Happy Friday everyone! I have to start today by apologising for the lack of content yesterday. I was off sick and wasn’t able to put together a post of adequate standard. I will be doing my best to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
What I would like to get happening today is a bit of an open thread on internet browsers. I’m a dedicated Firefox fan myself, and whilst I haven’t yet had a play with RC2 I’m hanging out to try out version 2.0 once it is officially released. I was also very happy with my use of Firefox at work until a couple of days ago I got an email from our IT Security team saying that I have been identified as having a non-standard (i.e non Internet Explorer) browser installed on my workstation. According to them, this poses a security risk to the company so it will be removed from my PC by IT.
Now, this rubbed me the wrong way for a number of reasons. Firstly is the inherent irony in only allowing the use of Internet Explorer because it is more secure. That’s bollocks. I can understand that it is easier for this Microsoft-centric organisation to keep up to date with security patches and the like, but to say that IE is more secure than it’s alternatives is more than a bit rich. Secondly is the productivity constraints. After going from the tabbed browsing and extension enhanced browsing pleasure of Firefox back to the cumbersome and bumbling IE, I feel like I’m entering a boxing ring with one hand tied behind my back. It’s nothing short of pure frustration.
I also find it interesting to read that the new version of IE (version 7.0) is trying to compete with the likes of Firefox by copying its features; most notably tabbed browsing and extensions (plugins). Just how well these will work is yet to be seen.
So, now it’s over to you. Which browser do you use at home and at work? Are there any restrictions on which ones you are allowed to us? I encourage input from Mac users as well. How do the Mac-only browsers stack up against the PC staples? I intend to write a post very soon on Firefox extensions, so please centre the discussion around the browsers themselves rather the extensions that you may use.
Thanks for reading!
- Howo
7 responses so far ↓
Hypercube // October 20, 2006 at 4:20 pm |
Flock all the way for me. No there are no restrictions at all. I use Flock on Ubuntu.
Steve // October 20, 2006 at 8:58 pm |
Firefox all the way for me. Although i still have to use IE from time to time as the intranet doesnt run to well on Firefox (and the extensions that run IE in Firefox wont work properly).
I hope work doesnt crack down on on use of firefox though, cause hot damn it shits all over IE, and a lot of extensions i have are oh so handy for work and non work stuff.
Interesting enough, i can hardly install anything at work, due to not having admin rights, however, i installed firefox no worries, i went to install IE7 today to give it a burl, and was unable to install it.
I think you should be giving your IT guys an earful! Its time we shaft Microshaft and give the other guys a go!
Lok // October 21, 2006 at 8:49 am |
Hey hey. Long time listener, first time caller! Actually, I lie. P0rn only sent me the link to your blog yesterday, but I likes what I see
Anyway, onto this issue of browsers. I’ve also been a long-time Firefox advocate. I use it most of the time. The only time I’m stuck with IE is when I’m accessing the Intranet at work (IE6 and Win NT 4… painful combination). I’m soon to switch to XP, but will lose all admin rights to the system (although Steve’s comment keeps me optimistic).
While I am a firefox fan, over the years I’ve taken a liking to Opera. While it lacks extensions (apparently for security reasons), it is a very nimble and clean browser. I’ve switched to it altogether on my Mac as I found Firefox isn’t completely stable, although I still primarily use Firefox on my PCs.
Anyway, the reason I mention Opera is because it may be a solution to your security team problems at work. You can set it to identify itself as IE, putting their ignorant little minds at peace, and providing you with the truly joyous experience of tabbed browsing.
On the Mac front, I switched to Safari a couple of times to give it a crack, but I’m always left with the feeling that something is lacking. It’s a nice browser, and great for those out there that want something the just works (a far better out-of-the-box application than IE). I also tried Camino, but wasn’t satisfied. It just felt like a cut-down version of Firefox/Mozilla.
To top off this post, I have tried the Beta 2 release of IE7. While you’re right in your assumption that they have “borrowed” features from other browsers such as tabbed browsing, it does have a very slick interface and is no problem to use. If nothing else, at least it will finally bring tabbed browsing to the masses.
Anyhoo, that’s all I have to say about that…
Jason // October 21, 2006 at 12:53 pm |
I primarily use Firefox 1.5 but have been reading a lot about 2.0 recently. Howo, try using Altiris Software Virtualization Solution (SVS) to install Firefox (or anything for that matter) onto your PC. As the name suggests, it installs and runs on a virtual layer which means for you, that, your IT team won’t see it running.
I haven’t tried it, I’ve only read about it and how beneficial it has been for people who a) work in corporate environments where installing software is really locked down and, b) if you want to test out an alpha/beta release of an application but you’re too scared it will mess with your windows installation.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I use Firefox because the developers seem to listen to their users. Of course the vast array of extensions make (and the huge open source community ready to make new ones!) make it that much more inviting.
Your Tech team need a good smack around the ears saying IE (any version) is more secure than Firefox. I think you need to ask, “oh yeah…in what areas?”.
- Jason
Steve // October 21, 2006 at 5:02 pm |
Lok, I have been successful in installing Firefox, Irfanview picture viewer and Foxit PDF reader (soon after unistalled it cause i screwed with some things) on the work PC without the admin rights.
Unsuccessful in heaps of otherstuff, including Foobar2000 (for music), VLC Media player, itunes, Google Desktop, IE 7, Bittorrent (hey it was worth a go!), Google Earth and a lot more stuff I can’t remember.
Strange that a couple of those apps got through the Admin rights, unless the administrators have approved them?
Good luck with it.
Howo // October 23, 2006 at 12:27 pm |
These comments are brilliant, thanks so much for the feedback lads! I will endeavour to give some of these recommendations a spin and will comment back to let you all know how I go. Meanwhile I’ve just moved to a new PC at work and it’s painfully slow. Argh!!!!
Len McGrane // April 3, 2007 at 1:11 pm |
Well, I appreciate this is a bit late, and that the battle for hearts and minds has been won, but I would like to add that i also use Fox — and that it is GREAT! There is just something about Fox that makes browsing clean, simple, intuitive and productive. And makes a move back to IE an unlikely trek. Actually, now I only use IE to check how some of my code (I build web sites) looks in the “majority browser”. Of course it is hard to change the corporates and I guess they are going to support IE for the foreseeable future just because inertia is easier than change. But managers and supervisors ought to be moving in the Fox direction for reasons of productivity gains alone. Can they start to build some Fox-literacy or Fox-propaganda into their training programs. Or even into the corporate team building programs. I realize these programs have traditionally focused on mental issues. On team-building. But the good ones ought to have places in the schedule where they can introduce things like Fox browsing. Anyway, there’s no question in my mind that Fox is a great app!