Firefox 3.5 Final Released

[Blink]

I was excited about the new Firefox until I read this article.

 

[shayd]

I was excited about the new Firefox until I read this article.

The thing is, all of those codecs will eventually make their way into Firefox, they just couldn't agree at the time of release.

 

[shayd]

Just to give you an idea here are the loading times of some of the sites I've visited:

ESPN.com

Firefox:
3.0 - 2.345 s
3.5 - 1.422 s

Chrome - 1.792 s

Safari 4.0 - 2.112 s

Internet Explorer - 3.025 s


NewEgg.com

Firefox:
3.0 - 2.433 s
3.5 - 1.766 s

Chrome - 1.922 s

Safari 4.0 - 2.655 s

Internet Explorer - 4.205 s


OaklandAthletics.com

Firefox:
3.0 - 3.522 s
3.5 - 2.745 s

Chrome - 2.922 s

Safari 4.0 - 3.915 s

Internet Explorer - 4.442 s

Just to give you an idea.

Just an update for the Opera 10 beta. The first time is without the "turbo" mode, the second time with.

ESPN.com - 2.021, 1.856

NewEgg.com - 2.791, 2.05

Oaklandathletics.com - 3.925, 3.105

Pretty impressive stuff.

 

[marquis2]

They are all better than IE.What a surprise.
If IE didn't come already installed in most computers I wonder how many people would use it?

 

[busenbust]

^^A preemptive strike is happening

 

[NAMOR]

They are all better than IE.What a surprise.
If IE didn't come already installed in most computers I wonder how many people would use it?

The same amount of people that currently use it I suppose. Having it pre-installed doesn't force anyone to keep it as a main browser. They can always download and install something else.

 

[rawlwear]

They are all better than IE.What a surprise.
If IE didn't come already installed in most computers I wonder how many people would use it?

From what I've read IE will not come pre installed in windows 7

I see fire fox wanted to add in private browsing to.

 

[busenbust]

^^Yep. They (MS) got busted - again.

 

[marquis2]

The same amount of people that currently use it I suppose. Having it pre-installed doesn't force anyone to keep it as a main browser. They can always download and install something else.

The vast majority of PC users aren't particularly knowledgeable about computers and if a browser comes along with the operating system they will use it because it's there and they know no better.
To use Firefox or Opera requires positive action ; this will only be done by those who look into browsers and realise it's worth the effort.Often it's because they or someone they know have experienced problems with IE.

 

[busenbust]

^^Yep. IE is the 'default' browser - as rawlwear above said, Windows 7 (IE absent) should change that. We'll see...

 

[howie789]

I downloaded 3.5 no problem. But when i hit the icon to go on to the net- the browser doesn't pop for quite a while- easily 30 seconds or more- does anyone know what the issue would be?

 

[NAMOR]

The vast majority of PC users aren't particularly knowledgeable about computers and if a browser comes along with the operating system they will use it because it's there and they know no better.
To use Firefox or Opera requires positive action ; this will only be done by those who look into browsers and realise it's worth the effort.Often it's because they or someone they know have experienced problems with IE.

The the avg user doesn't seem to have problems downloading/installing everything else under the sun. Honestly, I don't think downloading/installing an alternative browser would be much of an issue for them.

 

[Wainkerr99]

Firefox 3.5 causes pages to load quicker, on my P.C. anyway. They open instantaneously, even when opening more than 5 windows.

 

[marquis2]

The the avg user doesn't seem to have problems downloading/installing everything else under the sun. Honestly, I don't think downloading/installing an alternative browser would be much of an issue for them.

It's not an issue.They quite often just don't know there are better browsers out there.It doesn't occur to them , a PC is a tool , IE gets them onto the net , OE gets their e mails, WMP does their videos etc. and they only download programs which enable them to do things they can't do already.

 

[busenbust]

I downloaded 3.5 no problem. But when i hit the icon to go on to the net- the browser doesn't pop for quite a while- easily 30 seconds or more- does anyone know what the issue would be?

Hmmm, strange, I'm having the same problem.

 

[shayd]

They are all better than IE.What a surprise.
If IE didn't come already installed in most computers I wonder how many people would use it?

Considering that's about 70-75% of the computing market, a lot of people.

I downloaded 3.5 no problem. But when i hit the icon to go on to the net- the browser doesn't pop for quite a while- easily 30 seconds or more- does anyone know what the issue would be?

Is that from a cold boot, (first time running it after starting the computer), or warm (second time or later)? I'll have to see if I can replicate that, and let you know what I find.

The the avg user doesn't seem to have problems downloading/installing everything else under the sun. Honestly, I don't think downloading/installing an alternative browser would be much of an issue for them.

Actually, you'd be surprised. The average user of a home computer doesn't even know that IE is a browser. They don't know the meaning of the word. To them, when they see that little IE logo, they think it's the Internet. As in, they literally think they're opening a program called "the Internet". I was on a research team in college that worked with a larger national research team in the field of computer science that examined the role of age, language, and education level on peoples abilities to use a computer and moreover explain how to perform tasks on a modern computer. Out of our study of about 25,000 people, less than 10% could correctly explain what a browser was, and how it related to the Internet. Even more shocking, (for me personally), was that only 8% of the people we tested could explain how to download and install a program from a website successfully.

I think you're vastly overestimating the average users ability. You might not realize it, but the member of this board are actually among the top 15% or so percent of computer users in terms of knowledge of usability.

 

[D-rock]

^^Yep. They (MS) got busted - again.

I hate to side with Microsoft, but I kind of have to on that one. That's one of the things I never got. If it's their product I don't see why they shouldn't be able to give it away with their other programs. It would be like telling a car manufacturer that they either couldn't put their own radios or air conditioners in their own cars or they had to give every manufacture out there the ability to put them in each and every vehicle they make.

 

[busenbust]

^Perhaps. There is some truth in what you say. Anyhow, fines, penalties, legal machinations - has it made any difference?? I suspect the EC will say: It's nothing personal LOL.

 

[marquis2]

There is a program called Firefox Preloader which loads on bootup , installing many of the files required for when you want to use Firefox.Speeds things up a little.

 

[Kil4Thril]

I downloaded 3.5 no problem. But when i hit the icon to go on to the net- the browser doesn't pop for quite a while- easily 30 seconds or more- does anyone know what the issue would be?

Common and well known bug. The developers are working on it. Check the Mozilla support forums and it's LOADED with this issue. For me, it keeps corrupting my add-ons so they quit working. I have rolled back until the next bug-fix and I'll try it again.