Firefox 4 Beta

[BunniLeigh]

wish i had never started the thread now !!!!! lol

[BeeCeeBee]

Nah! You're grand!

[BunniLeigh]

ty bee again

[Armageddon]

Thats the thing with Beta's yes I use them but then again I know enough if my pc goes belly up cos of it to sort it I have tested stuff from alpha release, but if folks have a second system then yes some beta's are worth it if you caan sort ya system if it goes wrong cos it can and sometimes will

 

dave

[wellies]

A couple of points come to mind for those wishing to try alpha/beta software but are wary of taking the risk.

 

Does anyone use disk imaging? - If so, take a disk image before installing the software and when you decide you have seen or had enough of it, use the image to return to the computer to the state it was before the software was installed. This is the ultimate in system restore. Windows 7 includes a disk imaging function.

 

How about sandboxing? - If you run Sandboxie, Firefox 4.0 beta can be installed inside the sandbox. This means it isn't installed to the system and doesn't affect Firefox 3.6. When you decide you have seen or had enough of using the beta, just empty the sandbox. Firefox 4.0 will be completely gone without any effect on Firefox 3.6. (I know this because I've done it.)

 

Two good tools for those who like to experiment, take risks or try software.

[Synapse]

No worries, Mozilla Firefox is almost a household name now, and as I quoted from their website they say it is safe to use as they have tested it with their own staff. It can be installed alongside version 3.6 quite happily for tinkering with.

 

My point really is that when do we start believing a piece of software is safe? Windows 7 beta famously ran for 7 or 8 months before going to full release. Microsoft were freely distributing it, with the caveat that it was only beta and be careful. A massive chunk of the computing community ran it, including non geeks and in mostly without problem. Windows 7 receives security updates now doesn't it? At what point do we begin to not trust software? Most large organisations turn out slick software that is secure right out of the box at beta stage.

 

My point, and my frustration was that it wasn't released a a buggy no name brand piece of rubbish, it is a well respected, well developed piece of software and looking at the info, more secure than version 3.6 right out of the box. Perhaps a balance to anothers post.

 

However, most of you seem to disagree with me so I'll apologise and bow to Bee's superior knowledge. Case closed!

 

Have a good day all :)

[wellies]

I don't think anyone is doubting the name and safety of Mozilla. It's just a worry to some that trying the software will affect the system in some way ..and if it's decided to go back, the moves made might not be so easy to reverse. That's more what the warnings are about I'd have thought. Most people possibly only want an advanced peek at what's coming up, rather than wanting to use the beta version full time. Fair enough I'd say. A natural curiosity.

 

I haven't tried Firefox 4.0 beta outside of the sandbox but before Sandboxie, I did run beta versions of Firefox alongside of the released versions. From this, I know that when you start the beta version, it looks for and uses the Profile of the already installed Firefox version and promptly sets about disabling the extensions because they aren't compatible. So, when you go back to using the released version, the extensions will need re-enabling.

 

Well, there are ways around all that but unless you have found out what they are know and what to do when extensions don't work, then there is need for warnings about using beta software. Only on that basis though. Not because the software is a buggy piece of rubbish. Far from it.

[BeeCeeBee]

As a confirmed Firefox user (who would never go back) I really don't know why this thread has gone so far. I feel a bit badly for the original poster who just asked for some insight. Apparently my use of the word "you" in a post. (#14 I think) made one member conclude that I was talking about him/her rather than a collective "you." It sort of reminds me of an old Carly Simon song (..........I bet you think this song is about you! :))

 

I have faith that when it is ready for general distribution Mozilla will get it right and we will all use it. In the meantime there is no need to bow to my superior knowledge since I never suggested that I had any. I do, however, have opinions and am never shy about expressing them. ;)

 

By the way, all I said was that a beta is rarely as secure as a final release I did not suggest that your computer would burst into flames. I stand by that opinion.

[wellies]

I am (or maybe was) a confirmed Firefox user but presently flirting with the various offerings of Chrome/Chomium. Things do wander off from the original question a bit a bit don't they? Even so, it is all basically about trying Firefox 4 beta. Bound to get few more general comments about it as well.

 

In direct answer to the original question: Yes I have tried Firefox 4 beta. It browses the Internet just like version 3.6 does. However, most of the extensions don't work. Not even Mr. Tech which, if working, might get all the others to work. I tried adding a line in about:config to disable the compatibility check but that didn't work either. The browser worked as expected other than that.

 

The layout of the toolbars in Firefox 4.0 is a little different and the Extension Manager presentation has changed completely. I'm sure what's under the bonnet could be spoken about more but if it's installed, it's those points that will be immediately noticed. I didn't keep it on-board because of the extensions not working.