[mnn1265]

I've heard rumblings of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for months now in the corporate world and it appears it's ready for prime time. For HTPC users that want to use the Internet via their HTPC it's a great alternative to the pop-up, active X prompting, spyware ridden MS Internet Explorer.


I've been using it for a week or so and today saw an interesting article on CNN.com about the new browser. I think it's worth a look for anyone that surfs the Internet on their HTPC or on a PC.


One thing I like about it is that it loads very fast. The main reason I tried it is because I hate pop-ups and active X page prompts that constantly interrupt surfing - Firefox has so far been a big relief in that regard.


Give it a try - it's also very customizable.

 

[salsbst]

The AdBlock extension, which strips banner ads from web sites, triples the value of Firefox for me (though I don't browse the web on my HTPC).

 

[mnn1265]

I just started messing around with the extensions... it's a cool model. I do have the Adblock which works great. I really hate when those Active X prompts pop-up and ask if you want to run so and so.... when you say no it just spawns again. Geeesh that one is infuriating... this Adblock so far has stopped that madness.


I've been playing with some of the other extensions but I don't know what most of them do yet...


I like the customizable buttons (themes) that you can use. The browser feels much like IE but just has more tools and less pop-up issues.


So far so good.

 

[bullgates]

best browser ever.........small , customizable, and fast

 

[RareB]

I tried to use it and really liked it. The problem I had was certin web pages did not display correctly and a few did not even work. I only want to use one browser and IE might not be the greatest, but it works on every site.


Thanks,

Chad

 

[mnn1265]

I just figured that out... you have to get the "ieview" extension and that will allow you to view all pages. Under "Tools" go to "Extensions" and choose the download extensions option - you can then get ieview.

 

[PGPFan]

Tried Firefox, it was great until I found Irider , now this is how Firefox should be! It's not free like Firefox, but I GLADLY paid for the license after trying it.


-PGPfan

 

[Chriš2]

It's a great browser and I use it, but there are still a lot of sites out there, even high profile ones that don't stick to standards and build their sites geared towards IE. Just try to log on to eBay for example, all the javascript redirects don't work in Firefox. Another example is how sites use the

tag for pop-up text because IE shows it, when standards say the title= tag should be used which Firefox shows. And yet another example, many sites (like my online bank) will call what browser you are using, and redirect you to a certain version of the site. When I use Firefox I always get redirected to a cut down, less functional version of the site. IE 5 & 6 go to one site, everything else gets dumped to the cut down version. Very irritating! Therefore I still have to keep using IE until these lazy developers get on the ball and make changes to their code. Hopefully Firefox will gain enough of the user base where developers will actually give a damn.

 

[mnn1265]

Chriš, Thanks for the info... I haven't run into those problems yet but I guess I better not retire IE altogether just yet.


It will be interesting to see what happens in the next year or so. The pop-up problem is so bad with IE (even with Google pop-up blocker and IE blocker operating) it makes it almost impossible to navigate many sites.

 

[salsbst]

Quote:

Just try to log on to eBay for example, all the javascript redirects don't work in Firefox.

Haven't noticed a problem so far.

Quote:

Another example is how sites use the tag for pop-up text because IE shows it, when standards say the title= tag should be used which Firefox shows.

I can live with this, though it is annoying.

Quote:

And yet another example, many sites (like my online bank) will call what browser you are using, and redirect you to a certain version of the site. When I use Firefox I always get redirected to a cut down, less functional version of the site. IE 5 & 6 go to one site, everything else gets dumped to the cut down version. Very irritating!.

Just switch banks!


I can honestly say that while I notice an occaisional rendering problem, I can't recall any sites important to me that really don't work with Firefox.


The only time I launch IE is when I need to test my own work.

 

[Karyk]

Quote:

Originally posted by mnn1265 I've heard rumblings of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for months now in the corporate world and it appears it's ready for prime time. For HTPC users that want to use the Internet via their HTPC it's a great alternative to the pop-up, active X prompting,

I have no idea what popups and active X prompting you're talking about, but then I have the Internet Zone for IE pretty tightly configured.


