Why put up with the pain. Change browsers!

[Catweazle]

Hi all,

It may seem like a strange thing to have in a section dedicated to sorting out problems with Internet Explorer, but I have to ask. Why bother?

Internet Explorer, which is actually deeply embedded into Windows itself rather than being a 'stand-alone' program, is deeply flawed and cannot really be 'fixed'. The way it operates makes it susceptible to all sorts of internet-borne 'nasties', and your system suffers from its use.

Although it won't handle every single website you could find, Firefox will more than adequately handle just about anything you wish to do. Dowmload it, install it, and set it as your default browser. You'll not regret the change, I'm sure.

Here's a step by step guide to installing Firefox on a Windows XP system. The procedure varies only a little for other Windows versions, and the procedures for installing Mozilla or Opera are also very, very similar.

If you are continually having problems as a result of using Internet Explorer, it's really time you made the change. You won't regret doing so, I'm sure!

Also see this topic.

[nanosani]

hey I wanted to know that is firefox heavier than IE ?? I dont have a system with extreme performance ... and I only have 256 mb of ram.

[nanosani]

I read your installation guide and I am downloading mozilla now.

[Catweazle]

Firefox is actually leaner 'n' meaner than Internet Explorer. Most people report that it takes a little longer for the browser to actually fire up initially, but that once started it is a faster operating browser than IE.

Mozilla is a more demanding browser than Firefox, as it is a more full featured alternative.

Whichever you choose, install the ieView plugin ( http://ieview.mozdev.org/installation.html ), so that if you come across one of the few sites which demand Internet Explorer specifically (Windows Update, some Internet Banking sites for example) you can right-click the link and choose 'Open in Internet Explorer'.

[nanosani]

Thanks Catweazle I am replying you through Mozilla now :) ... Yes it does take a while when loading initially but it's fast going from then on.

[crunchie]

Why Opera?

See what a Mozilla/FireFox user has to say :D

http://my.opera.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80919

[Catweazle]

Not much, it seems crunchie. Not a great deal of insight in "404: Not Found"

LOL

[crunchie]

Me too :o . They must have moved it :). All fixed.

[Glued]

i love firefox. especially with the sexy skin i have. :]

[crunchie]

http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html

Comparison between browsers on different platforms.

[helloimtim]

Another choice is maxthon. While based on the ie engine it is allot more secure. To say that it has the same "security issues" as ie is wrong. I question the all the plugins for firefox. While yes they are needed to run aplications they are made by firefox users. Is it so impossible to believe that some of the plug ins could be infected with spyware or a virus? To say its more secure well the first attact has happend on the open source browser, yes it was fixed fast. There will be more to follow im sure. The 3rd party plug ins needed are a security issue with in itself. I have NO idea if its true but I have been hearing allot of users complaining about the forum. Takes allong time to get a responce. With maxthon one of the makers of this browser is a active member of the board and generally speaking most problems are addressed in a day. No maxthon is no a "skin" for ie. There is more to it than that.........there is my 2 cents.

[Catweazle]

Maxthon is a revamped progression from 'MyIE', and it uses the Internet Explorer engine. regardless of the features it adds to the Internet Explorer feature set, it is still deeply embedded into the OS, rather than being a stand-alone web browser. It is subject to the same levels and types of security risks that Internet Explorer is!

[chookie142]

I'm finding "Avant" to be a fairly good browser. I know it is based on IE, but the set up of the tabbing system and general user interface is great. I find it more pleasent to use than IE.

[Catweazle]

Considering stand-alone browsers are available which provide those features, and which do not inherit the security risks of IE, I can't really understand why anyone would choose an IE 'bolt-on'

[oalee]

Considering stand-alone browsers are available which provide those features, and which do not inherit the security risks of IE, I can't really understand why anyone would choose an IE 'bolt-on'

I agree!!! eversince the appearance of all these spywares/adwares/trojans, I started thinking about why a web browser should be embedded to an OS. Firstly, the internet is more comparable to "Open waters" which is very much unpredictable and very much unsecured. If considered so, why would you want your computer's OS attached to something that's very vulnerable to hacking and cracking. Secondly, the OS has nothing to do with web browsing. What do the OS care if I want to go surfing NBA.com online, or read CNN online or better yet, go surf for some online porn :mrgreen:. The point of all these is, you use browsers for surfing the web and that's what it's supposed to do. It's not supposed to affect the whole Operating system of your computer... I've been using firefox for a while now, and I'm encouraging everybody in my office to use it too. it gives me less headaches and worries about adwares and spywares that they might accidentally install on the computer.

