Firefox Q&A with Dad

December 7th, 2005 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0) |

I recently receieved this email from my dad:

Hi son. I read your blog (or whatever it is called) daily. Do you think I would like the Firefox web browser? If I download it, can I still use Internet Explorer if I want? Will it take a lot of my memory? How long does it take to download on a dial-up modem?

Give me some info and advise please.

Dad

I immediately responded asking permission post his question here, feeling that it might be beneficial for others to read what I would have to say. Obviously he gave me permission.

In response to his first question, “do you think I would like the Firefox web browser?” I give a vehement “yes!” It actually pains me when I am forced to use Internet Explorer (IE), partly because I have become accustomed to Firefox, but mostly because it pales in comparison to Firefox’s features. A quick visit to the Firefox website will give you a listing of its features, but I’ll list a few of my personal favorite here.

Tabbed browsing: You can “use tabbed browsing to open multiple Web pages in a single browser window, and quickly flip back and forth. Drag and drop open tabs to keep related pages together.” This is by far my single favorite feature of Firefox. I despise having tons of windows open at the same time.

Pop-up blocking: Instead of having to install a third-party software to block unwanted pop-up ads as in IE, Firefox’s pop-up blocking is already integrated into the software. Besides tons of windows being open simultaneously, repeated pop-up ads were my least favorite thing about IE.

Integrated search: Firefox has an integrated search box in the upper right-hand corner (that can be moved anywhere or removed) that lets you search Google or any other search engine, dictionary, etc., without having to go to the website. I probably use this handy little box to search Google 10+ times per day, and that’s not an exaggeration.

Security: IE is very succeptible to being attacked by any number of malicious programs. This was more than apparent as a friend of mine recently used his girlfriend’s laptop which still ran IE. It running really slow and IE had 3 or 4 unwanted “helpful” toolbars installed. Firefox will have none of that. “Firefox keeps you secure when you’re browsing the Web, closing the door on spyware, worms, and viruses. The Firefox community of developers and security experts works around the clock to monitor security issues and release updates to better protect you.”

In response to his second question, yes, you can use IE even if Firefox is installed. You have the option of whether or not to make Firefox your “default browser,” which means that it will be the browser all other applications will use for the internet.

Question three, “will it take a lot of memory?” No. In fact most of the time it will use less memory than IE.

The download for Firefox 1.5 for Windows is 5mb, which means that it will probably take about a half hour to download on dial-up.

I have been a proponent of Firefox for a long time. In fact, I used it when it was called Firebird, before they got in trouble for using that name, and even though IE’s next version is supposed to be more like Firefox, there’s no way I will ever switch back. Dad, I hope you found this helpful.

If you use Firefox and think that it is better than IE, why don’t you leave a comment and say so? There’s nothing quite like actual user testimonials to sway someone’s opinion. Let’s show my Dad that he really should switch to Firefox.

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Comments

my brother introduced me to firefox a few months ago and i haven’t looked back since :)

Posted by Lyndsey on December 7, 2005

My RA last year made me feel foolish to the point where I would cry alone in my bed at night for the mere fact that I used the standard Internet Explorer. So I switched to Firefox strictly for acceptance by said RA, whose name will remain JAKE BOUMA for all intensive purposes. And even after the switch he would still ridicule me, but for many other reasons. THANKS MOZILLA!

Posted by Ben on December 7, 2005

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