Pros and Cons
Pros.
- Less memory use: which leaves more for your system and other tasks. This was a much-needed improvement and is still a problem for IE.
- Firefox is faster: I can’t prove it but if they say so I’ll go with it. It opens pages fine and I don’t see any major lags. It’s certainly not slower than IE.
- More Secure: I can only say that when going to questionable sites I receive fewer popups and Hijackers while using Firefox. I’ve always viewed Firefox as better at stopping spyware but just don’t visit risky places very often, unless it’s for “research” of course.
- Unlimited and cool plugins is the part that I always overlook. I’ll explore these options completely this time.
- Amazing bar: most love it some hate it but I just ignore it. I believe this will fall into the Pros column for most users.
Cons
- Cannot integrate Outlook Express: after several hours of trying. I’ve found how to use Outlook Express to Send e-mail within Firefox but not receive them. For me this is a big problem. There are lots of queries and suggestions on the web, but so far all suggestions fail. Please don’t ask why I don’t use Thunderbird or another program. I like Outlook Express and don’t like the others. It’s that simple.
- Tabbed Browsing: yes, I know, everyone likes tabbed browsing, but I don’t use it.
- Links: or bookmarks as the case may be. I just want a links bar. I don’t care about the amazing bar, or all the new search features. I just want a simple links bar, not something tied to bookmarks, or frequency of use and related searches, just a links bar. Right now I have Firefox configured with a Bookmarks bar. Is that different from a links bar?
- File Download: there is no “run” option in Firefox. In Internet Explorer I have the choice of running from the current location or downloading. Firefox doesn’t offer that option. It also doesn’t give me the choice of where to save each file. I can set the default location in another place but that would be a hassle to change for each download. There is a plugin for that in previous versions, but I haven’t found it for Firefox 3 yet. I’ll let you know.
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I know Firefox is gaining users but IEs native features keep it in the lead. Yes, there are plugins for Firefox, but just comparing the basic programs has Internet Explorer winning the race for me.
I’m sure if I was smart enough and had enough time I could accomplish the task, but having a busy schedule prohibits that. It just takes too long. I bet I’m not the only dummy in the world either. There are plenty of people who just don't see the need for switching to Firefox.
For those who say, “just look how it’s gaining in popularity”, I say “yes”, just look. It’s been almost 8 years. It’s sitting at approximately 19% world wide, depending on whose figures your quoting, and although it’s gaining market share it’s been a long slow process. Is it a "Bust"? No, absolutely not, but it's not a "Must" either. The sooner it gets over it’s aversion to Outlook Express the better if will be for us and Firefox. Lets hope the Firefox 3.0 replacement, already in the works, will accomplish this.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I have heard much about firefox and I've been thinking about trying it. These comments have convinced me that it will be OK if I wait a little longer. Thank you for these comments. Wade.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I really can't believe you ditched firefox because of outlook
geez there are a few ways you can use outlook in ff just like running pcpitstop , you run a page as a IE thats all, further more outlook is not a very good mail prg. at all, ever heard of gmail now thats a mail client, amazing filters etc. I get 200 emails a day aprox. and at gmail they all are sorted by the type of mail into separate labels
just can't understand the logic of dropping ff because of outlook
Thank-you
rocky220
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Whats Outlook Express. Where do you get it.
Switch to Vista now and enjoy life without
OE
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
I have dial up I had downloaded firefox 3 I realized I could no longer gain access to my dial-up service as all my htm,.html,.shtml and other files were changed over to mozilla,folder options,file types
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I switched away from IE because I had problems with IE7 affecting my Quick Books and I was getting a lot of adware on it. The final quirk was with MS Outlook (not Express which have no use for). My Outlook was really slowing down supposedly because of IE7. I tried to fix it but just got tired of all the problems. So, I side lined both IE7 and Outlook in favor of Mozilla Firefox 3 and Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail with the Mozilla Lightning calandar ad-in. I have never been happier; they work great with no glitches or slow downs and no spyware problems. It is Mozilla forever for me. They duplicate all the conveniences I used to use in IE7 and Outlook without all the problems I was having on a regular basis. I have a policy - I don't use clunky programs that give me problems period. The door is closed and I'll never go back. Now if I could just do that with MS Windows without having to shell out the big bucks for a MAC. I'll never go there.
Ron in Tampa
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Did the author ever thing that ms will not ALLOW ANYONE TO USE THERE PRODUCTS (outlook express)
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
IE is slower by far, and not nearly as secure. Firefox wins that battle hands down.
As for email configuration, why would you want to use Outlook Express anyway when there are better, full featured email clients out there for free? Think Thunderbird!
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 am
I used to prefer using Mozilla for most things - it was just that little bit sharper - but somewhere along the line Javascript stopped working and I have not been able to fix it. Pity. Adobe no longer works on it either - a serious handicap.
I still try and research on Mozilla and send messages on IE as if the research window freezes I do not lose my collected summaries on the message when the browser has to be closed down and re-started!!! That is not a common problem with my current computer but I developed the habit on my old computer and I have not dropped it yet.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 am
Another horrific con-job of a web browser. Everything they claim it can do is so untrue. Plus it will not save websites of adult-nature. Tried it…hated it…did not…would not work with many sites. IE6 is here to stay!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 am
This is a great but basic article. As Pros go I am a true beginner about a month on Firefox. I was a die hard IE fan since 1990 probably said I wouldn't use any thing else. But! With the Micro soft changes which caused so many crashes and other problems over the last 5 months IE has become the enemy of my computer.
The security settings changes cause production decreases of up to 50% at times. Programs like java, adobe, all of their players, and any type of HTML player would be blocked when windows and IE choose to the point that they had to be reinstalled to use them again. For a while flash player had to be reinstalled about every 11/2 to 4 days, depending. With Firefox I do not have that problem, with any of the players or viewers. I use the ad-ons of ad blocker but there is no filter set up so it probably is not working, No-scripts which is missing the one option, allow whatever page always sometimes but others it is there and I use it only on pages I visit all the time. The only other ad-on is autofill, because the security changes stopped the auto complete in IE.
I us XP Home have a 6 year old computer and it worked wonderful until the SP3 and now SP2 changes this spring and summer. I run SP2 which is not suppose to have the same problems as SP3, but after working with Microsoft for over a month each day almost, and they either couldn't or wouldn't fix the problems with the Windows and IE problems. Just changed to Firefox and amazing the only problem is the updates which MS does so often causes some problems.
I am still learning Firefox, but as a browser goes less crashes, less blocks and more functionality without setting windows security blocks off so even files on my computer are inaccessible are worth much more than the two pages I have found not to work with Firefox. The couple of pages I have found not configured for Firefox might want to consider the 19% of the world as new customer options but life goes on if they do not it is their loss.
I use outlook express as well but do not use it within my bowers as of yet, and it does work well from the outside. Thanks for a good article, felt the same way about not having time to teach this old dog new tricks but MS's unwillingness to ease off on their changes caused this old dog to get a new bone.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:52 am
When is Pitstop.com going to make it so that its tests can be done using the Mozilla Firefox browser since a lot of us don't use IE anymore?
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Alright, you said "It’s been almost 8 years. It’s sitting at approximately 19% world wide, depending on whose figures your quoting, and although it’s gaining market share it’s been a long slow process."
It will not be like that if IE wasn't a microsoft product and IE was the default browser for every windows that installed on every new PC worldwide.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
I'm sorry, but your commentary is horribly biased and at risk of sounding derogatory, you are a major tool. You have extremely specific requirements for the usage of your browser and email and that might be fine, but your complaints are very invalid. Tabbed browsing is not a con because you just don't use it. IE7 has tabbed browsing. Argument invalid. You can very easily set Firefox to ask you where to save each file. You don't need a plugin for that. Yes, the bookmarks toolbar is the same as your precious links bar.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:52 am
I found it incredible - as in "not credible" - and unforgivable that Microsoft would place the Back/Forward and Refresh/Stop at opposite ends of the address bar, and lock them there. That was enough, Firefox is now my default browser.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
"The sooner it gets over it’s aversion to Outlook Express the better if will be for us and Firefox."
