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General discussion

Setting up Firefox and Thunderbird to my Mac X properly?

Jul 7, 2005 2:26PM PDT

I run a Mac system 10. I downloaded the Firefox and Thunderbird software. Before I install, a couple of questions.
Install from OSX or OS9 Classic mode?

Does AOL support Firefox?
If AOL does not support Firefox, how can I give Firefox a try, either on my Mac system or on the internet?
I really do not like AOL at all and am looking at other providers right now in our area.
I have a choice coming up very shortly. My cable Co., Adelphia, was bought out by Time Warner/Comcast.
Time Warner also owns AOL. Any problems with Comcast as a provider?
AOL outsources their tech help to Bombay,India. Does Time Warner and Comcast do this also?
I have had some very good IT help from India and some really bad experiences also.
Need some help with these issues.
Thanks,

Kevin

Discussion is locked

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RE: Firefox, AOL, and the Mac
Jul 8, 2005 3:53AM PDT

I use Macs regularly, but never installed Firefox to one (only my PCs). So, I checked Firefox's website for Mac requirements, and they state you must have OSX 10.1.x or 10.2.x and higher. Thus, to guarentee compatibility, it's recommended that you install Firefox from OSX and not OS9 Classic mode.
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As for the AOL and Firefox combo, it's possible. I know that with AOL 9.0 for the PC you can launch Firefox and have it automatically load just the AOL dialer and NOT the main AOL application. (For instructions, click here, then scroll half way down to Jim's post.) However, I'm not sure if this is possible on the latest Mac version. Otherwise you'll have to load AOL's software and login normally, then minimize it and launch/use Firefox. (For more information on this, click here, and make sure to read the user comments at the bottom of the page.)
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Outsourcing...good or bad?
I've had them all, including Time Warner, Comcast, and Adelphia, as well as AOL's dial-up. Each time I called tech support for these companies I always spoke to people with either an American or European accent, except for AOL on a few occasions. (That's not to say they don't outsource to India, just that I've never had that happen to me.)

However, I've found that outsourcing is not always bad! Usually I've found it quite annoying when the person you are speaking to doesn't undersatnd English and reads off a card in a thick, un-understandable accent. However, I have had a few very good experiences speaking with people from the Middle East and Asia through HP and McAfee. Thus, it's commonly, but not always, a frustration when you find a company outsourcing.

With Adelphia, I've never spoken to someone overseas, but they usually have no clue how to fix the prolem, or even how to do their jobs! For instance, I have lost my service (both internet and TV) for days, sometimes weeks at a time, my signal has been passed through foreign countries because their local servers were down, and I've been billed for multiple (up to 4) accounts at a time, all to the same house! I moved here a few months ago, but in the previous place I lived I had Time Warner with no problems...can't wait until the take-over/buy-out is completed.

While everyone has had their own experiences with these companies, you can check out detailed complaints/compliments on companies on PlanetFeedback. Reading the letters (to the companies themselves) from current customers should help you decide which companies you want to do business with.

Hope this helps,
John

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Firefox, AOL, and the Mac
Jul 8, 2005 2:36PM PDT

John, Thanks for your post. I will check on each of the URL links that you provided. It will help a lot!

Great post back to me! THANK YOU!!! :

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Firefox, AOL, and the Mac
Jul 10, 2005 12:08PM PDT

John, Your last post was right-on! Good info.
Tried to launch FireFox in system 10. Received a nessage: No Mountable File Systems.
Corrupt file downloaded through AOL.
I will download it this Tuesday from work after I get off from work and punch-out. The original file was downloaded via AOL to my desktop. AOL: really is lousy with a capitol L.
Will post back to you during the week

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John: Firefox, No mountable Files
Jul 13, 2005 10:48AM PDT

Download through AOL was corrupted. Download from my workplace was corrupted.
What is wrong with the download? Comes in as all code.
Problem with Mozilla?
Thanks,

Kevin

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Check it now...
Jul 13, 2005 3:18PM PDT

I downloaded and installed Firefox 1.0.5 (Windows version) yesterday without a hitch. I just checked the Mac version, and although I can't install it (I don't have a Mac available), the download seemed good. (Although I just noticed that the Mac version is 8.73MB...almost twice that of the PC version!) Most likely Mozilla experienced a glitch (sounds like you got a copy of the open-source source code for developers by mistake), so I'd try downloading ''Firefox 1.0.5.dmg'' (for Mac OS X) again by click here. If it still appears corrupt, post the issue on their user forums...they're pretty good about reading them and quickly patching any bugs.

