Review of Firefox: What is it? Should you switch to Firefox?
There's a new way for you to look at the web on your computer. It's the latest version of Firefox - a free replacement for Internet Explorer. Firefox's many devoted fans say it is better, safer, and faster. But they would, wouldn't they? Is it any good? Let's see...
First impressions of Firefox
The good bit: Firefox is free and it only takes a few minutes to download Firefox - or seconds over a fast Internet connection. After the simple installation process, Firefox helpfully imports your Internet settings. So you don't have to spend ages getting it working.
Once you've got Firefox, what's it like to use? For anyone used to Internet Explorer, Firefox looks pretty similar, so no big suprises. Firefox has a Help system to explain the minor differences. Plus, it has some great built-in extras tucked up its sleeve...
So what extra things can Firefox do?
First there's its pop-up blocker. This feature stops websites interrupting you by shoving adverts as you first visit or try to leave. Fed up of all the special offers, requests to join newsletters, or those near-unstoppable cascades of exit popups? You'll definitely like this feature. It works so well you'll forget how annoying pop-ups were, since you won't ever see any.
The search system: students, journalists, researchers, and anyone who needs to find information quickly will like this one. Just tap the / key and start typing a word. Firefox jumps straight to the first mention of that word on the page you're looking at. Apparently there's also a search bar to find items on Amazon, eBay, and Google. Though I've never used it much.
Tabbed browsing is great for those who regularly open several websites at a time. You can set each website you visit to create a new tab in a row of tabs just above the page. This row of tabs keep all the sites you're currently looking at within one window. You just click on the relevant tab to switch back to a different site. So your screen doesn't get cluttered up with windows which would make it hard to go back to an important page you kept open in the background.
Is Firefox right for you?
I like Firefox - I've been using it for nearly two years. But is it right for you?
| If you: | then here's the verdict on Firefox: |
| are confused, or don't care about all this technology. |
Firefox is a replacement for that blue e symbol (called Internet Explorer) that you click on to read your hotmail and look at the Internet.
You see, Internet Explorer isn't safe at all. Firefox is easy to use and will makes your computer work better on the Internet. It won't go wrong or annoy you as much and you'll save money by not having to call an expert to keep fixing your computer. Click here to get Firefox. |
| don't like online adverts or popup windows | Get Firefox. It has the best pop-up blocker I've seen, built-in. Once you've installed Firefox get the AdBlock extension to block adverts at will. |
| use Avant browser, Maxathon, NeoWin (i.e. Internet Explorer) |
Your browser is probably does everything Firefox does. And your browser works in IE-only sites, because it's based on Internet Explorer. That's the problem - your browser still has all the inherent security problems of Internet Explorer. If you must use it, then keep downloading Microsoft's security patches, be careful online, and hope you never get caught by the next security exploit. You might need to buy a decent pop-up blocker too - the one in Windows XP SP2 is still pretty useless. When you get fed up of all that, there are other browsers out there... |
| use Opera web browser | I hear Opera 8 is very good, especially the paid version without built-in adverts. So maybe don't bother getting Firefox. Though I don't like Opera's interface, it is a safe alternative to IE. |
| use an Apple Macintosh | Yes, Safari is fast, safe and simple. Pith Helmet (Safari's must-have ad-blocking extension) is good, but Firefox's equivalent is easier to use.
Personally I'm sticking to Firefox, mostly because of its search system and extensions. If you're happy with Safari, use it. Or try Camino the free, Mac-only relative of Firefox. |
| make websites for a living |
You proably already have Firefox to test your sites in. Get the Web Developer extension to make your job easier. |
Conclusion
We recommend you switch to Firefox. Since it's free, try it for a week and keep it if you like it. And we're not the only ones to recommend it.
Hundreds of magazines and newspapers worldwide; thousands of computer security experts; the University of Bristol in the UK; even the American Government recommend you make the switch to Firefox. Over 62 million people worldwide have tried Firefox. In Finland 30% of people on the Internet already use Firefox.
The choice is yours. 
Review by David Larkin.
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