I think you'll find it's the other way round. M$ does its best to make life difficult for the Fox!
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I downloaded FF3 but i notice something that is bothering me a lot and is that when i click "bookmarks" it goes slow and annoying to highlight the link i want to click.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
what took 7 days from you took about 3 years from me ..
I've been online for about 10 - 11 years
4 years ie
3 years Firefox
3 years opera browser and that is what I'm using right now .
i can't say that I've enjoyed the first days when turned from Firefox To opera but just as you said ,, it hurt a lot if you are using mail so much .
although i was using thunderbird still the idea of having to open 2 application to work online with me just doesn't feel right .
firefox is fast online . true .. opera and safari is as fast or might be more .
i'm not comparing FF to other browsers but in the past years firefox was gaining much bigger herd and the "Firefox Fanboy syndrome" was aggressively infecting every one online .
what i like about opera is having e-mail , irc , browser , feed reader .. etc
all in one application and everything works from the fresh install . thus doesn't need any more addons or extensions .
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Regarding downloads:
1. In Options, Main, check "Always ask me where to save files" if you don't want to always use the default.
2. In Options, Applications, you can choose how many downloads are handled. For example, for Adobe Acrobat documents and a few other types, I have changed the action to "Always ask."
Regarding IE requirement for some sites:
The IE Tab add-on is indispensable and allows me to specify that certain sites such as Microsoft Update and (unfortunately) the PC Pitstop tests should be rendered with the IE engine when invoked in Firefox. There's also a convenient icon to switch the rendering of the current page if it dowsn't work right in FF to see if it works better in IE. The only recent time that I've actually loaded IE was to update its version of the Adobe Flash Player.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
philistine !.
OE works fine within the get mail add on for firefox,just needs a little tweaking,firefox is very usable highly customable and handles 99% of web pages easily,when it can`t open certain web pages then there is another optional add on called IE tab making it easy to switch engines.i think you have a case of the `change isn`t good`.i have been on firefox for over 4 years and yes found it a little difficult at first because it was `different`but after using it for about a month i was a true convert and now advise friends,family and people who`s computers i repair or upgrade to try firefox.once you start using it properly you will NEVER go back to IE.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Love Firefox Since SP3 I've had to reinstall IE7 and still does not work 8 times and my outlook express address book is not accessible They have a whole list of things to fix it if you know computer talk. Tried to go back to IE 6 no luck. This how I get it to work. Made a link in bookmark bar and set it for my hotmail account it works. Now I use hotmail live because can not use my address book in outlook. Firefox is fast and no cashes yet in 2 years. As for making outlook express your default email I found you had to make sure it is pinned to your start up. I love the fact that I use Foxmarks and can keep all my bookmarks in sync and no one can see them like some programs.
I put all my downloads in one folder and rescan them for viruses before opening and anyone who uses my computer can find their downloads in one spot. Tried Thunderbird not keen on it could be because having so much trouble with outlook maybe. Hate hotmail because it will not forward my mail to other email I like. Since SP3 it is gone nuts to forward some have to bring it in on laptop and sent through outlook. Can't on desktop. Oh well love firefox.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
If all of you people could use a Mac for your everyday tasks you would be amazed of the integration level and abilities between Safari, Mail, Address Book, iCal, etc.
Maybe you should consider another kind of 'switch' rather than that between IE and Firefox…
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
If all you are looking for is close integration with a Microsoft product then you really should not be looking outside of Microsoft. Few companies can integrate with Microsoft products as well or better than Microsoft. However, if you are looking for an excellent browser then there are several choices and Firefox is one of the best.
Furthermore comparing market share is misleading. Microsoft is the default on all desktops and most people are not even aware that there is a browser alternative.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
To have Firefox (any version, as far as I know) ask you where to save your download, do this:
From the Tools menu, select Options, and on the Main tab, you'll see, under Downloads, the option 'Always ask me where to save files'.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I have been using Firefox (v2) and I later added Thunderbird for probably a year. I got fed up with Outlook and I.E. crashing and getting messages from Microsoft telling me it is because I am using old software - upgrading for lots of $ will fix it! (No going over to Thunderbird AND Firefox will fix it free.
There are a few drawbacks like not having word as the email editor, so no nice formatting but I found the spell checker add on.
I also had to download a back up add on which backs up both, not sure how good it is.
I have never tried to send or receive email from a browser unless accessing it on the ISP site so I don't find this is a problem however I will look into how you do that as it sounds interesting.
I really like Firefox, maybe I will look for the upgraded version.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
First of all, I've installed my Outlook one too many times on my computer. I finally get a Hotmail account to actually get the thing to work on my laptop. My desktop however, crashes the Mozilla Firefox one too many times too often to make me feel safe using it. Considering Netscape is somewhat dead, I mean, Explorer may work better but we've all gotten used to the convenience of Firefox.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Firefox all the way for me
Been using it for years and will NEVER go back to the less secure IE.
At least you gave it a try before making your choice too.
It is very easy to change your download path to ask each time like IE too.
It's under Tools/Options then the Main tab.
Click next to Always ask me where to save files.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
You say 19%. That's 19% of people who took the time to go out and download Fiefox instead of just using the IE that came on their PC's. I have three browsers on my system, and I still use Firefox more than the others combined. I don't use outlook (never tried because of all the security problems) and I don't use word, works, office ect. because of their cost (try "Open Office" yet ?). IE gets used only for those sites that are not configured for Firefox. I don't miss it!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I was a user of Netscape Navigator back in the old days, loved it. When it went to the wayside in the browser wars, and MS FORCED me to use IE and OE, I used those. However IE 6 was getting long in tooth, took up too many resources, and didn't display a lot of pages correctly, to say nothing of security concerns.
So I switched to Firefox and Thunderbird. Oh I kept IE and OE because some sites I use require them, but for the vast majority of sites FF was it for me.
I find FF and Thunderbird a great combination. Easy to upgrade, more secure, faster and a better all around experience.
I have not had a single crash of my browser since I switched two+ years ago.
I feel the "author" went into the story with a prejudice and it sure showed.
FF and TB are by far the better browser and e-mail client. Outlook Express…. yuck!
Besides neither FF or TB require me to do anything with MS!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Get with the program…Firefox blows away IE….I hate to change but I tried it…and am so glad that I no longer use the IE…..Firefox for one is so much quicker..and it does not get all intertwined with the OS..I could go on and on….Stop being all pussed out over change…some change is good.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I can't believe that you didn't approve Firefox 3. Firefox doesn't crash or freeze like IE7. It's amazingly faster as IE. You also didn't give Thunderbird a try. Thunderbird integrates very well with Outlook Express and is even faster. With Thunderbird you don't need open any browser, because itself is an e-mail client and browser.
And at last both, Firefox and Thunderbird can be standalone apps.
I copied on system both standalone apps and cut off troubles with MSIE and MSOE.
Greetings from Sao Leopoldo, Brazil.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I used FF for a while and dumped it - after a while it slowed down and froze up. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but at any rate it just didn't work for me. Now I use Avant and absolutely LOVE it - it does everything IE does only cleaner and faster, no pop ups, no ads, no junk. I don't care about OE - I use MS Outlook and it pretty much runs quietly in the background, but one day I'll make the giant leap to gmail. Why don't you do a review of Avant? I promise you that you'll be forever hooked…
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
dig around the internet and learn to configure firefox (about config) and the themes and addons. using Outlook express (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3102) might have some information you can use. Check out download helper add on.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Installed Firefox 3 and set it up to open with with Google News. As far as Outlook Express is concerned I cannot commnent as I use Incredimail Xe to collect up to 6 e-mail addresses. Nothing else is amiss on 36 other programs I have installed with my OS being XPpro/SP3/IE7. I have not installed the various add-ons available as I have no need for them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
G'day,
WELL WELL WELL, Finally an honest report about firefox, I've tried to get a response from the team about A glaring problem with OE mail and Ffox " you can import to ff mail but cannot export back to OE once you find a dissabling problem with Ffox browser like my problem. " waiting seconds for the text to appear when typing into it"
Don't waste your time…
They don't care about problems that mention ie or oe in it.