Hope this helps,
John

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Check it now.
Jul 14, 2005 2:00PM PDT

John, Downloaded from work this time and again today. All corrupt. Just text. All code. No problems with Thunderbird.
I would like to order a CD from Mozilla but the store is shut down for maintenence from the webmaster. I will try your link later. How do you like Firefox?
Thanks for your help,

Kevin

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Check it now Worked
Jul 14, 2005 4:22PM PDT

John, Thanks to a good download. Now I have to read how to install it and work with it.
You are the best! Keep up your good work!

Kevin

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(NT) (NT) Love it! Secure, easy to use, and feature-packed!
Jul 15, 2005 1:10AM PDT
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Love it! Secure? Part of post off-subject
Jul 15, 2005 3:51PM PDT

John, Glad to hear that of Firefox. I want to thank you again for the URL links that led me to the download site. Yes, I may have downloaded the site for developers. The origanal site was not that good and up on the right-hand corner, there was an arrow and other info that was not available for download.

I did go to your URL link and the download for Firefox downloaded and took off. Took me an hour because of my slow phone-line connection dial-up.
Bottom line was that I received the download because of you helping me. John, keep up your wonderful posts.
Are you sure that you are not a columnist for a trade magazine or newspaper? Your writing is very, very good.

Off Subject: John, what the heck is happening in London and the towns surrounding London with everyone looking for the bombing terrorists?
Do you ride the subways and public transportation?
Must be un-nerving for many presently. I hope that everyone involved will catch and put an end to the terrorist attacks in London and all over the world.
These radicals have to be stopped.
My heart goes out to the UK. And the rest of free socity and the world!

By the way, did you know that all of our email can be monitored and picked up throughout the world?
FACT!!! Spookey, isn't it?

Kevin Smith, USA

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Misc...
Jul 16, 2005 2:14AM PDT

No problem. However, I might have another explanation for why the download was screwed up...part of the SpreadFirefox.com site was hacked over the weekend, but it wasn't discovered until Tuesday! They found out the usernames and apsswords of all the volunteers that helped spread Firefox, so there's a possibility they screwed up the downloads too...no official word, but still a possibility.

Yes, I'm sure I'm not a writer, although I took a lot of advanced classes (including writing) in high school and college. The worst part is that I find mistakes when reading news articles...almost wish I had poor grammer so that it wouldn't bother me. LOL

I live in the US, so luckily the closest I've gotten to London recently is the newspaper. However, the hijacked plane (Flight 93) that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11th had passed over my house not long before it went down. It barely cleared the tree tops on a nearby hill before continuing on. Thus, I know how close I came to being part of the wreckage. I've moved twice since then, most recently to a little hick town out west where all forms of communication are not reliable. (Cell rarely works, and the cable/internet/phone went down again last night for 6 hours!...power was lost for only a few minutes at a time.) The bright spot is that this is the last place a terrorist would strike!

Persnally, I don't care if the government can listen to/read my conversations, as I am not transmitting anything I want to hide. However, I do feel the the general public's privacy is being invaded for national security...something that doesn't appear to be working too well. (Madrid bombings, World Trade Center, and now London)

John


P.S. Could you enable your ''e-mail member'' button on your profile? I think it would be easier to communicate directly, preventing a fill of the forums. Plus, I have a few questions I'd like to ask. Thanks.

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Misc?
Jul 16, 2005 4:09PM PDT

John, Thanks for the post.
Will do the update also.

Kevin

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Received a good download from your URL threads
Jul 19, 2005 11:59AM PDT

Everything works. Will have to try out the new browser and Thunderbird. Thunderbird looks very simplistic.
Any thoughts or suggestions getting started with the Thunderbird?
Your posts are very good.
Thanks,

Kevin

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Mouserama, Firefox is wonderful!!!
Jul 21, 2005 1:00PM PDT

Cannot believe Firefox. Just great! Apple/Recent Items gave me instant access to the CNET Forum. Less than a second. With Microsoft Internet Browser, I would have to go to my favorites, try to sign in, request a password be sent to me and sign in. Firefox is an instant port to the CNET Forum. Wonderful! What else does Firefox do?
Any way to set it up with AOL as a default when opening AOL?
Command + works like a charm to increase the font size on any web site using Firefox.
Peter, mrmacfixit, gave ne that info. Never knew about that feature. Did not work with the Microsoft Browser.
John, mouserama, thanks. Also to Peter, our new Modorator for the info. Things are looking up for me.
Microsoft Browser, it served its day?Rest In Peace.

Kevin