Mozilla Firefox - "The Browser Reloaded"

[Cemrin]

Mozilla Firefox ::: The Browser Reloaded

Mozilla Firefox -- developed by none other than the Mozilla Corporation -- is the leading web-browser competitor against Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

But many people wonder what's the big deal with Firefox? Isn't it just a copy of Netscape/Opera? Well actually... Mozilla designed the XML code for Netscape's UI (User Interface), so really, they didn't copy it, they just extended their own UI into something better -- and I say that without bias.

General Layout

I can only describe Firefox's interface with one word: "streamlined". It definetly has a much cleaner and organized look. Everything is organized into seperate small Nav-Strips, and unlike IE -- they are all easily closable and don't sparatically rearrange themselves after an update or addon installation.

Features and Customization

Mozilla Firefox has alot -- and I mean -- alot -- more than Internet Explorer in terms of Features and Customization:

Tabbed Browsing

First off, it has Tabbed Browsing capabilities that let you view more than one page on one seperate strip; Internet Explorer only has the option of opening a new window, which can clutter up your taskbar fairly quickly.
However, Internet Explorer 7 now has "adapted" (I probably should say "stolen") Firefox's tabbed browsing features. Again however, Firefox has a downloadable extension that can load Explorer's engine into another tab -- so really -- all you need is Firefox, and if one thing doesn't work in Firefox for some reason, just switch to an IE Tab.


Integrated Search Bar

Search fast and easy with your choice of many search engines built right into Firefox.

Themes

One major disadvantage of Internet Explorer is their lack of themes. This is where user taste truly blossoms, and Microsoft has missed that crucial part. Mozilla carries hundreds of themes of all different colors and shapes, and even shows you how to create your own theme (requires alot of technical know-how though) -- but at least its there.

Extensions

Extensions are cool little addons that add more functionality and entertainment to your browsing experience. Some are made to be useful for blogging, accessibility, and other easy-use features. Others are purely for entertainment such as StumbleUpon. Whats better is that you can easily uninstall them with a couple clicks. Try doing that with IE.

Security

Firefox is claimed to be the most secure browser on the net today -- so biased eh? Let me explain why it's secure.

Built-in Popup Blocker

You would think that all "built-in" accessories for anything would come pretty cheap in quality -- not so with Firefox's popup blocker. It blocks over 90% of all popups on websites -- the other 10% are those popups that are initiated through special Javascript commands that Firefox cannot block.

Automatic Updates

Have you ever wondered when IE was going to be released in a critical update? You remember wasting about 5 minutes each day surfing the Microsoft site checking for IE updates? Well, Firefox is on the fly with updates. As soon as Mozilla launches any security update -- big or small -- a notification is sent to you immedietaely so you can get protected with the latest bug-fixes and hole-patches.

Personal Experience

On my own personal level, Firefox's security is un-matched. Do you remember those advertising companies like Bravenet and ad.doubleclick.net? They install tracking cookies that contain adware, so that they can bombard you with ads and track your internet session. How do I know this? Use Ad-Aware.

Every single internet-releated threat found in Ad-Aware was from IE's Cache, Favorites, etc., but Firefox had absolutely 0 contaminents, and I don't empty my data from both browsers very often at all -- I always keep everything in when I scan so I can find and quarantine any critical objects from either browser -- if any.


Tuned to the Web-Developer

Besides being user-friendly for home or office, Mozilla Firefox is also tuned to Web Developers' needs. Firefox can have a very nifty Web Developer and XML Web Developer extension that is very useful for web development.
It also contains a Javascript Console that lists every error, warning, and prompt message from all the sites you visit, so you're never left in the dark about why that Javascript code doesn't work.

With all that said... are you ready to make a switch? Want to learn more?

GetFirefox.com ~ It's fast, easy, and free!

[Ultima Designs]

Dude, sweet, I hadn't ever heard of this sweet program before you sweetly posted that here. Does it have lots of fastness? Did you make it yourself? Why shouldn't I use Microsoft Internet Explorer, it's such a cool program and it has nice websites in it.

[Cemrin]

Personally, in my own opinion, it is fast at loading most elements such as images, HTML, CSS, and Macromedia Flash objects. However, it does have problems with objects rendered from Flash 8 and 9 that I've heard.

did you make it yourself?

If your talking about the program -- no. It was developed by Moziila; if you are talking about the article -- yes, this is completely written by me.

Does it have alot of fastness?

Well, it is fast by itself. If you want to make it even faster, you can download an extension for it called FasterFox... which loads pages faster, but increases the server load.. and that can be bad for sites like Flashkit.

[sk8Krog]

Wait, so is this like an AOL ad on or something? I don't get it? Don't you need to get a cd in the mail to start it?

[Cemrin]

You don't need to get the CD to use Mozilla Firefox. You can download it at Mozilla.com.

As for the ad... no this is not an ad for Firefox or AOL for that matter -- it is simply just an informational article, and also a rant/rave in some parts... notice how I compare it to IE alot.

[atRax]

I dont have a flat screen like they show on there homePage.. will it work on my machine?
.. hmmm ....
Im gonna try it just to see.

[Cemrin]

I dont have a flat screen like they show on there homePage.. will it work on my machine?
.. hmmm ....
Im gonna try it just to see.

The flat-screen is just for show... it will work on any screens with a minimun resolution of 800x600, whether flat-screen or CRT.

[Ultima Designs]

So why Firefox, and not like SuperBrowser?

[atRax]

I use the Purple Stuff from the SuperBrowser and it KickA$$ !!!

[Cemrin]

So why Firefox?

Well, as I outlined in my article, there's alot more features and tools for Firefox that most other browsers don't or cannot carry. Also, Firefox is much easier to use in terms of navigation and organizing bookmarks and webpages.

[jasonsplace]

I installed it and my Antivirus popped up and said it was a virus. No one download this program...it is evil.

[yasunobu13]

Use lynx

[gerbick]

Deepnet Explorer.

[Frets]

does it still have all the poor dom and com implimentation?

Has it finally abandoned html for xhtml like they promised the w3c it would?

[Genesis F5]

First off, it has Tabbed Browsing capabilities that let you view more than one page on one seperate strip.

How big is the strip? Like a ribbon strip size? I usually have a lot dev sites open. I'm interested in trying this out but not if it means I have to go buy a widescreen monitor. I don't get it. Is this some sort of browser for people with low system resources, or when you say "strip," do you mean like a stock ticker for web pages? If so, can you pause it?

Is there at least a zoom feature? I could always use Windows Magnifier, but there's lost quality with that method. Surely this "Firefox" has some sort of algorithm for maintaining lossless scaled image quality.

[Genesis F5]

Oh, wait... it says tabbed browsing... It that some sort of billing system? Do I have to pay to view webpages with Firefox?

I think I may have to pass on this...

[shorty116]

Cemrin is absolutely correct, a hell of a browser, i switched back to pc just because of Firefox

BTW anyone interested in a Macbook Pro?

[carly1979]

does it have anything to do with this?

because i like that film. and if this fire-fox thing has anything to do with angelina jolie, i might have to buy it.

[Genesis F5]

Ah, cool! That'd make sense, Carly. This must be something she's doing for her initiative to bring internet access to poor countries. Pretty clever marketing (with the name and all).

I guess the price is justified if it's going towards charity. I might try it out.

[carly1979]

oh my!!! this might be a good find! never heard of this!