Better get on with it. Hoo Roo
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Let me see if I have this right. You are still using Outlook Express for email AND you don't use tabbed browsing and you are the one they pick to review FireFox? Isn't that sort of like having a Soccer Mom review the latest Porsche? "Sure it's fast and fun to drive, but there are no cupholders and my kid can't watch a DVD in the back. I'm sticking with the Grand Caravan and so should you."
Pathetic
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I'm definitely not a fan of Firefox, but my husband is. I really think it's just a matter of preference. He hates IE. I love IE. I don't have any problems with IE. My system is as secure as they come. Everytime I have tried to use Firefox I have had problems with websites. I gave up. It just isn't worth the hassle for me to have to play with it so much.
Of course it is nice to finally hear that Firefox isn't so wonderful and to have something in print I can send to my husband to prove I'm not the only one!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
A couple of add-on/Extensions will get you going:
Get Mail Plus 3.2 and IE View 1.3.7
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Googlemail works fine with Firefox. Get yourself a Googlemail e-mail address. Give it a try. I think you will like it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
FYI….You can run things you download in firefox. The option can be chosen when you click on the download link on whatever website you are using. This is exactly like IE. You must be blind!
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
It's not surprising that you gave up on Firefox for the simple raason that you went into the test with a negative attitude, and assumed that everything that didn't work for you was either not available or broken. Firefox has literally hundreds of Add-ons available to customize it to your hearts content. I don't know why you're complaining about not being able to access email, since Firefox is a BROWSER. If you want an integrated browser/email client/HTML Composer/Messaging, you should have been testing SeaMonkey! I can't imagine why anyone would run a new application from a remote server rather than downloading and virus-checking it first! You can create a personal toolbar of links and in fact customize all toobars to your hearts content. Your problem is that you want Firefox to be a clone of IE, and not the superior and fully customizable browser that is provided. Your review might as well been written by Microsoft, as it is in no way objective.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I manage about 20 websites, and FireFox is my default browser. I use MSIE 6, MSIE 7, Opera, and Safari to check for code compatibility, but shut down those suckers when I'm done. I really don't trust MSIE. Using Firefox I avoid visiting questionable websites.
I'm a careful surfer. I use the FireFox McAfee SiteAdvisor to flag dangerous web pages that Google turns up. I like the tabbing feature, the smaller footprint, and a number of other features. I just wish MS would pay more attention to HTML and CSS standards so I would not have to program around MSIE's strange behavior. Put me in the "converted" column!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Ofcourse he does not like it, he is married to microsoft. What gets me is how narrow some people get RE using MS word and other MS products, they really do not rate high with me.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I have to use Firefox in the office (and Thunderbird and Lightning) and find it highly amusing to listen to all my colleagues whinge due to the everincreasing number of Updates that keep interupting their work flow. I have now heard that FireFox4 will be released in less than 12 months? I also hear rumour that the next version of Lightning MIGHT know what to do with a meeting invite
I use Outlook (2007) and IE7 on Vista at home and it is paradise. Interoperability is the key to productivity.
Q: What's the difference between Microsoft and Open source?
A: Microsoft users expect the Machine to do the work.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I has ff 2 for quite some time on an older XP computer. I bought new everything including Vista Ultimate, and haven't really felt a need to install ff. Now that we're talkin about it though, sometimes IE just stops working. The menu's gray out and the buttons don't work. What's with that? Think I'll give ff another try - and come on PC Pitstop, we've been waiting forever!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
I never use Firefox either even though I have it. Decided to update to the latest version and give it a try. WAY faster than IE. I transfered my bookmarks and think that Firefox is gonna be a keeper.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I ditched IE long ago. I seldom, if ever, open and use it.
If everyone will notice - those that feel they cannot give up IE are all using MS Office products. If you can break that habit, you will truly be free to discover another world out there.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Such a shame that the author of this article entered into his review knowing the outcome. Unquestionably one can find cons to any program if one seeks them out, and his review is so clearly preferential from the onset that he cannot even begin to claim to be neutral. He has integrated himself so heavily into the Microsoft product family that he has no hope of objectively reviewing this article. It would be akin to saying doesn't like a Ferrari because it doesn't come with an ipod dock.
The reason that IE still controls as much of the market share as it does is not testament to the superiority of the browser, it is testament to the inferiority of knowledge the average computer user has.
JM2C's
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Hello Fu22yLojik.
I'm not claiming to be neutral. I was just questioning why I don't use Firefox. It's not that Firefox is not a better program, it's that there are reasons I like IE better. There are choices other than just the "best". Otherwise it would be a boring world of just one program, one computer, one house, one car. I just choose to use IE and now I know why.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I'm with Rocky22 and the others wondering why you are still using such an old, outdated email client like OE, and why you'd make a decision to ditch Firefox because of it? You're totally exposed with OE, Dude. Firefox is so much better than IE, I have removed IE from my machine. Thunderbird is a whole lot better client than IE any day, but here are even better ones. Go open source.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
This doesnt look honest and I feel the prejudice and partial opinion….looks like PC pitstop is agaisnt MOZILLA, honestly and to make it short…I dont buy it.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Dabozz, I use it because it works for me and I've never had any problems with it. I like it. I guess it would be different if I were missing emails, or was unable to send them or getting viral infections but I'm not. Open source isn't better source. Lots of the things that are said to be better are just different. Safer isn't important if you've never had a problem with security. I don't use an antivirus either. So Avast and AVG being "better" than Norton isn't an important issue for me personally. I don't have any axe to grind solely because a program is from MS or some other non-opensource provider.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Wow, this article is completely full of [edited by administrator]. You don't use FF because AOL doesn't support it. Stop making other excuses and go get a clue. [edited by administrator]
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:54 pm
IE: Sloow Firefox: Fast!
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I havent used IE in years. I had to use it once a few weeks ago and was horrified at how basic and cumbersome it is.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
This review is a joke, isn't it? People actually use OE? Lots of half truths or half lies, take your pick. Reviewer is obviously a bonehead.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The author is being completely biased with this review!
1) Bookmarks = Links, so Links bar = Bookmarks bar.
2) Tabs are not a con. They're a feature. Even if you don't use them, that doesn't make them a con. If you don't use them, then they don't affect you, making it neither a pro, or a con. It makes them moot.
3) It doesn't link in to OE, and Word. I'm sorry, I don't think that "Loads a full word processor to write an email" can be considered a feature. And, yes, firefox has a way to put a picture in a word doc. It's called Copy and Paste, and it's been around since the late nineties. You might want to try it sometime.
4) You can run a program that you downloaded from firefox. In IE Virus' run automatically, infecting your computer instantly. The download manager gives you a chance to make sure that the file is what you want, because idiots like you are too busy getting yourselves infected, and keeping people like me in work. All you have to do is just double click it in the window that just popped up anyway.
So, you know what? Go ahead. Use IE. Go around, get yourself infected with viruses, and get you hard drives wiped, and have people snooping on you with they're "OMG WE GOTS A SEARCH TOOLBAR FOR YOU TO ADD TO YOUR 70 OTHER ONES!", cause when that happens, you're going to pay hundreds of dollars to techies, and firefox users to fix it. And we'll be happy.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Of course firefox doesnt work well with outlook. Microsoft created outlook, so it will never work with anything except Microsoft programs.
