Firefox Leaves No Reason to Endure Internet Explorer

[Janice]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47146-2004Nov13.html

Washington Post


Firefox Leaves No Reason to Endure Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer, you're fired.

That should have been said a long time ago. After Microsoft cemented a monopoly of the Web-browser market, it let Internet Explorer go stale, parceling out ho-hum updates that neglected vulnerabilities routinely exploited by hostile Web sites. Not until August's Windows XP Service Pack 2 update did (some) users get any real relief.

And yet people found reasons to stick with IE -- alternative browsers cost money, were too slow, too complicated, or didn't work with enough Web sites.

No more. Tuesday, the answer to IE arrived: a safe, free, fast, simple and compatible browser called Mozilla Firefox.

Firefox (available for Win 98 or newer, Mac OS X and Linux at www.mozilla.org) is an unlikely rival, developed by a small nonprofit group with extensive volunteer help. Its code dates to Netscape and its open-source successor, Mozilla, but in the two years since Firefox debuted as a minimal, browser-only offshoot of those sprawling suites, it has grown into a remarkable product.

Firefox displays an elegant simplicity within and without. Its toolbar presents only the basic browsing commands: back, forward, reload, stop, home. Its Options screen consists of five simple categories of settings -- most of which don't need adjusting, since the defaults actually make sense.

One in particular should delight many long-suffering Web users: Firefox blocks pop-up ads automatically.

But Firefox's security goes deeper than that. It doesn't support Microsoft's dangerous ActiveX software, which gives a Web site the run of your computer. It omits IE's extensive hooks into the rest of Windows, which can turn a mishap into a systemwide meltdown.

Firefox resists "phishing" scams, in which con artists lure users into entering personal info on fake Web pages, by making it easier to tell good sites from bad. When you land on an encrypted page -- almost no phishing sites provide this protection -- Firefox advertises that status by highlighting the address bar in yellow. It also lists that page's domain name on the status bar; if that doesn't match what you see in the address bar, you're probably on a phishing site.

To keep Firefox current with any security fixes, the browser is designed to check for updates automatically.

A "Find" bar at the bottom of Firefox's window lets you search for words on a page without blocking your view of the page itself; as you type a query, the first matching item is highlighted in green. "Find Next" and "Find Previous" buttons jump to other matches, and a "Highlight" button paints all of them in yellow. For searches across the entire Web, a box at the top right provides a shortcut to Google queries, and a menu lists five other sites, including Yahoo, Amazon and eBay. Downloadable plug-ins offer access to such resources as the Internet Movie Database. Have a Question?

What if that Google search yields four interesting sites? Hold down the Control key as you click each link, and they will open behind separate tabs in your existing window. This tabbed browsing -- a feature shared with almost all non-IE browsers -- is far more efficient and far less cluttered than the old one-page-per-window approach. Busy readers can also use Firefox's built-in RSS (Really Simple Syndication) newsreader to fetch updates from Web sites that publish their content using this standard. This "Live Bookmarks" feature lacks the flexibility of a stand-alone newsreader, but it's also simpler.

Web addicts can customize Firefox to no end with browser extensions that add functions and themes that alter its looks. Find the Options window's settings too limiting? Type "about: config" into the address bar and you'll see about 600 preferences to tweak. I've used Firefox as my default browser since February, and in that time I've found few Web sites that don't look right in it. Most of the time, it's the Web site's fault: Microsoft's MSN Video blocks all non-IE browsers, while SideStep's airfare-search tool employs ActiveX (an ActiveX-free version is in the works).

In these rare cases, I will fire up IE -- it's not like I can uninstall it -- or, more often, vote with my mouse and move on to another site. Switching from IE to Firefox is nearly painless. Download a 4.7-megabyte installer, run it, and let it import your existing IE data. Your plug-ins, bookmarks, browsing history and even cookies should transfer over (IE's home page and any saved passwords should be imported, but were not in my tests); you can then pick up in Firefox exactly where you left off in IE. I think anybody using Internet Explorer should switch to Firefox today.

