How does one use Firefox?

Published on February 13, 2005 By kona0197 In Internet

After fighting a losing battle and after realizing how messed up IE is, I have decided to try out other browsers. I now admit that maybe even if IE is a bit faster Firefox has more features. The more features I have at my disposal the more work I can get done. Not to mention you guys are right about IE not being the most "secure" browser out there.

So I want to try to figure out Firefox first. But I need help.

My biggest gripe about Firefox was the fact it never imported favorites EXACTLY as they are laid out in Ie. I heard there is an extension or program that will import them as they are in IE?

And what extensions do I need to use tabs?

I'm sure I will have more questions soon.... Might even start using Thunderbird!

Comments (Page 1)

Alternate Setting

on Feb 13, 2005

Kona ref: extensions.

1. Security wise - always ensure you are comfortable with the 'provider' of an extension before downloading. It is a potential weakness. You will see that the browser will not allow you to automatically download from a new source - you will have to give it permission.

2. I would take your time and install your extensions gradually. That way if one does cause a conflict it will be easier to identify.

3. Even if you really enjoy it and never intend to open IE again - keep your machine up to date as if you were still using IE.

Edit: It's been ages since I configured mine - but I'm fairly sure Tabs are a default provision. You just have to call them up. Options include right clicking on a link and selecting 'open link in new tab' or holding down 'Ctrl' key and then left clicking on link as normal. Another one is to drag the 'new tab' icon onto the toolbar. Do this by right clicking on an empty area of the toolbar and choosing 'customize' from the menu. This will present you with an assortment of icon options which grow as you add extensions. These can simply be dragged on and off of your toolbar.

I would recommend you start off by ensuring you have 'adblock' and 'cookie culler' as your basics.
Cheers.

cakeypower

on Feb 13, 2005

Just middle-click on a link to open it in a new tab. Very handy for forum browsing and ebay shopping

nitebeast

on Feb 13, 2005

I've been using Firefox since it was an early beta and now I only use IE for windows update. Firefox is by far THE best browser I've ever used. One of the greatest features of Firefox is that it is actively being developed. This means that any bugs and security problems are more likely to be patched very quickly, MS can't say that about IE. I also like that fact that you can bookmark entire Tab sets, block popups, built in google search, etc, etc, etc. So much good stuff.

You can also get extensions and plugins to improve your browsing experience. I use flashgot to control my download manager (Flashget) but it also works with Star Downloader and Getright and about 20+ others. I've also got a weather widget from weather.com that allows me to see upto 7 days of forecast in a Firefox toolbar.

All I can say is that Firefox does the web right!

Psikotik

on Feb 13, 2005

I have to agree Firefox is a better browser. I've been using it since 0.7 and have had no complaints and I love tabbed browsing. As for extensions the mozilla homepage has extensions and themes for Firefox and I believe they are checked for not being malicious. One thing to check out though is the IDN spoofing vulnerability and how to fix it. It's a security risk recently discovered. The is a post about it here in the Internet section ( FIREFOX SPOOFING ) that has the info and links you need. Also, there are tips and tricks to speed Firefox up if you know where to look. Just be Cautious !!

Other ways to open tabs: you can open a new tab using the file menu or you can also customize the toolbar and add an "Open New Tab" button.

tjesterb

on Feb 13, 2005

To configure your tabbed browsing, Tools>Options>Advanced>Tabbed Browsing. Then select how you want it to behave. I heve mine set to open in the same window since I usually have multiple sites open at the same time, it's easier for me to manage that way. I use 4-button trackball mouse, so mouse gestures don't do much for me. I like Target Alert and IE view extensions. Target alert shows what a link links to (site, PDF, etc...) and IE View opens the same window in IE, useful for some sites that don't disply right in FF or use ActiveX for something I want to see. Or when I forget and try to get my Windows updates from FF.

I also use the free version of Star Downloader. It plays well with FF.
Most of the fun is trying different configurations to find what works best for you.
Happy surfing dude

(yeah, I know you're more of a biking kinda guy)

Larry Kuperman

on Feb 13, 2005

Before anything else, congratulations to Terry (Kona0197) for trying this again. It takes a lot of maturity to check it out again.

Heres a good link to get you started: https://addons.update.mozilla.org/extensions/?os=Windows&application=firefox

I use Tabbrowser Preferences and Adblock from that page. Foxytunes is also nice: http://www.iosart.com/foxytunes/firefox/help.html

AboutSite and SpellBound (no that you need a spellchecker, you have Jafo!) are cool. ImageZoom is also good.

You have been right all along that Firefox takes a few seconds to open at first. This can be tweaked, but their are negative effects. I just don't do it.

Let us know how it works for you!

koop

kona0197

on Feb 13, 2005

OK I am checking things out but I still need a solution to the IE favorites problems. Firefox will list them alphabetically - I don't want them that way. I want them laid out as they are in IE.

tjesterb

on Feb 13, 2005

kona, if you go to bookmarks>manage bookmarks and click "view" there are different view options. Maybe if you play with it a little you can get it pretty close to how it looked in IE.

Essencay

on Feb 13, 2005

I want them laid out as they are in IE.

Favorites....has someone made a plugin for Firefox that does the same thing as IE's personalized favorites? Meaning after a certain amount of time bookmarks are hidden from view, but still there unless you click on "more". That way you're not browsing through around 1000 bookmarks like I have.

dharmagrl

on Feb 13, 2005

Glad to see that you're giving it another try......I'm taking Kupe's advice and checking out the 'foxytunes'.....

kona0197

on Feb 13, 2005

No SNK - I have them listed in a order I think is just right. When imported into Firefox they are listed alphabetically. That means I have to reorder them one by one. NOT FUN.

Essencay

on Feb 13, 2005

That's too bad about there not being a plugin...Maxthon doesn't use IE's personalized favorites either. I find myself now when I'm bouncing between skin sites using Maxthon, because of the tabs and when I'm just browsing around the net, using IE.

tjesterb

on Feb 13, 2005

Kona, maybe this could help: https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=Linux&numpg=10&id=14
it's and estension that allows you to import a set of bookmarks from an FTP. If you have an FTP available, you could upload your IE faves and use Bookmark synchronizer to import them.

seems a little over complicated to me, but hey, it could work. It seems funnythat it rearranged your faves/bookmarks. I imported my IE faves into FF 6.x and they showed up in the exact same order. There was just a tab in the bookmarks menu for "Imported IE Favorites" Maybe the newer revisions lost that feature.

tjesterb

on Feb 13, 2005

This one looks more promising: https://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&version=1.0&os=Windows&numpg=10&id=336

kona0197

on Feb 13, 2005

Well I'm not going to worry about the favorites right now. I tries some of the above extensions and it wiped my IE favorites out somehow. After many system restores I got most of them back. I'm due for a reformat/reinstall soon anyhow.

Right now I need infor on turning on tabs and how to make Firefox load 4 pages when starting in tabs. I'm using version 1.0PR if it matters.

I'm also going to check out Maxthon.

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