Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Irene M
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 04:27 PM

Bill D.
To be honest, I don't know.
If I set it to update daily, it falls off after about a month. If I disable the daily updates and start them myself, it falls off after a month, except when it falls off after 10 days (which I thought was some kind of record, even for me!)
I use the windows firewall, which seems to be OK, to the extent that when a friend sent an e mail that only displayed a blank box with a cross in it, she asked if I had a chastity belt on this thing!

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 01:20 PM

Double-checking, Irene....I am assuming that your problems only happen during 'new version' updates, and not daily downloads of new virus rules?

Perhaps you have some setting to warn you or disable a program if a major registry setting is chaqnged, as would happen with a new version.

(no, kat....have not even heard of "superantivirus".)

And that 'home' button is as gnomad describes.....I see I have it, but never use it, as tabs and the "personal bar" make all my standard choices available. I suppose that if one is running short of space on the 'personal bar', it can provide one extra link.

Browsers are SO configurable now....you can set them up for almost any personal whim. (Mine have 'wood' paneling as my theme)

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 01:05 PM

Kat, A home button can be found by RtClick on the browser bar, >click "buttons", >click "browser" in the list, then drag any buttons you fancy onto their desired position on the bar.

I've just been adding Opera as a trial, not sure whether I like it yet. I'm a simple sort, who finds having too many choices is a bit of a bind. I think I may prefer the separation of e-mail business from surfing achieved with Firefox plus Thunderbird.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 11:55 AM

So no one else has tried the Superantivirus program? It seems to be doing a good job, is free, and never bothers me.

The only thing i don't like about Opera is i cannot find a Home button.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 11:41 AM

Now, if this continues, you might want to try one of the other two free anti-virus programs currently popular...Avast or Comodo. Comodo seems to be considered harder to set up & tweak. Avast is 'almost' as popular as AVG.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 11:37 AM

Wow, Irene....that makes ME wonder. Now, I do have AVG in 'startup'(the standard default), so I almost never need to use the shortcut....I have an icon in the tray which I right-click on if I want to see the 'control center.

I'd see no need to pay for AVG either, as the free version does all I require.

Perhaps you DO have some setting on your PC that doesn't like some AVG parameter. There are so many ways to get it wrong, and often only one that is 'right'.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST,Irene M at work
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:04 AM

Bill D.
I get "something bad happened to..." messages, the shortcut to AVG ceases to respond, and the only way to deal with it is to uninstall and start again. It's AVG Free anti-virus, I am talking about.
I am reluctant to pay for AVG if I still have this recurrent timewaste to deal with.
I had been getting similar problems with Norton, so a friend loaded AVG instead. I wonder if there is something sinister on the computer that is causing this.
I have run the anti-spyware programme.

Irene

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 05:41 AM

Thanks Newport boy that Foxit reader worked a treat.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Gurney
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 02:58 AM

I first installed Opera about six years ago, after a Windows update wrecked IE. No complaints. IE is my default program, but it only get used on auto updates.

I've tried them all, but keep coming back to Opera.

As someone up there said, it doesn't matter if you have more than one, or use more than one, so you don't have to commit yourself.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 10:31 PM

Pip's computer had problems with AVG updates not seeming to take properly and reboots needed. I think I managed to fix it for a while but the problem came back. It's fixed permanently now though, ie. my parents use Linux.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 09:15 PM

I wonder what mine does to update without demanding a re-start? Hmmm...maybe it doesn't actually use the update until I reboot in the morning? I get the update at 1PM, it says it did everything and installed the new data....then I shut down at night.

I dunno...but it works fine and says "all is well" right now.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 08:09 PM

My AVG tells me I have to shut down my computer in order for the updates to take effect. Since I have it check for updates over-night, every night, it's a pain in the arse to do that every morning. I've got version 7.5.519.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 06:34 PM

Seems like Apple is using dubious practices, whether Safari is a good browser or not.

"Mozilla CEO John Lilly was the first to point out that Apple has now begun offering Safari as an optional download whenever you receive an update to its Quicktime or iTunes software on Windows. It's "optional" in the sense that you don't have to install it, but the installer assumes that you do want it, by default. If you don't want to download and install 50MB of Safari, you need to uncheck the box manually.