Seriously. Even if you've loaded every IE security update, Firefox will give you a faster, more useful view of the Web. If you haven't -- or if you use a pre-XP version of Windows ineligible for Service Pack 2's security fixes -- it would be lunacy to stick with IE. (If you're using Mac OS X or Linux, there's no such urgency; Apple's Safari, for example, is a fine browser in its own right and offers a few conveniences that Firefox leaves out.) Firefox's story doesn't end with this 1.0 version. Some upgrades, such as a rewrite of its awkward bookmarks-management interface, are waiting for later releases. But the beauty of an open-source product like this is that you can participate in its evolution.

Firefox's code is open for anybody to inspect and improve; you can browse a database of bugs (bugzilla.mozilla.org) and vote on what you want to see changed next. All of these advantages may still not suffice to knock off IE anytime soon. But Firefox's development won't grind to a halt if it doesn't suit some company's marketing plans. Can you say that about IE?

Living with technology, or trying to? E-mail Rob Pegoraro at rob@twp.com.

[Hollow]

**** that and **** firef-cks.

[-*Forever*-]

I hear it sucks, and it did suck on KT's computer, but I'm going to try it cos I'm on my last nerve with IE right now.

[Brent88]

I'd get it if I wasn't sharing a computer with my parents. IE sucks.

[I am Roboto]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
I hear it sucks, and it did suck on KT's computer, but I'm going to try it cos I'm on my last nerve with IE right now.

It still has some bugs left in it, and some pages will still not load (of course, some will always be IE-only, like WindowsUpdate), but they've done alot to improve it. I still use Mozilla Navigator 1.7.3 instead. It loads much faster.

BTW, I find it interesting that Microsoft took the time to post a section on their Internet Explorer site about browser enhancements. They want you to download an IE-based program called Maxthon...

[dawsongirl]

I had more trouble with SBC Yahoo!'s browser than I ever have with IE.

[-*Forever*-]

I'm using it right now. It's almost WORSE than IE.

[Hollow]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
I'm using it right now. It's almost WORSE than IE.
It sucks. i'm using it right now. is it really necessary to:

- make graphics animate at 10,000 mph
- make textboxes narrow
- automatically enable autocomplete with no way to get rid of the entries (or if you can it's more complicated than in IE]
- advertise themselves all over the browser
- make the bookmarks so complicated
- not allow clicking and dragging toolbars at the top


What the HELL is so bad about IE anyway?

[-*Forever*-]

Originally posted by safety pin
It sucks. i'm using it right now. is it really necessary to:

- make graphics animate at 10,000 mph
- make textboxes narrow
- automatically enable autocomplete with no way to get rid of the entries (or if you can it's more complicated than in IE]
- advertise themselves all over the browser
- make the bookmarks so complicated
- not allow clicking and dragging toolbars at the top


What the HELL is so bad about IE anyway?

Popups. But you get them with Firefox too.

[Stormtracker TF]

Originally posted by safety pin
It sucks. i'm using it right now. is it really necessary to:

- make graphics animate at 10,000 mph
- make textboxes narrow
- automatically enable autocomplete with no way to get rid of the entries (or if you can it's more complicated than in IE]
- advertise themselves all over the browser
- make the bookmarks so complicated
- not allow clicking and dragging toolbars at the top


What the HELL is so bad about IE anyway? That, and the fact that I'm so used to IE makes it confusing, I guess I'm just TOO used to IE, so now anything else just seems, well, inferior...So Firefox just makes me want to go back to IE. You CAN get rid of autocomplete entries, but I forget how.

IE is generally disliked due to its high vunerability to spyware and viruses and all that crap. Slowness, Popups too, stuff like that.

I can honestly say, though, that I have been spyware free for about 7 months and I only use IE.

[I am Roboto]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
Popups. But you get them with Firefox too.

Are you on XP? If so, just install Service Pack 2 and IE will have its own pop-up blocker.

[Stormtracker TF]

Originally posted by cheers_rules
Are you on XP? If so, just install Service Pack 2 and IE will have its own pop-up blocker. That's one great thing about Service Pack 2.

[Hollow]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
But you get them with Firefox too.
HA. HA. HA.

Just look at all these fools falling under the spell of firefox. thinking it's so much more significant than IE. upon my observations, they are equal pop-up- wise. i can assure you that i've had no or very little spyware caused by IE, and slowness is not determined by whether you use IE.

[Brent88]

Originally posted by T.F. Storm
That's one great thing about Service Pack 2.

