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Firefox 1.0PR: a first look

Robert Vamosi CNET

Published: 16 Sep 2004

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Mozilla.org, an open-source effort created by some of the original pre-AOL Netscape designers, has been working on Firefox, its Internet Explorer alternative, for several years now. The group has now released the much-anticipated preview of Firefox 1.0.

The so-called Mozilla Firefox 1.0 Prerelease (PR) is very stable -- unlike most betas -- and offers many advanced features that should put Microsoft on notice. But don't take our word for it, try it here and stay tuned for our review of the final browser, which we expect soon. Note: as with all beta products, Firefox 1.0 Prerelease is not intended to replace your full-time browser software, so please install with caution.

This free program has more features than the most recent version of Internet Explorer. For example, Firefox 1.0 PR includes Live Bookmarks -- a feature that allows you to receive RSS feeds within your browser -- and a built-in Google search toolbar. Firefox also lets you view more than one Web page within a single open browser and has the most customisation options of any browser available. Like Internet Explorer, Firefox also includes a built-in pop-up blocker.

Microsoft maintains its monopolistic hold on the Internet browser market: 95 percent of the audience uses Internet Explorer. Cracking into that will be hard. Not every Web site is optimised for non-Internet Explorer browsers, so some, such as banking sites, may require you to use Microsoft's browser rather than Mozilla. And although more media plug-ins are now available for Firefox, you might want to check here first to make sure the ones you use are listed.

The outlook for Firefox is very good. Recent security vulnerabilities within Internet Explorer have caused minor erosion of Microsoft's browser market dominance. Of all the credible alternatives, Firefox has the most positive buzz and offers the most advanced features.

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70 comments

  1. "Like Internet Explorer, Firefox also includes a b... Jason
  2. It just keeps getting better and better. Alt... Valentine
  3. The reason IE is so popular is because i... tired of tweaking
  4. The reason IE is popular is that it... Richard
  5. IE is not popular because it i... Bill Gates
  6. Reasons I use Firefox instead... Kevin Shaum
  7. IE == Microsoft and thats enuff 4 m... Anonymous
  8. "Like Internet Explorer, Firefox also include... Anonymous
  9. "Like Internet Explorer, Firefox also includes a b... ayk
  10. The browser market has definitely shown that a lac... Tayo Soremekun
  11. Been using for 6 wks .....it's great, faster than... Bob
  12. You mean. Like FIREFOX, IE added a pop-up blocker!... Sam
  13. Make sure you check your facts before publishing.... Anonymous
  14. Slashdot.org might have a much larger percent... Stephen
  15. I've been using Firefox since it was renamed from... Anonymous
  16. Firefox incorporated a pop-up blocker before IE.... Eric
  17. Ooooh. Bookmark features! Wow, two windows at once... Robert
  18. Robert, you're a moron. Anonymous
  19. You're right. You are lame. jomama
  20. Dear David Jenkins, Have fun with your... Andrew
  21. " Oh, and can opera block banner ad... Roger L. Waggener
  22. Opera isn't free...the full re... Andrew
  23. Opera is free. You can use it... Anonymous
  24. You claim that " Firefox...has the most customisat... David Jenkins
  25. Actually, firefox does have more customizatio... Andrew
  26. I think your comment that FF is more cus... Roger L. Waggener
  27. If you are gonna nit-pick about cus... Andrew
  28. "First of all, Mozilla made th... Anonymous
  29. Opera, Firefox, whichever..so long... Dave
  30. Oh yea..Robert, Netscape wiped... Dave
  31. I have been using Firefox since the... Anonymous
  32. David - install Firefox and then in the addre... ZB Mowrey
  33. Gee, you guys are right, I should have q... David Jenkins
  34. As a non-professional pc user (not in the sam... Sue
  35. Been a firefox user for many a month now... the be... David Watson
  36. This has been the best browser for more than a yea... Me
  37. How is Tabbed MDI good? Please explain this concep... Dmitrii Dimandt aka Mamut
  38. Turkey boy, say you are browsing the internet... Andrew
  39. In response to Andrew from Atlanta. In I... Dmitrii Dimandt aka Mamut
  40. I use Firefox, but... although IE is not... Damien
  41. been using the beta build for almost a month now,... Anonymous
  42. Though clearly Microsoft exerted its monopoly powe... Jim
  43. Tabbed browsing is the best thing since slice... Phil
  44. As a developer, I have used most non-IE... L Long
  45. Firefox seems like a decent browser, but I had a h... Doug Johnson
  46. First of all, IE is the predominant browser in the... Anonymous
  47. First of all, IE is the predominant browser in the... Anonymous
  48. I have noticed on my site averaging over .5 m... Steve
  49. Ignore the Microsoft zombies. FF is great. Opera i... Anonymous
  50. Once you get Firefox, make sure you get the All-In... Anonymous
  51. THE BEST EVER BROWSER ON THE MARKE!!. TELL ME I A... Edgah
  52. I've been using Firefox for a long time and w... Jim W
  53. Beta, not intended to replace current browser? Hec... Dennis Soper
  54. Mamut, I really can't understand where you are com... Phil Brown
  55. Well, I have to say Firefox is by far the best web... Steve
  56. "Like Internet Explorer, Firefox also includes a b... Abe
  57. Firefox is great and mozilla is great too! I don't... HonL
  58. Tabbed Browsing really works well. What happens is... Richard
  59. Firefoc is a good basic browser. With the googleb... Roger Heyes
  60. Check out http://www.firefoxie.net Dan McTaggart
  61. I've been using Firefox by default since v0.8 and... NJ
  62. FF is without a doubt the browser on the market. I... Anonymous
  63. I used to use IE for everything. And I swore up an... Kuja
  64. Yesterday I had to completely restore my PC.... NJ
  65. i just installed firefox and i could not believe t... mike glover
  66. I have the new Firefox 1 PR, but Opera 7.53 is sti... Bob Bowen
  67. I've been using firebird since early 2004 and... G
  68. Can I just say to Opera Users... You use... Vincent Willcox
  69. I'm sorry, but firefox doesn't actually work does... Anonymous
  70. Appologies for this non-constructive comment,... Robert

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