Firefox Tweak Guide

Advertisement (Why?)

Microsoft has reigned the browser market for a long time, ever since it took the original Netscape browser out of the picture; there has been no competitor able to keep up with Internet Explorer. Unfortunately for end users however, the software giant has been sitting duck for about half of its lifetime, adding almost no new features since IE 6 was introduced in 2001, and until very recently, barely keeping up with security holes found in its browser.

Just as Linux is to Windows, Mozilla’s open-source Firefox is to Internet Explorer. The fact is, although IE is still the top used browser, Firefox is by far the best out there (Opera is fantastic, too, just not completely free).

TechSpot's Firefox tweak guide covers every functionality aspect found in this great browser, from the very basic appearance and menu options, to advanced customizations in Firefox’s behaviour such as caching, net connection handling, plug-ins and web page rendering. Also make sure not to miss Firefox's extensions top 10 recommendation list.

View: Firefox Tweak Guide

* : This is a browser plug-in; it requires Windows 2000 or later with latest updates installed; Firefox 1.0+ or IE 5.0+. Mac and Linux versions coming soon.

(1 reply) #1 NyaR on 28 Jun 2005 - 06:56

it was ok but the same information can be found in neowin forums

#1.1 SS64 on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:04

I agree,this shouldnt even be in the BPN,nothing really new here

#2 Elmo on 28 Jun 2005 - 06:59

cool

reading it know

(3 replies) #3 sesh on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:17

A little worried about, "Firefox is by far the best out there". There are lots of other browsers out there.

#3.1 em_te on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:42

"One of the best" or "among the best," maybe. But, "by far the best"?

#3.2 Bhav on 28 Jun 2005 - 09:58

yeah i think the writer got a bit excited.

i think it's the best though, but that's just an opinion.

#3.3 Valkyre on 28 Jun 2005 - 19:25

You named two. That's not "a lot". In fact, there are very few browsers that exist that aren't built upon IE's already existing structure, or the gecko engine.

Opera isn't free, and Safari is a mac exclusive browser.

#4 mr_demilord on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:23

Some nifty things I didn't know is explained on this site. Very helpfull. Thank you neowin!

It isn't about Opera or Safari it is about tweaking Firefox

#5 hotdog963al on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:29

"Firefox is by far the best out there."
let the flaming commence..............

(2 replies) #6 neocitron on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:51

don't say "by far the best" because some people prefer Opera.
that's totally unprofessional... and no.. unprofessional journalism looks like crap in this case.

#6.1 JulioFranco on 28 Jun 2005 - 08:02

The article here on Neowin is basically quoting the introduction of TechSpot's article, which actually reads like this "The fact is, although IE is still the top used browser, Firefox is by far the best out there (Opera is fantastic, too, just not completely free)."

I never thought such a comment would be seen so negatively, at least not that soon...

I have edited the article accordingly, as it should have been done in the first place.

No flaming wars necessary, I guess you can say both Firefox and Opera are superior than IE, especially out of the box (Safari is out of the question since it's Mac only). So once you have narrowed it down to those two, only your own tastes will tell if Opera is worth the small investment or you are kept happy with Firefox.

#6.2 samriley on 28 Jun 2005 - 09:29

to be honest i find opera has far too many rendering bugs. for instance the way it incorrectly handles floats.

(2 replies) #7 richter on 28 Jun 2005 - 07:52

Out of many interesting things that get posted in BPN which could/should be on front page, the article about tweaking FF is posted. Unbelievable! What’s new/exciting about this? The quality of non Microsoft related news has been degrading fast for quite some time now, and it is shame because I visit forums often and NW is my homepage. You guys had pretty good reading on your homepage before and nowadays unless it’s not leaked software from Microsoft you might as well skip the front page and go to forums. At least try to post unbiased news and restrain yourself from calling anything "best out there", because that's just personal opinion. News should be objective and not subjective. But then again, what do I know.

#7.1 Rogue` on 28 Jun 2005 - 10:34

look at post #6.1, its not someone from neowin writing it, its a damned quote....................................................u say u been here for a long time, but u think the people who post FPN writes it all themselves?

#7.2 richter on 28 Jun 2005 - 13:22

Look at the time when I wrote my post and when that reply was posted. I've been here for a while and I am aware most articles are copy/paste from other sources, but when they are posted there is clear distinction what original poster says and what article says. In this news there is not. I read the article on Neowin, and not Techspot's guide. From the looks of it, it seems as if first two paragraphs are poster's opinion and third one is a start of Techspot's guide. They might not write articles themselves, but at least things that get posted should be read first.

