Firefox 4 Mini Review, and fix.

May 09, 2011 25 Replies

Firefox 4 Mini Review, and fix.



Been reading a lot about Firefox 4 crashing computers, and having other problems. I kept getting a nag about upgrading, so I bit the bullet, and went ahead.



I just successfully installed Firefox 4 on two computers without drama. A core i7 64 bit Windows 7 Pro machine, and a little XP N270 netbook. Initially I thought, not a lot of difference with this new browser.



First big difference noticeable for me, was that he page tabs had jumped from the old V3 position, right to the top of the screen. View> Toolbars> Tabs on top, setting unchecked fixed this, and made it look much the same as the old version. I feel this is simply personal preference. Mozilla claim it is easier to see and fetch open Tabs from the very top of the screen.



After a few hours use, I had forgotten what the old version looked like, but I knew I was still missing something very important. Something that I had used daily in the past.



So I headed off to Mozilla, and checked out the old screen shots:

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and found what it was.



Firefox 4 History drop down window next to Forward-Back arrows is gone:

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Quite a thread building there. I think Mr Mozilla better get in and fix this pretty quick.



However a temporary fix can be grabbed and installed in seconds.

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Firefox 4 has a wealth of features that I am yet to explore. They claim super speed, and easy sync between devices.

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Story at:

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Cheers Don...



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Don McKenzie Dontronics Blog: http://www.GodzillaSeaMonkey.com Dontronics Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam These products will reduce in price by 5% every month: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ics.html Bare Proto PCB for PIC or AVR projects? "I'd buy that for a Dollar!".

I have it running on windows7 , linux /mephis and xp without fail

X-No-Archive: Yes

Probably little wrong with it. The problem is not all websites support it and experience tells me they never will

-- Petzl

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When using iinet webmail to access secondary email addresses it denies access.

iinet's solution is to use IE. :(

if some windows dick code monkey builds for windows only I have no desire to visit his s*it work

X-No-Archive: Yes

If my isp told me that I would hurl abuse until they fixed it but then I dont use my isp email addy

X-No-Archive: Yes

problems. I kept getting a nag about upgrading,

i7 64 bit Windows 7 Pro machine, and a

new browser.

the old V3 position, right to the top of

made it look much the same as the old

to see and fetch open Tabs from the very

knew I was still missing something very

pretty quick.

speed, and easy sync between devices.

Try this add-on memory restart 1.3

I did send them a reply email suggesting that all they had done was effectively restate what the error message stated. They did not reply...

I'm not too fussed as its only very occaisionally that I access secondary email addresses via webmail - but yes it's a pissy response.

I found that pretty early on, but you can get at your history via other means, so it's not a big deal for me.

Long-time resident of Adelaide, South Australia, which probably influences my opinions.

Who in their right mind does? Even a free throwaway like Gmail is better than any Austrlian email addy

-- Petzl

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Good to have a choice most don't

-- Petzl

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If possible, I would also tend to avoid companies or services like that, as they are living in the dinosaur age, and have no understanding of what is going on in the real world. You would probably find this reflected in their products and services too. (ie Harvey Norman compared to online shopping)

Not possible in this case, they are Government funded and run. What a waste providing Armidale with the NBN

-- Petzl

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Just right click the back button.

You are quite correct Keith, the right click button works fine.

But this is what users are saying in that above thread: =================================== This is not a solution to the problem, which is stated. The drop down box is one of the most used features of the browser, any most used item like this needs reasonable thought before removing. An option to use the old method is a minimum requirement.

Clicking and holding is slow and takes time to wait, plus for those with disabilities using very different pointing devices should not need to stick and hold, or use a 2nd button.

Using the right key means I need to use a different key, and for people on laptops the or other pointing devices besides a proper mouse, its a hassle to need to use the 2nd button.

The improvement is slow, requires you to use a 2nd button, and gives no improvement to the dedicated button. The new features of holding down or right click are fine, so long as the faster button click option remains.

Its a fairly big mistake to take away a feature, when there is no reason. Click hold and wait....is waiting too long.

The problem that people are continuing to tag as problem, is not fixed. Please return the functionality as was working before. Thanks =========================

And I agree. :-)

Cheers Don...

===============

Don McKenzie Dontronics Blog: http://www.GodzillaSeaMonkey.com Dontronics Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam These products will reduce in price by 5% every month: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ics.html Bare Proto PCB for PIC or AVR projects? "I'd buy that for a Dollar!". http://www.dontronics-shop.com/simmstick-fifteen-years-on.html

Personally I find no problem with it, my main problem with FF4 is that they have moved the reload button over to the right, and it is a long way to drive the trackball or touchpad.

have moved the reload button over to the

:-)

Fair point, I know we get so familiar with doing it one way for so long, that it becomes awkward when we try it their new way. I also keep looking for reload as well as home, so they must have moved both of them.

Cheers Don...

=====================

-- Don McKenzie

Dontronics Blog:

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Dontronics Site Map:
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E-Mail Contact Page:
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Web Camera Page:
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No More Damn Spam:
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These products will reduce in price by 5% every month:

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Bare Proto PCB for PIC or AVR projects? "I'd buy that for a Dollar!".

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I'm pretty sure you can rearrange the icons on the bar with FF4, although I've gone back to 3.6.17 for now. Anyway, what's wrong with F5?

Long-time resident of Adelaide, South Australia, which probably influences my opinions.

You can move it. Right click on the buttons bar, choose customise, and then while holding the left mouse button down drag the offending button to where you prefer it. Then click 'Done'

-- Regards Malcolm Remove sharp objects to get a valid e-mail address

AHA! Great work Malcolm. Now I have to remember where I had the reload and home buttons before. :-)

Cheers Don...

=============

Don McKenzie Dontronics Blog: http://www.GodzillaSeaMonkey.com Dontronics Site Map: http://www.dontronics.com/sitemap E-Mail Contact Page: http://www.dontronics.com/email Web Camera Page: http://www.dontronics.com/webcam No More Damn Spam: http://www.dontronics.com/spam These products will reduce in price by 5% every month: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/minus-5-every-month.html http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ics.html Bare Proto PCB for PIC or AVR projects? "I'd buy that for a Dollar!". http://www.dontronics-shop.com/simmstick-fifteen-years-on.html

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