New Firefox - anyone tried it?

[k4kyv]

Mozilla just released a new version, v1.5 of the Firefox browser.  I downloaded it, but think I'll wait a while before installing it.  I checked out a couple of the user forums.  Some people praise the new version to high heaven, while others have had problems with it.  One good word of advice, back up your bookmarks.  Some say it worked fine for them, except for the fact that they lost their bookmark file.

I didn't rush to install Windows XP SP2.  Ordered the CD, but sat on it for a few weeks until I had observed others' comments.  Finally did install it with no problems whatever.

The old version of Firefox (what I'm using right now), v1.0.7, sure beats the hell out of Internet Explorer.

[KB1IAW]

I'm using it. Seems to run smoothly but I lost the use of the Spellbound spell checker. A look at the extensions shows that it's still there but the Mozilla Spellchecker Library is disabled and not compatible with Firefox 1.5. Hopefully they are working on it.

[Bill, KD0HG]

Been using it since it was in beta. Works fine.
You might like the changes to the Tools menu,
maybe not. Solid, reliable and easy upgrade.

[W2INR]

 

I have been using the 1.5 version since it was released. I have had no problems. It appears to be stable and I like some of the new features

[Jim, W5JO]

I have Firefox and IE on my computer and for several months vascillated between both.  Tried Firefox for several months and could not see any difference from IE.  Popups and other garbage came through. 

I have IE 6.X and MS's spyware, firewall plus Norton for everything else.  I do not have any trouble at all with any popups, trojans, worms, or anything.  Automatic updates, which Firefox and Thunderbird do not offer, and automatic scanning of my complete computer each week for adware, spyware, etc. and viruii all automatically. 

Now tell me what is wrong with that?

[W2PFY]

Just downloaded it. I don't see any changes nor have I lost anything that I know of

[Pete, WA2CWA]

For those lamenting, should I or shouldn't I, upgrade to this version, here's a writeup on eWeek.com.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1895630,00.asp

[John Holotko]

If you're not sure then why not run both versions ?? I do it all the time when I'm testing out new software. No need to have to trash the old version just to try the new version.

[W2PFY]

I have a problem with Java. If I want to run a weather radar loop if says I need to download plugins. So I download them but they’ll never install. I started to look for a correction and found on their HELP site a software installer they recommend called Nullsoft. Well it downloaded ok but I can't figure out how to use it. Java works ok on IE. I never could use Java on any version of Firefox.

Any ideas???

[ka0pad]

This might not help, but for my linux installs I've allways had to add a link to the java librarys in the firefox plugins directory.

[k4kyv]

Another issue with Firefox 1.5 that has surfaced on the forums:  it may be a memory hog.

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=354828

Right now, using the OLD version of Firefox, my System Information reads:

Total physical memory 512.00 MB 
Available physical memory 186.92 MB

Most of this memory usage is not due to Firefox.  Loads of memory is gobbled up by ZoneArarm firewall and McAfee anti-virus, plus numerous other applications that automatically start up when the computer is booted.  I have turned off many of these automatic startups, but others are required for the system to function properly.  Some are unknown, and I haven't turned them off until I am sure what they do. But I don't know if I want to tie up another 100MB.  That would leave me with not much more memory available than my old computer had totally , 64 MB.