Today, C|Net reviewd IE 6 for SP2 and Firefox 1.0.
Mozilla Firefox 1.0 is the dream Internet browser you've been looking for. Featuring a host of small technical improvements, including tabbed browsing, built-in and customizable search bars, and a built-in RSS reader, Mozilla's Firefox browser is the one that should finally put a dent in Microsoft Internet Explorer's unrivaled market dominance.
But small improvements and countless security patches for IE haven't changed the software's overall functionality much in years, which has given newer browsers such as Firefox an advantage when it comes to cutting-edge features and security. In our opinion, it's time for a new Internet browser. For cutting-edge technology and better Internet security, we like Firefox over Internet Explorer
If you're already running Windows XP, the SP2 upgrade is free. But if you're running an earlier version of Windows, it costs $99. Ouch. By comparison, Mozilla Firefox is free and runs on all versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Firefox 1.0 remained fast and stable and displayed an impressive range of cutting-edge browsing options. We were able to view every Web site just fine, thank you. If you're fed up with the latest Internet Explorer security patch issued from Microsoft or with the latest virus to capitalize on some flaw in IE, you should switch to Firefox--now.
Missing from the latest Internet Explorer interface is a built-in search engine toolbar, although you can download free versions from a number of third-party sites such as Google and Yahoo. Nor is there a built-in alert icon whenever there's a security update for your browser; instead, you'll need to check the Windows Update site. In comparison, Firefox includes both a built-in search bar and an upgrade indicator.
you must open several instances of the Microsoft browser, each requiring system resources. So viewing multiple Internet pages in IE can tax your computer, while tabbing through multiple pages within Firefox will not.
Perhaps the most noticeable interface difference from IE is the addition of a customizable search bar built into the Firefox menu bar. Although Google, Yahoo, and others offer plug-in search bars for Internet Explorer, the Firefox search bar is much more flexible, allowing you to add not only other search engines but Amazon.com, eBay.com, Dictionary.com, and even IMDB.com.
But there are many things you still can't do with Internet Explorer 6. For example, you can't view RSS feeds. (RSS is an easy way to filter and view news and blog headlines.) While there are third-party RSS readers available as IE plug-ins--Puck, for example--we like the fact that Firefox includes its own built-in RSS reader. Another thing you can't do in IE is open multiple Web pages within the same window, a feature that's available in Firefox
Firefox's tabbed browsing, RSS support, security features, and overall cool factor make it more attractive than Internet Explorer.
Unless your business has specific ActiveX technology needs, you are much more secure running Firefox than Internet Explorer.
I'll let you figure out which quote was from which review :-)
Posted by asa at November 9, 2004 10:00 PMI love how a "feature" of IE is blocking activeX and that's the "downside" to Firefox. Go Figure.
Posted by: Tony on November 9, 2004 11:42 PMComparing OS upgrade with browser? Well...
Posted by: alex_t on November 9, 2004 11:53 PMLooks like they've reset user reviews from 1.0PR
Just added mine.
Their reviews both claim that Firefox' popup blocking is only on or off, with no configurability. I sent a feedback submission telling them about Tools->Options->Web Features->[Popup blocking Allowed Sites button]. Maybe if others also harass them about this they'll correct it quickly, since they mentioned that as an IE advantage in each review.
Posted by: Peter Kasting on November 10, 2004 12:27 AMhttp://reviews.cnet.com/Mozilla_Firefox_1_0/4505-9241_7-31117280-4.html?tag=top
That's the link to the page that says Firefox blocking is simply either on or off. I'm not sure how they got that impression, there's a bar appears along the top when a popup appears that allows the user to show the popup or unblock that site.
Posted by: Dave on November 10, 2004 01:18 AMOTOH, they erred in FF favor in:
"you must open several instances of the Microsoft browser, each requiring system resources. So viewing multiple Internet pages in IE can tax your computer, while tabbing through multiple pages within Firefox will not."
Certainly tabbed browsing increases the demand for computer resources
Posted by: Kob on November 10, 2004 02:23 AMTony,
Having the choice about wether to allow ActiveX is the feature... just like allowing or denying extension installs on Firefox.
Sure, ActiveX is dangerous. But you can do a lot of havoc with .xpis too. I expect to see a _lot_ of malware-extensions once Firefox gets really popular. There is no need to be cocky about firefox being safer at the moment - it does have a lot to do with the fact that xpi exploits aren't common yet.
Of course you can make malicious xpis, but the user will have to give his permission to install them. Moreover, there's the whitelist system. I haven't seen any 'dangerous' xpis on update.mozilla.org yet, have you?
Posted by: Michaël on November 10, 2004 05:07 AMMichael: you can't do a drive-by xpi install in Firefox, but you can't do a drive-by BHO-install in MSIE6 either, after installing SP2 at least.
I think FF is very nice, but calling the Live bookmarks a built-in RSS reader is going too far. Maybe it's nice for those who follow one or two feeds. I'd rather have those autdetected feeds sent to an external RSS reader.
Posted by: Rijk on November 10, 2004 05:40 AMCertainly tabbed browsing increases the demand for computer resources
Yes, but not as much as new windows. You don't have a whole new window and widgets consuming resources.
Posted by: John T. Haller on November 10, 2004 03:07 PMGetting back to malware xpis, I think I have seen an "attempt" to install it, but Firefox makes sure it notifies you that it is not in the white-list, are you really really sure that you want to install? And sometimes it just won't do it. In other words, get on the update.mozilla.org. Any update sources will come from there anyway.
I personally think that its a good thing. Many general users don't have an idea whats going on. And they inadvertently download what they think are legitimate.
I think Firefox is a great browser.
What would be really nice, would be to create policies that integrate into Windows 2000/2003 server so that we can manage it better for a network with multiple systems. That would make a lot of IT managers perk their head up a bit more to look at FireFox because they can now manage it from the central server instead of managing it by going to every single desktop.
Posted by: Wei-Yen on November 15, 2004 11:48 AM