[zeroth]

I've got a problem that cropped up since I changed over to Firefox.

Some files in my 'favorites' are .pdf and when I try to use them now Firefox locks up. So I went back to IE to use them and it locks up to. None of the buttons work, the only way to get out of the lockup is to invoke task manager and end task.

Any suggestions?

[zeroth]

I put that last post under this thread by mistake. I was fairly new at this and didn´t understand how things work. It shouldn´t really be in an IE forum at all, but there´s no other place to put it.

Just to update the question, I finally found the problem - simple, I just needed to update my Acrobat; IE ran it fine but Firefox could not handle the version I had.

Anyway, if someone wants to move my posts in this thread to an appropriate place, or delete them althogether, that´s perfect. I still would like to see a ¨browser¨forum added...

[jwenting]

Well, blatant advertising for Firefox shouldn't be in the IE forum either as it has nothing to do with IE :cheesy:

[DMR]

Well, blatant advertising for Firefox shouldn't be in the IE forum either as it has nothing to do with IE :cheesy:

Sure it does- This is a forum for fixing problems with IE, and Firefox certainly does that. :mrgreen:

[zeroth]

Pretty humerous, DMR, I must admit. But...I still don´t have a place to go to ask questions about Firefox. I never got an answer to my question about Acrobat and fixed it myself. I tried a question about why I couldn´t paste stuff on a message here from Firefox someplace else, can´t remember where it´s been so long.

I still say we need a ¨browser¨ forum. Heck by the time we get one, I won´t need it anymore, I´ll have fixed everything myself. (kidding, kidding) :o

[DMR]

But...I still don´t have a place to go to ask questions about Firefox.

We're discussing that in one of the staff forums right now, and actually, it's your very post here which caused the question to be brought up. :)

Judging from the staff feedback so far, it looks like the Internet Explorer forum is probably going to be renamed and expanded into a general web browser forum some time soon.

[zeroth]

Good to know that my posts are helping. There are so many browsers around today...it's like the users of unix distros, I've tried three browsers myself...

[Toba]

All hail firefox. If you're using firefox already, try the WhiteHart skin, it rocks.

[jwenting]

Sure it does- This is a forum for fixing problems with IE, and Firefox certainly does that. :mrgreen:

no it doesn't. Firefox hides "problems" with IE by exposing people to the problems in itself.

In my experience most "problems" people have with IE exist only between their ears. I've in 8 years online never had a trojan, spyware, or virus infection for example, despite using IE almost exclusively.
Enough indication that the problem is not with IE itself but with the way it's (ab)used, just as the problem with guns is not inherent to the gun but to in the way they're used (if you point it at someone and pull the trigger someone could get hurt).

[Catweazle]

Haven't we had this discussion before? You're just plain wrong, jwenting. the 'problem' with Internet Explorer is the fact that it's so closely and intimately integrated with the OS shell, and through it the most fundamental core components of the OS can be exposed to outside interference.

Without Microsoft de-integrating the browser and completely reworking it so that it becomes a stand-alone product rather than a component of the OS itself, it is a browser which is flawed beyond redemption!

And I might add that your experience, over the years, is a lucky one, and one which I hope continues for you. But the simple fact is that there are now 'intruders' loose in the 'wilds' of the internet, which can infect your system simply because you have viewed an image or a web-page. Please don't be suggesting that anyone who gets an infection when using it is 'thick', because that's simply not the case!

[dlh6213]

I never got an answer to my question about Acrobat and fixed it myself. I tried a question about why I couldn´t paste stuff on a message here from Firefox someplace else, can´t remember where it´s been so long.

Isn't this the one where Catweazle suggested you remove/reinstall Acrobat and you ended up reformatting? (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/showthread.php?t=19634&page=2&pp=15)

Here's the one about Pasting, no replies to that one yet (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/showthread.php?t=21188)

I still say we need a ¨browser¨ forum. Heck by the time we get one, I won´t need it anymore, I´ll have fixed everything myself. (kidding, kidding) :o

Did you notice the new name here? Web Browsers instead of Internet Explorer :)

[zeroth]

Isn't this the one where Catweazle suggested you remove/reinstall Acrobat and you ended up reformatting? (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/showthread.php?t=19634&page=2&pp=15)

Here's the one about Pasteing, no replies to that one yet (http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/showthread.php?t=21188)

Did you notice the new name here? Web Browsers instead of Internet Explorer :)

Wow, what a memory, dlh! :eek: Actually, I believe that was two different instances on two different computers. Catweazle did help me the first time in update Firefox thread and I had to reload Windows to get Acrobat back up. He´s helped me in more than one instance. But I didn't get an answer to the question in this thread as you can see.

