Introduction to Open Source: Firefox Section

Introduction to Firefox

Firefox is a Open Source web browser created by Mozilla. It is a free alternative to the other outdated, insecure, and choppy web browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer. This page will cover why would you want to use Firefox, pros and cons, how to get it, and how to use it.

Here is a list of topics in this section:

1. Advantages to Firefox: Advantages to using this program instead of other web browsers.
2. Disadvantages of Firefox: The few disadvantages of this program.
3. How to get Firefox: How to get and install Firefox on your personal computer.
4. How to use Firefox: How to start taking advantage of all of Firefox's features (includes screenshots of the program).

Advantages to Firefox

• Security: Using Firefox will block many websites from trying to install spyware and other mal-ware from getting onto your computer, which is a common problem with other browsers.
• Popup blocking: Firefox has a very good built in popup blocker that blocks all those annoying popups when you open up a web page.
• Advanced Features: Firefox has many advanced features like tabbed browsing (click to learn about tabbed browsing) that has all of your open pages in tabs in one window instead of having every page on a different window.
• Extensions: Firefox has many useful extensions and plugins (click to learn how to install plugins). They are add-ons to the browser that adds functionality. They can be anything from a new tool bar to a text-to-speech converter.
• Excellent Interface: Firefox has a clean, simple interface that makes it easier to use and work on slower machines. The browser only come with the essentials that makes it less prone to crashing, easier to use, and function better on older or slower computers.
• It’s FREE!!

Disadvantages of Firefox

• Start up: It take a little longer to start up because it is not built in to the Operating System like Internet Explorer and Safari.
• Compatibility: Some webpages which do not follow the W3C standards only work properly with Internet Explorer.

How to get Firefox

1. Go to the Firefox home page.
2. Click on the download link near the top right of the page, and select a download location such as the desktop when prompted.
3. After it is finished downloading, go to location you downloaded it to, and run the program.
4. Follow the prompts on the screen to install. Selecting all default options will almost always work fine.

How to use Firefox

Many parts of Firefox are very similar to Internet Explorer, but here we explain the differences.

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• "Go" button: By default, Firefox does not have a go button like Internet Explorer. You can use the option below to add one, or when you have entered address is entered in the address bar, or text in the search box, press enter.
• Customize buttons: To change where any buttons are put on the toolbars, or add optional buttons like "Go", "Bookmarks", and "New Tab", simply right-click anywhere above the address bar and click "customize".
• Extensions and Plugins: are additions to Firefox created by users. There are hundreds, and they do things like add a calendar system, an in-page image zoomer, or integrated page translation features. Here is how you find and install them:
  1. Click on "Tools" on the top menubar.
  2. Click on "Extensions".
  3. A window will pop up showing you the plug-ins you already have.
  4. Click on the link near the bottom of that window which says "Get more extensions".
  5. It will take you to the Firefox update page Which gives a complete list of extensions and plugins, as well as sorting them by rating and popularity.
  6. Click on the link to an extension or plugin that you want, and there will be an install link which will start installing the upgrade for you.
• Tabbed Browsing: Tabbed browsing is a useful feature that Firefox allows you to use. Unlike other browsers that open a new window for every page you want to look at, Firefox opens new pages in a tab on the same page. This allows you to easily navigate through pages and it doesn’t all the windows that clutter up the desktop.
  
  
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  The different ways to use tabbed browsing:

  • Go to "File" on the top menubar and select "New tab" or push Control + T to create a new empty tab.
  • Right-click on a link and select "Open link in new tab" to open it in a new tab.
  • Click on a link with the middle mouse button (usually the scroll wheel) to open a link in a new tab.