Firefox


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First thing first: this is no bashing thread, don't make it into one either please; I just wonder a few things regarding Mozilla/FF.

I'm currently using, and have been for a couple of years, Opera web browser. I dloaded FF a time ago because of all the hullabaloo surrounding it, but I soone found myself missing a lot from Opera.

I've read loads of reviews where they compare Opera with FF and, most recently, IE7. For some/most of the features found in Opera FF seems to have a counterpart, but as an extension. Is this true? Is FF built around its extensions? It seems to me I can't dload FF and get a fully, user friendly, functioning web browser without having to dload loads of additional plugins (most users on neowin seems to have 20+ plugins, right?)

I recon not all features in Opera are very useful (for example the widgets: a lame attempt to "hot things up" and draw attention to the browser), but apart from that I can't say I miss a thing in Opera after a simple install (feeds, email, crash recovery etc). The Ad-blocking could have been done better of course; it initially requires some work from the user to filter most ads out (although I don't think a single opera user has't discovered urlfilter.ini ;) ). I'm sure most of the extensions in FF requires less work.

So: is FF built around its extensions? Does anyone use FF without plugins?

note: i WILL swich browser if something more appealing comes up...

Edited by serious
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Yep, Firefox is based on it's extensions availible from the FF community site...

About the "20+ extensions", I don't really need that many, so I only use two of them, AdBlock Plus and UI Tweaker (the latter one's function is easily achieved with some tweaking in about:config, but I preffer the extension), and I doubt anyone really needs all of them...

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Well, there is nothing that says that you have to install extensions to get a fully functional browser in Fx, cause it works great out of the box. It has become better with the 2.0-version, as some functions that existed through popular extensions have been merged into the browser itself.

The thing with Fx is that you get a pretty light browser from the start, and can add whatever you like.. if you need it! The extensions doesn't change Fx to something entirely else, but adds personal flavour to it and customization. I had like 15 extensions before, but after formatting my computer, I just installed those I really use more or less daily, which gives me a total of eight now:

AdBlock Plus - self-explaining

All-in-One Gestures - faster browsing through mouse gestures

Customize Google - gives customizability to Google.com

Download Statusbar - IMHO better the buily-in pop-up window

Googlepedia - adds a Wikipedia article to every search at Google.com

IE Tab - possibility to change a tab to IE if not Fx compatible, which is pretty rare nowadays

Select Search - right-click and you'll have lots of search alternatives in a sub menu

Tab Mix Plus - adds more customization to tabbed browsing

So, as you can see, the extensions I use i mostly for making my Fx more friendly to me, letting me change settings for my liking. And there is not much work setting up any extensions. Just browse the Fx site and add those that sounds good, installing them take a few seconds and when you restart the browser next time, they will be up and running! Check their settings and change what you don't like; most extensions and their settings are easy enough for just like everyone to understand from the beginning.

My advice: give it a try for a week or two, and if you don't like it you can always go back to Opera. I've been using Fx since 2,5 years back and I have never regretted the switch from IE, and I see nothing that will make me change to something else in the future. Good luck!

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I have 8 extensions more or less permanently installed. There's one unique aspect to Firefox extensions, and that comes in the area of odd jobs like having to take screenshots of a few dozen webpage windows. It was something that just came up, and I know I probably won't need to do anything like that again. But I just hopped over to the extensions library, looked up a screenshot extension, installed it, and was basically done with the job in 5 minutes. Then I just uninstalled the extension since it wasn't needed anymore. So with Firefox, you can easily extend the functionality of the browser, temporarily, or permanently.

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The extensions are what makes firefox in my opinion. Without them it would be nothing!

Adblock Plus 0.7.2.4 (This is a must have, it sorts out the adblocking for you completely by synching with some adblocking lists on the net!)

