...is finally out. You can get it here: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

And the best feature for Linux users- it gives those smooth fonts which earlier were visible only with Windows!

Thanks Harish. It's now installed with the toolbars customised. My favourite extensions are in place and working (CuteMenus - IE view - Popup ALT Attributes - Clone Window/tab).

I've had the pre-release version of 0.9 installed for a short while and had read that 0.9 final was due on the 15th June. Anyway, yet another step towards version 1.0 for this excellent browser. Many people who try Firefox for a while don't go back to using IE. It doesn't seem to suffer from browser highjacking and all the security issues that IE does.

Opinion is divided on whether this is because it just isn't targeted by the malicious script kiddies, or if it's because it isn't so prone to that kind of thing. Whatever the reason, I feel safer browsing the Net with Firefox and my trust hasn't proved misplaced so far. Apart from any security aspects, I think it is just a better browser to use.

Firefox is still under development (could say that about IE though). Here's what Mozilla has to say. Nonetheless, I've been using Firefox for a number of years now without problems (since version 0.4 ). This includes using it for Internet banking and online purchases. Anyone using Firefox would have to make their own decisions regarding its usage though.

Firefox works quite happily alongside IE.

Does AOL use the IE browser or does it have its own? I have IE installed, but I rarely ever use it because of all the reasons you stated. If I install this firefox browser, will it override the IE browser?
SSB

Having never had AOL I haven't ever analysed what exactly it does. I know it uses IE under the bonnet but am not sure if it makes use of what's already installed on the computer, or if it installs a complete package of it's own.

In any event, installing Firefox won't upset either AOL or Internet Explorer. It might be as well to mention that Firefox is a Browser only and has no e-mail program. If you have AOL I think you have to use their e-mail service anyway.

OK. Thanks. I'm fine with using AOL mail, but would the firefox pick up as the browser, or would I have to indicate somewhere that I want to use it? Just choose it from the shortcut icon?
SSB

There will be an icon to click on once Firefox is installed. If you are intending to try it then perhaps version 0.8 would be best (scroll down the page a bit to the 'Downloading Firefox' heading and click on the 'Windows Installer' link). It will give a better opportunity to gradually find out about Firefox's workings and capabilities.

Many of the bits and pieces that can be attached to Firefox to enhance it (called 'themes' and 'extensions') have not been updated for use with version 0.9 yet.

Firefox run their own technical forums. Much can be learned about Firefox by reading them. Many people don't seem impessed by version 0.9 at the moment but that seems to happen with every milestone version released. It always seems that a 'settling down' period is needed. 0.9 works OK for me though.

I have not had any problmes whatsoever with 0.9, though I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with 0.8. 0.9 seems a lot more stable- though possibly it's just that I haven't been trying my usual browser-disturbing activities lately.

New format had me confused, but I found you!! Had some help from Copago.

This Firefox browser sounds good. I think I got into all my troubles with the IE browser. Still working on getting them cleared, but haven't jumped into the reinstall yet!!

I can't see my jigsaw puzzles anymore. I have Java enabled and the security is at medium. Any other suggestions on that?

Also, I can see a picture with script on it, but music plays. A window comes up asking me if I want to download Micromedia Flash player 7. When I click "no", then the picture shows up. Do I need to download that to bypass the problem?
SSB

You'll need to install Macromedia Flash player to display presentations and games that rely on it. The downside is that many advertisements use Flash amimation, so once the player is installed, you'll also see those.

Utilities exist that give the option to hide or display Flash animations. Firefox has an 'add-on' (extension) for this.

OK. By utilities, you mean somewhere else besides within the Flash Player?
SSB

Yes, it is an extra and not part of Flash Player.

I downloaded Windows Media Player 9 thinking that it would work in the same way as the Flash player, but not so. I still can't view the jigsaw puzzles. I could before I installed my "New" anti-virus program, so I must have had some kind of program that was working with them before. Any other clues on this?
SSB

As you've discovered, Media Player won't play Flash animations. However, a 'plugin' for Flash is installed with Internet Explorer. So, if all was well, Flash animations would display in web pages that incorporate them. I don't know whether the jig-saws mentioned (online ones are they?) would be Java or Flash based ...maybe Flash since you you get a message saying that you need Flash Player in other web pages.

Have you been to Windows Update lately? Updates to Java and Flash are available there. Windows Update will install them automatically along with any other available updates/patches. Some of these might help to solve your other troubles.

I went ahead and downloaded the flash player, since I rarely ever use IE, but that was no help with the puzzles. I think they are java based, and they worked before I installed the anti-virus, but not now, so I've also contacted support for an answer to that.
I'll also check in Windows update. I hardly, if ever, do updates. I noticed that I was given the option at one point to download Windows player 3.1 or something like that, and later saw that version 6 was available. When I went to download 6, I saw that 9 was the most recent. I'm still picking up bits and pieces a little at a time.
I really appreciated being able to pick your information base!!
SSB

I just discovered a very handy combination of features provided by the "Tabbrowser Extensions" extension. First I set Firefox to "single-window" mode so that my poor taskbar wouldn't get cluttered with many windows, and I wouldn't lose track of any of them. After that I set it up in such a way that by double-clicking a tab, it closes!

A much quicker alternative, to having to right-click and select "Close Tab" every time I want to close a tab.

I have used that extension and it does add alot of tab functionality. I seem to have settled on just using the 'Clone Window' extension recently (it clones tabs too). When the 'New Tab' icon is clicked, it opens a tab with the same content as the as the active window.

This is quite handy in forums because you can read a post, click the New Tab icon and then type a reply to the post in the new window that appears. It's then easy to switch back to the thread in the original window for reading, copying, pasting etc.

Basically, it ends up so that on one tab is the thread and on the other is the reply text box. Just switch between them as necessary ...even open a third tab for a Google maybe (clicking a blank space on the Tab Bar opens a blank page).