This really bugs me. I'm perfectly happy with Firefox, and I see no reason why I should have Apple twisting my arm to load up my system with another browser every time it issues a security update to Quicktime.

And I should point out that it's not just Safari. I made a point to install Quicktime without iTunes on my business PC, and yet I'm still offered "Quicktime + iTunes" every time Apple releases a new update. This is annoying and coercive at best, and at worst it resembles the practices of malware makers.

The shame of it is that Safari is actually a fine browser. Apple should be able to increase its market share on its merits alone, without getting pushy about it."

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 06:18 PM

Interesting commentary on the Safari release here

I 'may' try it

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Amos
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 06:00 PM

Safari was released for Windoze today; one highly respected OS engineer says it is much better than FIrefox. I have not tried the Windows version myself, but I use the Mac version consistently.


A

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 05:27 PM

Internet Explorer is fairly easy to remove from Windoze machines - indeed it is a requirement of sale of Windoze in Europe that you are able to do so.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:58 PM

And I'm sorry about the versions...I was thinking of my **FIREWALL** when I said version 2.1.5.

Still, as I say, AVG just updates its rules daily at 1PM and 'occasionally' bring out a new version, but I still don't remember any problems. Right now I have free version7.5.519

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:51 PM

Irene...could you be more specific about what "falls off" might mean?
Do you mean you 'lose' AVG? As in it uninstalls? I have never heard of that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:32 PM

??weird...mine just updates and smiles. What version are you using? The 'experts' say that after 2.1.5 they just unnecessarily complicated it. So I went back to that and have had no trouble since.



(and in most Mozilla browsers, you can set the font for most pages, but Gmail seems to have different parameters)

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Irene M
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:17 PM

I use Firefox in preference to IE, and use AVG.
Has anyone got any idea why AVG falls off roughly once a month.
I have uninstalled and re-downloaded SEVEN flaming times so far, and the moment it says that to install an update, it needs to close down and re-open the computer, I KNOW sure as eggs is eggs it's going to fall off again. Drives me crazy.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:13 PM

I can't set fonts, but ctrl+ increases text size.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 03:55 PM

So far, I like the new beta of Firefox. Haven't run into any problems, eyt.

Anyone know how to set actual fonts and sizes in gmail? I find choosing sizes annoying as Sharyn pointed out with Firefox. I have been unable to find a way in gmail to go round that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 03:27 PM

Acrobat Reader often falls over on large pdf files, and locks up the browser. I often used to find a 'not responding' copy much later. I now use FoxIt Reader, which is much quicker, although there is not a Firefox plugin.

Phil

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:08 PM

Stilly River Sage says it all for me, I use all of the programmes he mentions and have no trouble.
I have the same trouble as Gulliver regarding Adobe PDF, anyone else having problems with this programme?.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Mr Red
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 08:58 AM

Mozilla seems well behaved on font sizes, and more reasonable that IE 5.5, IE 6 seems better behaved.

I had my first demonstration of Flashblock working. The load was so quick I didn't notice it had blocked. Oh sweet joy.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: artbrooks
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 12:16 PM

Sharyn, click on Tools->Options->Content and you will see a selection of fonts and a size choice by points.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: sharyn
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 10:44 AM

I just got a new computer with Firefox. It has certain annoying features, such as presenting type sizes in "Small, Medium and Large" like T-shirts, rather than in type points. Aargh. I was in love with Netscape, but my techie brother explained that it doesn't get updated anymore. I also have Safari, which I haven't used much, so now I'll go read the discussions on that!

I find postings like this really helpful. So, thanks!

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 09:36 AM

I wish people wouldn't say things like "There are some web sites that are not Firefox compatible". What you mean is that there are some sites that use Mirosoft specific code. FF follows web standards, IE doesn't.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 12:31 AM

Thanks, John. I won't be adding on any plug-ins, at this point and I will check back for the new version, for sure, but so far this seems to be stable and no problems.

I just downloaded and used MIRO to capture a youtube video. Wow! Incredible technology makes me shake my head with the implications and ability.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Gulliver
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 12:06 AM

Firefox is working great for me--very happy with it so far. However, I'll wait until the new beta is stabilized before downloading it.

