Hi Guy's;
Got a new question which didn't really belong in in Freeware section where we have been talking recently.
Internet Browser!
My XP Prof. S/P 2 came with IE-6 which is getting pretty long in the tooth now. I have a CD for IE-8 but I also note that a lot of you use FireFox which I have read a lot of good thinds about.
Jim, Ziggie, Dave, What do you reccomend? and what are your reasons for that reccomendation? Oh, by the way if you suggest FireFox does anyone know if they offer a CD as it will probably will be way to big to download on my slow dial-up connection.
Best Regards to all and Thanks
Jon
Hey Jon - Another very intelligent question mate and one which more people should be asking!!
Firstly, whatever you decide mate you should upgrade from IE6 as soon as possible. The newer browser versions include significant improvements in security and safety.
There was a time when Firefox was the most secure and safest browser to use, way better that Internet Explorer. With the advent of IE7 and now IE8 however, that gap has closed considerably. IMO there is now very little to pick between IE and Firefox.
The only real advantage Firefox now has over IE is the huge choice of add-ons (extensions) available. These extensions for Firefox provide additional security and enhanced functionality. Anyone who has used Firefox for a number of years has their own favourite add-ons which they do not wish to be without and that is the main reason they continue to stick with Firefox.
E.G. I have an add-on called 'Download Helper' which will allow me to easily download and save any streaming media to the hard drive; music, video clips, anything. I would not want to be without it!!!
You can browse through the Firefox add-ons here (there are hundreds of them): https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/
Mozilla (the developers of Firefox) used to have an online store and I do believe there was a CD version of Firefox available. Unfortunately that store is now defunct and I don't know of any other avenues where the CD might be procured (perhaps Dave or Ziggie might know more on that). Do you have any friends nearby with a fast connection speed who could download the Firefox setup file and save that to flash drive or burn to data CD for you??
What is your location Jon?....I would be more than happy to burn the setup file to CD and post it to you mate....no problemo.
Having said all that; if you are happy with IE and you have IE8 on CD, then that is probably your best option mate. As I said previously, outside of the availability of add-ons, there is very little to pick between them.
Cheers now....JIM
Hi Jim;
As always, Thank you for your prompt response and thoughtful comments. I really appreciate it. The factual advice and lack of BS is refreshing from what's on a lot of the PC forums on the net today.
Think I'll go with IE-8. Partly because of your comments and partly because I havethe CD. That was really nice of you to offer to burn a CD of Firefox but as I said, I'll try IE-8 first.
By the way I'm in So. CA Southeastern Los Angeles County in a town called Hacienda Heights.
I've used IE-6 for the last six [6] or seven [7] years and I'm pretty used to it and have no real major hang-ups with it. I'm not a browser nut, just want it to do it's main thing (connect me to the net and not crash all the time) Incidentaly, the crashing or locking up was starting to be a real problem with IE-6 on my old 98SE mid-tower and even a little bit of a problem with the new XP Prof. notebook. Hope with IE-8 it will become a thing of the past.
I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for your courtesy and help.
Regards,
Jon
Hey Jon - WOW, Hacienda Heights....now there's an exotic location name!!!
You shouldn't have any problems with IE8, if you do...you know who to call.......LOL.
Post installation, the first time you start it up, IE8 will take you through a few settings which may seem a tad confusing. Don't let it change your default search engine or home page and, considering your dial up speed, disable anything which involves updates. If you are in any doubt about anything just disable it, there's nothing which will dramatically affect the performance.
Look forward to hearing your first impressions.
Cheers mate....JIM
FYI -- the firefox download is only 8 MB. Not terrible, but it could take a while on dial up.
Me, I prefer Chrome--almost. As soon as it starts allowing plug-ins/add ons so I can get X-marks and Sxipper installed, I'll be happy.
IE8, FF, Chrome -- anymore it's a matter of preference.
Enjoy!
For those who prefer to browse with a degree of anonymity, there's also SRWare Iron. http://www.srware.net/en/softw.....e_iron.php It's based on Chrome's source code. Since FF 3.5, there's a feature in Firefox called "private browsing". It doesn't operate like Iron/Tor, but simply doesn't record cookies, history, etc. while enabled. http://support.mozilla.com/en-.....e+Browsing
hth
Ron
Just a few small notes to update this topic - IE7 & IE8 still have security issues as per the link below. Firefox has constantly remained on told with respect to plugging security issues. The appeal of having/installing add-ons is an important reason why FF leads the browser pack (others merely try to copy). The speed issue of loading, is so tiny (blink of an eye - unless the computer is truly out of wack), that the choice is that of user friendly (appearance, feel, ease of use). One should have a backup, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
I am a conservative computer user & use mostly IE & Opera or Chrome as supplimentary.
I found really no big difference in surfing speed for all browsers in my computers.
All browsers ,I think will have certain security problems in which IE with the updates to amend security holes while others usually upgrde versions instead.
When it comes to SECURE (using the safest browser, that has NO security loop holes), IE version ALL (for every version out there), is the worst. There is a free security program, called Secunia PSI, which can monitor all programs for Patches, Insecure and Out-of-life (no longer supported). It constantly reminds me that IE8 is [u:1z3el0gg]Insecure, with no solution[/u:1z3el0gg], while Opera 10.x and Firefox 3.6.x are fully patched and [u:1z3el0gg]Secure for browsing[/u:1z3el0gg]. They go so far as to supply a security rating and explain the reason for why the product is insecure.
Try http://secunia.com/advisories/38416 and read for yourself.
So as far as updates go from M$, they just do not seem to correct the problem to 100%, which is what those who use their browsers truly deserve, need and expect, Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
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