Add Bookmark Here 2 1.0.20070316 (adds an add bookmark button into various context menus)

BugMeNot 1.3 (lets you logon to sites that need you to sign up)

CustomizeGoogle 0.55 (allows you add lots of extra information to google, and remove stuff you don't want to see on there)

Download Statusbar 0.9.4.6 (downloads appear in a status bar on the bottom of your screen)

FAYT 1.0.0.1 (starting typing immediately opens the Find as you Type bar, no need for Ctrl-F)

Fission 0.8.7 (the loading bar appears in the address bar)

Greasemonkey 0.6.8.20070314.0 (allows you to add additional functionality to websites - fancy making a website you frequently use web2.0? Lots of scripts for this on userscripts.org)

IE Tab 1.3.1.20070126 (allows you to open certain webpages using the IE rendering engine)

Inline Google Definitions 0.5 (allows you to select a word and see the inline google definition for it on the same webpage!)

Locationbar? 1.0a2 (prettyfies the address bar, and makes the host stick out to prevent spoofing etc...)

Menu Editor 1.2.3.3 (helps you to remove fluff)

Organize Status Bar 0.5.2 (helps you to remove fluff, and order/group things better, so it's more intuitive)>PageStyle2Tab 0.7.4 (the tab bar takes the colour of the webpage! pretty!)

PDF Download 0.7.9 (PDFs stop being annoying with this!)>

StumbleUpon 3.04 (allows you to stumble upon cool websites in one click!)Stylish 0.4 (Allows you to prettyfy your fav websites using CSS)

Tab Mix Plus 0.3.5.2.070331 (control how tabs work with this in more depth)

Tiny Menu 1.4.2 (make the menu appear in one er, menu)

UI Tweaker (Formerly Toolbar Cleanup) 1.7.0 (remove fluff and combine your stop and refresh buttons!)>

Theme: miniFoxFlat (the minimal firefox theme)

Edited by lhnz
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If you have to many like ^ it goes slow which makes you frustrated and makes you want to go back to IE.

Here are the few I have

Adblock Plus (Must Have)

Download Statusbar

DownThemAll (really good download accelerator)

Menu Editor (Not needed but nice)

Spellbound (need to turn of compatibility check for this one)

TabMixPlus (Must Have)

Noia 2.0 Extreme (Theme)

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I'm not looking for extension lists guys :)

OK, thanks. What you're basically saying is that FF is depending on its extensions, meaning that if you want to spend some time with it its worth it. In the extension it means that an ordinary user (ie not a Neowin nerd like you and me :p ) rather would use Opera than FF?

It has always seemed to me that using FF is somewhat making ja statement. A statement saying "open source FTW!!11oneone!!1", is this true? I mean, are people using FF just for the sake of encouraging the use of open source?

Edited by serious
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I think the fact that it is based on its extension community is why i love FF!

It's like the difference between buying a ready made dell PC, or buying the parts yourself and creating your own custom PC, much more personal and usually better.

With firefox you get all the standard and necessary features, making it very light and slim out the box. But then you can browse through the massive list of extensions for every purpose, and pick which ones sound good and useful for YOUR specific browsing habits, as well as community made tweaks and mods that can improve the browsers functionability (if thats a word, spellcheck seems to disagree with it!). To me, its a makes it a lot simpler to use, and gives it a real custom and personal feel to it.

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Firefox is great out of the box for your average Joe, there's not too much to be overly complex, but enough for a great modern browser. Most people on Neowin, being technically inclined, have a few extensions (up to tens of them) to ehnance their browser to exactly the way they like. The thing that does set Firefox apart from every other browser is exactly the extension system. You could have as light or as complex a browser as you wish with Firefox. And of course it's open source so you could always compile your own build (Although it shouldent be necessary for a vast majority of people). Extensibility is the beauty of FOSS, and most people who use it are using it because of the extensibility it offers, not as a statement just for the sake of encouraging FOSS. Personally, I have 26 extensions with about a quarter of those that I can't do without.