There is also a addon for firefox to add the run option to downloads
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Any product switch involves a learning curve and therefore a loss of productivity. To expect instant rapport and success is naive in the extreme. I'm afraid shogan has demonstrated his bias and achieved a "self fulfilling prophecy". Having said that, if the guy wants to stay with IE then do so be it (it doesn't detract from my positive FF experiences). But don't put other people off - make your own judgements people because FF is faster, safer and easier to use.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I don't see why you want to read and write e-mail from your browser. What am I missing? Why not use a browser to browse, and a mailer to mail?
I use Thunderbird for e-mail: it does a super job with the seven different e-mail addresses I have to use. I was delighted to get away from the sillinesses of Outlook and Outlook Express, like having to remember to click "Send/Receive" after telling it to "Send" an e-mail. Thunderbird just does the job without all that nonsense.
I use Firefox now for 99% of browsing - I keep IE for those wacky websites that won't work with Firefox (although I don't buy stuff from those).
I also have the "development" versions of Firefox - Gran Paradiso and Minefield - on my machine, just for interest.
I did one very fortunate thing some months ago: I decided that since XP is over 5 years old, any fixes they haven't already made can't be important, and I turned off automatic updates. That meant I didn't get my machine screwed up by SP3 or by the "ZoneAlarm killer". My frozen level of XP Pro works OK. Hopefully, by the time it doesn't, I'll have switched over completely to Linux. I've started down the path…
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
yeah well you're a [edited by administrator] and you should stick with your horrible software no one gives a [edited by administrator].
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I was a casual user of IE7, mostly for web browsing etc. I switched to foxfire cause a friend said IE7 had major security problems and foxfire had overcome those. I had about a week of learn time and was then using foxfire as my only web tool. I have no problems with it now since I found out you had to download add ons from their website for things IE7 had already integrated. As an aside I was having system problems with my computer where it would crash about once a day while browsing the internet. I chalked it up to bad memory or XP glitch. I figured I would have to troubleshoot soon. It's been a month since I've gone to foxfire exclusively and my system has not crashed once. I can only think it was the IE7 web browser that was crashing my system.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I've been using Firefox now for over 4 years and it has had it's ups and downs. I love a lot of the features that it offers, But I don't sweat the negatives much. If it needs a
plug-in I just install and go! If not that's okay too! I like the tabbed feature and everything is where I need it.
BIG PLUS!! IT'S SECURE!! I have used IE7 and it sucks to me, So! I'll stick to what I like the best and you can use what suits you best. That's the way it works. I have some programs that require IE6 or better for viewing their content and works for too! Firefox just won't work for everybody, But! For me it's just fine.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
GG on making the internet hate you!
How the [edited by administrator] can somebody using Outlook AND IE be allowed to write such an article. If you prefer this stuff, well, stfu and dont tell anyone, but dont write an article about the IE beeing better than the FF, seriously, way togo man.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Reading this article, I was appalled at the lack of enthusiasm and neutrality over trying FF. I'm glad to see I'm not alone in this assessment. If I were as stubborn as the reviewer in my willingness to try things, I'd still be running Mosaic 2.0 or Netscape Navigator 3 on a machine running Windows 95 over a 14.4 dial-up connection. Many things other comments state I agree with, particularly the OE integration comments.
Through 1995, I used NCSA's Mosaic. From 1995-1998, Netscape was my browser of choice. From 1998-2006 it was IE, and from 2006 on, I've been using Firefox exclusively, using IETab to render the few sites I need to have rendered using the IE engine. My point? Times change and maybe in a few years I'll ditch FF just like all the others, despite my claims (just like I made with IE) that I couldn't possibly see a reason to move to another browser. As a reviewer, you have an obligation to open your mind beyond your comfort level to truly test whatever it is you're reviewing thoroughly, and it is very apparent you completely failed at this this time around.
This is the most biased, half-baked review I believe I've ever seen here. It's an embarrassment to what I have always viewed as a valuable, objective, neutral resource–until now.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
i have been using Firefox since it came out and would never go back to IE.I use outlook 2000 not the [edited by administrator] Outlook Express.I have no problems at all.I have added a few add ons and am satisfied,good luck with IE.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 pm
From the looks of if, your not worthy to use FF. FF is far more advanced than the simple mundane areas you examined it. This review is not even worthy of being posted on this techy website.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I've used both IE and FF for years. The only thing that keeps me from staying with IE7 full time is that it crashes when too many windows or tabs are open. Many things keep me from going with FF full time, including I hate the way it copies images (slow as can be and actually locks up the browser at times). I can't see where either is faster than the other. I believe FF is probably more secure, but have never really had a problem with either as long as my AV and Anti-spyware are up to date. I also use and need Outlook, since we have our own domain. But I never understood how anyone would ever need email to run from a browser. The one thing I love about FF is how it will offer to save the urls I have open when I reboot. If IE did that and quit crashing, I'd have no reason to use FF. To each their own I guess.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
FoxFire was a movie with Clint Eastwood, Firefox is an internet browser. Who cares what browser other people use? The best thing about Firefox is that it allows you to attain a degree of independence from Microsoft {or is it Softmicro?}.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
i just don't understand how someone manages to crash Firefox or does'nt use it because Outlook Express is'nt intertwined into the browser.I have none of these problems.I download pics ,files ,and whatever else and never have a problem.I think Micro$oft has all of you brain washed
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
since i do NOT use outlook OR express, i find ff to work for me fine. the thing i LIKE about it is the tab PLUS the option to open another window.
One window for personal stuff one for biz.
can open tabs in each one and swap back & forth.
is there anything i miss about ie?
no.
and i need to be on literally 2-3 hours a day, in 3-10 min spurts.
cept with i am reading pcpitstop or the latest IRS regs.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
You're using Outlook Express as your mail client? Stick with IE .. the rest of the world has evolved ..
I wouldn't use any browser but FF and FF3 is the best one yet. IE6? .. not even Microsoft recommends using IE6 ..
Yes, I have tried the other browsers .. all of them. FF is still the best IMHO ..
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I don't get it guys.
He is just voicing his personal opinion. Just like how you guys are bashing him in every comment.
Imagine if you wrote your favorable comments on a blog and suddenly a whole wad of people come and flame you just because you like IE/Firefox? That's just immature.
Suck it up, and learn how to coexist. Microsoft installs Internet Explorer on every new PC. I don't see anyone complaining about Safari? Just another round of hypocrisy from Firefox users.
By the way, I am using Firefox 3.0 to write this. I would prefer IE7, but it doesn't have crash recovery.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
If you want to save items to anywhere apart from the specified location, you just click the ckeck box below where it asis always save here, and y ou can choose every time.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:09 am
My wife and I each have a laptop running Vista. We both use MS Office 2003 and Outlook for email. I switched us both to Firefox 3 because, with the Google Calendar, an entry on one PC can be synced to the Google Calendar on the other computer. And, with an add-on, the Google calendar can be synced to Outlook's calendar. So either one of us can make an entry on either Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar and it will appear on both calendars on the other computer. I have Google Calendar set as my Home Page that opens when we boot up our computers. I also found it easy to use FF 3 and don't feel I've lost any functionality.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:15 am
why would you want to read email from your browser any way? I use outlook from the MS office 2003, and use IE plus FF, but like keeping my email seperate. Just seems safer, and I can actually multi task more quickly (thats why they put the tabs at the bottom, or use the old "alt + tab") I cant wait for the day we can actually escape MS dominance. Even tried the latest rendition of Netscape about a year or two ago, but it was awful.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:28 am
So dump outhouse express get gmail and join this century.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:45 am
I would not take a review like this on any product seriously. Sure the pros and cons are listed at the end, but every day is filled with a seemingly stubborn negativity. The one thing really nagging the critic is that Outlook Express can't be integrated. Fine. Move on. How about all the amazing features that add security? Look, I hate change, but I had no choice but to switch to Firefox the more I looked into it.
