Any Firefox users out there?

[Socratesabroad]

Anyway, Firefox 0.8 came out a few months ago and the localized (Japanese) version is available http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/0.8/contrib-localized/ but I'm wondering if it's worthwhile. It does appear to be very much in the 'development stage' so I'd like to hear feedback from other users.

Irritated one too many times by IE, I tried Opera before but never really liked the vast number of unneeded settings/items. I use the Net mostly to do research and quick searches, so I'm thinking the lighter and less cumbersome, the better. I started running a linux PC with Mozilla and love it, so I wondered what I could do for a browser on my Win2K PC.

Just wondering if anyone was using Firefox/Mozilla on a Win PC and had an opinion....

[ultragaijin]

Just wondering if anyone was using Firefox/Mozilla on a Win PC and had an opinion....

I'm not using the Japanese localized version, but I have been using Firebird/Firefox for a while as my second browser and for checking site design. I used to use Opera, but I never liked it that much either and don't have it on my system anymore.

Firefox would definitely a good primary browser. I like the features: tabs, popup blocking, offsite image blocking and lately I've been using the RSS plugin:

RSS Reader Panel (http://fls.moo.jp/moz/rssreader.html)
RSS Reader Panel Help (http://fls.moo.jp/fswiki/?p=RRP+Help)

[cstaylor]

Our products require Mozilla only, but they also work well with Safari for Mac users... IE doesn't support stylesheets standards very well (for example, centering block elements using text-align is not standards-compliant).

I'm not sure why you'd want to use Firefox... AFAIK it's not using the latest version of Gecko, and unless you're seriously memory contrained on your Windows machine, I don't see the benefit of using it. :idea:

[Big Booger]

I use firefox exclusively except when it doesn't work with some java scripting, and windows pages (like Office Updates, Windows Updates, and so on)..


Firefox is one of the best browsers I have ever used.

[Jizmatik]

Firefox is great! I use it exclusively!

No more browser hijacks, auto-install spyware, pop-ups! It also will import your IE Favorites + tabbed browsing.

I highly recommend it. Use it both on my Windows 2k and Mac boxes.

[Big Booger]

you hit my man.

Tabbed browsing alone is worth its weight in gold. Nothing like opening firefox and have 16 of my most favorite pages opening up.

It also uses far less resources than IE... themes are abundant with firefox too...

A good buddy of mine makes tons of firefox themes and puts them on the web for download for free:

http://home.comcast.net/~lynchknot/phoenix.html

He does great work and has a donation link on his page to help support his hours of work and money he puts down to host that page and the downloads.

Firefox is as CSt points out slightly dated. I wished they'd release nightly or even weekly builds...

[Taro Toporific]

Firefox is great!
I highly recommend it. Use it both on my Windows 2k and Mac boxes.

I use the English-version Firefox on my Windows XP pro and Mac OS 10.3. In Windows, Firefox seems faster than the current Mozilla; on the Mac it's far superior than Safari which I avoid using like Explorer.

[ultragaijin]

In Windows, Firefox seems faster than the current Mozilla.

Yeah, last time I tried Mozilla it definitely felt slower the Firefox and a bit bloated for my needs.

[Socratesabroad]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the replies. From what people said, I guess I don't need Mozilla if it's slower in Win, so I'll stick with Firefox.

Again, thanks.

[FG Lurker]

Microsoft's AntiSpyware Tool
Removes Internet Explorer (http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/01/microsoft_antispyware.html)
BBspot, January 19, 2005
http://www.bbspot.com/Images/News_Features/2005/01/antispyware.jpg

Many Microsoft Windows users who downloaded the recently released AntiSpyware program from Microsoft, or had it installed through an automatic Windows update, woke up to a surprise. Unintentionally, the heuristics of the software detected Internet Explorer as spyware, and removed the program from their systems.

[...]

"It shows how powerful our AntiSpyware program is," said [Elias] Weatherbee [a Microsoft representative]. "Not only is it able to remove spyware from the system, but also the source of most spyware. Our competitors can't match that."

A representative from Lavasoft, which sells Ad-Aware another spyware removal program, complained that Microsoft was using its monopoly and knowledge of the operating system to "offer features that others can't match."