As regards Flash and Adobe PDF: I absolutely hate both of them, a result of when I was on dial-up and had to wait so long for them to download (if they downloaded at all, not to mention crashing!).

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 11:22 PM

kat -

Do remember to check back in a month or so for the FINAL VERSION of Firefox 3. And try to remember which plugins you add in beta so you won't have to start over ...

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 11:10 PM

Hey, Firefox 3 Beta 4 has some interesting new ways of working. I've only had it installed and running for a few minutes, but it looks good. We'll see. Thanks, again, John. Yes! It still has spell check...no more tpyos!**bg**

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:51 PM

Thanks for the info on the firefox, John. I may give it a try.

Gulliver, I am sure I had the earlier version, pre-3, which was giving me fits.

kat

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 10:46 PM

Flash and Adobe PDF are to some extent competing products.

Flash is used by some sites, even for "static" media content, apparently because it makes it more difficult for people to save the content. Adobe PDF is intended specifically (unless disabled by the writer/producer) to make it as easy as possible for content to be saved by viewers.

Anyone having problems with either of them (which pretty much means anyone using a computer on the internet) should be aware of the new competitor(?): Microsoft Silverlight.

As soon as I've figured out anything that Silverlight is good for, perhaps I'll comment. For now it's just another mammoth on the hill ready to charge into our little camp.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 12:42 PM

Well I use Mozilla and I added FlashBlock.

Apparently it refuses to load Flash Movies and lets you click for the item. AFAIK not available for IE. But is available for Firefox.
Flash rarely if ever contains information, only eye-candy.

On dial-up Flash files load before testing to see if you have Flash. Which some webmaster can't understand. My target audience has a lowest common denominator of 56K (sans Flash) so I like to know what links from my site will incur timewise. Don't believe the hype - there are a lot of people still on dial-up, pay as you go.

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 08:47 AM

Thanks for all the advice and opinions folks. Plenty to think about there.
Regards

Andy

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 05:54 AM

Re: Firefox Versions

Firefox 3 Web browser almost ready

Program creators say Firefox 3 has improvements to security, memory use
By Jim Finkle
Reuters
updated 4:20 p.m. CT, Thurs., March. 20, 2008

BOSTON - A new version of Mozilla's popular Firefox Web browser is ready for download with improved security and memory use as the tiny company takes a stab at Microsoft s dominant Internet Explorer (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal).

The program's creators told Reuters on Thursday that the privately held company's trial version of Firefox 3 browser is ready for the public to use after months of development.

/quote

Until now, Firefox has discouraged download of beta versions of Firefox 3 by users, and recommended it only for developers and computer specialists. The version now downloadable is still a "beta" version, with at least one more version to go before release of a "final version 3," but is considered sufficiently close for general try-out.

Estimated final version at end of June (2008?).

Version 2, the last "finalized" version, was released October 2006.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 03:00 AM

Quicktime and Safari both are "Apple" programs. Quicktime runs on Windows so it's not exclusively Mac. I'm not sure about Safari, but there appears to be a Windows version recently released. There's been some reaction like here.

Quicktime has been "necessary" for a few sites and some "media" objects, but is becoming less needed. If you have Quicktime on the machine, you're probably accustomed to getting weekly popups urging you to upgrade, or to sign up for new services. Some editors refer to it as "viral" although it's mostly safe - just a little buggy and doesn't really play well with Windows, and incorporates the usual spyware to assert DRM and try to sell stuff.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Gulliver
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 01:17 AM

Isn't that for Macs?

Subject: RE: Tech: Internet Explorer or Firefox?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 01:03 AM

Quicktime update wants me to install a new browser called Safari. Anybody know anything about it?
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: GUEST,Gulliver
Date: 22 Mar 08 - 12:35 AM

I've just bitten the bullet and installed Firefox, version 2.0.0.12 (is this the version you had problems with, Kat, or was it version 3?) and am using it now. It certainly seems faster than IE, which I've been using up to now, and I don't have a problem with a very small number of sites (one of them unfortunately my main email provider) which kept complaining that IE did not allow cookies. IE was running slower and slower (maybe due to firewall/anti-virus SW) over the past couple of months so I'll put Firefox through its paces now and see if there's an improvement. Thanks to everyone who provided advice. Don

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 09:47 PM

I love Firefox and have used it for several years, as you did, on advice of Mudcatters about NOT using IE. This last download of Firefix though has had a lot of problems for me and a few others. I finally uninstalled it and started using Opera, though for my bank I have to use Netscape. I'll have to look into SeaMonkey, Dave, thanks for the info. I miss Firefox, a lot, and would go back to it in a heartbeat if I thought the problems were gone.