Yes, "more secure" is listed as a con for FireFox, but the critic takes more time repeating himself about the Outlook Express integration than exploring any of these cons. It can be assumed the critic read "more secure" on a description of FireFox and didn't even explore the more secure features. For example
NoScript: Informs you of every single script trying to run on your page, giving you the option to always or only once allowing every certain script–as opposed to the totally insecure and vague IE message "Allow this script?" Which script?
Flashblock: In IE, you either install Flash and let every Flash element play on your page, or you don't install it at all. At least, that's last I checked. With Flashblock, you can set it up to display every Flash element as a box, which one must click on to run. In this way you can choose every specific flash element you want to play. Ever been to a site with a video you want to watch, and had to wait while 5 video ads all over the place load and start to play? How about blocking them from starting, and just clicking the one you want to watch? Pretty handy.
Privacy: Anyone working in IT understands that when you tell IE to delete all temporary files…it simply doesn't do it. With Firefox, it does.
Tabbed Browsing: What kind of review is "Tabbed Browsing: yes, I know, everyone likes tabbed browsing, but I don’t use it."? That's supposed to be authentic? And that's listed as a con on the review. Below the belt. Listen, at first I may have found it confusing. But it's more confusing as a web developer to have 8-10 IE windows minimized on the Start bar, and now I've run out of room, so they're all listed under one button, which must be clicked to display a drop-up list, and now I have to know by the title which is which. In Firefox, it's all the same window, and you can tab between windows very easily without taking up all the space on your Windows bar for other minimized programs to be found. Even my mom thought this was amazing when I showed her what you can do with it. For example, if you have a folder in your favorites called "My new home," where you've "bookmarked" 20 homes you're considering buying, how about right-clicking the folder name, and choosing "Open all in tabs." You'll get all 20 pages opened at once, all on their own tab, and you can just tab inbetween. So, sorry the critic doesn't personally like it, but I felt the need to give a more descriptive explanation of what it does.
I use PCPitstop very often, and find it to be a very thorough website, but this kind of review really disappoints me.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:03 am
While I can agree with IE users on a few things, I really never use it anymore, pages do not display correctly and I love that when my computer decides to freeze up I can simply open Firefox and it resumes right where I left off.
The comments in the article above state that Firefox doesn't allow you to save the files to where you want, this can be fixed in the tools > options menu. There is a checkbox that allows you to save files where you want rather than the default folder.
Also outlook and outlook express being a microsoft program are plagued with the same problems as the operating systems that they feel a need to rush to the market before solving some basic security problems. I personally run Outlook and at least three times a day it stops responding as does my IE.
IE is also plagued with media problems where I can't even open a simple video by clicking a link as I can in Firefox.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:19 am
you're kidding, right? i use the outlook express CLIENT along with firefox. ie is plain slow and not worthy of any stress or time. i hope someone more open minded will write. who prefers crashing over browsing? lol
July 24th, 2008 at 1:43 am
LOL this has become the new hillariously skewed article of the week, thanks PC pitstop for your biased reviews that consider tabbed browsing as a con! clearly, this is the place to go for legitimate reviews!
July 24th, 2008 at 1:57 am
Is this article about "using Firefox" or rather "Outlook Express"? Did you ditch FF due to Outlook Express?
Two years ago, I was using Internet Explorer consistently and was infected thrice with malware. I reformatted my system twice and during the third time, some nice folks at the anti spyware forums suggested firefox.
I was blown over by FF and I'm still using it. Of course, it has flaws. But hey, which software doesn't?
Firefox 3 is very nice.
(Quote):Another horrific con-job of a web browser. Everything they claim it can do is so untrue. Plus it will not save websites of adult-nature. Tried it…hated it…did not…would not work with many sites. IE6 is here to stay!(Quote End)
umm..you're trying to be funny? FF is a con-job? What about opera or the other browsers out there? IE is the worst con job out there. The only reason they exist is because Windows is used by most people worldwide.
(Quote)File Download: there is no “run” option in Firefox.(Quote End)
Just checked out Firefox and there is an option. Seriously, did you review Firefox properly?
(Quote)Tabbed Browsing: yes, I know, everyone likes tabbed browsing, but I don’t use it.(Quote End)
Okay, so don't use it!Besides, doesn't IE 7 have tabbed browsing?
(Quote)unless it’s for “research” of course.(Quote End)
I use Firefox as my default browser. FF is not for "research only", neither are the other browsers.
(Quote)I bet I’m not the only dummy in the world either.(Quote End)
So, all Firefox users are "Einsteins"??? Is that your point? OMG! And if you claim to be a "dummy", why write a review about an "Open-Source" browser anyway?
Get over the view that "Firefox/other open source browsers are only for Geeks"!
Some alternate titles for this article:
1. Firefox is nice but I hate it!
2. I'm a fan of Microsoft Outlook.
3. I hate all the other browsers (except Internet Explorer) since they're cooler.
Could you review Firefox without any bias?
July 24th, 2008 at 2:00 am
I run Fire fox on both windows xp and ubuntu. Almost all my computers on my home network run both.I have found that all of my boys and my wife prefer fire fox and ubuntu, over xp and IE. They all say XP takes to long to load and run. My wife said XP always crashes and locks up, when she tries access her "e"mail. My wife rarely runs xp and ie anymore. She said "it always crashes and I must reboot". I did't teach my family to run this ubuntu software, I just installed it. I told them to try both and run the software they feel that ran the best. Ubuntu has a default browser of fire fox,and once set up runs great. To say fire fox is not browser of choise, in my opinion is wrong. How many people @ microsoft VS. Opensorce write software ? Just my opinon, Bill Gates my hero, But not the only software that runs great.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I used to love Firefox, but after 3.0 came out, I switched to Opera. That's because Firefox 3.0 is bloatware and slow, and takes too much RAM. Even IE takes too much RAM on my system.
Occasionally, I'll run into a site that requires either IE or Firefox, so I'll use Firefox Portable 1.5 [not 3.0] for that particular site. But Opera does allow me to mask or identify itself with a site as any of the browsers they ask for.
However, Opera is my main browser. Its fast, meets all my needs, and is generally my home a lot more often than getting into software or games.
Your review is extremely biased and doesn't even sound like you had any interest in the project. Something tells me you were paid to do a review. My roommate stopped using Outlook when he realised how easy it is to get a virus and other badware from it. He's learned that there's always something different or better out there and you don't have to Microsoft your whole world up just because its "mainstream".
And PCPitstop, update your Neptune pages. Neptune works again. And please, start supporting Firefox, Opera, any alternative browser. You are behind the times for that. Just because IE does ActiveX is not a good reason to force users to use IE if they don't want to.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Is this a knock microsoft site? Why do FF users have to slander IE7 to make their point?
Only need to list any features FF has that IE doesn't to make a choice. All browsers have their good and bad points. The perfect one has not yet been invented that can cope with the hundreds of different computer specs out there.
So stop whinging and just make a choice that suits you.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Just out of curiosity…are you still running Win95 also?
I admit I haven't switched to ff 3.0, but Outlook Express? Are you kidding?
July 24th, 2008 at 5:56 am
I have been using FF for sometime now, in conjunction with Yahoo Mail. I do nt get virus attacks, or have any problems with system crashes. Also have "msn" loaded on the system to keep in touch with a few people who prefer not to use skype or yahoo messenger. FF is faster, more secure, easier to use and does all I need it to do.Ie is plagued with glitches that I cannot be bothered to work around. Ymail is secure,has excellent spam filters and allows me to attach word documents easily and efficiently. I am, in conclusion, happy with my setup, and would not move back to an ie based system. In essence, "if it aint broke don t fix it".
dlw uk.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Maybe its because you are inept. I had no trouble putting a picture into Word, just right click the picture, choose copy and simply paste into Word.