Firefox does not render the TitanTV page quite properly, but it is still readable, so I use IE to program my MyHD card, and Firefox to program my Fusion card. That (the ability of Firefox to assign different programs to particular extensions from what the Windows default is) is the only benefit I see to Firefox in an HTPC.

 

[RicardoD]

I have been using Firefox for over a month now. Love the tab browsing and pop up blocking, but as mentioned previously some sites I frequent just don't work well with it. Ebay.


Also I find integration with Adobe Acrobat plug-in to be flaky. I had to revert back to IE on all but one of my PCs.


Ricardo

 

[Karyk]

Quote:

Originally posted by RicardoD I have been using Firefox for over a month now. Love the tab browsing and pop up blocking, but as mentioned previously some sites I frequent just don't work well with it. Ebay.

BTW, there is some sort of a security risk with Tab browsing. The news on that came out about a week ago, but because it's not a MSFT product the press hardly reported it.


As I understand it, an open tab from a malicious site can somehow cause information intended to be inputed into another site (e.g. maybe your bank) to be transmitted to the site of the open tab. The article I read on it wasn't clear at all. It sounded more theoretical than practical, but I probably wouldn't keep non-major (and/or unknown) sites' tabs open.

 

[RalphArch]

Thanks for the link and info on firefox. Tried it out yesterday and love it. I had a nagging popup problem that I could not get rid of with Spybot S&D and the google pop up blocker. Its gone in Firefox


Plus now when I read my hotmail from M$ I am not left with Messenger running with a bs message about it can't close because another program is in dire need of the service it is providing.


Will leave IE on my system but obviously will be mostly using mozilla for now

 

[salsbst]

An open tab can show a popup window just like any other browser window. The security risk is that the user cannot determine which tab has popped up the window, and may thus place too much faith in the popup window. I don't call this a bug, but at worst a design flaw. One solution would be for Firefox to switch to the originating tab when the popup window is activated. Shouldn't be all that tough.

 

[Sergei Esenin]

Quote:

Originally posted by salsbst An open tab can show a popup window just like any other browser window. The security risk is that the user cannot determine which tab has popped up the window, and may thus place too much faith in the popup window. I don't call this a bug, but at worst a design flaw.

It's not a Mozilla/Firefox design flaw, it's a design flaw of any site stupid enough to insist on putting anything important in a popup window. Personally, I've never seen a legitimate site use popups that ask for personal information.

 

[yesgrey3]

I also started using Firefox, but there is one very annoying thing...


I usually like to save the avs forum pages to read it latelly, and here is the problem. In IE when I click Save As... it appears the thread name, and I only need to click Enter for saving. In Firefox no, I always have to copy and paste the name. After a few theads it's very annoying...

 

[salsbst]

I agree that popups should be avoided... the issue here is that a malicious site in tab "b" can popup a window that looks like a Citibank login screen, and some users will just plow ahead and type into it, since their active tab (tab "a") is a Citibank page. It's a really minor problem that will only snare the dumbest of users as far as I'm concerned.

 

[mnn1265]

Quote:

I have no idea what popups and active X prompting you're talking about, but then I have the Internet Zone for IE pretty tightly configured.

Then you either have that thing locked down tight to the point that you can't do much of anything or you just don't surf much... I think a huge majority of people know exactly what I mean about uncontrollable pop-ups. In fact, it's one of the primary reasons that Firefox is taking-off so incredibly fast.

 

[90c4]

Quote:

Originally posted by PGPFan Tried Firefox, it was great until I found Irider , now this is how Firefox should be! It's not free like Firefox, but I GLADLY paid for the license after trying it. -PGPfan

I agree with PGPfan - I gave up on IE awhile ago in favor of Opera then Firefox... but after using irider for awhile you realize how much time you wasted surfing with other browsers.