Yes it is. :D

[Brent88]

Originally posted by T.F. Storm
That, and the fact that I'm so used to IE makes it confusing, I guess I'm just TOO used to IE, so now anything else just seems, well, inferior...So Firefox just makes me want to go back to IE. You CAN get rid of autocomplete entries, but I forget how.

IE is generally disliked due to its high vunerability to spyware and viruses and all that crap. Slowness, Popups too, stuff like that.

I can honestly say, though, that I have been spyware free for about 7 months and I only use IE.

:yeahthat

[Dutabi84]

I don't see how there's any argument against Firefox being #1. There ARE far fewer popups. If you aren't noticing a difference, then your computer is pretty much f-cked with spyware. In which case, you oughtta do a format, and then go to Firefox.

The smileys are too fast? :lol: C'mon..

The tabbing feature makes everything easier. You don't have to have a single window for EVERY little page you have open. Keeps everything nice'n organized.

I don't see how the "auto fill" feature is a problem. You can just keep typing what you want, and ignore the little pull down menu.

I.E. does absolutely nothing to block pop-ups. Infact, it's super easy for I.E. to get bugged, and have toolbars automatically installed, and have websites' links installed into your 'Favorites' menu.

[Hollow]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
The smileys are too fast? :lol: C'mon..
You mean this smiley isn't rolling at 90 miles a minute?

:rotflmao:

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

It's faster for me than IE, and therefore I like it. I have no ****ing patience and if I have to wait two less seconds for a page to load then I'm happy. ****ing slow muther c*ck. :wallbang

:)

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Originally posted by safety pin
You mean this smiley isn't rolling at 90 miles a minute?

:rotflmao: It did for me when I first switched to firefox but it doesn't anymore.

[I am Roboto]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
I don't see how there's any argument against Firefox being #1. There ARE far fewer popups. If you aren't noticing a difference, then your computer is pretty much f-cked with spyware. In which case, you oughtta do a format, and then go to Firefox.

The smileys are too fast? :lol: C'mon..

The tabbing feature makes everything easier. You don't have to have a single window for EVERY little page you have open. Keeps everything nice'n organized.

I don't see how the "auto fill" feature is a problem. You can just keep typing what you want, and ignore the little pull down menu.

I.E. does absolutely nothing to block pop-ups. Infact, it's super easy for I.E. to get bugged, and have toolbars automatically installed, and have websites' links installed into your 'Favorites' menu.

While I use Mozilla Navigator, I don't buy into the claims that Mozilla (or any third-party product is #1). If they were they'd load every webpage (with the exception of WindowsUpdate). Has FireFox/Mozilla come along away? Yes Is it a decent product? Yes Is it perfect? Absolutely not. It still has bugs that have been there since Netscape 6. Smooth scrolling, for example, was only recently fixed in Mozilla 1.7.

IE does block pop-ups (if you have SP2), and it does a great job at it, as good as Google Toolbar or FireFox/Mozilla. It is true that some pop-ups will get past the filter, but that happens on Mozilla/Firefox too, trust me!

Now, as for tabbing, you're right, Microsoft has fallen down on the job. But there are third-party solutions for IE enthusiasts (like the MS-recommended Maxthon).

The point is, IE isn't a bad browser, it gets picked on because of how powerful it is (FireFox isn't vulnerable because it does not support ActiveX), and because there are just some people who hate Microsoft-period. It isn't going anywhere any time soon.

[Dutabi84]

Originally posted by safety pin
You mean this smiley isn't rolling at 90 miles a minute?

:rotflmao:

I'd say it rolls from one point to the other in about 1.8 seconds...which is significantly faster than I.E's..maybe that's because I.E. gets bogged down by its own crappy software. *shrugs*

But..it's easy for me to look past something like "fast smileys" and focus on the more important things. ;)

[-*Forever*-]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
I.E. does absolutely nothing to block pop-ups. Infact, it's super easy for I.E. to get bugged, and have toolbars automatically installed, and have websites' links installed into your 'Favorites' menu.

Yeah, that happened to me.

But still, I'm comfortable with IE. I actually have both open right now.

