What do you use as an Internet Browser?

[Raybdbomb]

Alright, until about last year I've been using solely IE, and was fairly happy with it. However, my workplace switched to Opera, so I did as well, wasn't overall happy with it. Finally we switched from IE/Outlook to Mozilla Navigator (the netscape clone without the ads). I was pretty satisfied and used that primarily. But recently I found somethin that is just crazy... Mozilla Firebird. This thing loads pages so damn fast... with IE it takes about 5 seconds to load MMB with IE, it takes about 3 or 4 with Mozilla and it takes less than 1 with firebird. It's not just this site either, every site I go to is a HUGE speed change.



Check it out, it's crazy fast..., and it's got a lot of built in features that IE does not.



http://www.mozilla.org/products/firebird/why/



or to download



http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firebird/releases/0.6.1/MozillaFirebird-0.6.1-win32.zip

[Xetox]

Tried it, runs fast....looks kinda lame tho!

[Raybdbomb]

lame compared to....?

[Xetox]

I just like my IE, plus I like using the google bar, and well I think it looks lame....

[Raybdbomb]

shrug that's your opinion



but when your IE sends information to microsoft.com that NO FIREWALL CAN BLOCk BECAUSE IT GOES THROUGH THE BROWSER, then good luck with that. some of us have stuff to hide, and would rather our privacy be not violated

[apathy]

Yeah, Firebird is pretty sweet. It used to be called Phoenix (which was like 400 times cooler), but if I remember correctly they had legal issues. Anyway, what I love about Firebird is how every new version that comes out is smaller and faster, since they're using the Mozilla source code and stripping out all the extras and fine tuning all the widely-used portions.



And as for your privacy comment, I somewhat agree. But you don't have to have something to hide to worry about privacy. Information that comes from my computer should be from me, not from some product that FORCES you to send it. When all of those "usage statistics" options from Winamp and such come up, I usually say yes. In the long run, my hope is that it'll contribute to a better product. But to basically hijack my computer to send your company shit just because I'm using your product is completely uncalled for, and I'm surprised it isn't illegal. It's almost like the cops coming to your house and searching it whenever they feel like because law abiding citizens shouldnt have to hide anything.



Uhg. Fuck M$. Support the EFF. And use Phoenix - it rules. :)

[syntax53]

i started the download cause i thought i'd give it a try, but while it was downloading i thought i'd time how long it takes IE to load my pages. i can surf through threads and forums on this site and every page loads in less then 1.5 seconds, everytime. i'ma still check it out though.

[syntax53]

so far i'd say it's pretty sweet. it definately is streamlined, and the google toolbar is irrelevant cause they have a search area on the main area in which you can use google to search and it has a popup blocker. the crappy-looking-ness is irrelevant too because you can choose different themes ... woot. as far as loading pages, i can't say it's noticibly faster, but it wasn't really slow for me in the first place.

[Prince Galahad]

personally, i use netscape cause it can access newsgroups and what not

[Xetox]

Well I guess I could give it another look.........my first impression was not all that tho...plus I figured it came from ray so could not be all that great ;)