I have five computers on my net and they are all different except for O/S (now) and to be honest I can´t remember exactly what I did to which one. When I moved back from Spain, it took a while to get them all running and I had different problems with each because they all had different O/Ss and software, etc. I even had to salvage parts from several older chassis to get my wife´s up and running.

Yep, no one has answered the one about pasting. I would have thought someone would have had the same problem with all the Firefox users around here.

YES! Web Browsers covers everything; I am in shock that I caused a change in the forums...I am so happy!:cool: In fact, there have been a lot of changes and improvements here in the short time I have been around. Good teamwork.

Seriously, I am happy here participating and now, contributing it seems. You guys are all great and I have solved so many problems in my net talking with you all. The best thing is that I have learned an awful lot around here in just the little while I´ve been a member.

That´s why I´m trying to contribute by attempting to help on the network forum, which is one of the few areas I´m qualified to help in. I´ve been around networking since the beginning but don´t have a lot of hands on experience, more from a theoretical standpoint. But having my own wireless lan at home and being a sales engineer in wireless infrastructure lets me help a little in some cases. I don´t really feel comfortable helping when I haven´t tried it myself.

But thanks to all of you, I am now running a completely (well almost) clean network and hardly have any issues whatsoever. Of course, now I´m going to attempt to set up a unix session somewhere on one of the computers and I´m sure I´ll be back to asking questions again soon.

[Eternal2u]

Didn't boter readon everything..

My suggestion is that if you have ie, use it for one thing, and one thing only..

Windows Update..

Hell don't even do that actually use Avant Web Browser..

http://www.avantbrowser.com/

It gives you functionality on windowsupdate website and allows you to download the updates there without ever needing IE..

Also with firefox, it's more secure, has no spyware currently, can be customized to increase the speed of website's loading, and is trustworth and OPEN SOURCE..

I can't see why anyone is still using ie except for win updates..

ALSO another browser that is VERY USEFUL and has tabbed browsing..

http://myie2.com/html_en/home.htm

Its called My IE 2, or i should say MAXTON now since the name change..

But basically its a improvement on ie, without removing the good things of ie...in a simple way of explaining it..

[jwenting]

Yes we've had this discussion before. I didn't agree with you then and I don't now.
If you set up your browser correctly and don't act irresponsibly (and that includes visiting warez and cracker sites to download the latest cracked games) there's nothing to worry about.

Problem is that most people don't set up their browser correctly (maybe MS should lock down some more things by default, true) and do visit such sites. But you can't blame Microsoft for their users (maybe out of ignorance) acting irresponsibly.

[zeroth]

catweazle, jwenting, this is a very interesting topic to me (and probably many others) and maybe it has been discussed before but I would like to see more details to do with the opinions expressed here.

First, j, how does one set up IE responsibly?

Second, cat, exactly how do web pages interfere with the inner workings of Windows?

It´s not that I want you two to kiss and make up over this - I feel that we are talking about something fundamental in protecting ourselves and our private domains...I´m really tired of those ¨outside¨ influences being able to bother me.

I´ve expressed my opinion that most of the trouble comes from email and not the browser, although I´m certain there is some problems there as well.

But, let me give one example of what´s happening on my net. My wife and I have one computer apiece that we use as our main computers. I´ve just set up and cleaned up my entire network within the last month. Already, hers is loaded with virus and spyware, whereas mine is relatively free. I don´t find virus on mine and spyware is miniscule. Although I sanitize everything as well as I can a couple of times a week, hers is always more loaded than mine.

The one variable, other than the sites we visit and email we receive, is that I get my email on a laptop connected to the net, and she gets it on the same machine. My laptop doesn´t get virus either, BUT it has norton enterprise running on it. I am running my main machine without anitvirus, as a test, just checking it periodically with an online antivirus. Same with hers.

She claims she doesn´t open mail she doesn´t recognize and only goes to reputable web pages. So what is the difference? There must be something there, although the computers are virtually identical in setup.