Courage to change to Mozilla

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 3 Oct 2004 8:16 am

I finally did it ... from some supporting comments from other members, I "sucked it in" and found the guts to change browsers.

Well sir, I'm pleased to report that with a minimal amount of effort, I'm back up and running in less than 15 minutes!

If this browser really stops all the spyware and viruses that Internet Explorer allows, I can't encourage others enough to try it out!

I am sickened when I read about some of the problems that have been happening to other members. I know how hard (or impossible) it is to restore all the lost data from getting a virus.

If you were afraid to make the change, perhaps my success may help to boost your confidence.

Warm regards,

Jim

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 3 Oct 2004 8:54 am

.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:37 PM.]

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 3 Oct 2004 9:38 am

Hi Jim:

You are directly responsible for helping make the decision to change.

I sincerely appreciate your help and encouragement!!

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 3 Oct 2004 10:54 am

For years, there were significant differences between the HTML features that browsers could support. Netscape and Microsoft were at each other's throats with competing 'standards' for HTML. Now that things have settled down, using an alternative browser isn't nearly as risky as it once was.

I'm typing this in Safari on the Mac. I've found very few pages that Safari doesn't support - mostly ActiveX stuff that I wouldn't want on my computer anyway. The biggest difference between IE and other browsers is support for ActiveX plug-ins. Most of the adware that gives us so much grief is based on the ActiveX protocol.

There are a few things based on ActiveX that I appreciate, though. The Goggle toolbar, Adobe's Acrobat Reader and the Macromedia Flash client are good examples. So, it's not really the ActiveX technology that's to blame. It's Microsoft's inability to control ActiveX developers. It was a "collosal mistake" to allow developers to install plug-ins into IE without enforcing a central licensing authority.

That's my opinion of this whole mess.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 3 Oct 2004 11:31 am

I may need some help on sending email.

I was able to setup the receive portion on Mozilla, but the smtp (send server) gets an error saying that it might be set-up wrong.

Dang ... I did everything right, or so I thought.

Did you guys have any problems?

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 Oct 2004 1:33 pm

I recently switched to Mozilla/Firefox and it's working great. [This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 04 October 2004 at 03:38 AM.]

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 3 Oct 2004 3:20 pm

I've been using Mozilla for a few years. I recently switched to FireFox for browsing and Thunderbird for mail, both are from Mozilla, but are somewhat leaner and faster than the full Mozilla, esp. if you're not going to use the extra features in Mozilla (e.g. compose)

It's all good stuff and great at blocking popups, yet allowing those you might want. For example I checked the Carter website a few days ago and they have 2 popups when you hit their home page. I assumed they were safe so I said yes to that site, but all others are still blocked.

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 3 Oct 2004 3:27 pm

I did not go for Thunderbird--I'm still using OE. I've saved and pretty well filed in a whole folder system zillions of emails going back several years. Will I be able to import all the folders and maintain my system if I go over to Thunderbird? Will the transition be as easy as the IE-to-Firefox transition was?

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 3 Oct 2004 7:57 pm

Jon. I just checked Thunderbird and, under Tools->import it gives you a choice of "address books", "mail", and "settings". Clicking on any of them then gives you a choice of Eudora, Outlook, Outlook Express, and a few text file types. I assume you can import all three of "address books", "mail", and "settings" if you wish, one at a time.

I must tell that I don't know how well it works because I didn't use Eudora or OE or Outlook prior to switching to Thunderbird. However, I'd be amazed if you couldn't install it to see how you like it, without losing your existing mail.

And it may not have all the features that OE has ... I've never used Outlook or OE.

[This message was edited by Don Walters on 03 October 2004 at 08:59 PM.]

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 3 Oct 2004 8:51 pm

Thanks, Don. I'll muck around and find out for myself. I have always liked OE in spite of the little security flaws that have the potential to destroy the world as we know it. But I'll be happy to let it go if I can just keep these files intact. And I agree, I'd be surprised if it can't be easily done.

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 4 Oct 2004 4:11 am

There are a few things based on ActiveX that I appreciate, though. The Goggle toolbar, Adobe's Acrobat Reader and the Macromedia Flash client are good examples.

Just for clarity, neither Acrobat nor Flash are based on ActiveX - only the plug-in auto-installers. IE users who have ActiveX disabled (which should be everyone) can download and install them manually. Which is, of course, how users of Mozilla/Firefox/Opera now do it.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 4 Oct 2004 10:38 am

I guess I'm misinformed. What protocols do Acrobat Reader and Flash use to insert themselves into the IE browser window? I thought ActiveX and Java applets were the only ways to do that.

Jeff Agnew · Post by **Jeff Agnew** » 5 Oct 2004 7:54 am

b0b,

My attempt at clarity was about as clear as mud. Sorry. Here's a better one.

What protocols do Acrobat Reader and Flash use to insert themselves into the IE browser window?

ActiveX.

