Freeware

Firefox: Really A Better Browser?

Developer: The Mozilla Project
Version: 2.0.0.5
Download it Here

There are few programs that I use every single day, but Firefox is one of them. I really can’t say how I first heard about it, but it was a few years back. I realized that I had outgrown my current browser (IE 6) and I needed something with a bit more oomph to it. It was probably the tabbed browsing that first drew me to Firefox.

But that was back in a day when Firefox really had no equal. Back before Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7) made its debut performance. And what a performance it made. With its classy new design and beefed up list of features, IE 7 is certainly gunning for the likes of Mozilla’s award winning product. Now that Firefox has competition, it has to be significantly better than the rest - unfortunately, it’s not.

What is it and why do I need it?

Simply put, Firefox is a web browser, just like Opera, IE 7, Safari, and so many others. Although many users love to brag about how fast it starts and the speed at which it loads websites, most people won’t be able to tell that there is any difference between Firefox and its competition in terms of speed. The real reason to download Firefox instead of any other web browser is because of the add-on community and the wealth of plug-ins that you can use to boost Firefox’s browsing prowess.

Is it pretty?

I like my software to be appealing to the eyes, so anytime a program has the ability to change its skin, it’s going to score extra points in my book. Firefox is just such a program and there are almost as many different themes available as there are extra plug-ins. Now, that doesn’t mean that the skins are attractive though - as most of them are downright ugly. Sorry Chargers fans.

The layout of the controls is intuitive and everything is just about where you would expect it to be if you are switching over from Safari or IE 7. I do have a big problem with some of the defaults on the menus though, as they are loaded with all kinds of items that I will never use. Especially huge right click menus. It’s just so damn annoying to right click on a link or a picture only to be presented with hundreds of options - but more on this later.

Do I need to read the manual?

Firefox is a walk in the park right from the get go - even if you’re a terrible computer user. You download it, install it, launch it, and away you go as you’re whisked away into the internet’s tubes. However, to get the most out of Firefox, you’re going to have to go a little deeper than the address bar and the back button.

Tinkering around with the tools menu will allow you to change a few features here and there, but to really get to the meat and potatoes of the program, you will have to download some add-ons. Some good ones to get you started are Tab Mix Plus and Mouse Gestures [review]. These two plug-ins will really help you get your Firefox running the way you want. You can even boost your browsing speed a little by tying in a toolbar from Google or Yahoo. If that’s not enough, check out the huge repository of plug-ins on Mozilla’s website.

Now don’t get carried away downloading additional features. I love my plug-ins as much as the next guy, but take it from me - too many can really slow Firefox down and chew up your RAM like crazy. Limit your bonus features to 10, tops.

How well does it work?

It’s not what you’re expecting, but here it is. Firefox is not perfect as far as functionality is concerned. Far from it, in fact. Yes, I know that I’m typing total blasphemy here, but hear me out before you make a comment.

But before we get to that, there are quite a few things that Firefox does right. It browses the web fairly well. Nearly every site I visit looks like it should on all platforms. The plug-ins make it a must have for any type of web user. There is enough power here to make it the browser of choice for web developers, power users, and grandparents who just purchased their first computer. Also, its available for all platforms, so you don’t have to learn a whole new way of browsing whenever you switch back and forth between platforms.

There is a dark side to Firefox though. A side that Mozilla zealots (Mozealots, anyone?) don’t want you to know about. First off, Firefox is slow. When starting for the first time after my computer restarts, it can take over a minute to run. And my computer is pretty damn fast.

Firefox also crashes. It crashes a lot. More than most of the other programs that I use. And certainly more than any other web browser I have on my computer. I can expect one, maybe two crashes a day. Doesn’t matter how many tabs I have open, what websites I’m viewing, or what other programs I have running. Sometimes it just fails to respond. It’s a damn good thing that Mozilla included an automated session restore in the newest version.

What’s Cool?

+ Plug-ins
+ Skins
+ Cross Platform
+ Free! And free things are always cool.

What’s Lame?

- Slow
- Crashes (fairly) Often
- Eats RAM for Breakfast

Is it For Me?

That’s the big question you need to ask yourself. Is Firefox for me? No matter who you are, Firefox is for you. Despite the few drawbacks, Firefox is one of those programs you need to have on your computer. It’s an impressive piece of coding that looks to only be getting better. The developers just need to start cutting down on bloat for it to be practically perfect.

How does it stack up?

Design: 9/10
Usability: 19/20
Functionality: 15/20
Total: 43/50

Try it Out For Yourself.

I promise that not every post will be this long.

A post by: Eric Norton