"Tough shit," said Weatherbee.

(Full Story (http://www.bbspot.com/News/2005/01/microsoft_antispyware.html))
:lol:

[ichigo partygirl]

i have just installed firefox and want to know how to turn off the security messages that come up when you open certain pages. Something about 'this page contains encripted information'

Anyone help me?

[Ketou]

I think this is right........
when the little alert comes up there is a tick box which says "Alert me whenever I am about to view an encrypted page" just uncheck the box and click ok.

[ichigo partygirl]

I think this is right........
when the little alert comes up there is a tick box which says "Alert me whenever I am about to view an encrypted page" just uncheck the box and click ok.

yeah its that message. but i unchecked it and clicked ok but it keeps coming up

[FG Lurker]

I think this is right........
when the little alert comes up there is a tick box which says "Alert me whenever I am about to view an encrypted page" just uncheck the box and click ok.
yeah its that message. but i unchecked it and clicked ok but it keeps coming up
You can try installing the latest version of Firefox. If there are updates available there will be a red icon in the extreme top-right-corner of your window, just below the "minimize/maximize" buttons.

If you haven't updated recently it would be a good idea to do so, there are some fairly big security holes in the earlier versions. :(

[Ketou]

If there are updates available there will be a red icon in the extreme top-right-corner of your window, just below the "minimize/maximize" buttons.

Cheers, didn't notice that one myself.

I have a search question. Is it possible to do a highlighted search, like here, with yahoo or google?

[FG Lurker]

If there are updates available there will be a red icon in the extreme top-right-corner of your window, just below the "minimize/maximize" buttons.
Cheers, didn't notice that one myself.
I learn new things all the time with firefox... Sometimes by mistake! You can use ctrl-number (ie 1 to 9) to switch between your first 9 tabs. I tend to use ctrl-tab more though.

I have a search question. Is it possible to do a highlighted search, like here, with yahoo or google?
I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. Do you mean to restrict a search to a certain web site? Yes, you can do that on Google with the "site" command. For example:

japan trade barriers site:fuckedgaijin.com

The only problem is that for FG search engines are currently blocked from indexing the forums. :( This is because of the phpBB worm problems we had a few months ago.

[Ketou]

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking. Do you mean to restrict a search to a certain web site? Yes, you can do that on Google with the "site" command. For example:

japan trade barriers site:fuckedgaijin.com

The only problem is that for FG search engines are currently blocked from indexing the forums. :( This is because of the phpBB worm problems we had a few months ago.

Cheers,　I meant the actual word one is searching for is highlighted in red (etc) within the search hit sites. For example : http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11683&highlight=gaijin

[FG Lurker]

Cheers,　I meant the actual word one is searching for is highlighted in red (etc) within the search hit sites. For example : http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11683&highlight=gaijin
Google does that too, if you look at the Google Cache of the site you want to see. Recently quite a few sites are blocking content caching though. :(

[Ketou]

Got it! Thanks, that's what I after. :bowdown:

[FG Lurker]

Got it! Thanks, that's what I after. :bowdown:
Not at all.

Google has many cool features: http://www.google.com/help/features.html

[Ketou]

Got it! Thanks, that's what I was after. :bowdown:

EDIT: for grammar :doh:

[FG Lurker]

Got it! Thanks, that's what I was after. :bowdown:
EDIT: for grammar :doh:
:lol: I didn't even notice.

[Mulboyne]

TodayOnline: Upstart Firefox browser nearing 10-percent market share (http://www.todayonline.com/articles/61689.asp)
Upstart Internet browser Firefox has boosted its global market share to 8.71 percent in June, putting it on the verge of a milestone of 10 percent, a Web-monitoring firm said. NetApplications said the gains for the open-source Firefox, coming years after Microsoft and its Internet Explorer won the so-called "browser war" against Netscape, signal a new threat to the industry leader. The figures from NetApplications showed Internet Explorer still held a commanding 86.56 percent of the browser usage last month but that Firefox, a project of the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, was gaining fast. "Microsoft continues to lose 0.5 to 1.0 of market share each month, which has been steady throughout 2005," noted Dan Shapero, chief operating officer at NetApplications. "With its continued momentum, combined with significant media attention, Firefox has steadily increased its user-base each and every month. Firefox is starting to tempt the masses with it strong word of mouth referrals and is expected to gain significant traction once it gains acceptance by large corporations."

