why FireFox?

Hi all, I've been thinking about switching to firefox. So I thought I would have a look at what people are saying about it. And all I seem to find is people ing about add ons etc...etc....

What I would like to know is:- Is it really worth using?
In what way (if any) does it better IE8?
Is it safer than IE8?
And is it worth my while changing from IE8 to FF?

I don't have a specific problem with IE8, but just looking for a few valid reasons that FF is better.

cheers in advance!

 

i dont really use any of the add ons so i cant help there, but just download it and see, you can use more than one browser at a time... i have four IE, FF, Safari, Chrome and i also have opera on my desktop along with the others. i mainly use IE but ocasionally use safari and chrome.

 

FF 3.5 is not safer than IE 8.

 

I have FF, opera and IE on my computer and I also use IE as my main browser. As you have probably already known, FF is all about its abundance of addon and customizability and personal preference.

 

When I switched from IE to Firefox I did it because it looked nicer, it was faster and there were some cool add-ons. I don't know if Firefox is safer than IE8 but that's not the reason why I switched to Firefox in the first place. I always thought Firefox looked more elegant that's probably why I use Firefox.

 

I've been using Firefox for the past 3 years, I never even touch IE. That said, I've been less than impressed with FF lately...I'm getting a lot of weird glitching - some sites don't even load properly whereas they're fine in Google Chrome. FF needs to be even faster and more reliable.

 

i used only FF for 1 whole year once but decided to go back to IE because alot of sites werent compatible with it (same with IE but the ones i regualry visit are ok on IE) so that why ive got them all. as a bit of an apple hater (mainly because of those idiot fanboys always baging everyone else, no other reason really) i think safari is almost the best never had a site not work but it just dosnt work as good on a PC especially compared to a mac. Safari(PC version) is just not designed to work good enough with a pc. shame really

 

When Firefox first came it, it WAS faster than IE. Microsoft has changed that perception though. The main draw of Firefox today is the abundance of customizations compared to the other browsers. For the most part, security is roughly the same. I would venture to say Firefox is safer due to it's smaller market share.

 

As a webmaster I refuse to use IE or support sites that cater to IE. Because of IE we have to work harder in order for the web pages to look right.

Test IE 8 out on an ACID 3 test and you'll know what I mean.

If you need IE, just download IE tab for firefox and you can have a single tab mimic IE without opening IE.

Here's a good comparison test:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=16180
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=16181

 

Opera 10 gets 100/100 on Acid3

But on topic:
I think the main draw of Firefox is the capability to customize it with a huge library of addons, not really for its speed (Chrome is faster), adherence to standards (Opera is better), built-in features (Opera is much, much better), support for most websites (IE is still king there), performance (beat out in various categories by other browsers) or security.

Personally, I'd say that for the web-browsing consumer, IE is a great browser - it tends to have the least problems with websites, which is why I use it when some sites do not work well with Opera.

 

Why Firefox? why not? why yes?

Try different browsers and stick with one that you like, since for one good reason that you like, there will be 10 or more reasons why others don't like - and vice versa.

And don't be worried about switching browsers often.

cheers ...

 

I love the custom themes and variety of add-ons

 

If you want the browser to look like anything you want and do almost anything you want, then Firefox is for you. Everyone always reiterates the add-ons, but they really are that awesome, and it's main reason it's better than the other browsers (in general).

 

Why FireFox? Add-ons, add-ons, add-ons.

 

I am beginning to change my mind about Firefox altogether. Not only is it becoming an increasingly popular target, it is almost as popular as IE; which makes using it for that security reason almost pointless.

The other problem with FF in terms of security is that add-ons are not checked for security compliance of any kind since they are written by anyone online. Because of this, add-ons are as much a liability as they are a useful tool.

The irony of this is that one would think that a modular design approach would decrease attack surface!

 

So what you're saying Bog, is that popularity is a bad thing? That Firefox is destroying itself? O how I hope that isn't true.

 

Not at all, what I'm saying is that some of the advantages that are touted by Mozilla and Firefox users are in fact a double-edged sword. I'm also saying that Firefox's low profile on the internet is no longer a good reason to adopt the browser from a security standpoint, since it is almost as popular as IE at this point.

