AtmaWeapon
07-25-2004, 05:00 AM
OK Avant has started to slow their dev cycle, and the popup blocker is performing sub-par and the ad-blocker will not block individual flash images (you can turn them off entirely, but then you can't see the ones you want) or PHP rotators. These features are very important to me and though I feel intense loyalty to this lean, mean IE add-on I will switch camps if, like I am suspecting, the development ceases on AB.
I know Firefox does this and does it well. However, I don't want to use vanilla Firefox and I don't want to have to wade through the extensions labyrinth to find just the right one. (This is one of my problems with OSS and freedom of choice... I don't want to have to spend 20 minute picking between several items that claim to do the same thing.)
Anyway, I need at the very least a good popup blocker, mouse gestures (I only use them for back and forward), COMPLETELY tabbed browsing (I never want to see a second Firefox window appear), and an ad blocker.
I know for sure that the adblock extension is very satisfactory for what I want. However, I'm not sure about the other categories. The last time I installed Firefox, I had a single window extension, but within the first 2 or 3 pages I visited it failed. I don't like a 2-line taskbar, and I keep several windows open constantly, so single-window browsing is vital. In fact, the appearance of a second firefox window is a cardinal sin, since this is what is making me switch from Avant (although it's pretty convenient, my firewall blocks IE but not Avant, so when a site breaks Avant's popup blocker my firewall blocks the site, but not the window). The mouse gestures are rather unimportant, my mouse has a forward and back button and I only use gestures when that mouse is unavailable.
For at least one week, I am going to use Firefox instead of Avant Browser, with the extensions you recommend. If there are any features you find useful that I have not listed here, post what it is and if I think it's cool I'll use it. I am going to replace my Avant Browser icon with a Firefox one. If it proves superior, I will switch and remove Firefox from my "make fun of this browser" list (Opera is still fair game, though).
If you post that I should use Opera instead, I will ignore you. The single time I have installed Opera I found that even after restarting (something alien to my XP box), several features like "View Source" did absolutely nothing. It ate more RAM than Firefox, did less, and cost money or an ad banner to boot.
I know Firefox does this and does it well. However, I don't want to use vanilla Firefox and I don't want to have to wade through the extensions labyrinth to find just the right one. (This is one of my problems with OSS and freedom of choice... I don't want to have to spend 20 minute picking between several items that claim to do the same thing.)
Anyway, I need at the very least a good popup blocker, mouse gestures (I only use them for back and forward), COMPLETELY tabbed browsing (I never want to see a second Firefox window appear), and an ad blocker.
I know for sure that the adblock extension is very satisfactory for what I want. However, I'm not sure about the other categories. The last time I installed Firefox, I had a single window extension, but within the first 2 or 3 pages I visited it failed. I don't like a 2-line taskbar, and I keep several windows open constantly, so single-window browsing is vital. In fact, the appearance of a second firefox window is a cardinal sin, since this is what is making me switch from Avant (although it's pretty convenient, my firewall blocks IE but not Avant, so when a site breaks Avant's popup blocker my firewall blocks the site, but not the window). The mouse gestures are rather unimportant, my mouse has a forward and back button and I only use gestures when that mouse is unavailable.
For at least one week, I am going to use Firefox instead of Avant Browser, with the extensions you recommend. If there are any features you find useful that I have not listed here, post what it is and if I think it's cool I'll use it. I am going to replace my Avant Browser icon with a Firefox one. If it proves superior, I will switch and remove Firefox from my "make fun of this browser" list (Opera is still fair game, though).
If you post that I should use Opera instead, I will ignore you. The single time I have installed Opera I found that even after restarting (something alien to my XP box), several features like "View Source" did absolutely nothing. It ate more RAM than Firefox, did less, and cost money or an ad banner to boot.