Either way, editor of that article is in fact poster so it is "his" opinion and I do stand by my view this should have been rephrased. I've nothing on software, I use it myself, but rather how article was written. The Guide is too biased as well. Not that I care, but at least if you want to be credible be objective.

As for my rant regarding front page. Other sites do the same and some seem to do just fine. A lot of info gets filtered out and remains unposted. Post frequency is rather long. Not the Neowin that it used to be. This is totally different story and was not main point.

Last edited by 47133 on 28 Jun 2005 - 13:31

(10 replies) #8 feelgood13 on 28 Jun 2005 - 08:10

QUOTE

Just as Linux is to Windows, Mozilla’s open-source Firefox is to Internet Explorer.

so why did the linux monkeys feel there was a need to port it to windows? keep your open source garbage off our PAID OS.

#8.1 SquareSoft0 on 28 Jun 2005 - 08:38

Are his trolling posts even reflective of what he thinks anymore?

#8.2 AJCrowley Esq on 28 Jun 2005 - 11:22

keep your open source garbage off our PAID OS

If it makes you feel any better, I could add some bugs and deficiencies into the Firefox source, then you could pay me for it. I'm sure you'd feel much more at home with that.

#8.3 MrA on 28 Jun 2005 - 15:05

Um, wasn't netscape originally a windows application that got ported to linux?

Oh, and for all you haters of open source, I suggest you stop using the internet. The internet's core technologies are open source.

#8.4 mr_da3m0n on 28 Jun 2005 - 15:47

I think your paid OS is crap, personally. I don't go ranting about it just to stir crap up.

Go trolling elsewhere.

#8.5 feelgood13 on 28 Jun 2005 - 19:25

mr doraemon, you've already established yourself as a bonified chump in the last thread. no need to reassert yourself, we already know.

#8.6 jubber2002 on 29 Jun 2005 - 00:01

Seriously, Just because something is free makes it crud. I'd like to see you write a program better than Firefox. So what if firefox was payable? Would it be open source garbage? Probably not but then you'd be dissing opera. Some people are so ignorant these days.

#8.7 Ned on 29 Jun 2005 - 02:08

I just bet you think your winning this conversation.

..and I'm pretty sure Mr_Daemon didn't prove himself "a bonified chump" in whatever thread your talking about.

#8.8 jubber2002 on 29 Jun 2005 - 05:15

Sigh

#8.9 feelgood13 on 29 Jun 2005 - 18:58

There's a saying: "you get what you pay for."

#8.10 jubber2002 on 29 Jun 2005 - 20:35

Quite frankly open source programs work the same as paid programs. Most are written in the same languages (such as C++, Java, and .NET C#). The only difference is if the person decides to sell it or not. Do you see what I'm saying?

#9 mAcOdIn on 28 Jun 2005 - 08:36

I thought it was a good guide. True, as with most guides, the information was already available elsewhere, but I think it explained alot, with good pictures, and gave some good information.

A guide isn't for advanced users but for new ones, and having a single through guide is far better to them than a splintered forum with the information spread out cryptically.

(1 reply) #10 lare2 on 28 Jun 2005 - 09:42

The article starts to get interesting until the third or fourth page. First pages are really common sense options.

#10.1 shmengie on 28 Jun 2005 - 13:48

hey, you stole my comment!

(4 replies) #11 Penn Guinn on 28 Jun 2005 - 11:03

Unnecessary rivalry...

In article, why emphasise everything BUT the tweaks?

What does Microsoft's IE market position, or Opera Software's Opera browser's cost have to do with tweaking Firefox?

Here's something positive: Get Greasemonkey and the Greasemonkey script Platypus from the links below. Right click on a web page and select Platypus! from the menu. Hover over elements in the page and press Del to delete them.

* Press Q to Quit when done.
* To save your changes for the next time, press Ctrl-S to save.
* Select Tools...Install User Script.
* Reload the page to see your handywork!

#11.1 AJCrowley Esq on 28 Jun 2005 - 11:32

Links?

#11.2 xMorpheousx416 on 28 Jun 2005 - 14:33

I don't know of any specific links the poster is referring to....but Google Greasemonkey.

#11.3 TSThomas on 28 Jun 2005 - 17:41

Greasemonkey is available here;
http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/

#11.4 Penn Guinn on 29 Jun 2005 - 02:03

Platypus is here;

http://platypus.mozdev.org

It also has links to Greasemonkey and other resources.

#12 Esenthiel on 28 Jun 2005 - 12:15

I didn't like this article. It's not a tweak guide. It's a user's manual.