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[Personal Rant]

I used firefox for a while, and I still have it installed and kept up-to-date in case I ever feel like trying it again. I personally use Opera now, but I still think that FF has revolutionized the entire web browser design structure. Now that it is no longer a simple Internet Explorer community, web designers are having to look at a bigger picture and develop based on multiple browsers and multiple styles. Personally, I think this is for the better. As much as I like Opera ove rFF I am not going to insist that someone removes FF or Install Opera, all I ask is that they at least try different browsers and customize them for a week or so to see which one they like better.

I do think that a lot (not all, or even most) of Firefox users feel that it is a poster-child for open-source, which should not be the case. There are many other open-source software packages out there in the browser, office, etc. markets. Firefox just seems to be the one that gets the most press, and publicity.

One thing that has always bugged me about Firefox is that it seems to rely a little bit too heavily on its extension system. I mean the average computer user does not really understand security at all, and a lot of the rumors about Firefox seem to be hype based on truth, but that have been blown out of proportion. Personally, I would like to see the entire publicity scheme go away and simply have the user decide what they want, not have a friend tell them what to get just because they say it is better. An educated public prevents mis- and dis-information from spreading, while still supporting the truth.

[/RANT]

That's my take on it. :)

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I use FF with a download meter to check my bandwidth, ad-blocker and DAP.

Seriously. It all well and good asking people, but until you try it, and see if the browser works for you, you can't make a decision. Give it a test run for a week, if you think its what YOU need, then keep using it. If not, try another.

I think its great for ME, but others think Opera and IE are better, and they are better, for them.

You wouldn't buy a car just cause someone said "Its really good, here's what it does" you would go look at it, see if it suits you.

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I use FF with a download meter to check my bandwidth, ad-blocker and DAP.

Seriously. It all well and good asking people, but until you try it, and see if the browser works for you, you can't make a decision. Give it a test run for a week, if you think its what YOU need, then keep using it. If not, try another.

I think its great for ME, but others think Opera and IE are better, and they are better, for them.

You wouldn't buy a car just cause someone said "Its really good, here's what it does" you would go look at it, see if it suits you.

Well said! I agree, give it a try!

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I use FF with a download meter to check my bandwidth, ad-blocker and DAP.

Seriously. It all well and good asking people, but until you try it, and see if the browser works for you, you can't make a decision. Give it a test run for a week, if you think its what YOU need, then keep using it. If not, try another.

I think its great for ME, but others think Opera and IE are better, and they are better, for them.

You wouldn't buy a car just cause someone said "Its really good, here's what it does" you would go look at it, see if it suits you.

LOL!

Please man.

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LOL!

Please man.

To the OP.

Please note, Chavo is a perfect example of what I said. Chavo personally prefers Maxthon and The World Browser, because they work for him.

So there are plenty of options for you.

I would persoanlly stick with one of the big 3 though.

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If you like Opera and it's features, you'll most likely find it difficult to adjust to Firefox. I like Firefox because it's bare and I can add what I want, but that's definitely not for everyone.

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  • 2 weeks later...

although many people do use plugins etc i find them pointless, i have default everything! (well except stylish too make google look cool :p)

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b-man_: what? Do i get a different screen resolution? I can zoom out with shortcut keys in Opera anyhow...

Thanks for your replies everyone. Nashy: yep, i'll give it a try. However, like bangbang said, I'll probably find it hard to adapt to FF or any other browser for that matter. I really love Opera, and the underlying question really was: is FF built around its extensions, or is it a great broweser "out of the box" as well?

... and i belive i got the answere: no, it's NOT a GREAT browser without its extensions, you really should put time into it to get it working the way YOU want. I'll see if i have the time to sort it out or not, but I'm sure i'll at least try it out!

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  • 9 months later...

Firefox is basically built around it's extensions, yes. But, Firefox is also a great browser in itself, and it has a built in spellcheck unlike Opera- at least the version I tried- and jsut seems to run smoother/faster. I recommend you just download it, get some extensions, and try it for a few weeks. ;)

EDIT: Just now realized this thread was bumped.. oops!

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