[IkemenTommy]

Firefox is the shit. I was getting sick of hearing about security issues with IExplowhore. I've been using the English version on my J-XP for months now and using it as my default browser. I occasionally have to use IE for windows updates and certain microsoft worshipping sites like dell online order but thats about all. Once you go Firefox, you can't go back. The tabbing feature rocks and it's great for opening multiple p0rn sites.

Stupid me.. I was hitting CTRL-T to open new tabs on a PC with IE the other day and it didn'T work. :wall:

[Andocrates]

I don't like Firefox. I'm not sure why everyone makes such a big deal out of it, the really important details of your internet connection are still controlled by Windows so it just doesn't make much difference.

"I know I should exercise everyday but it's too hard. I know I should use Firefox but it's too much work."

[Big Booger]

tabbed browsing, plugins, extensions, Weatherfox rocks!!! and themes make Firefox the choice for me...

[ichigo partygirl]

I find firefox better for about 95% of sites. I love the tabs, the themes, and i love it how when you click on a link to email someone it auto opens my gmail up.
Only bad thing is i find it a little slower in displaying photos on sites like trademe ( nz auction site ) and on my internet banking

Overall 8.5/10

[oyajikun]

Firefox is my choice as well. A bit slow loading at first but now I just leave an instance of it open at all times.

[FG Lurker]

Firefox 1.5 is out and both English and Japanese versions are ready for download... http://www.getfirefox.com

I had some trouble getting the upgrade to work. In the end I uninstalled 1.0.7, removed the Profiles dir, and nuked any firefox-related registry entries I found. I don't think this problem is that common though. Likely my past experimentation with lots of different extensions is what caused it.

[nullpointer]

I installed FF 1.5 as soon as it came out without touching the previous installation. It seamlessly took the old profile, disabled all the extensions which it found incompatible and updated the ones for which the new versions were available. All, in all, it took around 3-4 minutes for the whole thing to be completed. Very smooth. Also the Tabbrowser extension restored my previous session which was impressive considering sometimes it simply fails to load the previous tab session even after a normal closure.

[FG Lurker]

The smooth upgrade process has always been my experience too. Everything just moves right over. This time it didn't though...Probably some screwed up extension that wasn't totally removed. FF would install no problem, but when I ran it nothing would happen. I could see it start a process, but a few seconds later the process would die without ever displaying anything on the screen. Weird.

[nullpointer]

Here's how you make all extensions work on ver 1.5, at least till such time that the updated version of the extensions are released.

1) At the location bar, enter: about:config. This will show you a list of Firefox internal preferences.
2) Right-click on the list, select New > String
Enter “app.extensions.version” (without quotes) for the preference name.
3) Then, enter “1.0” (without quotes) as the value for app.extensions.version.
4) Restart Firefox 1.5, then enable those disabled Firefox extensions.
5) Restart Firefox 1.5 again to active the extensions. Done.

Credit (http://dancameron.org/archives/903/modify-firefox-15-to-work-with-all-extensions/)

[Charles]

Here's how you make all extensions work on ver 1.5, at least till such time that the updated version of the extensions are released.
Unfortunately the MacOS X version is seriously busted. First you try to download the Mac version, oopsie, the website doesn't have the proper MIME types set for the .dmg file, it appears onscreen as a page full of text instead of downloading to a file. Ooopsie, the mozilla.org web designers don't quite understand what the FUCK they're doing.

OK, presuming you were able to figure out how to convert the download url to allow you access to the FTP site they're using as an http server (ooh terribly bad form there) and you manage to install the MacOS X version, your troubles are just beginning. You have to get some basic extensions installed, like ad blockers, since Firefox doesn't ship with anything like that.

So, you try to install something known to work in 1.5 like AdBlock, it throws up a warning that Firefox preferences are not set to allow software installation, would you like to clicky click the nice little button and change the preffy preferences? Yeah sure. Change prefs, try again, sorry, danger danger, you must clicky click the widdle button to change prefs. No matter what you do, it won't let you install that extension. Or ANY extensions.

