Firefox Fanboy Push
More than 8000 people have viewed sandstorming in the past week using Internet Explorer. I’m not sure why people still use Internet Explorer, whether it’s pure ignorance that there is anything better, or whether the whole idea of spending 15 minutes to learn a new program scares them. It’s like riding your bike to work every day, when your next door neighbour has already offered you his Ferrari.
Why do you need Firefox? Here are the reasons that Lifehacker suggests, and I agree with them! So by God, stop reading and click the link below. Let us know what you think too!
- It’s free. Completely, utterly free. You don’t have to pay a penny to download it. Firefox is a product of the Mozilla foundation, a tax exempt non-profit foundation, which was established to create innovative open-source software. Mozilla is completely funded by donations. So if you like Firefox—and I bet you will—consider throwing a few dollars in their direction.
- It runs on everything. Windows? Yes. Macs? Yes. Linux? Yes. You’ve got a recent computer? Firefox will almost certainly run on it.
- It’s small. It takes up very little disk space, so it’s a quick, simple download. Unlike certain other browsers, it’s not a bloated dinosaur.
- It’s expandable. You can add almost any functionality you want via plug-ins. There’s a huge community of Firefox developers out there offering nifty software extensions that you just plug into your browser. You can remove Google spam. You can adjust the way your fonts are shown. You can watch the current weather forecast. Firefox’s extensions manager lets you see what items you’ve installed and you can remove them with just a few clicks.
- It’s secure. Firefox doesn’t run ActiveX components or VB script. This makes it far less vulnerable to malicious hacking than Explorer. Also, it’s been tightly coded, meaning fewer vulnerabilities to attack. Want more security? Consider adding a JavaScript monitoring extension.
- Switching is easy. Firefox is smart enough to help you transfer your existing bookmarks, cookies and other settings from your current browser when you install.
- It’s skinnable. Firefox’s look and feel is completely customizable. Use the Themes Manager to download and manage any of hundreds of skins.
- Google is built-in. You don’t have to waste your homepage on Google, when you can search directly from the Firefox control bar. Go ahead and pick a home page you really like.
- It’s well respected. Firefox has been named PC World’s Product of the Year, Softpedia’s User’s Choice, Forbes’ Best of the Web, SC Magazine’s “Editor in Chief” award, CNET Editor’s Choice, Laptop Magazine Editor’s Choice, PC-Welt’s Readers Choice Best Internet Tool, and more. They all like it. Won’t you?
- It’s got tabs. If you’ve ever dealt with a gadzillion open Explorer windows at once, you’ll know what I mean when I say that organizing your Web tasks and windows is a critical path for getting work done. Firefox’s tabbed interface allows you to collapse all those windows onto a single screen and move quickly (and easily) back and forth between your different Web site “worlds”. One site still downloading? Just tab on over to another in the meantime. It works beautifully, compactly and neatly.
Chaff said,
December 13, 2005 at 11:34 am
You have to remember man that some of us are on shared computers that are owned by techno-phobes. Here is what happened when I installed ad-aware (I have taken some artistic licence):
Techno-phobe: What’s this new button on my screen! NEW BUTTON RUNAWAY!
Chaff: It’s ad-aware, it just kills some of the programs that create pop up ads. I downladed it yesterday and showed you how to use it.
Techno-phobe: No you didn’t. Wait, you said you downloaded it? TEH HAXORZ WILL STEAL MY INFORMATION!!!!!!1
Chaff: Ahh, not quite… this stops them doing that, in a sense…
Techno-phobe: Get it off my computer
Anonymous said,
December 13, 2005 at 4:52 pm
You people are such geeks. Theres nothing wrong with explorer. You double click on the icon on your desktop, you type the address of the web page in the address bar, then u press enter and the web page comes up. Dont want pop ups…download the google toolbar, which then allows u to not waste your home page on google.
If these alternative programs are any good, theyd be out there and widely used. Instead Microsoft has a monopoly on the market.
@uni said,
December 13, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Firefox users are smarter than IE :)
http://www.digg.com/technology/Firefox_users_ignore_ads._IE_users_4_times_more_likely_to_ad_click._
Anonymous said,
December 13, 2005 at 7:51 pm
Ill be willing to place a large amount of money on me being smarter than you
Anonymous said,
December 13, 2005 at 8:56 pm
For Number 2:
I have decided to rewrite your story to make more sense and add truth.
“There‘s plentywrong with explorer. You double click on the icon on your desktop, you type the address of the web page in the address bar, then you press enter and the web page comes up, along with the myriad of popups the site may contain, as well as advertisements about penis enlargements and “Your computer has a virus” windows). Don‘t want pop ups…download the google toolbar, which allows then google to specifically watch what you search for and use your habits to make searching patterns, and any other thing they wish to do, that the EULA encompasses (you know, that thing that you just clicked Yes on when it came up..), which then allows you to waste your screen space with useless tools.”
To put the facts into light easier. Your point resolves around “hey, IE does suck, but if you download this, and this and this, it sucks 3% less”.