[Dutabi84]

Originally posted by cheers_rules
While I use Mozilla Navigator, I don't buy into the claims that Mozilla (or any third-party product is #1). If they were they'd load every webpage (with the exception of WindowsUpdate). Has FireFox/Mozilla come along away? Yes Is it a decent product? Yes Is it perfect? Absolutely not. It still has bugs that have been there is Netscape 6. Smooth scrolling, for example, was only recently fixed in Mozilla 1.7.

IE does block pop-ups (if you have SP2), and it does a great job at it, as good as Google Toolbar or FireFox/Mozilla. It is true that some pop-ups will get past the filter, but that happens on Mozilla/Firefox too, trust me!

Now, as for tabbing, you're right, Microsoft has fallen down on the job. But they're are third-party solutions for IE enthusiasts (like the MS-recommended Maxthon).

The point is, IE isn't a bad browser, it gets picked on because of how powerful it is (FireFox isn't vulnerable because it does not support ActiveX), and because there are just some people who hate Microsoft-period. It isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Google toolbar, from my experience, does a decent job of blocking pop-ups. But websites have found ways around that, and a lot of things are sneaking past it. A lot less gets by Firefox. Oh sure, stuff does get by Firefox. But for the same reasons people will always get spam emails, you will always get pop-ups.

I.E. doesn't get picked on because of how powerful Microsoft is, it gets picked on simply because some novice programmers were able to put out a better quality browser. You can even get plug-ins provided by Mozilla, to block advertisements, such as banner ads...I haven't looked at their other plug-ins, but this one is very handy.

No, I.E. isn't bad. It's just not very good.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Anyone get that ****ing amazing diet patch pop-up where it has the indecency to have someone talk all of a sudden and scare the **** out of you? And then you exit it out, and the ad shakes saying "Doiiiieerrr ur ya shure?!1 DOiirrr" and it's almost hard to exit it out because its shaking. Thanks, obese epidemic, thanks alot. **** sucking no good weener wagger ****ers:mumble:

[PZelda]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
Popups. But you get them with Firefox too.

You're kidding, because I NEVER get any popups on Firefox. NEVER. And I've been using it full-time since July. I had some problems with it at first - I couldn't get on LJ, and the search page here on SO froze up, but not anymore.

I think the ACTUAL problem is within your computer itself, not Firefox.

[PZelda]

Originally posted by safety pin
HA. HA. HA.

Just look at all these fools falling under the spell of firefox. thinking it's so much more significant than IE. upon my observations, they are equal pop-up- wise. i can assure you that i've had no or very little spyware caused by IE, and slowness is not determined by whether you use IE.

I'm going to say it one last time - I DON'T GET ANY POPUPS ON FIREFOX. I have NO anti popup software installed (I actually uninstalled Pop Up Stopper, which I had been using faithfully since the summer of 2000), and I've never gotten any popups while on Firefox. Now, IE, on the other hand. Even with their lame excuse of a popup blocker, I went to SO on IE today and it claimed it blocked popups, but I got one anyway. :rolleyes:

[PZelda]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
I'd say it rolls from one point to the other in about 1.8 seconds...which is significantly faster than I.E's..maybe that's because I.E. gets bogged down by its own crappy software. *shrugs*

But..it's easy for me to look past something like "fast smileys" and focus on the more important things. ;)

Word up, brotha!

Originally posted by Dutabi84
Google toolbar, from my experience, does a decent job of blocking pop-ups. But websites have found ways around that, and a lot of things are sneaking past it. A lot less gets by Firefox. Oh sure, stuff does get by Firefox. But for the same reasons people will always get spam emails, you will always get pop-ups.

I.E. doesn't get picked on because of how powerful Microsoft is, it gets picked on simply because some novice programmers were able to put out a better quality browser. You can even get plug-ins provided by Mozilla, to block advertisements, such as banner ads...I haven't looked at their other plug-ins, but this one is very handy.

No, I.E. isn't bad. It's just not very good.

Yeah, I used Google Toolbar in the last few months I was using IE full-time, and it was teh suXorz, big-time. In about 3 months, I'd blocked around 3000 popups and numerous others had gotten past me. That's the bad thing - they don't stay on top of things efficiently like they should be.

The plug-in you are referring to is Adblock. I love that plug-in. I haven't seen any banners here in ages, and if somebody has an avatar that annoys me -- it goes on the Adblock list.