As for using Outlook Express…that says it all. Why would you want to read your emails from your browser anyway…why not simply open up the program itself…lame excuse and bone idle laziness. Has anyone ever told you that checking your emails directly from a browser is not exactly the safest thing to do…especially when that browser is IE. Do you know anything?
It appears from your article not only are you inept you are bone idle to boot.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:27 am
your all missing the biscuit…opera is the way foreward.
it may take a while to set up initially to get it looking and working how you like, but once thats done it blows ff, IE and safari out of the water
July 24th, 2008 at 6:43 am
I dont understand.
What do you mean integrate OE into Firefox?
I use XP professional version Outlook as my email client. In the past I used OE but always used it alone. I have been using Firefox for about a year now. But occasionally use IE.
Would like to hear more about integrating Outlook into IE.
thanks
July 24th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I have downloaded firefox 4 times and deleted it as many times and I totally agree with you on everything you have stated. I have been trying it because I have a bug in my adobe flash player 9 which throwers me off the net if it doesn't like the web site I am on. I installed Ibero which has a flash blocker and that works for me now, but I thought firefox would cure the problem, but it didn't.I'm all IE7
July 24th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Furthermore, what would MS be doing to us if it were not for a few teeny competitors? Without competition we might be paying to get IE, perhaps major updates to all of its software. Sorta like the good old days before Toyota and Honda showed up when we had a choice of Ford, GM and Chrysler - the three US companies were building total junk. Today it is still junky compared to Toyota and Honda. How long does it take GM to reverse engineer a Japanese car? Answer: as long as it takes MS to produce an XP3 without major bugs. Any employee ever get fired by MS because software was buggy? Or is it such a company-wide thing so large that most of them would get busted. I do not want software that does everything — I want a core program for which I add what I want. Isn't that what is going on with FF? Don't like tabbed browsing? Do not present a straw man argument, just don't use it — and do not describe things like it in such a way that others will not try it.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Everyone has bad habits and Outlook Express is one of those ( in my opinion ). Thunderbird is at least twice as good an email program as Outlook Express and you can run Firefox and Thunderbird at the same time thus achieving a quality internet experience. But I'm not concerned if you aren't!
July 24th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Great discussion - I too am a great fan of Firefox, been using for couple of years from version 1.0. At one stage had a problem viewing .pdf files, but that got "fixed" as well. The add-ons solve all sorts of probs - I can right click, click on "View in IE" and presto, page is viewed in IE, no loading IE etc. Another great add-on is Download Helper - lets you download any video off the web (e.g. TouTube movies, etc). Then using a player like FLV player, you can play them back "offline" anytime. Another great feature - if any sort of crash and FF closes down with multi tabs open, when it restarts, asks if you want to resume and allows you to go back where you were - tabs and all.
I'm one of those simple ones that is happy to use OE for mail - but that is no problem, I have an icon for OE and one for FF in the quick launch bar and work with both open all the time.
I guess it just comes down to preference, but FF gets my vote hands down. Cheers.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:18 am
This article makes me want to tear my hair out. Obviously the author, and PC Pitstop as an organization, have a vested interest in diminishing the steady increase in popularity and the overall superiority of Firefox.
Anyhoo, to sum up what the author says, Firefox 3 is a must, unless you need browser integration with Outlook Express, in which case, it is a bust. Outlook freaking EXPRESS!
July 24th, 2008 at 7:32 am
This is an opinion piece, not a review.
I started using Firefox last August (2007) for the Thirty Day Challenge. They taught us how to set it up, what plugins to use and how to use them, and I have a browser that does more than I ever dreamed a browser would do for me. Before that month I was a die-hard IE user, but not after and never again.
Maybe you should try some training on Firefox before trying to make it work for you in only a week by yourself? In a few hours of training videos Firefox became irreplaceable for me.
This year, TDC is using Flock. Will likely try it out because of all the great social media it integrates, but most of it can be done in Firefox with the correct addons.
IE7 - nothing but trouble. Quickbooks can't update, every time I even open it accidentally I get a spyware infection, it's slow as molasses on a cold day and has very little functionality in the internet marketing world.
Why are you so adverse to having two or more apps open at once? I use FF, Outlook and MS Word running all at the same time and have no problems on a 4-year-old machine. I'm considering switching to Thunderbird and open office since I can't afford the newer versions of MS Office. Google Docs also work great for free.
However, all that said, my next computer will be a Mac, and I'll run either Firefox or Flock as my browser. Just because Microsoft is bigger and more popular by default doesn't make it better, and never will.
BTW, you can get a Macbook for about $1200, comparable in price to a PC notebook computer that's a little more than very basic. If you have a monitor and want a desktop machine you can get a Mac mini for $599.
No one I know buys the most basic machine new. Why get a new computer if you can't have some of the bells and whistles? My first PC that did almost nothing compared to machines today was $2000.
Next you'll want a mainframe…
July 24th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Firefox blows IE away for web developers. I love the following plugins: Firebug (Javascript Debugger), JSview, MeasureIt (measure items on screen), View Source Chart (see the current html document even if changed by javascript), Web Developer, an Yslow (analyze download speeds, file sizes etc.)
July 24th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Wow… for once I disagree with you. I am a fan of your site but I have to so disagree with you on what you had to say about Firefox. You can't teach a old dog new tricks. Your set in your ways with IE is all that is wrong, as Firefox is 100% faster, easier. I run an accounting business out of my home for 8 years now and I never had a problem with Firefox and outlook.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:51 am
I used to use IE7, but gave up when I took a look at FF. IE7 was slower than a dog in winter. IE8 (beta) is even slower. FF is quick and easy to use. After installing a few useful extensions and themes, I'm a happy camper. And who the hell uses OE anymore?
July 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I have been testing my system at pcpitstop since somewhere around IE4.0. I switched to Firefox around v 1.5 and have hoped pcpitstop would support Firefox. Looks like it ain't gonna happen, but I installed UBUNTU Linux (dual-booting with XP) a few months ago, so I have almost quit using Microsoft bloatware. FF 3.0 on UBUNTU appears to run about 3x the speed of either FF 3.0 OR IE 7.0 on XP.
I originally shifted to FF because of frequent crashes and file corruption in IE and OE. I used to uninstal and reinstall OE every couple of weeks (often losing mail and address book in the process). I have kept FF & Thunderbird mail up to date ever since my original installation and have never needed to "reinstall" either. I can access my mail files from both XP and UBUNTU, but seldom get on XP now - except to install updates.
After reading this hatchet job, I have decided my need for pcpitstop is at an end.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Have been using Firefox for several years, I think that it is much better than IE. The only reasons that I keep IE is to get updates from MS and because my wife uses hotmail. But the new version of IE is such a problem that we have just recently stopped using it with hotmail. No matter what setting we make for the Pop-up blocker on IE (including allow all pop-ups), it always blocks pop-ups. This is a real pain when friends send us links to their pictures and we cannot access them because IE blocks the new window.
The nice thing about Firefox's pop-up blocker is that it not only tells you that it blocked a pop-up, it also asks you, at the same time, if you want to allow pop-ups from that site.
As of now if it wasn't for MS update I would find some way to dump IE completely off of our computer.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I noticed alot of people saying that Firefox can't be integrated with stuff like Windows Update or Outlook… this is wrong… as Firefox can handle plugins and addons, there is a genius one that lets Firefox integrate IE into it… conveniantly called IE Tab. I can't believe you don't use Firefox.
To me Firefox is like cookies, it works quicker that IE7. For me IE is slow and sometimes unreliable.
Firefox is open sourced and has brilliant extensions out there to maximise your viewing pleasure, and to suit your needs, from Piclens to SaveSession, from DownloadHelper to Auto Shutdown.
If you want it so Firefox can open IE webpages just go onto Firefoxs website and search IE TAB or you can use this link…
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419
July 24th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Good grief, what a lousy "review." Some things can be measured (e.g. speed of rendering the page), but they are not measured. Yet speed is terribly important if actually does much surfing. Security is also measurable. It's not measured. It's important. Extensibility (add-ons) are important if they provide key functionality. Not addressed.