Maybe you should try something like Firefox before your mindless brain starts sprouting shit.
Thanks!
OG said,
December 13, 2005 at 9:07 pm
I’m a converted Firefox user and I have to say that it shits all over explorer. I have to use explorer at work and it sucks. I hate using the internet at work now cause I have to have 10 windows open where as with firefox its one window with a heap of tabs - MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE AROUND.
I think those who knock firefox just don’t understand how to use it…
So I guess @uni was right, firefox users are smarter then explorer users!!!
Anonymous said,
December 13, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Yep…intelligence is measured by ability to use internet applications… :S
OG said,
December 13, 2005 at 9:57 pm
Haa haa haa
It’s funny cause you think you’re so much better than everyone else!
Why don’t you just give it a go, you will be surprised at howe much easier it makes viewing multiple pages at once. I know that with what I do, I require more than one page open at a time. Don’t knock it until you try it.
Doc said,
December 13, 2005 at 10:00 pm
Anonymous said,
If these alternative programs are any good, theyd be out there and widely used. Instead Microsoft has a monopoly on the market.
That’s the stupidest argument I’ve ever heard.
The reason these “alternative programs” aren’t widely used is pretty much summed up in your second sentence. Yes, Microsoft does have a monopoly on the market, but not because their browser is neccessarily better. It’s because it comes bundled with any Operating System they release, and people are oblivious that they actually have a choice. My parents seriously believe Internet Explorer and the internet are the exact same thing.
Chaff said,
December 13, 2005 at 11:11 pm
Doc put it perfectly. A monopoly means that they are they have an unfair advantage over thier competition, in this case: ignorance. Just think about the word: Mono (meaning one) poly (meaning… ah… many…).
Hommer said,
December 13, 2005 at 11:23 pm
IE is also free, has less bugs (see that now ff becomes more popular how many vulnerabilities have been uncovered), better support, a lot better image rendering and can use google bar in a very efficent way.
FF takes ages to load (AMD 2800+, 512MB RAM), is hard to repair when jammed and also requires SUN’s java runtimes that sometimes get pretty stubborn.
As long as for the additional features of FF, get maxthon for IE (about 1 meg, free) and get it even beyond FF (it has a hell of an ad/popup blocker).
FF is just a nice idea, nothing more…
@uni said,
December 14, 2005 at 9:44 am
http://www.iesucks.com/
http://www.mozillasucks.com
Anonymous said,
December 14, 2005 at 10:21 am
I have tried it but for me it makes no difference. I dont sit on my computer viewing dozens of pages at the same time. The little differences you guys point out make no difference to most people when choosing a system. The fact that most comps come with IE means you dont have to go to the trouble of getting a diff explorer. Theres a reason y microsoft dominates the market. If the creators of these alternative programs believed their program was better theyd get out there and look for backers so they could market it properly. Whats the point of having a ‘kickass’ program if no one knows about it.
Theres plenty of things out there that seem a good enough idea but in reality just dont are really not necessary. For most people IE does everything they need. If people are really into surfing multiple pages at the same time and etc then go for it.
I dont think microsofts goal is to cater for the creative industry and such. They have the support of big business everywhere and in the end thats really what matters because thats where hte moolah is.
Administrator said,
December 14, 2005 at 11:42 am
IE is also free, has less bugs (see that now ff becomes more popular how many vulnerabilities have been uncovered), better support, a lot better image rendering and can use google bar in a very efficent way.
Is also free - So is firefox… ok they are equal
Has less bugs - Your kidding aren’t you?
Better support - Erm… what?
Better image rendering - It might… I have nfi
Google bar - Yeah… but firefox has a plugin for everything imaginable
Z said,
December 14, 2005 at 11:51 am
Anonymous, you’re a fagroot.
IE is tarded, and firefox is better, and is getting better even faster.
Other browsers are also developing quickly, and i wish them well. Problem is that some people think the current mold of browser is enough, when it could really be so much more.
That is all.
@uni said,
December 14, 2005 at 3:40 pm
I must add that the download setup for FF is awesome. Unlike IE, you are able to pause/restart downloads.
What is the advantage of this?
So many times when i was using IE, i would start downloading a file, and then “Sorry, lost connection with the server”. But with FF, if this happens, just wait and restart the download.
Also, if you are downloading more than one file, it places it nicely into the one window.
THere are also a greater amount of right click options, all which are very useful.
And Anonymous the tab idea is a huge success. You say most people only browse one or two sites at a time? Then how come in IE 7 that is being produced at the moment for the new microsoft operating system (Vista), they are including tabs?
Administrator said,
December 14, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Personally, I’m expecting IE7 to be a halfway there clone. Once again not sticking to standards making scripting a frucking nightmare. Most the changes I make to sandstorming work perfectly in firefox and every browser about 10% into implementation… about 90% of time is seriously spent trying to get them to work with IE as well.
