[Merged] Firefox: get involved! - Page 2

Jon M · 15-09-2004, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

Internet Explorer patched up to the eyeballs.

I think that says it all folks..

Bifta · 15-09-2004, 14:52

Along with the majority of the worlds connected population, I won't be swapping either.

Richard M · 15-09-2004, 15:15

Any reason why you and other won't swap?

**Paul** · 15-09-2004, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

Any reason why you and other won't swap?

Why would I want to ? IE has never given me any problems.

Stu038 · 15-09-2004, 18:04

All I'm after in a browser is that it lets me browse, IE does that without any real problems. As for the patches, exploits etc. they're an unfortunate fact of life these days.

If Firefox becomes the next big thing then someone somewhere will want to break it so your back into the same old routine.

I'll stay with M$ for now thanks.

There again it could be said that I'm just too lazy to bother changing

scrotnig · 15-09-2004, 18:20

Evengalism on both sides annoys me.

Internet Explorer, along with most other Microsoft products, is a perfectly acceptable browser, especially after the recent updates.

I am not anti-Microsoft or anything like that, I am simply in favour of the fact that it looks like there will be a serious rival to IE in the very near future, in the shape of Firefox. Firefox will become the 'Number 2' browser, and the resultant competitive edge will result in better products for users of both browsers. the internet in general can only benefit.
If someone prefers IE...hey, that's fine, because IE is a highly competent and well built browser, whatever the evangelists and anti-MS brigade may say. The point is, there will be a choice now, a REAL, widespread choice, which has not been the case for PC users for many years.

Richard M · 15-09-2004, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark B

If someone prefers IE...hey, that's fine, because IE is a highly competent and well built browser...

That's debatable, anything with that many security holes can't be that "well built".

scrotnig · 15-09-2004, 18:37

Firefox will have security holes too as becomes more mainstream. There's already been one, of sorts.

That's not to disparage Firefox in any way, I think it's brilliant so you're preaching to the converted. I just want to put things in perspective.

**Chris** · 15-09-2004, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu038

All I'm after in a browser is that it lets me browse, IE does that without any real problems. As for the patches, exploits etc. they're an unfortunate fact of life these days.

If Firefox becomes the next big thing then someone somewhere will want to break it so your back into the same old routine.

I'll stay with M$ for now thanks.

There again it could be said that I'm just too lazy to bother changing

Why is the standard defence of Microsoft's shoddy security always that 'everyone else is just as bad, it's just nobody has bothered to exploit it.'? That is a presumption based on scant evidence and I suspect is symptomatic of how Microsoft's take-it-or-leave-it attitude has conditioned many PC users to believe that there is no other way. Well, there is, and I am browsing with it right now.

scrotnig · 15-09-2004, 19:58

I do believe that Firefox is the superior browser, without a doubt.

My argument is simply against those people who preach from a 'hate Microsoft' stance and nothing else.

I use Firefox because it is a good browser, not because IE is a bad one, if you see what I mean.

Firefox is on the verge of the biggest event in browser history in a very long time, but if the 'hate Microsoft' brigade take it over again, then it's just be seen as geeky again, which is the fate that has befallen opera and to a degree Mozilla itself.

Mainstream is where the battle will be fought, Firefox mustn't forget that.

Richard M · 17-09-2004, 00:41

Jesus H Christ!

They set a target on www.spreadfirefox.com to reach 1,000,000 downloads of Firefox PR1.0 in 10 days.
They've reached 502,629 as of 19:00 GMT Thursday which is a stunning achievement! (only 3 days by my calculations)

Mozilla.org :

nffc · 17-09-2004, 00:46

I'll get it when it's at first release ie not beta or PR

secular · 17-09-2004, 06:54

I have to say that using firefox for the first 2 days isn't that exicting. It's the long-term use and adjustabilty of it, all the plug-ins that you wish you had for IE.

It's better because every time you've wanted to be able to complete a task more easily so has someone else, and instead of it being moaned about, it's created and available to use.

One thing I really like is highlighting text and being able to google search it straight from the right-click context menu.

Security wise I have to say the jury is still out. Especially considering the ten big security holes in 9.x. secunia report.

Richard M · 17-09-2004, 07:11

But the difference is that Mozilla offer $500 to each person who can find a critical vuln, unlike Microsoft who ignore a problem for 3 months then don't even bother to patch it.
Mozilla patches are usually available within hours.

Jon M · 17-09-2004, 08:14

This shouldn't be a M$ vs. Mozilla argument, most people unless they're a sheep or very weird would only switch from a program that they are familiar and happy with if the alternative was offering better features and ease of use.
Personally, it took me far longer to switch over from IE than most of my techie peers because I had found several front-ends to IE that suited me, it was purely on the basis of features that I switched, not because I had some mis-guided notion that I'm intelligent enough to understand all the security vunerabilities of each of them.
Security, as I've said in previous IE vs. the world threads is definately an issue, but a secondary one for most people.