why do most people, who have the option of using firefox, still use ie?

I never quite understood this. Clearly, Firefox beats the living hell out of IE on everything, not to mention even Homeland Security recommended switching to Firefox from IE. Why do people who still use it, and refuse to switch....refuse to switch?

 

Because:
1, It's easy-- it's already installed on every Windows machine.
2. They don't know any better.
3. Ignorance.
4. Laziness.

 

5. Habit

Steve

 

comfort factor. For many, it is the first browser they used, and it gets the job done.

 

Firefox is a superior browser, to be sure,, but it takes some tweaking to make it work the way you want it. Trial and error, it takes time.

IE is what most people are used to, and most don't want to spend time tweaking a browser,, so they may try something like Firefox, and when it doesn't work the way they want it to, they just go back to IE.

 

Not to mention the vast majority of internet users wouldn't even know how to download and install firefox. Most of the people on the net, don't know anything about computers. Many of them are lucky to have the skills to word process. So if it doesn't come pre-installed, or they can't buy it at the store they probably won't ever get it. IF some large company like Dell decided to install mozilla's suite instead of the standby microsoft products we might see some big changes.

 

Well, I like Avant, actually. Due to the aforementioned laziness, I haven't taken the time to play with Firefox. Is it really so good?

 

There are a lot of things I really like about Firefox. It's very fast, and nice looking, but there are things I don't like too. I use both it and Maxthlon, for different things

 

I had tried Mozilla before and really didn't it like that much.

But I just downloaded the new Preview release of Firefox and I have to say I love it.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

It transfers all your bookmarks and fill-in information and there is even a good spell checker now for it.

http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/

You can specify sites to accept cookies and I like the easy to use interface for the options.

 

Well I use Internet Explorer, and I'm not ignorant, lazy, and I certainly know better.

Internet Explorer was good till about version 4. Once Microsoft had massive market share, they ignored improving or updating features.

IE will now no longer be free, and will be sold as part of the next operating system Longhorn, so the next version will be greatly improved.

FireFox is currently better than IE, but it's not all that.

The only reason there are less security scares for FireFox is because it's targeted less. (There was a major one recently)

IE has over 90% market share, so if you were writing a virus, which browser would you target.

I've never gotten a trojan, virus, nor a worm, but then again I do the basics like firewalls, Anti Virus etc.

 

IE has 80%, not 90%.

The major security scare you're referring to wasn't a scare...someone found the exploit, reported it to mozilla, received $500 bux, and a patch was released within 12 hours. Microsoft has yet to release any kind of IE patch in under 3 months, and that's sad when they have far more resources.

 

Internet Explorer doesn't have 80%, it has over 94%!

The only reason Mozilla released a patch is someone reported it. If it was Microsoft, do you think someone would report, or others would try to write a worm?

Don't get me wrong, as I said, I think FireFox is superior.

The reason Microsoft don't improve IE is because they have never really had to after they won the browser war with Netscape years ago.

The popularity of Mozilla, IE security breaches, and anti-Microsoft sentiment is slowly seeing them make improvements.

 

I still use IE. Only for updates, though. Otherwise it's Firefox.

 

6. Bloat - maintaing two browers
7. Standards
8. They are safe surfers.

 

Stats can be very deceiving. It all depends where you get them. Who the source is.

Here is a page that lists 5 different sources, all are different.......but non are close to 94%

http://www.upsdell.com/BrowserNews/stat.htm

 

Actually--

7. Standards.

More like, IE works better for websites created by amateurs and lazy web designers who can't follow standards.

It has more support for deprecated, and incorrect code than Mozilla.

 

8. Corporate Policy - factoring in such things as availability of support, standardization, overhead. Cascading affect to home computers.

9. Familiarity of name

 

Reasons not to use it:

Slow
Spyware problems
Virus problems
No tabbed browsing
Still has a security hole before and after SP2 was released. The popup blocker masks it, but its there.
If it breaks, and it does, its a PITA to reinstall due to OS integration.
Spotty PNG transparency support
Shoddy w3c standards support

Its a real PITA when I build a page that is w3c compliant, and works beautifully in every browser, except IE.

I have to lower my quality standards so that the majority can see the page as it was meant to be viewed.

I'm sure any web designer can relate to that.

 

One of the major reasons why I now code for FireFox display and then wiggle in the IE fixes afterwards. I figure, if it looks the way I want it in FireFox and it validates, then I'm good to go.

 

I know you were posting this when I was posting as well.

Its scary how closely we think alike, sometimes

 

Is charging for a browser a good thing?

MS didn't get where they are by charging...

Consider the high quality browsers we have now that are for free.

MS will be shooting themselves in the foot. A crappy browser you have to pay for, is no less crappy than when it's free.

 

Too true.. you frighten me sometimes I could swear you had a keylogger on my box

a side note for all you webbers out there, the web developer extension for FF just rocks!!!

 

Your antivirus didn't pick it up?

 

Its their corporate strategy - give it away to gain market share then start charging.

 

That's what most do. They learned that from the Japanese.

 

That marketing model was actually originated by drug dealers.

 

Actually its as old as slavery - but for different reasons - sell below cost and put your compeditor out of business trying to keep up.

 

Thanks for pointing out the error (one of many) of my ways. I've now switched to Firefox and so far I love it. Looking forward to surfing some of the more nefarious sites and seeing how FF handles!