As this goof of a reviewer has wasted my time, I suppose I should quickly say what is bad about FF. First, its protective features, especially as supplemented by add-ons such as NoScript, sometimes make it impossible to play certain multimedia files, particularly video. Solution: use the IE Tab add-on, click on one icon, and use the IE rendering engine. If that doesn't work–and it almost always does–right mouse click and "run external browser" (i.e. IE). Second, sometimes the integrations with other programs require some configuration, which CAN be a pain. Solution: see above, if you can't get the integration to work. Third, some pages just don't work well in FF. Don't ask me why. But this is very, very rare. However, as the appearance sometimes is different in FF & IE, if you're a web site designer, you'll need both.
In every other way, FF is so vastly superior, both in basic functioning and in its extensibility, that no rational person would prefer IE. You like all those flash ads that constantly besiege you? No. There are add-ons to halt them. You want not to see all those adds? Easily done with add-ons. You want world times on your browser? No problem! Etc., etc, etc.
July 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
OMG… That must be the worst review I ever read in my life…
Outlook express??? Really???
All the cons you mention are stupid.
1) There are plug-ins for that (but again, Outlook Express??? REALLY??)
2)No comments.
3)Links: Humm?? Looks like drunk talk…
4) OK, we have a winner. Firefox is way better than IE on this. You can OPEN (or run) OR save to the default location. You like to be bothered about where to save every time you download something? That's OK! You can select "Always ask me where to save files" JUST BELOW the place you define your default location….
Geez…
July 24th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I've been using Firefox for over 3 years now and I love it
can't see any reason to stop. I think it's good to be ranked at 19% world wide,that only means it's not worth the time for some hacker to exploit.
One thing that's also great about Firefox is that most all the add-ons for it were designed by people who had a need for a browser to do some task and designed a program to do that task.
And best of all,it's all Free.
To me Firefox is a MUST , and remember their motto
" Please Don't Hurt The Web "
July 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
So any answers to my adobe flash 9?
July 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I have used Firefox on my PC's for as many years as it has been around and Safari on my Mac. Now I also use Safari on my PC's and find it very reliable. I dislike the vulnerability of IE and anyone who downplays the weaknesses and "holes" that Microsoft refuses to either acknowledge or "fix" is not being very open-minded, IMHO. I have not had a crashing success with Thunderbird as it seems to be more complicated than my computer skills level or my time will allow to decipher. It really sounds like it is a matter of an old habit, a cherished comfort-zone which the author is loathe to abandon. I am always saddened when enlightened people refuse to move forward because of old habits.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
NOT a good review or reviewer. First, he said he was going to try ff for a week, and it is clear from the beginning that he doesn't like change (an open mind is best for a reviewer). Second, it is clear that he did not use ff for the whole week, only for a while some days, not at all on others. So, how can he make a reasonable review? Besides, using ANY new software would require more than a week to learn and get a feel for it. If he had visited the help/support pages it might have been easier for him. Personally, I don't care what browser he uses, but if he is recommending to others what to use, it really should have been a fair look at the software.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
The ONLY advantage I can find with FireFox 3.0 is the ability to access certain porn site on-line videos. They are blocked by IE (dont' know why) but the FoxyLadies do appear on FireFoxSexyLady browser. Other than that, can't see any real advantage.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I'm not surprised at your eventual ending, but I am surprised that you put tabbed browsing in cons, since IE has it too!
Browsers, like most mature software, do a LOT more than just browse!
Because of this, there is a learning curve as with any complicated device. As others have pointed out, there ARE ways to do all of things that you want to do, but just like IE it takes time to find them and learn to use them.
You did NOT learn IE7 in one week! You learned it starting with a much earlier version and adding to your knowledge over a period of years.
You cannot expect to learn and feel comfortable with ANY software. IE and FF are actually quite similar in the way they are worked, similar thought patterns were in the designer's heads.
Try going from Word to WordPerfect sometime! Corel designers have a thought process which is very different from Word designers (and neither is a "word processing program," both are really "publishing programs."
You actually don't seem to use very many features of IE, so I'm not certain why you chose or were chosen to do this "test."
I ALWAYS load at least one additional browser (FF or Opera, usually) into any Windows installation. This is because sh*t happens, software can break or be broken or infected or deleted. A second browser allows you to at least get online to try and diagnose and fix, or reinstall the malfunctioning component(s.)
I use FF the most, used to use Opera more, but changed a few years ago for a reason I no longer remember. I use IE only as a last resort.
The only thing I really have against IE is that MS likes to create non-standard html etc. code that ONLY runs properly in their browser. I wouldn't mind that either, except that too many webmasters use the stuff without considering the millions of users of other browsers.
There is a reason for standards.
How about a REAL review comparing the most popular browsers, feature by feature.
Oh, one last thing, it is possible to make FF look and behave exactly like IE if for some reason you wanted to do that….
July 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
IE constantly hangs up. Firefox does not. I've used it now for about 3 years. I only use IE for one site that is not Firefox compatible. I like Firefox allowing you to keep your bookmarks open to hit the 10 or 12 I use in the course of the day. With IE you have to keep clicking the star, which then goes away with some other action on the screen.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
The run feature is stupid because you are still downloading the file just to a temp folder. So basically its still taking up space on your computer you just don't know exactly were allot of times in IE. Most people don't realize that and wonder why IE gets slower and slower over time.
Jumping into Firefox can be different instead of using it on your work computer I would suggest you try it at home and try out the vast extensions and my favorite the themes. You can customize ever aspect of Firefox to your liking. Yes there is a transition stage between firefox and IE but once most people understand they can make the browser tailored to there exact liking they fall in love with FF.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I use Firefox for browsing and Outlook for Mail.. Are you too lazy to click the Outlook Icon?? My God, You don't have to have your e-mail in your browser, I prefer Firefox because it loads videos MUCH more seamlessly than IE, plus I can customize it to look how I would like it to look.. and I'm not too lazy to have my Browser and E-mail separate.. You went into this so-called "review" already disliking Firefox.. How about a reviewer with a little integrity?? Someone who will give an HONEST review??
July 24th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
and to follow up, you can set firefox to ask you where to store each download in "tools" under "options"
July 24th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I too use Outlook Express, but I use it in stand alone, have never used it in any browser. So I am some what confused , about not being able to use it from a browser, I use Ie, but never click my email from inside the browser.
I am considereing trying Firefox myself now, simply because this has got my curiousity up.
July 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I fail to understand the need to receive email in the browser or even why anyone would want to, or how that would even work. I think this guys problem is he thinks he is too busy to learn how to do a few things, probably the result of being spoon fed by MS all these years. I have a laptop that I do not want to use outlook express or any other email program, I use a google mail account for it, and it took me a while to get Firefox to stop opening outlook express. I like the tab function, and found a great add-on called Cool Iris that works like a take a peek window, well it does more than that.
I actually like the idea of separate programs and if I need to move anything between them, well isn't that what copy/cut and paste are for? As to his downloading problem I don't understand unless he doesn't know that open will run or activate or whatever the files you downloaded. Is he just confused because the names aren't the same? Plus he could always open and IE tab if he really needs one, a nice after though I think, I mean just try opening a Firefox tab in IE, or importing your bookmarks.
No Firefox is far superior and the add-ons put it light years into the future over IE.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Why are you sitting there looking at the thermometer? At least stick you're toe in the water. OE? Isn't it "windows" mail now?
July 25th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Thank you for making up my mind for me.
I used to run Fire Fox but it annoyed me when it would only download to a specific file sometimes. Other times it reverted to default.
So I uninstalled it. Wow, I found that it had taken over my entire system and it was a hell of a job to put things right. I still have icons that are not showing correctly.