However, since neither Flash nor Acrobat requires ActiveX to run, IE users who have disabled it can launch a Flash or Acrobat file as a separate instance if the MIME type is configured correctly. And, of course, if both Flash and Acrobat Reader are installed on the user's system.

So, you are correct that to display either file type in an IE window requires ActiveX. My wording should have said that neither technology itself is based on ActiveX, only the plug-in and auto-installers.

Sloppy writing.

Chris Lasher · Post by **Chris Lasher** » 6 Oct 2004 2:19 pm

Mozilla is cool; Mozilla Firefox is awesome! Love that browser.

I'd like to clarify, Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox both support the use of Macromedia Flash Player and Adobe Reader within the browser. Adobe Reader simply needs to be installed, and installation and integration of the Flash Player is as simple as a few mouseclicks on Macromedia's website for Windows users.

Additionally, I'd like to point out that both Mozilla and Mozilla Firefox have Google search functions built right into the browser, batteries and all. No extra toolbar required.

[This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 06 October 2004 at 03:35 PM.]

Gary Shepherd · Post by **Gary Shepherd** » 9 Oct 2004 8:04 am

I still say get a copy of DriveImage - do a fresh install of windows and then make a backup image. If you ever get a virus or things quit working right, just reinstal from your image. The reinstall takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. Much faster than the week or 2 that it can take to get your computer back like it was installing one program at a time.

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Gary Shepherd

Sierra Session 12

www.16tracks.com

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Oct 2004 2:56 am

I too have changed from IE to Mozilla Firefox with zero issues. I mean..NO issues.

I wonder how long it will take for the spammers to rewrite there scripts to intrude on this browser.

I couldnt agree with b0b more in that MS was really negligent for allowing all this attachment nonsense to there IE browser without licensing.

It's only a matter of time before we see all this stuff in Mozilla land as well...

but for now it's a good internet life...
t

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 30 Oct 2004 7:30 am

It's been almost a month now, since I switched from IE to Mozilla, and from Outlook Express to Thunderbird.

I must say that the wizards that are part of the download make it pretty darn simple to switch.

There was a couple of days of 'getting used to' the new applications, but I swear that it's well worth the effort.

Best regards,
Jim

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 30 Oct 2004 8:25 am

Switched to Firefox and Thunderbird about a week ago, very happy with them both. Every once in a while I come across websites that don't open well in Firefox (my own, for example...

), but the "View in IE" plugin takes care of those.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Travis Bernhardt · Post by **Travis Bernhardt** » 31 Oct 2004 11:24 pm

Firefox users, try the plug-in called Stumbleupon. There's no annoying sign-up nonsense (it's a very short, painless process, no spyware or adware or anything), and it basically revitalizes your whole web experience. Seriously, give it a shot, it's like the old days when people used to actually "surf" rather than go through a search engine like Google for everything.

Also, there's a great ad remover plug-in whose name I can't remember.

-Travis

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 10 Nov 2004 2:09 pm

I just read yesterday where the release of the newest Firefox browser is set to give Internet Explorer a bit of grief.

I hope they kick Microsoft in the butt! No active X, no popup ads, or drop down ads, and the Thunderbird email handlers filters spam automatically.

How can you "not like" that?!!?

Mark Ardito · Post by **Mark Ardito** » 11 Nov 2004 6:36 am

I program a lot of .net applications for use in a corporate intranet. It is easy because by corporate architecture rules, all systems must be Windows XP with IE 6. However, if I were programming .net applications for the WWW I would be pulling my hair out. I know there is a big difference right now on what CSS IE and Netscape (or NutScrape as I call it) support. There is also an issue of some .net components that I use that Mozilla does not support.

However, if you look at the web stats from a website, you will see that over 95% of the browsers used are IE 6 or higher. The other 5% will come from Netscape, FireFox, Opera, Safari and etc.

I think coding for IE is a pretty safe bet, but not a sure thing. The W3C needs to set a browser standard and enforce it.

Just my $.02

Cheers!
Mark

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Sho~Bud Pro I, Fender D-8 (C6&E13) http://www.darkmagneto.com
http://www.arditotech.com

[This message was edited by Mark Ardito on 11 November 2004 at 06:37 AM.]

Jim Hinton · Post by **Jim Hinton** » 11 Nov 2004 2:13 pm

Who says Microsoft isn't concerned about Firefox ... check this out:
http://news.com.com/Microsoft+says+Firefox+not+a+threat+to+IE/2100-1032_3-5448719.html

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 11 Nov 2004 3:40 pm

Been using Mozila for quite a while with no problems. Like it much better than IE.

Bill

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 11 Nov 2004 4:22 pm

.[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 17 November 2004 at 07:38 PM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 11 Nov 2004 6:05 pm

However, if you look at the web stats from a website, you will see that over 95% of the browsers used are IE 6 or higher. The other 5% will come from Netscape, FireFox, Opera, Safari and etc.

Actually, the web stats for my own website showed as much as 12% Mozilla users (including Firefox), before I started using Firefox myself,- that was a real surprise.
Perhaps my website draws a 'special' crowd...

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www.gregertsen.com