31 replies to this topic

[Cloud9]

Mozilla releases Firefox 1.0
Published: November 9, 2004, 4:34 AM PST
By Paul Festa
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
http://news.com.com/...l?tag=nefd.lede

After 19 months of development, two name changes and more than 8 million downloads of its preview release, the Firefox browser is finally turning 1.0.

Firefox, a browser based on the Mozilla Foundation's open-source development work, was made available for free download at 1 a.m. PST Tuesday. (Later in the morning, the site was responding very slowly.)

If the download statistics from preview releases of Firefox are any indication, the open-source browser could be headed for a big debut.

[Merlin]

thats not bad, but my question is, what makes it better than IE? Or even Netscape *cough*netscape blows. What does it offer? Is there certain features that its better at than IE? Or worse at?

[bishmasterb]

thats not bad, but my question is, what makes it better than IE?  Or even Netscape *cough*netscape blows.  What does it offer?  Is there certain features that its better at than IE?  Or worse at?

Pros:

* It's not the target of security threats...yet, due to it's small market share and not being a Microsoft product
* It has a built-in popup blocker that works well
* It's a good browser with some features lacking in IE such as Tabbed Browsing


Cons:

* It might be somewhat slower on fast machines than IE (or at least a non-infected IE), although probably not noticeably so
* Some sites won't work in Firefox because they use ActiveX or some IE-specific technology

It's definitely worth trying out though. And most importantly of course, MyFolsom works fine in Firefox.

[john]

And most importantly of course, MyFolsom works fine in Firefox.

that's good to know... I was curious myself. I've heard lots of good things about Firefox... I may download it soon.

[rlveloria]

Bish, I use both IE and Firefox for different reasons. I guess its just a preference thing.

Pros: Firefox for me, is that I can open up multiple windows (tabs) inside the existing Firefox.
Cons: Firefox doesn't work that well at work, firewall plus website limitations helps hinder Firefox usability at work

But overall its a good product

[nhardy]

Mozilla Firefox is the BEST browser out there.

If you ever run into problems with sites that require ActiveX plugins or Java, check out the "User Agent Switcher". Running this plugin allows you to fake IE, Netscape and Opera.

[Cloud9]

Another reason to run Firefox!

New Version of MyDoom Worm in Zero-Day Attack
Tue Nov 9, 4:15 AM ET Technology - Ziff Davis
http://story.news.ya...=4&u=/zd/138829
Larry Seltzer - eWEEK

Anti-virus companies are reporting a worm that spreads via a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer.

The vulnerability is not present in Windows XP (news - web sites) Service Pack 2, but in all earlier versions of Internet Explorer 6, and no patch is available. It involves a buffer overflow triggered by an IFRAME or EMBED tag, which has an oversized SRC or NAME attribute.

[Silverado]

I've been giving Firefox a try, and like it so far. I love the tabbed browsing. I keep all my often used sites (like MyFolsom) on a tab, so they are always there.

[Adamal]

that's good to know... I was curious myself. I've heard lots of good things about Firefox... I may download it soon. 

Should have asked me I've used firefox at this site since .8.

Firefox is faster than IE, has more modern features, supports more web standards, has better built in popup blocking, and tab browsing.

If you've never used tab browsing your really missing out. Middle click a link to load it in a new tab while you are still reading the current page. Very nice.

Oh yea and the find as you type feature is kick but too.

[Adamal]

Mozilla Firefox is the BEST browser out there.

If you ever run into problems with sites that require ActiveX plugins or Java, check out the "User Agent Switcher". Running this plugin allows you to fake IE, Netscape and Opera.

It still won't help you with ActiveX. There is a third party plugin that allows you to run ActiveX in firefox but its not very well supported. Personally I hate activeX, one of the least secure web apps out there.

[nhardy]

It still won't help you with ActiveX.  There is a third party plugin that allows you to run ActiveX in firefox but its not very well supported.  Personally I hate activeX, one of the least secure web apps out there.

That's the beauty of the User Agent Switcher. You can fake IE or Netscape and have no problems with ActiveX in FireFox. I don't mind ActiveX controls and plugins. It's just a shame so many hackers abuse the technology.

[Adamal]

That's the beauty of the User Agent Switcher. You can fake IE or Netscape and have no problems with ActiveX in FireFox. I don't mind ActiveX controls and plugins. It's just a shame so many hackers abuse the technology.

The user agent is for faking the IE/Netscape checks. Not for getting past ActiveX. I've been on a few ActiveX sites and no matter what my settings are set to the site won't function. I just figure that those sites are not worth my time.

[uberman]

I personally have followed and used Mozilla software for the past two years.

Is anyone else's name going to be mentioned in the NY Times Full page ad?

if you have questions on what im talking about, www.spreadfirefox.com

Theres really no reason to use IE now, especially with windows. You can update from yoru desktop, no need to put yourself out in the open among the wolves.

=)

<--- an open source fan, supporter, and programmer.

[mylo]

2 words for why to use Firefox: Mouse Gestures

Go get firefox if you don't already have it, and download MouseGestures 1.0.. it's the geatest UI invention since the mouse!

That, and all the other extensions are great, tabbed browsing is wonderfull, and having a browser that doesn't crash/suck my whole PC every 20 minutes is perfect!

Performance is equal, I've mostly noticed DIV's loading in different orders creating an impression of performance for both sides. I would generally say Firefox is slightly faster though.

Keyword bookmarks is great too, with key substitution you can make your own custom keyword searches, invaluable in the internal apps I use at work.

Builti-in popup blocker and google search are nice, but Google Toolbar had already addressed that in IE, so not much delta there.

Themeable, and modules are definately an advantage. I like McSearchPreview, MouseGestures, and Translate. OpenLongURL is nice too, because I use Naim for AIM and it breaks URL's.

[dailydos]

I got Firefox while it was in beta testing and I LOVE IT. I only use IE where sites aren't written for Mozilla. Extensions, themes, tabbed browsing, higher level of security, there's nothing better.