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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Thursday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 11/15/2006 |
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Keeping up with the Joneses
– Firefox 2 and IE7 bump heads and features – Coincidentally,
Microsoft introduced their long overdue new version of their web browser
Internet Explorer 7.0, and Mozilla introduced their updated version of their
Firefox Web browser 2.0 within a few weeks of each other. Microsoft
hasn’t introduced a new version of their browser in 5 years, and in the
interim Firefox has been able to grab a substantial market share –
perhaps up to 20% of the browser marketplace, in just a couple years. I’ve
been promoting Firefox since it came out here on Raw Bytes primarily for 2
reasons. I feel it is a better browser than internet explorer – and I
feel that Microsoft always needs to have competition. I have been
recommending Firefox to my clients, as a more secure browser with more
features. The
primary technological difference between the 2 browsers relating to internet
security is this – Firefox does not use Activex Controls and plugins.
ActiveX controls are part of Windows, and Explorer is part of windows, and
ActiveX has lead to security problems and drive by downloading of bad
programs to user’s computers. Firefox does
not use Activex, and thus is a more secure browser
in protecting you particularly from adware and spyware. The other major technical
difference is that Firefox is an open source
browser – the source code is available for anyone to see and modify,
and Internet Explorer uses proprietary source code. Firefox is Free, Internet Explorer is part of windows. Those technical differences
aside, Firefox has been a better browser, with a
new concept of internet surfing called tabbed windows – instead
of clicking on a link and opening new windows – you can have multiple
windows open and just click between the tabs – a much faster way of
seeing and recalling information. It is also a faster browser, and includes a
popup blocker utility, and in terms of music and sounds, Firefox allows for
RSS feeds and other new innovations. So guess what – The new
version of Internet Explorer 7 offers – Tada !!!
Tabbed windows browsing ( ooooohhhhhh )
and a popup blocker ( aaaahhhhh) and RSS feeds ( wooooooooooooooooooooo)
!! The installation procedure for IE7
is fairly complex, and it does a validation of your
system to make sure you’re not running a pirated version of windows. And
if it detects you don’t have legitimate copy of Windows, it stops and
refuses to do the update, and you get this sinking feeling like they’ll
be a knock on your door by the Microsoft police any minute now. Firefox you download for free at
Mozilla.com, it installs itself, and copies all your bookmarks and favorites
and setting from your existing copy of Internet Explorer. No muss, no fuss. Both new browser versions have an anti-phishing
warning, to warn you about hacker websites who try to steal your personal information
and all your money. IE7 does have one feature I like-
quick tabs - in
that you can see all your tabbed windows in a little graphics postage stamp
view, but it’s more cutesy than functional. And the winner is - Firefox 2.0 ! For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2006 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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