I can't go back to IE now because it's far too full of flaws. I used to like IE -- in the 90's, I did, back when there weren't as much spyware to deal with -- but not anymore.

[Hollow]

You can't click and drag text either! :cuss:

[spunkygirl]

Originally posted by Dutabi84
I don't see how there's any argument against Firefox being #1. There ARE far fewer popups. If you aren't noticing a difference, then your computer is pretty much f-cked with spyware. In which case, you oughtta do a format, and then go to Firefox.

The smileys are too fast? :lol: C'mon..

The tabbing feature makes everything easier. You don't have to have a single window for EVERY little page you have open. Keeps everything nice'n organized.

I don't see how the "auto fill" feature is a problem. You can just keep typing what you want, and ignore the little pull down menu.

I.E. does absolutely nothing to block pop-ups. Infact, it's super easy for I.E. to get bugged, and have toolbars automatically installed, and have websites' links installed into your 'Favorites' menu.

Honestly I don't know anyone can think IE is better, I got bombarded with spyware when I was using IE, plus it was slower than freaking molasses.

Even with my dialup, Firefox is still fast, as proven when people say the smileys move really fast, that's a minor inconvenience IMO.

Anyone who's getting popups with Firefox must already have spyware issues then cause I haven't gotten any popups since I switched to Firefox. Adblock rules! :D

I have found Firefox much easier to navigate than IE as well. The tab feature is great, and being able to open several windows within the browser is great too :D

[spunkygirl]

Originally posted by safety pin
You can't click and drag text either! :cuss:

A minor inconvenience IMO :)

[Brian]

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
Honestly I don't know anyone can think IE is better, I got bombarded with spyware when I was using IE, plus it was slower than freaking molasses.

Even with my dialup, Firefox is still fast, as proven when people say the smileys move really fast, that's a minor inconvenience IMO.

Anyone who's getting popups with Firefox must already have spyware issues then cause I haven't gotten any popups since I switched to Firefox. Adblock rules! :D

I have found Firefox much easier to navigate than IE as well. The tab feature is great, and being able to open several windows within the browser is great too :D


I can vouch for anyone who says Firefox is great. I have gotten NO popups at all. I've been using Firefox for several months. Not only that, the only stuff my Spysweeper picks up are tracking cookies. When I used IE, it picked up running spyware every few minutes or hours. IE sucks big time. I honestly cannot comprehend why people would see IE as a better browser than Firefox.

Is it really such a big deal that smilies move faster? I haven't noticed it a lot.

If you really love your computer and want to protect it from all the undesirables whether it be spyware, malicous stuff, or anything like that, switch to Firefox. It's weird to use at first but I got used to it after a few days.

[robyrob]

Originally posted by safety pin
It sucks. i'm using it right now. is it really necessary to:

- make graphics animate at 10,000 mph
- make textboxes narrow
- automatically enable autocomplete with no way to get rid of the entries (or if you can it's more complicated than in IE]
- advertise themselves all over the browser
- make the bookmarks so complicated
- not allow clicking and dragging toolbars at the top


What the HELL is so bad about IE anyway? granted firefox may not be everyone's thing, but its true power lies in its customizability - but you have to play with it for awhile to really take advantage of it

anyways:

- as dustin said, the :rotflmao: smilie goes from left to right in about 1 and a half seconds for me, i noticed a difference in speed, but if thats your main concern so be it

- the width of text boxes and such is determined by the coding of websites, and as IE does NOT comply 100% with the WWWC standards, and MOST websites are still designed with IE in mind, you WILL get some different effects in different browsers (same thing happens in ALL the other browsers)

- autocomplete settings are on the Privacy Tab on the Tools>Options page, set them however you want, I think it is MORE convenient to have all the settings in one place, even if it does take 1 more click to get there

- maybe its the way mine is customized, but I don't see ANY advertisements ANYwhere in the browser (other than the "About" properties page), and with built-in theming and plug-ins which allow you to change the titlebar text and innumerable other features, it leaves it completely up to you WHAT you want to see

- there are many ways to customize bookmarks - you can set them up EXACTLY the same as IE's if you so desire

- same as IE, you can right click and "customize" the toolbar however you want, including dragging and dropping toolbars, blank spaces and changing the background

- i have no problem clicking and dragging text within firefox - I use that feature constantly to drag text into text boxes or into the address or search bar (which UNLIKE IE you can actually set it to what you want it to, and make it ACT the way you want - one of MY pet peeves with IE and its habit of FORCING you to use MSN Autosearch by constantly resetting it)

- if you are getting the SAME amount of pop-ups with firefox, the problem is NOT the browser...

