IE Vs Firefox

[pjm007]

What are the advantages and disadvantages of both these browsers ? Why would you favour one over the other ?

PS. I'm not familiar with Firefox at all but If I wanted it, how would I get it ?

Thanks in advance.

[Mobius1]

Firefox has tabbed browsing, allowing you to view multiple pages without using multiple "Windows" and clogging up your desktop. It is also much more secure and far less vulnerable to spyware and other such malware. It has "extension" features which can be downloaded from the Firefox website for free and add additional functionality to the browser. It's free and available here: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Firefox doesn't use Microsoft's non-standard ActivX programming either, which is a blessing and a curse. It makes FF much more secure, but some sites require this feature to work properly. If this is that case for you, then consider using both browsers, using IE only when you have to. FF is completely Internet Standards compliant, but unfotunately many websites aren't thanks to IE's popularity. Such is the way of things.

[UmBongo]

i love firefox! totally ad free, i cant find a thing wrong with it, find it at www.mozilla.org.uk
dont worry about not knowing much about it, i learnt very quickly how to use it just dont be afraid of havving a mess about on it.

[t_veiga]

Mobius pretty much said it all except Mozilla also has better security functions and is a lot more user friendly.

It also has a different way of harvesting information from web pages and thus downloads and pictures a LOT quicker.

Once you download it do the following:

1.Type "about:config" into the address bar and hit return. Scroll down and look for the following entries:

network.http.pipelining network.http.proxy.pipelining network.http.pipelining.maxrequests

Normally the browser will make one request to a web page at a time. When you enable pipelining it will make several at once, which really speeds up page loading.

2. Alter the entries as follows:

Set "network.http.pipelining" to "true"

Set "network.http.proxy.pipelining" to "true"

Set "network.http.pipelining.maxrequests" to some number like 30. This means it will make 30 requests at once.

3. Lastly right-click anywhere and select New-> Integer. Name it "nglayout.initialpaint.delay" and set its value to "0". This value is the amount of time the browser waits before it acts on information it recieves.

This will make your internet browsing MUCH MUCH quicker

[tali122]

i use firefox - but be warned it has a habit of losing your bookmarked favourites

[PatTheRat]

Tali122....I was using it for ages (now back to internet explorer)...and I never lost my favourites.

I did hear of this though...and I believe that when you run a spyware scan, it recognises the lists you have created and removes them thinking they are some form of tracking cookies.

Possibly, but I'm not too sure.

[pjm007]

Can I still run AVG (Anti-virus) and Zone alarm (firewall) when using FF ?

[stevie21]

Yes, you can run those programs with ANY browser.
I also prefer Firefox. The only downfall for me is the ActiveX thing such that if I want to use AB's text editor in my posts to underline etc. I need to use IE.
The upside of this is that I'm less threatened by any virus etc. that relies on ActiveX.

If you can be bothered to do so then Firefox is much more configurable and customisable.

[pjm007]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I have decided to take the plunge !

[tali122]

thanks pattherat - my probs occured when i cleared my cache-although this should not cause it
on the mozilla forums it appears to be quite common- and your theory although is not there it is an intresting one.
tried various solutions inc sys restore but no success