Firefox 1.5 is total crap, written by amateurs.

[FG Lurker]

After I got 1.5 installed I didn't have any problems getting my regular extensions back in. I use:

Adblock
Forecastfox
PDF Download
IE View
Adblock Filterset.G Updater
BugMeNot

Also put in StumbleUpon this time -- haven't tried it before and am curious about it.

Downloaded the most recent versions from addons.mozilla.org and they all installed without any tweaks or complaints.

[nullpointer]

Adblock
Forecastfox
PDF Download
IE View
Adblock Filterset.G Updater
BugMeNot


I have never used Forecastfox, PDF download or IE View.Let me check them out. In addition to others, I use the Tabbrowser extension and fasterfox. I highly recommend the Tabbroweser extension. It is one of the best extensions out there. It saves your tab sessions and restores them automatically when you re-open FF, among many other things. Also very useful is the MiniT extension, which allows you to click and drag any link to open it up in a new Tab.Fasterfox is a very configurable extension which speeds up your browsing experience, Though I don't allow it to prefetch the links in background.

[IkemenTommy]

Yep, just downloaded the English version and installed it on my pc this morning. Why is it that the google's personal settings--especially the language part-- for the Japanese version never get saved? The settings get lost when you close the app and restart so I gave up with the J version and switched back to English. Maybe it's fixed in 1.5?

[FG Lurker]

Adblock
Forecastfox
PDF Download
IE View
Adblock Filterset.G Updater
BugMeNot
I have never used Forecastfox, PDF download or IE View.Let me check them out.
Forecastfox is a new one for me too, but I like it so far. I sit beside a window, but it is still nice to be able to see at a glance what the next day's weather forecast is.

PDF Download is a godsend. It lets you open PDFs into your default PDF viewer and not into the browser. Or you can choose to save them instead of opening them right away. Either way is far better than dealing with Acrobat inside Firefox.

IE View is good too -- some sites still just don't work outside IE. It lets you open a page in IE by right-clicking anywhere on the page and choosing from the context menu. You can also set a page to always open in IE.

In addition to others, I use the Tabbrowser extension and fasterfox. I highly recommend the Tabbroweser extension. It is one of the best extensions out there. It saves your tab sessions and restores them automatically when you re-open FF, among many other things.
I tried Tabbrowser once before but ended up not using it much. I often have many tabs open in Firefox and don't usually want them reopened when I run Firefox next. I'm sure it is useful for many people though.

Also very useful is the MiniT extension, which allows you to click and drag any link to open it up in a new Tab.
Just click a link with your middle mouse button (or the scroll wheel) to do the same thing. :)

Fasterfox is a very configurable extension which speeds up your browsing experience, Though I don't allow it to prefetch the links in background.
I've not tried this one, I'll give it a whirl.

[ichigo partygirl]

the PDF viewer and forcast thing sounds great. what do i have to do to get them. when i download do i have to do it manually selecting what i want??
I just downloaded new version and everything changed perfect. Only an oldish photo uploader tool wasnt compatiable

[Socratesabroad]

The new version's not too bad - updating was a piece of cake though it does seem a touch slower than before (but that could be the crap ADSL service here in China).

I'm checking out the PDF download extension now, so thanks for the info.

Speaking of extensions, the new version doesn't jibe with DownloadThemAll, but there is hope. The development team is working on updating, but in the meantime you can use a workaround (https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&category=Download%20Tools&numpg=10&id=201):
as I'm doing right now.
Right-click on the extension link and save the xpi package on your desktop. - Open it with WinRAR or you prefered archiver. - Extract install.rdf and open this file in a text editor (or Notepad if you don't have better). - Replace the line #14: 1.0+ With: 1.6a2 - Save, delete old install.rdf from the xpi and add your newly edited version (with WinRAR). - Drag and drop the modified xpi over Firefox window to install this fixed version (maybe you'll need to uninstall previous version before and restart Firefox).

Or, I've also had positive results with the app DownloadStudio, which
1) smoothly supports Firefox
2) allows in-depth downloading of web pages, web sites, files, etc.
3) allows you to pause/resume incomplete downloads