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Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firebird?

Posted by Stephen DesRoches on in
IE 6 vs Mozilla Firebird
IE6 or Firebird

So much talk and complaints with ideas around the web now that Microsoft claims they will be releasing no more updates to Internet Explorer on the existing Windows Operating Systems. With Mozilla and Opera continuing to keep up to date with the web standards, will IE become the next Netscape?

A few years ago it was Netscape that wasn't keeping up forcing tons of users to switch over to IE4 in the late 90's. How hard will it be for Mozilla and Firebird to do the same thing and gain support on the browser war with IE bundled into Windows. For many, IE is all they know. Can Mozilla Firebird become the next dominate browser and IE become the new browser to complain about?

When will I switch to Firebird?
I'm sure this is bound to happen as Firebird gets closer and closer to an official release but for the moment, IE's bugs is something I can tolerate for a bit longer for specific features. One major feature is IESpell. Since installing this add-on, I have literally become dependant on this tool.

Firebird feels small and light with the ability to customize. The fewer features and options to manage the better. Both browsers have google integrated and they both support the links tool-bar for regular sites.

IE 6
Internet Explorer
Firebird 0.6
Mozilla Firebird (Luna Theme)

Whats wrong with IE6?
IE has major CSS bugs and does not support PNG's and Microsoft doesn't not plan to ever update or fix the problems until the new OS (codename: longhorn) is released sometime in 2005. How long do you think it will take for everybody in the world to upgrade? Some still use Windows 95. Look at the image previews on panic.com in both browsers. The transparency is beautiful and amazing in Firebird. Cracked is an excellent example.

Firebird as an alternative
I have not gotten addicted to tabbed browsing yet but I'm sure I could real fast. Opening all sites in a folder and opening new links in the background is some nice attributes to the tab concept.

I still find it a pain to download or view files with Firebird (but big improvements over Phoenix 0.5). One example of this is Firebird does not close the second window it opens and I also had a hard time getting it to remember my default program for images.

Firebirds best feature is that there is no install required. Just download the 6meg zipped file, extract and go. If you don't like where you put it in the future, just move it.

Mozilla/Firebird has the same font problems I hated with Netscape. I can increase and decrease font sizes but it doesn't show me where the default is.

Firebird Pros

  • Somewhat of an un-do feature.
  • Themes to customize icons.
  • Ability to view sites with saved passwords.
  • Keeping up with web standards and supports PNG.
  • No install required.
  • Tabbed Browsing, Open new links in background.
  • Open all sites in tabs.
  • Small, simple, few options.
  • Google search.
  • Wider range of browser font sizes.

Firebird Cons

  • I Can not drag and drop bookmarks.
    • update: bookmarks are moveable, folders are not.
  • Firebird is still in beta so no help file.
  • When I hover over a bookmark, it doesn't show me the url.
  • No Spell Checker.
  • Problems with viewing/downloading files.
  • Changing font sizes and returning to default size easily.

Overall it's a toss up. Both browsers have features I do and do not like so for now, I'll continue to use both regularly. If any of my points are comments are incorrect please let me know. I could be judging something that I don't understand.

Here is another site to compare IE with Firebird and Mozilla's page "Why use Firebird"

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