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| | (1 recommendation so far) | Message 1 of 53 in Discussion |
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L, I really like Firefox (download from www.firefox.com) as my web browser instead of Internet Explorer (IE). Most spyware/viruses are written for Microsoft programs, Firefox is free open source program, and given that relatively few people use Firefox there is probably very little malicious code written for it. Give it a go - it has the same feel as IE but I find much nicer. Firefox doesn't replace IE but you can use it instead. Anyone else use it .....? Anyone know of any reason not to use Firefox? Mike |
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| | | From: Bri | Sent: 1/10/2005 3:38 PM |
Hi Mike
Yep, I've been using Firefox for quite a while now.
There are some web sites that don't display properly, in particular those that use frames don't always size correctly, but this is almost certainly down to differences where Microsoft have deviated from the 'standard' HTML - typical Microsoft. So I keep my IE available for use with those. However Firefox is my default browser now.
One gripe I do have is that it's not particularly easy to store your 'personal' stuff somewhere other than the Program Files/Firefox folder; something which I always like to do as I like to keep programs separate from data - easier to manage your backups and also if you re-install the software you then still have all your personal settings, bookmarks etc which you would otherwise have to set up all over again. But that's my 25 years+ mainframe discipline kicking in..
I can't think of reasons NOT to use it, but I can think of a whole host of reasons to use it.
I always used to recommend to my friends that they did NOT use the IE feature of saving login/password details when offered by IE, because there is no way in IE to get these details back again if you forget them and have to re-install it or Windows at some point. Firefox will show you these details if you request, and to prevent prying eyes, you can password-protect that facility (though you're shafted if you forget that password).
Firefox also handles and manages cookies wonderfully, giving you the option of allowing/denying them when presented by the web site server, and also allowing you to select whether you're prompted on each cookie request or to apply your initial selection to all subsequent cookie requests from that server. You can list and delete accepted and/or denied cookie requests at any time and change your selection if you want. Similarly you can do that with stored passwords.
If you have a broadband connection, you can set up Firefox to multi-thread HTTP requests from the server, which greatly speeds up image-intensive page display time because rather than waiting to download each image in turn like IE does, it will issue a separate request for each downloadable item, thus multiplexing your cable/broadband modem and downloading them all simultaneously.
Firefox has a (selectable) pop-up ad blocker, so don't get those irritating 'CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE WON TODAY'S DRAW' pop-ups for example. It won't run MS Active Server Programs either - a great source of rogue web sites to drop off viruses and trojan horses.
Firefox will import all your IE bookmarks if you ask it to, and has a 'hot link' toolbar for your most frequently accessed web sites so you can pull them up with just a single mouse click instead of having to go through the bookmarks folder first.
It has a neat feature where you can instantly 'magnify' text on a web site to any size you want by pressing ctrl+ repeatedly, or ctrl- to shrink it - useful for small print or when you've had too many beers..
Loads of other good stuff, and a really great 'look and feel', make it just generally easier and more pleasant to use.
If you're used to IE, it may take you a day or two to get used to Firefox, but once you are, you won't want to go back. Anyone who hasn't done so already should give it a go.
Bri |
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Bri, Well sounds like Firefox is a bit of a winner!! I now also keep my data files (D drive) separate from my programs (C drive) ever since my Windows 98 died. A helpful program supplied at the time of purchase of my PC then offered to reinstall windows without deleting my personal files (Great I thought). However the program wasn't very specific and went on to reinstalled Windows and left "My Documents" folder untouched - however all my stuff was in a folder called "Mikes Document" on the Desk Top (in the Window folder) which got nuked. I figured after that, if my files are on different hard disk from my operating system, I can just reformat the program files disk if I need to without risking losing any data again ... Also every time my PC falls over (and it is happening quite a lot now) I have to re-download and then reinstall a whole host of little programs that I use a lot (like WinZip, zip-driver driver that fits on just a floppy, L-view pro etc..). So now I also keep a folder on my non-operating system drive with a copy of all these installation programs as well. What was this site called again, Computer Nerds Reunited Mike |
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| | | From: Bri | Sent: 1/10/2005 7:18 PM |
Hi Mike
Sorry if this is teaching granny to suck eggs, but you can make your My Documents folder point to whichever folder you've chosen to store your files..
Say you have a directory D:/Mikes Files
Right click on the 'My Documents' icon on the desktop, select 'Properties', and you'll see a dialogue box with a 'Find Target' box (depending on your release of Windows it might differ slightly). Click on 'Browse', thne just locate your folder and select it, then save it.
Any reference to My Documents then goes to your personal one. |
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Bri,
No I didn't know that - useful tip,
Cheers
Mike |
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Hi can anyone help me speed up my Internet connection as this Internet thingy seems very slow. I am using a 16k BBC PC with two tin cans and a bit of string. Laurie |
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| | | From: Bri | Sent: 1/11/2005 1:25 PM |
Laurie
Put your 'far-end' tin can at the top of Triscombe Stone.
Your uploads will be a bit slower, but your downloads will be quicker because they'll all be coming downhill.
You might also want to get some bigger tins - try raiding the Quannie kitchen, there should be some huge tins of Nurdin & Peacock baked beans in there somewhere. They'll have the added advantage of being well past the sell-by date so the rust on the inside will make it easier to knock the hole in the bottom.
Bri |
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Bri, Excellent advice. At the next reunion I will locate the tins you mentioned. Meanwhile I have placed my far end tin on the roof and this has speeded up my downloads, uploads are slower but can't have it all. Microsoft have advised me to change the string to cat gut, this is how they have managed to speed up their connections. Anyone know of any reason not to use cat gut ? Laurie |
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The cat may object? Nick. |
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I will get Shelley to hunt the cat, as she likes attacking defenceless animals. Laurie |
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Anyone know where the Quantock poems page(s) got to? |
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Hi Mike, I didn't know that we had a poem page. Laurie |
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Well we should! I know you posted one which is on the site somewhere, and in reply I dug one out that I did at school ... (again it is somewhere). Pity there is no way of actually searching the QSoc site! M |
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