Get Firefox - forget Explorer. Review on Mozilla Firefox

While this is a review of Mozilla’s browser - Firefox, I’ve taken the liberty to compare it with Internet Explorer as it is currently the dominant browser.

Firefox

Mozilla’s browser Firefox is the next generation browser and wildly successful open source project that’s currently sweeping across Windows, Mac & Linux desktops fast beating out Microsoft’s Internet Explorer as the defacto browser.

A Little History

Internet Explorer beat Netscape in the browser war back in the nineties by giving away IE free with it’s Windows 95 operating system. With a browser already provided and integrated into many Microsoft applications, Netscape took a major hit to their market share as users gave in to Microsoft. Subsequently, IE was more and more integrated into Windows making IE the defacto browser with 95% control in the browser market.

In 1998, Netscape gave the world it’s legacy by releasing it’s sourcecode and it launced an open-source browser software project called Mozilla. An open-source project allows hundreds and even thousands of programmers around the globe to help develop code, fix bugs and create wonderful add-ons. And in six years, Mozilla rolled out it's next-generation browser Firebird, now called Firefox.

Overview

Firefox is a definite challenger to Microsoft’s IE with it’s intuitive functionality, solid security and better interface. Better yet, with it being constantly improved by programmers and designers from user feedback, you’ll finally have a browser that does everything you want it to do and do it without compromises. That’s saying a lot indeed when the competition force feeds a product with gaping holes in it to the unsuspecting user.

Mozilla’s Firefox browser is growing each day in leaps and bounds with developers working on it around the globe. Even with impending improvements, Firefox has already made it’s mark as a definite alternative to Microsoft’s IE. Statistics show that early this year, IE controlled about 84 - 92% of the browser market. Six months down the line, their share dropped significantly to 78-88%, while Firefox went up from 7-8% to 13% and it continues in that upward trend.

Easy Installation

The windows installtion is a mere 4.6MB. You can download it in a few minutes even on a slow dial-up connection. After you’ve installed the browser, it automatically imports all of your old settings from your existing browser like bookmarks, passwords etc. So, once you have installed it, you’re ready to surf.

Familiarity & Usability

A lot of browsing features are similar to IE; so IE users should find it familiar and easy to switch to Firefox. The keyboard shortcuts are mostly the same, so you don't have to re-learn them. You can see the full list here: https://texturizer.net/firefox/keyboard.html

It's possible to get a History panel at the left of the window; the ''Bookmarks Toolbar Folder'' is basically the Links folder in IE. The full-screen view is also familiar to IE.

Popup Blocking

Firefox's built in popup blocker stops those bothersome popup ads right in their tracks. I had an independent pop-up blocker but I turned it off to try out the Firefox version and it worked really well. This saves system resources as you don’t need to run external popup blocking software. Their blocker uses a 'whitelist' function showing an white crossed icon in the tray every time a pop-up is blocked. Should you need the popup, simply click on this icon and the pop-up will appear.

Tabbed Browsing

This is one of Mozilla’s winning features. If you are the kind to open up multiple browser windows, you can do so with this nifty feature. It loads much faster than opening another browser window and keeps your taskbar uncluttered. Just hit Ctrl+T to open new tabs.

Smarter Search

A Google search field positioned in the upper right-hand corner of the browser. There are a series of add-on engines available for easy download that also use that same space in the upper-right corner. There are engines where you can search for books on Amazon.com, look up words in dictionaries, search through IMDB, or track a shipment with UPS, all without taking the time or effort to visit their respective Web sites directly. It saves a lot of time; the engines install quick and easy with a single click from the mozilla site and work right away. You can find most of them at the link below

https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/

Install only those you'll definitely find useful. For more details see https://plugindoc.mozdev.org/windows.html

Privacy and Security

ActiveX controls don’t load in this browser, thereby protecting your computer from external attacks. Firefox's privacy control panel handles everything you need to protect your privacy on the web. You can set basic settings for your history, download history, cache to deleted after preset amounts of time. Saved Form Info allows you clear or turn off form fill. But the main functions come in the managers. Saved Passwords gives you the ability to actually see what passwords you saved - and remove them if necessary. It isn’t a hacker target as it isn’t mainstream yet. Being opensource, weeds can be easily rooted out as thousands of developer eyes scour these codes.

Better Bookmarks

Bookmark Favorites appear in a polished toolbar format. You can automate those bookmarks to check the web page for updates, and report back to you. Great for checking stocks, news and sports. Just right click on the bookmark and adjust the update accordingly in the properties.

Easy Downloading

A Download Manager tracks all of your downloads, and lets you install them straight from Firefox most of the time. If a download fails for some reason, this manager also allows you to go back and try again. Files you download are automatically saved to your Desktop so they're easy to find. You can change to another location if you wish.

More Room

There is more viewing area when you surf the web because of the slick design and clean interface. Smaller toolbars, buttons and address bar take less space and adds to your viewing area, giving you more space to browse.

PROS:

• Firebird is available as a free download from Mozilla.

  
  




• Firefox has a super-small 4.6 MB installation.

  
  




• Being an opensource product, Firefox is exceptionally customizable.

  
  




• Tabbed browsing.

  
  




• Integrated pop-up ad blocking.

  
  




• Large and uncluttered viewing area and clean interface.

  
  




• Browse to your style and mood with new Themes.

  
  




• FireFox uses pretty much the same Keyboard shortcuts as IE.

  
  




• Integrated Google search is built into the toolbar.

  
  




• Easy to add and manage bookmarks with their Bookmark manager.

  
  




• Security is tight for online banking, stock trading, using eBay for bidding on auctions, and paying for goods with Paypal or your credit card.

  
  




• Firefox is updated constantly. You might there are new uploads within days. You needn’t keep updating all the time. But updates means more cool features.

  
  




• Firefox is not a hacker target, and has been proven to be effectively safe from getting your passwords hijacked.

  
  

CONS:

• Firefox takes a longer time than IE to startup. IE has the advantage because it is already loaded in your memory.

  
  




• Does not integrate well with Outlook or Outlook express email or other Miscrosoft Scripting related sites.

  
  




• Browser plug-ins like Flash and Shockwave require extra user effort to install.

  
  




• Some Javascripts, Vbscript, ActiveX will not run in Firefox.

  
  

Continued in Comments.