Anonymous said,
December 14, 2005 at 5:02 pm
No matter what argument you throw out there nothing will change. IE will still be the preferred program. As I said previously, if it is so good, why doesnt the product get financial backing, some marketing and start distributing to general business.
Back to your tabs thing…I work in a professional firm, and I know that we’re all just dying because we’re unable to view multiple websites with ease. I know thats def the case with all the big law firms, accounting firms and investment banks.(BTW alt+tab is easy enough). And before you say who gives the fcuk about those kinda people…those people run this workd.
Administrator said,
December 14, 2005 at 7:49 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mozilla_Firefox_usage_share.png
:)
Anonymous said,
December 15, 2005 at 1:40 pm
WOW 8%. and its slowed down at that point or there abouts.
Anonymous said,
December 16, 2005 at 2:32 am
The anonymous user who things IE rules is a moron. Plain and simple.
a) mozilla foundation does have financial backing, but microsoft has anti-competitive agreements with companies that lock them into using microsoft software on their distributable systems.
b) NY times had this big page ad for firefox.. so yes.. it has marketing
c) no matter how you justify it, you are a moron.
@uni said,
December 16, 2005 at 8:39 am
Admin, you know how you said you have a problem with the coding? And how it is fine in FF but not IE? The reason for that, is FF actually keeps to the standard HTML “guidelines” if you will, where as IE alter its. It is something like that. Why? I don’t know.
Back to the tabs. Your point was that tabs were pointless. I then mentioned that the new IE is going to have tabs. Yes, you can Alt + Tab. What exporer you use is up to you, but you are missing the point of what i said.
Also, i find it hard to believe that you work in a law firm? Your arguments are not very well structed. And you seem to have no facts to back you up. Rather, they are simply your opions. Constantly getting angry and tyring to pay everyone out aint the way either mate. You can use IE, some of us will use FF.
Administrator said,
December 16, 2005 at 2:10 pm
Yeah @uni, Internet Explorer pretty much shits over everything the W3C setup, and it annoys the hell out of me…. and the worst thing is… IE7 isn’t looking to be any better!
http://news.com.com/Next+Explorer+to+fail+Acid+test/2100-1032_3-5813897.html
dan said,
December 19, 2005 at 6:19 pm
FF takes ages to load (AMD 2800+, 512MB RAM), is hard to repair when jammed…
who ever said that…
actually, FF has something that i dont think IE has, its called safe mode! it disables all extensions and plugins and uses the normal FF… then u can discard any changes you made before ff screwed up… easy job… it doesnt require a reinstall.
and maybe it takes ages to load because you have lots of extensions… believe me, i killed my FF like that once. it took 10 mins to repair. unless you’re so busy as to not have 10 mins of spare time to repair a browser well,… you must have one heck of a job.
Go FireFox!
trubble_bass said,
December 25, 2006 at 11:58 am
First of all for those of you that say that FF takes alot more memory then IE, thats because IE runs as part of the operating system while FF has to run as an independant program so would use more RAM.
Second of all, IE is not free, to get it you have to buy it as part of the windows operating system, while there is no cost incurred in getting a hold of FF.
Thirdly, IE might have better support but FF does not need it.
Fourth of all marketing costs money so promoting FF is useless because then it could cost to market and would therefore mean to make up these costs we’d have to pay for it.
Yes you can stop pop-ups in IE by downloading Google toolbar, but guess what, in FF you don’t have too! It also manages to stop alot of malicious spyware and adware that Google toolbar does not.
FF has less LESS bugs than IE and also less openings for hackers.
Also FF has been found to have better rendering in all scripts than IE but this also depends upon your internet connection speed but in tests FF has always been found to better.
If you think I’m making any of this up, take a look at this site:
http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html#winspeed
Face it, IE sucks! FF is alot better, it is not the best (Opera has come out on top so far) but FF is alot easier to use than Opera and uses alot less disk space and RAM.
dodgy geezer said,
December 25, 2006 at 1:01 pm
I’ve been using FF for 2 years now.
I’ve been running it on an AMD 2800+ with 512 mb RAM, and it just kicks ass over IE in a dozen diffent ways.
No pop-ups, no Viagra ads, no bloatware, and it’s three times faster than IE ever was.
I’ve never experienced FF “jamming”, though it does just close itself about once a week. But that’s a damn sight better than IE’s twice daily crash.
I even find my firewall registers a hell of a lot less hostile activity in FF.
I’d never go back to IE, it would be akin to a step down the evolutionary ladder.
duran said,
December 25, 2006 at 1:10 pm
“It’s like riding your bike to work every day, when your next door neighbour has already offered you his Ferrari”
As he renders his own argument moot… Nice job.
shirley said,
December 25, 2006 at 7:12 pm
oh give it a rest who cares which you use I have both on my computer and to be quite honest neither one stacks up to their promises.
It doesn’t make my computer run any faster and if I want multiple tabs then over to ff I go If I want some other thing off to IE7 to me it doesn’t matter as long as I get the job I am doing at the time done.