 

I wouldn't call it a modular design. It's more like a tree. Many branches that attach to one trunk. So it actually increases the surface area and thus technically makes your browser more vulnerable.

For example, IE with Flash player & ActiveX vs IE without Flash player & ActiveX

 

one difference is, the addons by default are just javascript and html (xul), and thus don't offer really much of an attack surface compared to activex.

but it's still true that they add to the attack surface, obviously.

for me, firefox is the most stable browser (but crashes from time to time, too). but it never kills anything else while doing that, unlike f.e. ie including ie8..

and it's the most ... performance-consistent browser. it's not the fastest, but in general, always at the same speed, and always quite snappy.

and the addons are awesome, obviously.

 

Well thanks for the help people. I think I will download it and see for myself then. As there is no escaping the debate. This seems like it could go on forever . But really thanks for the help everyone.

 

I'm just curious, those "compliance tests" - where do they come from.

To me it sounds like IE was the market leader, other browsers a minority, some people got together and decided to develop a standard.

Then these very same people go off talking how IE8 doens't comply...

Nowadays IE has lost a fair bit of its share, but still...

 

the first standard for html was back in 1992, i don't think ie existed back then..

from w3.org

the standard evolved over time, microsoft always just supporting part of it, and part of own technology that others couldn't implement/port really.

and then they needed backwards compatibility, which let their own standard evolve, grow, and get out of control.. and so it got harder to develop for other browsers and ie, and people started to hate it more and more.

netscape was before ie, too, i think..

 

Ah, back before there was a graphical web. Take a trip in the time machine. MOSAIC was the first GUI web browser. Or well, technically it was Nexus, but nobody used it. MOSAIC made the Web what it is now. The guy who made MOSAIC started Netscape and had the same mission for Web browsers as Microsoft for PCs. Basically, a web browser on every computer in every home.

And they say one person can't change the world.........

 

Its not better - just has a lot of fan boys. IE8 is fine - Chrome is awesome too. FF is slow and bloated once you install all the useless add ons.

amazes me how often people with FF complain of popups and how they need the pop up blocker in FF, while with IE and Chrome I never get pop ups..... hmmmmmmmm

 

My FF isn't slow and bloated. It's just as fast as Chrome, and only takes up 76k. This is with a dozen add-ons as well.

 

A few posts have been removed. It's not necessary to judge others on the basis of their opinion or preferred browser. State your opinions about browsers and let others state theirs. Don't judge others for their personal preference.

 

Fast is a relative term of course... You're fast may not be "my" fast, and I would think it highly unlikely FF with a dozen add-ons is as fast as chrome/ie. FF w/ no add-ons maybe...maybe.... but then if you're not going use addons w/ FF whats the point, just get chrome/ie

 

on an ssd, firefox is as fast as chrome/ie at first boot.

after the first boot, on any c2d or better, firefox is as fast as chrome/ie in general usage.

 

Debatable.
I'd put my browsers up against FF side to side anyday. My buddy exclusivley uses FF and occasionally when we bring our laptops together its embarrasing how much slower he loads webpages.

 

Boo, the Mutaween strikes again.

While, I disagree with the assessment of the post or your assessment of my intentions, there isn't much of an appeal process here. So I will take my punishment.

I personally will not judge neither the state of a person nor the personality based on browser choice.

 

Can I judge you based on this post? It is not browser related

 

I haven't used chrome or IE, but I use both Safari 4 and FF. From what I can tell FF with the blocker add on has been much more effective than Safari 4.

Also the No-Script add on is pretty powerful.

 

HAHA. How come THAT doesn't get censored?

Maybe it's America. Here we have a high level of sarcasm.

 

For me Firefox has the most integrated feel than any of the other 3rd party browsers (maybe cause I used it for so long) and rarely crashes on me. And yes it's the most customizable.

I don't use many addons but the ones I do use are irreplaceable.

 

I'm a longtime Firefox (Fx) user and still like it best of the browsers--I still go back to it after trying Opera or Chrome. IE just feels awkward to me, and the fact that Firefox doesn't ship with ActiveX makes it safer by default in my view. I know you can add ActiveX to Fx, but that just seems silly to me.

