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General discussion

Firefox, Netscape, IE?? ***!!!!

May 26, 2005 6:18AM PDT

OK,

I have to make sure that my stuff is presentable in different browsers. I've been working with them for years and to this day -- I don't see why everyone's upset by one or the other.

I surf the net with both IE and Firefox. I don't see a difference--really, I don't. Now maybe it's because I don't care about browser security and I certainly can't differentiate a bug from a feature. Basically, it's not that important. I haven't worked with any customers who have asked me about browser scurity.

Is this just Microsoft bashing? I mean really? seriously??

What is wrong with IE and why do so many people(mostly geeks) hate it?
Is it security?(which I don't care about anyway.)
Speed? (it works as fast as FF on my computer and old laptop).
What are people doing with these browsers that makes them hate one over the other so much. I'll admit, I like tabbed browsing, that's cool! but other than that? I don't see why IE is getting slammed so much...

My customers ask me and I don't know what to tell them.

Please, no flaming... I'm an experienced web designer, not a J2EE developer or a C programmer, nor am I hacker wannabe.

Thanks.(looking for guidance here...)

Discussion is locked

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does it matter what browser you use?
Jun 6, 2005 12:10AM PDT

Hi Alex,

Take a moment and think about it if IE were the only browser available. I shudder to think that one profit driven company, MicroSoft or otherwise, could control where everyone goes on the 'net.

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IE vs FF vs NETSCAPE
Jun 6, 2005 5:47PM PDT

There are differences between browsers.Expecialy if you have pirated programs-anbd I in Croatia do not know anybody who does not-simply you can not buy Windows or ani other OS on CD,so have programs at home for the case you get virus and have to delete all from your HD and reinstall.If you do not wont pay for such service,and again give real money for virtual ware.With Firefox 1.0.1 and standard IE as it is on the sp2-I think it is 5.0- and NETSCAPE 8.0 you have one big and comfortable browser which have IE&FF as the slaves-so you can do whatever you wont-does Microsoft or Mozilla like it or not.You need only antivirus with firewall which disable all scripts beeing instaled without asking permission and you are free of all rules,you can do whatever came in your mind....

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I see your point, this is my $0.02 worth
Jun 9, 2005 2:59AM PDT

I see your point about FF not really being a big deal for some people - to be honest, I think it's really a matter of personal preference. I've used FF for quite a while now, but that's because I like certain features it has.

As some people have said before, using an alternative/addon browser like FF/NN/K-Melon/Opera/whatever is like adding a custom stereo or custom rims to a car... those who are hobbyists, heavy users, etc may choose to add them on, but the average user will get by with the normal specifications.

I wouldn't say no one should use IE - but if a person does, they should do their part in due diligence trying to prevent spyware/crudware from getting in - but even if FF/NN is your primary browser, you should *still* have a half decent antivirus and some antispyware protection (and of course a firewall) loaded on your computer.

As far as why I use FF, it's really three reasons, all personal preference:

1.) It seems lightweight and not too bloated to me,

2.) I love the extensions system - they have tiny and easy extensions for anything you'd want to have in there (I have, maybe, 10 extensions); this also goes for the skins/themese, and

3.) The tabbed browsing. I'm addicted to that.

But all in all, it's personal preference IMHO.

Jeff

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firefox is superior...
Jun 15, 2005 11:40AM PDT

there are couple of reasons why firefox to superior....

- its a standalone piece of software which means that should I choose to work from a new OS i will have no problems porting all my firefox setting / extensions etc to a new platform.

- There are a huge amount of tools available for firefox makeing it more useful than most browsers.

- It is not tied in with the OS, like IE, which means that if the browser should crash, it doesnt have a series of knock on effects on Windows.

- Mozilla have sold the browser to users based on what it has to offer, rather than forcing other browsers out of the market by using OME's and exisitng partnership deals to push the browser market share up...

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IE too easily hijacked
Jun 15, 2005 1:13PM PDT

Despite a firewall, antivirus software and 4 of the top spyware removal programs (Spybot, Ad-Aware, Microsoft Anti-Spyware and Spy Sweeper) my IE search results for Google and Yahoo are hijacked, returning about 10 junk searches at the top of every search. MSN search crashes IE completely. I can use other, less popular search engines like Teoma and Altavista, it was only these three targeted by whatever virus or spyware that got onto my computer. Firefox is totally uneffected by this problem. I'm a Firefox convert!!

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Two words: tabbed browsing
Jul 3, 2005 2:17PM PDT

see above