I was debating giving FF3 a go, but not now. You have solved a big problem for me. Thanks
July 25th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Here is what I get from this article.
Steve uses what Microsoft has given him, he has rarely if ever used other applications or operating systems, thus anything but their products feel alien to him. In the process of years of using old and outdated operating systems and applications he has become exactly what the type user Microsoft has worked hard to create and counts on.
In other words locked in, locked out and totally dependent on inferior products because of lack of knowledge and experience, and anything other then what he is "used to" is claimed to be too difficult or too hard.
The reality Steve is like many users who buy OEM computers, they use what is forced on them, they use it for so many years that using anything else is just too much of a hassle.
Thus the syware, malware, virus folks will continue to have a field day, and Microsoft will continue to hope and pray that enough people like this are still out there to support them.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:59 am
I am very distressed to read such a biased and clearly unresearched article on PC Pitstop. I have been a faithful reader of Pitstop articles now for over three years and have never seen this level of unprofessional writing - this article was clearly not up to Pitstop standards which distresses me to no end. I have just read through a myriad of answers to this article touting other people's preferences of browsers, email clients and operating systems and some of the responses even touch on the greatest shortcoming of all which; to me, is the fact that this atrticle was NOT a review of FireFox. From the first sentence I knew what the "author's" conclusion was to be - he had already decided before starting his "research" what his opinions were and he in no way intended to change his pre-concieved conclusions! All in all I feel that there was a great error on the part of the editors to approve of this article for publication. BTW, I am not even a FF user, so this in no way is a response to his opinions of FireFox, but a response to a very badly done article!!
July 25th, 2008 at 4:11 am
I can't stop laughing at the number of fanbois that can't tell the difference between op-ed and a review.
The article is the man's opinion. Get over it.
And to top it off if one's opinion of FireFox doesn't agree with these Einsteins it's because you're mentally deficient! Too funny!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Is everyone forgetting the best part of FF? AdBlock Plus!!
July 25th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Hold on there Townspeople. Put down the burning torches and take a second look.
1. I never intended this article to be a review of Firefox. It's stated quite clearly that I'm taking a week to "kick the habit" of IE. This is clearly not a review.
2. Biased? Yes, of course my opinion is biased. The whole article is about my bias and habits. When the begining states that I don't feel the "warm and fuzzies" that others feel, I think that pretty much puts things on the table and in clear sight.
What I didn't make so obvious was that I've used Firefox for years. I stated that it's always on my desktop. It's just not my default browser. It's not that I don't use Firefox, it's that I don't feel the "warm and fuzzies" that are obviously felt by the "Give Me Firefox or Give Me Death" group. Before Firefox I used Opera. I still occasionally use Opera.
3.Add Ons. Here's a good quote for the Add/On situation. "went into the test with a negative attitude, and assumed that everything that didn't work for you was either not available or broken. Firefox has literally hundreds of Add-ons available to customize it to your hearts content." Yes, I know there are add ons. That's why I stated this, "Yes, there are plugins for Firefox, but just comparing the basic programs has Internet Explorer winning the race for me." I also mention the time needed to find, add, and use the plug-ins and add-ons. If you look at the clickable thumb you'll see an example of an Add-on that I used.
4. One of the better suggestions was from a FireFox user named Dave. He suggests that I should be driving a Grande Caravan. Well I'm glad to say that Dave is right. I've been driving Grande Caravans for years. I love them.
5. I note that some are concluding that I'm recommending the use of IE. I'm not. Nowhere in the article do I recommend that people should use IE.
6. Comment from Bruce. "Steve uses what Microsoft has given him, he has rarely if ever used other applications or operating systems," Bruce you know better. I have installed and used Linix operating systems several times in the past and at one point kept a computer with Linux installed for about a year. You, in fact, gave me help and at one point we determeined that at least some of the obsticles I encountered on my second time using Linux were due to the hardware I was using. Nvidia hardware specifically. Several times I've suggested Linux to people who don't want to buy Windows products. I've also downloaded and recommended Open Office in the past. As for application use, I think you probably didn't mean to suggest that, as you've sent me open source programs and operating systems in the past. I think I can say with certainty that being someone who has not only used but installed Linux Red Hat and Ubuntu several times to my own systems would put me into the minority of computer users. I'm just not one who pushes open source software.
So to those of you who thought this was a review, I apologize. I thought I had made it clear that this was just a light article exploring why I don't use Firefox. You can be sure that I'll make it even more obvious next time.
Now, I'm taking my Dodge Caravan and going to the hospital to get some stitches from being beaten about the head by raging Firefox users.
July 25th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
You quote of Firefox "It also doesn’t give me the choice of where to save each file." That is utter [edited by administrator]. Tools > Options > Main > "Always ask me where to save files" will allow Firefox to ask you EACH AND EVERY TIME where to save files, whether you want to save them, open them with a program (which you also state that it does not do). If you can't figure out something that simple, then there is no reason why you should put that as a con.
Also, tabbed browsing as a con? If you hate it so much, then don't use it! Tools > Options > Tabs > "New pages should be opened in:" > "a new window"
And you have the [edited by administrator] to sit there and say that every word you said is true, when I spent less than five minutes voiding three of your reasons you don't use it. The only real reason you have for not using Firefox now is that it doesn't work with Outlook Express. Why the hell _would_ Mozilla decide to work flawlessly with Outlook? Outlook is a Microsoft product, and isn't available for more than half of the OS's that Thunderbird is. Not only that, but Thunderbird is Mozilla's creation. It's much simpler to make one program work with another if you made them both. Not only that, but I doubt that Microsoft would let Mozilla integrate Outlook Express without paying a fee. It's simply not worth it. However, just because you spent five minutes searching for an answer doesn't mean there isn't one. Simple Mail ( https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5593 ) is an email client for Firefox, and is an alternative to both Outlook Express and Thunderbird.
"Open source isn't better source." That may be true of some programs, but for those good ones, there's nothing like them. Audacity, for example, is one of the best wave editors there is, and it's completely free. Gimp is a free replacement of Photoshop. Ultimate Paint is a better replacement of Paint (or Photoshop, depending on your viewpoint). Pidgin is a replacement of IM clients. Notepad++ is a great alternative to Notepad. 7-ZIP is an alternative to WinZip. Eclipse is a near flawless Java/C++ IDE. The list goes on and on. Seeing how careful you were to note that "lots of the things that are said to be better are just different", I'm surprised you failed to notice that while it may be different, it's free. And having a choice between a hundred-dollar program and a free direct replacement of that program is what makes the free one "better".
July 25th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I used Firefox version 2.0 for a year with great success. I recently downloaded 3.0 and have found it less stable than 2.0. It appears the reason it allows you to log off after a crash and then log on again with the programs that were on line when you crashed, is more of a necessity than a nice option. I don't know whether it is possible to revert back to 2.0 or not but I will certainly try to do so.
July 25th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
At last we get an honest "opinion" of Firefox and the self-ordained sophisticates are up in arms.
Thanks, Steve, for your thoughts on the great "untouchable" Firefox. They jibe precisely with my own experience.
July 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I agree with Steve.
I'm sick and tired of FF being pushed as the "be all, end all." It isn't. While FF3 works fine with my laptop (FF2 kept uninstalling itself and graphics were horrible looking with it), I have yet to find any of the so-called wonderful extras all that wonderful and a pain in the neck to use.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Can't say that I agree with the article but I would pose the question? Who would take advice from a self professed user of Outlook Express who according to his own post in these comments doesn't use ANY anti-virus protection?
July 26th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Wouldn't it have been fairer to ditch Outlook Express for a week as well as Internet Explorer? Of course if you stop using one M$ product but continue doing everything else with M$ programs it's not going to be as easy. That's exactly how Microsoft have made their millions. Try using thunderbird, or gmail for a fairer comparison.
As for your con list, I think every one of them could be solved wi