 

It took a lot of *coercion* from fellow forum *peeps* to get me to switch from IE to FF, and after many, many IE crashes ~ I finally had it and switched over to FF.

I couldn't be happier! FF is awesome, compared to the daily probs' I was having with IE back then!

Now if I could only get my Employer to make some kind of switch!

Cin...

 

Good luck. I work for the Gov and we still use IE6. Its so far integrated into our system its like a disease.

Plus it would cost a ton and a lot of work for IT to convert. Not sure if thats the same case for you though.

 

I had thought about talking my business into using Firefox. Then I thought about what would happen to our internet connection if they all tried to update at the same time..........

 

no, not debatable. obviously on some systems it doesn't perform well, on others better. but so far, on different systems, the main problem of firefox is just first boot. all other balances itself more or less out, when tested on tons of completely different systems.

 

in companies, ie is actually supperior, at least if you have an active directory and group policies working. microsoft software fits 100% to group policies, and are fully configurable trough it, so you never have to touch an individual pc at all.

so i understand companies not caring about other options. they would all be inferior by far to manage, deploy, and group-secure them.

 

WHY NOT???

 

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=16182

New article from anandtech. Browser shootout part III.

Its a test of speed! From what it looks like, Chrome>Safari>Firefox>Opera>IE

 

The question here is though - do we care bout speed?
I don't....

I like my IE8 - even though it started to sometimes lag when opening new tabs (it didn't at the beginning!! something possibly somehow went wrong somewhere).
So what - the few seconds won't change my life.
And some of those benchmarks work with miliseconds...

 

some people still using IE because they think its the only browser on planet earth...
i use FF because i can integrate it with rapidshare premium downloads..
when im on slow networks..i use chrome..
IE maybe is my last option when all browsers are prohibited by universal law

 

Its debatable no matter how you slice it... anything is debatable, its just a fact. You even confirm it by the following

I mean that whole statement you're basically saying there are different opinions, different results depending on systems, doesn't that make any claim to FF being faster/more stable/having a problem on first boot up etc. etc.
"Debatable?" Seems like it to me anyway....



I for one never have crashes for IE, maybe you guys should get better computers or something. It always seems to me that FF users complain about IE crashes like they happen everyday, I cannot in my years and years of using IE as a primary/secondary browswer ever having a crash related to it ever. Even w/ Chrome I occasionally get a crash, with IE never... TBH I like chrome more, but IE for stability is just a rock.... FF was just to slow / awkward for me.

 

Its add ons that are the problem.
They can be buggy...

Also, sometimes you don't notice IE8 crashing

This is happening a lot to me - its some add-on - I threw out something from NVidia and it seems OK now.

The only way I know IE8 had crashed while using it is through the Windows Error reporting logs.

Edit: Its not OK, its still happening...

 

Ignore the benchmarks, they rarely have any oversight, are often comissioned (whether its admitted or not), can be quite biased, and have to many unknowns (unless you're actually in the station watching the benchmarking take place) Furthermore, you are right they work in mili seconds, the deviations aren't big enough to have acurate results. Fact is FF loads differently than other browswers, it waits to display until the whole page is loaded instead of displaying as items are loaded (afaik?) and therefore IE/Chrome seems significantly faster imo, and this perception is all that matters unless your eyes can view milisecond chanegs (which they can't)

not to mention you can find just as many "benchmarks" that show IE is faster than FF, or FF is faster than Chrome, or Netscape is faster than FF etc. Its a very wide web out there.

 

Yea I hate add - ons, but thats the whole point of FF afaik, if you don't use add ons why use FF over chrome or IE there's no reason. Simplicity is best.

I'm no expert though just my opinion. I could care less about most of the stuff FF claims to be better at. It just doesn't seem as snappy, responsive, or easy to use to me.

 

Is there any add-ons to put all the things that are above the page, tabs, file/edit/view, google search in a sidebar
and have more vertical space?

 

no, i state that there is no space for opinions, only for facts. fact is, it runs in general about as fast as other browsers, but has a slower first start. this is fact measured over tons of different systems.

and this has nothing to do with opinions.