Are there any significant changes you reccomend for FF Options?

Gracias,
Acktom

 

I downloaded MOZILLA FIREFOX yesterday -- is that what everyone here means by "firefox"?

I've added the tweaks for tab browsing (the basics anyway) -- I love that -- especially setting 3 tabs to open together as the "home page" - that's cool.

I was all set to change from Outlook Express to the firefox e-mail (Thunderbird) but I seemed to find too many disclaimers on Thunderbird and warnings (on Firefox's site) that I wasn't too sure about it.

Insight anyone? I mean, I made a big switch here -- so I'm either ready for another or too scared to be that bold (haven't decided yet)

 

For some good Firefox tweaks, check out Tweakfactor.com: Firefox Tweak Guide.

Look at the extensions, some of the ones I use and recommend, including the Spell Checker mentioned in an earlier post are:

• iView: Adds a right click menu item to open a page in IE for those special IE only pages.
• Tabbrowser Extensions: Tons of tweaks for using the tabs.
• Download With: Catches downloads and allows you to send them to a manager or direct download.
• ChromEdit: Opens the important user profile files for customizing and tweaking Firefox.

There are lots more, just click on Tools-Extensions, the Get more Extensions.

 

Her's the place for add-ins

https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/showlist.php?category=Tabbed Browsing

 

thanks for the link to extensions (I had already seen that and downloaded a bunch -- but others may need it too)

Same questions...answers anyone?

 

I also use Avant, but I understand it's a shell of IE. If so, is Avant as susceptible to the bad guys as IE? I checked out the Firefox page, but it didn't look like Firefox has mouse gestures. Does it?

 

Avant , Maxthon are both susceptible to IE vulnerabilities.

FireFox doesn't come WITH mouse gestures but there are extensions to add this support to the browser. All are free.

 

Thanks, Kodo. I now have Firefox with the mouse gestures extension. It will take some getting-used-to, but I feel safer now.

 

I agree totally with Kodo and Adryn. FF is standards complaint. IE isn't. When I make a perfect page in FF, which validates, IE screws the thing up. WHY?!?!

 

It damn near adds another 20% dev time on EVERYTHING ..it's really irritating. I used to like IE.. now I hate it.

 

Oh, man, don't tell me I'm on people's "ignore list" here.
1) Um, hello? Is MOZILLA FIREFOX = Firefox which is NOT the same as Mozilla?

2) AND what are Mouse Gestures? I downloaded Mozilla Firefox like I said before which plainly says "Firefox" in the ABOUT section, but I've had no problems with using the "mouse" and I've purposely downloaded specific extensions but not this one....can someone explain it please?

3) Hey - I just went to "manage attachments" (I'm using Mozilla Firefox") and nothing happens....????? What do I need to add (download an extension?), change in options, etc.

 

Firefox is Mozilla, but Mozilla is not necessarily Firefox. Mozilla is an organization which develops Mozilla (browser, email & news client), Firefox (browser), and Thunderbird (email/news). http://www.mozilla.org http://www.ufaq.org

 

4) Okay - another question then: I can't add little smileys to my posts either (oh, man, critical problem).

re: question 1: This is what I downloaded:
firefoxsetup1.0prrc.exe -- looks like firefox, smells like firefox....

I was just thrown by the Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla, Firefox references that I wanted to be sure.

 

Are you using the WYSIWYG editor? I'm thinking it doesn't always work right with Mozilla browsers.

 

If you click on Help, Mozilla says About Mozilla; Firefox says About Mozilla Firefox.

 

Mouse Gestures 1.0
By Optimoz Team
Allows you to execute common commands (like page forward/backward, close tab, new tab) by mouse gestures drawn over the current webpage, without reaching for the toolbar or the keyboard. You can also use "rocker" gestures.

OK- found my answer but I don't understand it, so I just won't use it....

Anyway, I still would like to know what I need to "enable" or "download" to be able to use smileys and "manage download" here on MG using Firefox.

Thanks for your patience with my ramblings

 

Nope, gave that up a long time ago because it was giving me trouble in other ways...good guess though. -- Just using Standard Editor (took me awhile to answer b/c I had to go and check and I had to remember how to open another tab to do so)

So you can use all those extras here? You've probably downloaded something already and just don't remember what and I haven't done it yet (maybe??)

 

Well - if this isn't an obvious answer to anyone using Firefox, then please don't go out of your way to figure it out for me...I'll just keep puttering around and I'll probably stumble across something sooner or later.

If anyone has a brainstorm, I'll be back to check on this later.

Thanks. (and a little smiley face goes here)

 

Testing smilies

I'm using Firefox and they work for me.

 

Smileys work for me too, with no extensions to Firefox at all...

 

Okay -- rub it in (silly grin face goes here)

But I thought you guys could help me (not so happy face goes here)

 

Ok, so what's going on exactly? Do you not even see the smilies to the right of the text box when posting? If you can see them, does clicking on them not transfer the text character equivalents to the post? If it does, do they then just not 'show up' once it's posted? Maybe some details will jog someone's memory.

 

We should have a separate Firefox and how to make the most of extensions FORUM (not just a thread).

Anyway -- before I start downloading "extras" that may make FF vulnerable security-wise...is it ok to download Macromedia Flash Player 7.0.19.0??? Something tells me that was to be avoided.

Yes? No?

(man, I can't even use the Underline enhancement thingy!!!)