Is Firefox really better than IE?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mattara
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the comparison between Firefox and Internet Explorer (IE), focusing on user experiences, preferences, and perceived advantages or disadvantages of each browser. Participants share their thoughts on safety, usability, customization options, and specific features like tab management and extensions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a preference for Firefox, citing its safety and customization options compared to IE.
  • Others defend IE, questioning the necessity of switching to Firefox and expressing satisfaction with its functionality.
  • Concerns are raised about Firefox's tab management, with some users preferring Safari's approach to tabs.
  • Participants discuss the use of extensions in Firefox, with some recommending specific ones like Adblock and All-In-One Gestures.
  • There are mentions of issues encountered with Firefox, leading some users to revert to IE, while others report no problems at all.
  • One participant raises a question about the efficiency of network transfer rates and rendering between the two browsers, noting past experiences with Firefox being slower.
  • Some participants share anecdotes about their experiences with peers regarding the adoption of Firefox in their environments.
  • There are discussions about the potential for Firefox to interfere with IE if set as the default browser, with mixed opinions on this issue.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which browser is superior, with multiple competing views remaining regarding the merits and drawbacks of both Firefox and IE.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with browser features, and there are unresolved questions about specific functionalities and user experiences that may depend on individual preferences and configurations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to users considering a switch between Firefox and Internet Explorer, as well as those looking for insights on browser features, extensions, and user experiences.

Mattara
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Well, this afternoon, I decided to get Firefox and use it instead of IE. I'm stunned. It is odd, but I think it is better as a whole :)

/me goes to convert some IE blasphemy people.
 
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Only now? Anyway, have fun and load it with a ton of extensions! :biggrin:
 
I am relieved that it was FireFox you were talking about.
 
I use Internet explorer. Whats wrong with using IE??
 
its not as safe as Firefox
 
Safe? What do you do, dl porn and warez?
 
When I installed FF on the lab computer, everyone made fun of me for being a geek, and insisted IE was just fine. Now that they've had a chance to play with it, I think all but one person in the lab is using FF. :biggrin: Like any new software, it takes a little time to get used to it and learn where things are, but once you find out how to customize it, it's hard to imagine you used anything else (at least if you're on a PC...I'm still happy with Safari on my Mac, and actually made my FF settings look a lot like Safari just for ease of finding things when I switch back and forth). The only thing I don't like, and maybe there's a way to change it that I just haven't found yet, is that when you have multiple tabs open, there only one button to close them, so you can only close the active window. I like Safari's tabs where each one has its own little "X" on it to close it, so you don't have to select a tab to close it. That's good when I've just opened 10 new tabs, bounced through all of them, and just need to keep a few open after I've gleaned what I need from the others.
 
only they doesn't carry objectionable traits...i once got a virus through homepage of one professor...
 
Moonbear said:
The only thing I don't like, and maybe there's a way to change it that I just haven't found yet, is that when you have multiple tabs open, there only one button to close them, so you can only close the active window. I like Safari's tabs where each one has its own little "X" on it to close it, so you don't have to select a tab to close it. That's good when I've just opened 10 new tabs, bounced through all of them, and just need to keep a few open after I've gleaned what I need from the others.

This makes tabbed browsing a whole lot better...
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1122/
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #10
Moonbear, you can also try rightclicking ;)
 
  • #11
Mattara said:
Moonbear, you can also try rightclicking ;)
It's that easy? :biggrin: :redface:
 
  • #12
and of course "close" </sarcasm> :D
 
  • #13
Moonbear said:
When I installed FF on the lab computer, everyone made fun of me for being a geek, and insisted IE was just fine. Now that they've had a chance to play with it, I think all but one person in the lab is using FF. :biggrin: Like any new software, it takes a little time to get used to it and learn where things are, but once you find out how to customize it, it's hard to imagine you used anything else (at least if you're on a PC...I'm still happy with Safari on my Mac, and actually made my FF settings look a lot like Safari just for ease of finding things when I switch back and forth). The only thing I don't like, and maybe there's a way to change it that I just haven't found yet, is that when you have multiple tabs open, there only one button to close them, so you can only close the active window. I like Safari's tabs where each one has its own little "X" on it to close it, so you don't have to select a tab to close it. That's good when I've just opened 10 new tabs, bounced through all of them, and just need to keep a few open after I've gleaned what I need from the others.
If you click your wheel on a link it opens in a new tab.

If you click your wheel on a tab it closes the tab.
 
  • #14
Thank you dav2008, that was perhabs the best command so far for FF.
 
  • #15
I like the All-In-One Gestures Extension. You basically hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse up to open a new tab or you could move the mouse down and then to the left to close the tab. You can even more between tabs by holding the right button, moving the mouse up and then right or left.

Also, don't forget to get the Adblock extension.
 
  • #16
My parents force me to use IE and won't let me use FF:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #17
I hate those gesture programs. I could never get them to do what i really wanted and i'd forget my gestures a lot.
 
  • #19
dduardo said:
scott1, you do know you can install firefox without bothering IE? You can even stick firefox on a USB memory stick and run it from there.

http://portablefirefox.mozdev.org/
Thanks the main problem they had with it is that it is that interferd with IE.
 
  • #20
dduardo said:
Also, don't forget to get the Adblock extension.
I tried that, but then it blocks the menu for our cafeteria on the intranet home page. :rolleyes: I couldn't find any way to tell it to not block certain sites, and checking the cafeteria menu is very important when it's time to decide to eat there or go out. :shy:
 
  • #21
scott1 said:
Thanks the main problem they had with it is that it is that interferd with IE.
I don't see how it could.

Just don't set it as your default browser.
 
  • #22
Moonbear, the lastest adblock, v.5 nightly 42, has a whitelist. All you have to do is go to Tools->Adblock->Whitelist this page.
 
  • #23
dduardo said:
Moonbear, the lastest adblock, v.5 nightly 42, has a whitelist. All you have to do is go to Tools->Adblock->Whitelist this page.
Thanks. After I tried it and it didn't have a whitelist feature, I turned it off again and just forgot about it until today. Glad to hear there's another version. Next time I'm bored in the lab :rolleyes:, I'll have to download it.
 
  • #24
dav2008 said:
I don't see how it could.

Just don't set it as your default browser.
Apprantly they thought it took over as the default browser.I never made it the defult browser.

I think this theard should be moved to the computer fourm
 
  • #25
Is there any information comparing IE to FF in terms of efficiency in network transfer rate and displaying stuff on the screen? My past experience with FF seemed to be slower than ie, and since things weren't being displayed simultaneously objects would jump around as slow sites loaded part by part. It's been a looong while since I've used FF though, and there are probably options to configure how stuff is displayed.
 
  • #26
Firefox rocks! I have been using Firefox for nearly 2 years and love it. As some others have pointed out, grab some extensions, and don't forget you can pretty much customize firefox to do whatever you want.
 
  • #27
cyrusabdollahi said:
I use Internet explorer. Whats wrong with using IE??

How can someone live without tabs? Seriously :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
 
  • #28
I hate the tabs on Firefox. I guess I'm the only one
 
  • #29
cyrusabdollahi said:
I use Internet explorer. Whats wrong with using IE??
It would be way too long of post to explain way
Just download firefox and use instead of IE and then you will see why.
 
  • #30
scott1 said:
It would be way too long of post to explain way
Just download firefox and use instead of IE and then you will see why.
I've encountered so many problems with Firefox that I had to switch back to IE.
 

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