#13 jazztheglass on 28 Jun 2005 - 16:49

Firefox is wonderful. I can't ever seem to get the fonts in it right, and it has that same look and feel as if I were using fluxbox in X-Window(s)... Firefox is sort of like the vegan-alternative browser, I personally would be overjoyed if there were one single browser and the manufacturer was, Big "Airstrip F'ing One" Brother...

I don't know why I have such little problems with a combination of IE6.5 + Maxthon (though, maxthon is dead as dead, it doesn't really matter...)... Firefox is sort of like antibiotics, it's perscribed without thinking for just about everything.

(2 replies) #14 TSThomas on 28 Jun 2005 - 17:38

Can't seem to respond with qoutes to this, damn IE 6

Anyway, as the author I'd like to address a few points raised

"don't say "by far the best" because some people prefer Opera.

In article, why emphasise everything BUT the tweaks?

What does Microsoft's IE market position, or Opera Software's Opera browser's cost have to do with tweaking Firefox?

I didn't actually do the intro myself

To be honest I loathe writing introductions & conclusions.

The article starts to get interesting until the third or fourth page. First pages are really common sense options.

Yup, I figured I had to cover the menu items regardless (As a lot of newbies ought to be reading too I'd imagine), probably will put a note up for the next revision stating to skip onto "this" page if you'd rather get straight to about:config.

I didn't like this article. It's not a tweak guide. It's a user's manual.

I'm not sure I understand the problem. What is a tweak guide? I mean, would it be more of a tweak guide if I just list options without any explanation saying set them to this, this & this (You can finds loads of forums posts which do just this). Surely it's far more preferable to explain what an option does, valid settings for it & where appropriate give a recommendation as to the value.

#14.1 rm20010 on 28 Jun 2005 - 19:05

Your article was pretty good, although you could've held off on the first three or four pages. Nearly everyone knows how to most of the basic stuff.

BTW, for people that get angered by

Firefox is by far the best out there

please read what comes before/after it

although IE is still the top used browser
(Opera is fantastic, too, just not completely free).

I wouldn't flame him if this was his own opinion.

#14.2 SquareSoft0 on 29 Jun 2005 - 07:50

Sorry, but the quote buttons have been broken for quite a while, but I guess a fanboy will always find a way to take a jab at the opposing product.

(1 reply) #15 TheSarge on 28 Jun 2005 - 18:39

Firefox is by far the best FREE browser in existance.
My condolances to Opera fans.

This Techspot article was well-done. As an explanaion of the various advanced (and not-so-advanced) features in Firefox, it does it's job well.

Now all we need is a similar article highlighting the features in Thunderbird.

#15.1 jubber2002 on 30 Jun 2005 - 17:42

I love firefox. My only problem with thunderbird is exporting my emails and contacts. My contacts don't export right and I have to back my emails up the hard way when my computer crashes (the first 3 times). I decided just to use the webmail for googles gmail and my yahoo.

#16 SoulEata on 28 Jun 2005 - 18:58

Firefox is the best? Sorry that's up to the user. I certainly don't think it is. And if you're going on #s, it would appear IE is the best.

(2 replies) #17 mr_demilord on 28 Jun 2005 - 20:05

There ain't no "best" browser, it's just a matter of taste, some people "like" opera, other people "like" firefox and the most of the people "like" internet explorer.

Same as the "best" car, there doesn't exist a "best" car.

#17.1 AJCrowley Esq on 28 Jun 2005 - 21:37

You've obviously never driven a Yugo.

#17.2 Magallanes on 29 Jun 2005 - 15:01

LOL

#18 Magallanes on 29 Jun 2005 - 15:00

Just as Linux is to Windows, Mozilla’s open-source Firefox is to Internet Explorer.

AND

Just as BSD is to Linux, Operas is to Firefox

Anyways, Firefox is the best one?... what's firefox?, 1.00, 1.01... 1.02... the nighty build beta one?..

#19 Blue-Flayme on 01 Jul 2005 - 12:17

It saddens me when people behave like this to a new or alleged "Better product".

Think of this..

IE is Old and comes Bundled with Windos OS and is backed by a Multi-Billion dollar corporation.

Firefox..new...Community based..open source...gave Microsoft a run for its money...Has no source of income to bring in millions of dollars...has no offcial market to sell bundled with anything....Made Microsoft pick up its slack Internet Wise..see my point?....Firefox must have done something really good to make Microsoft do something. Makes me wanna marry Firefox.

#20 Thorpe on 09 Jul 2005 - 09:51

The only reason why IE will probably always be popular is because it is installed with Windows systems. If Mozilla were to distribute an operating system that would be cool to see Microsoft's reaction.

Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!

Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.

Neowin.net