[Janice]

I haven't read all the posts, but I see that some already have this product, yet the article makes's a big deal about its debut this Tuesday. Is this another version that's coming out?

[robyrob]

Originally posted by Janice
I haven't read all the posts, but I see that some already have this product, yet the article makes's a big deal about its debut this Tuesday. Is this another version that's coming out? the big deal is that it finally reached version 1.0 after many different names and iterations, but there really isnt any noticable difference from last month's 1.0PR (preview release)

[PZelda]

Originally posted by robyrob
the big deal is that it finally reached version 1.0 after many different names and iterations, but there really isnt any noticable difference from last month's 1.0PR (preview release)

Wasn't it Firebird at one point? That was in late 2002/early 2003, if I recall.

[James"Thunder"Early]

I have tried several browsers. Opera, No Trax and others and the Firefox seems to be really good.

[robyrob]

Originally posted by PZelda
Wasn't it Firebird at one point? That was in late 2002/early 2003, if I recall. yup, also it started out as Phoenix (sorry sarah :( )

there is a great page for it on Wikipedia (and there's an awesome Wikipedia plugin extension for firefox too)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Firefox

[theshark8777]

Is Firefox that much better than the old Mozilla? Is it worth downloading?
The thing I like about Mozilla is the tab browsing, I don't know why IE hasn't done that.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Originally posted by robyrob
- there are many ways to customize bookmarks - you can set them up EXACTLY the same as IE's if you so desire
May you explain how, Uncle Roby? Tis killing me.

[robyrob]

Originally posted by *A TV People*
May you explain how, Uncle Roby? Tis killing me. go to the Bookmarks menu, then click on "Manage Bookmarks", if you move everything into your "Bookmarks Toolbar Folder" they will all show up similar to IE's "Links" bar, but you may need to right-click a blank space on the toolbar to make sure there is a checkmark in front of Bookmarks Toolbar so that it is displayed

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

Originally posted by robyrob
go to the Bookmarks menu, then click on "Manage Bookmarks", if you move everything into your "Bookmarks Toolbar Folder" they will all show up similar to IE's "Links" bar, but you may need to right-click a blank space on the toolbar to make sure there is a checkmark in front of Bookmarks Toolbar so that it is displayed Thank yoooouuu

[Jo_Polniaczek]

I just recently completely switched over to Firefox, and I can say that I am very satisfied with it. There are no popups, spyware, and you can totally customize it. And no, the smilies don't go at 100 mph. :happyface

I downloaded the one Gmail notifier extension. Pretty cool. ^^ http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

[Dutabi84]

Originally posted by Jo_Polniaczek
I just recently completely switched over to Firefox, and I can say that I am very satisfied with it. There are no popups, spyware, and you can totally customize it. And no, the smilies don't go at 100 mph. :happyface

I downloaded the one Gmail notifier extension. Pretty cool. ^^ http://www.sitcomsonline.com/ubb/icons/icon14.gif

I didn't know there was a Gmail extension. :eek2: I shall have to grab that.

[-*Forever*-]

I've been using it every since last night, and I guess it is better, but I still don't fully like it. I had everything on IE set up all nicey-nice (not bookmarks and stuff, like text size and stuff) and I can't get that back with Firefox. The default size is way too big for my eyes but the next smallest is TINY. *sigh* Whatever.

[-*Forever*-]

Actually, the only reason why I like this better (other than the tabs) is cos yesterday on IE, some annoying as CRAP sidebar kept popping up. It would come up everytime I clicked a link, moved the mouse... I think if that hadn't happened, I'd still be on IE.

[Sean Snow]

I'm trying out Firefox now, and so far I like it. I haven't had any problems with pop-ups so far. I don't really mind the speed of smilies nor how narrow the textboxes are on some sites. Auto complete was easy to disable. I love the tabs. So far, I think that it's a lot better than IE.