When I called Dell tech people, recently, they installed a free version of SUPERantispyware. Anyone else heard of it or use it? So far it seems to be doing a good job, but I also have AVG, Spybot and Kerio (which is Sunsomething, can't remember, now) as well as AdAware. Hmmm...can we say, "Shields up!?"**bg**

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 07:37 PM

There's no reason not to have more than one browser either

If you are using Windows, you must have Internet Explorer installed. It is the same program, with a slightly different "hook" that does all your file handling under the alias of Windows Explorer, and that handles the access to all the little "maintenance feature" in Windows. It cannot be uninstalled without "breaking" Windows.

If you have IE installed, you have all its "vulnerabilities," and some of them may be "exposed" whether you use it or not. Even if you never open it, you need to keep it up to date, preferably with autoupdate.

If you've "updated" to Vista, and if you've kept it up to date with autoupdates as you should, you should already have most of the patches and changes that are part of Vista SP1. The complete SP1 is now released, and will be installed, complete, via autoupdate, with a few exceptions. The consensus opinion of competent advisors is that most people should allow SP1 installation.

There are a few programs that are known to be "blocked" from running in Vista SP1. A short list of known programs can be found in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 935796.

The list at the KB article is not a complete list. It includes a couple of AV programs that are blocked due to "instability" with SP1; including Bit Defender or Zone Alarm. There are compatible updates available for both of these. There are a few programs that are listed as "will not run" but none (on the list so far) that I've heard of anyone here using. Updates are available for some of these.

There are also a few conditions, including presence of non-compliant programs, that will prevent installation of SP1. The download/installation program checks for some conditions and will not download SP1 if certain ones are on the computer. If you have Vista, and SP1 doesn't appear within the next month or so, you probably should find out why and take steps to get it.

There likely will be more discussion on Vista SP1 when more people have it.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: artbrooks
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 01:37 PM

I use Firefox, and haven't had any real problems with it...and I like the many third-party add-ons that they have available. Maybe similar things are available on/for IE - I don't know. I do have to open IE once in a while for something on a website that doesn't fully support Firefox, but I don't think you have the option of deleting IE from a Windows-based PC anyway. I use Zonealarm and its firewall rather than the Windows/IE firewall.

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 01:20 PM

I have (of course) Internet Explorer, and Firefox too. I don't use either one of them to speak of.

I use SeaMonkey instead, mainly because it has an excellent email program built in, with an easy-to-use interface that is far, far, far better (Sez I) and easier to use than the clunky email interface built into IE, and it doesn't require going outside of the browser to handle email, like Firefox.

On infrequent occasions I will find a site that won't work with SeaMonkey, and I will hold my nose and use IE.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 11:43 AM

Furthermore, the latest incarnation of firefox has been shown to be faster and to use less memory than it's predecessor. My only complaint is that it crashes when downloading very large jpeg's from nasa.

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: redsnapper
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 11:33 AM

Opera

RS

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: redsnapper
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 11:30 AM

I have recently changed to the Opera browser and find it better than IE. I have used Firefox as well in the past but I prefer Opera to it.

Panda is a very good antivirus. I do not use it myself (I use eTrust and Avanquest Fix-It Utilities) but have installed it for others.

RS

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: Rich_Kelly
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 11:28 AM

While Explorer is quickly catching up to Firefox when it comes to secure browsing, Firefox still has a reputation for responding quickly when security holes are discovered.

Also, Firefox is more configurable.

When I switched from Explorer to Firefox a couple of years ago, popups all but disappeared for me.

There are some web sites that are not Firefox compatible. For those sites, though, you can configure Firefox to automatically open selected sites with Explorer.

I'd stick with Firefox. Download and installation only takes a couple of minutes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Int. Explorer or Firefox?
From: peregrina
Date: 21 Mar 08 - 11:19 AM

My non-techie view: Firefox is still safer. And is very good. There's no reason not to have more than one browser either.