What prompted you to switch to Firefox?


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Combination of Security and UI.

Back then IE6 had a lot of vulnerabilities and it was quite a worry. So I tried Firefox, and then I stayed for the UI. The way that the bookmarks were stored below the Address bar for easy access was very attractive to me. I had come from IE6 on Windows and Safari on OS X, I always preferred the Safari layout on Panther so when I tried Firefox on Windows it hit me like "This looks just like Safari" and I loved that look so I kept using it.

Another thing about the UI, the Tabs. They were instantly useful.

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mostly because it was standards compliant so i use it to make my sure my web pages/sites look good :)

extensions are cool too, but i dont use that many tbh.

I havent fully switched over yet though because IE is still faster for me.

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Initially - just for testing sites I had built. Then curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a week with no IE - see how it felt.

I now run a mix of IE (for Intranet stuff), Firefox (for everything else) and Opera (for testing).

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lol it was just by coincidence for me...i like(d) downloading new software back some years ago and caught onto firebird (as everyone knows the initial name for what is now firefox). To me it seemed simplistic and yet did the trick for web browsing

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What prompted you to switch to Firefox?
Well nothing really, I use Ubuntu Linux and it comes as standard, so I suppose that is why I use it, but this said I do not love it or hate it! It is just a browser and no more! My preference in Windows (XP Pro) is Maxthon. I also have Firefox installed on my Windows box because of "Stumble," this is one feature that I really enjoy!
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Like most, tabs. The built in popup blocker (A god send). The lack of spyware etc getting through and the simplified interface. Was a joy to browse the internet again

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Initially - just for testing sites I had built. Then curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a week with no IE - see how it felt.

I now run a mix of IE (for Intranet stuff), Firefox (for everything else) and Opera (for testing).

Have you played around with IETab? That will enable you to use Intranet pages via FF

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Tabs, a handful of extensions, and being too lazy to switch to another browser permanently - although Safari looks promising.

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security, tabs, extensions, themes, back in the IE6 days

Same here, plus the integrated Spell checker. IESpell just doesn't cut it.

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i prefer firefox now because its simple and has quite a few extensions that i love.

IE7 interface is all over the place and its slow.

opera has added some junk and compatibility is STILL an issue with some sites i visit

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i first started using firefox after i read a review for 1.2 or whatever in a PC magazine, i installed it and liked the speed it had over IE6 and the tab system made me fall in love

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It was the tabs for me too. When I first started using it 2 years ago, it was kind of tough to get used to, but once I did, I couldn't use anything else.

I'm trying safari out now, but frequently go back to firefox for various things

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started with Mozilla suite... progressed to firebird/later firefox because of extensions, speed, and security all while keeping a minimal interface. I very much liked the ability to make it as stripped down/light or as much of a swiss-army knife if you choose to.

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Bookmarks, and Adblock Extension, Thats pretty much it. If something came along that could all that with less resources then I'd switch to that.

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I know what the OP thread was but it's intrinsicly biased.

Some people do not switch to 'X' browser. Some people "can't".

So I present my experience.

I've had the good fortune to be asked to configure two computer systems...

... one came pre-installed with Firefox and the other Mozilla / Netscape.

I quite quickly uninstalled those because they don't work for what we need.

We have our own standards to comply with and those don't comply.

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tab mix plus was what got me started. i love the single window interface and all the various settings builtin.

later on i discovered adblock plus. i use a few other extensions but none are as important as those two. :p

it took me quite a few attempts to get into firefox. i tried on and off for ages before it just clicked and felt "just right". security was never a concern when using IE - it was the lack of features that made me switch.

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the tabs for one. That was the highlight of my switch. I was annoyed at looking at the taskbar for windows, and constantly having open them that way, taking up a lot of resources.

Also, the interface, and customizability of firefox was outstanding. I love the add-ins and the skins. Another main thing was, it was very good at cutting out spam, and spyware from my PC. The popups stopped, ad-aware was returning a 80% DECREASE from using IE.

Now that i've used firefox for so long, I can't go back

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