Ready to get serious about switching users from IE to FF?

[Paul Komski]

Explorer Destroyer (http://explorerdestroyer.com/)

Article (http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12200DMDL3QU)

[FastLearner]

Cool idea...:)

I still don't understand one thing, though:

what does Google have to do with the switching of web browsers? I'm trying to think about what they would have to gain by everyone switching browsers, but I can't put my finger on it...

[Whyzman]

They sound quite serious! :)

[PrntRhd]

Why would Google do this? See point 7 on this site:
http://www.killbillsbrowser.com/

[mjc]

Cool idea...:)

I still don't understand one thing, though:

what does Google have to do with the switching of web browsers? I'm trying to think about what they would have to gain by everyone switching browsers, but I can't put my finger on it...

Other than Google and MS are squaring off for some serious competition...

[PrntRhd]

Heck, I switched and it did not even require a dollar to do it.
:D

[Paul Komski]

Quote: ''Do it for the children, the children! (caveat: reducing Viagra spam may also reduce total number of children.)''

LOL

[Whyzman]

Yeah, I think there's some serious posturing taking place. An article I read a while back regarding Google's plans for the future had me wondering why MS wasn't either outright purchasing them, or planning for a hostile takeover...

When my kids were young they liked to watch Pinky and the Brain... Brain's response to Pinky's question about what they were going to do today was, "We're going to try to take over the world!" Google's future plans are definitely echoed in those words...and I don't think MS has changed their thinking any... :eek:

[95five-0]

I was a firefox user but we use sharepoint at work and it does not run properly with it. So I switched back to IE and to be honest there is not that big of a difference aside from not having tabs. And if you stay off warez and porn sites you don't get hammered with spyware.

[PrntRhd]

You can get hammered on sites other than warez and pOrn sites when using IE.

IE, Firefox, and Opera all browse but there are significant differences in the vulnerabilities of each.

[Suchy]

Google wants people to switch because they are affraid on IE 7 which will have a search box build in.

I believe that this is the main reason

PS. Speaking of warez, what is that ?

[Paul Komski]

Warez = pirated and otherwise dirty software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warez

[FastLearner]

Google wants people to switch because they are affraid on IE 7 which will have a search box build in.
I believe that this is the main reason


Good point. I had forgotten I constantly use the built-in Google search box on my Firefox. So there must be some ties between the two.

Never tried to remove it, but I'm sure it's doable. Heck, why would I want to remove it, though...? Google rocks. :cool:

[Suchy]

Well Mozilla has to get some cash from some place, and I think here is where google coms in. No wonder Google is the default search engine.

As for IE 7 I am sure that msn will be the default (and most likely with out an option to change that)

[jlreich]

Don't forget that's not just a google search box, although by default it's set to google, but you can click on it and set it to many different search engines.

But it is funny that when you install or update FF it will take you to the FF/google search page. :p

Hmm, maybe someone at google just likes FF better than IE. Nah, there's some $$ reason behind it I'm sure. :p

[mjc]

Maybe becasue Google is supporting the whole Mozilla project?

[Whyzman]

The article I read regarding Google's future was very "Big Brother" leaning. The intent is basically to have each of us so profiled that when you hit search, all Google ads pretty much have "your name" on them.

[classicsoftware]

Don't you guys have the PC Guide pull down search bar in your Firefox Pull down menu? Been available for years. Read this oldie (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=30529&highlight=FireFox+PC+Guide)

[jlreich]

Hey that's really cool. How in the... did I miss that thread. :cool: Thanks Classic.

[i an not a nerd]

Acording to the site the plugin does not work... i tried at it crashed by browser each time

MIkeB

[jlreich]

Works for me. :confused:

[saphalline]

I think M$ is afraid because Google is competent, unlike a lot of M$'s previous competition. There's a reason I use Google almost exclusively for my searching needs. I have used Google for years and it works. Back when Google was just another search engine in the pool of search engines, it was merely OK. But they either devoured or pummeled dozens of smaller search engines over the years because they know what they're doing!

Google's in-house advancements in the areas of hash tables, node crawling, and data mining alone are truly impressive. If they were my competition, I'd be afraid, too.

[Whyzman]

And, Google's figured out a way to generate income without the introduction of a new operating system...ads...

[Paul Komski]

I have used Google for years and it works.
I concur. Something I hadn't realised and which has crept up on me is that, apart from a few "most important" or "somehow obsure" bookmarks, I now very seldom store these anywhere since I can usually find them with a search quicker than find them on my own PC! Maybe that's because of messy housekeeping on my part but at least (most) google links remain active (or you can find the originally referenced page in google's cache) unlike many of my older bookmarks/favorites.

[bassman]

RED FLAG, RED FLAG :eek:
A group of friends develops an idea and forms a small company working from their garage. They implement that idea and it gains wonderful notoriety. The idea takes off with a flurry and that group of friends soon realizes profitability. That profitability soon earns them fame and fortune. With this fortune these friends are able to sponsor other wonderful ideas that they believe will make the world a better place. They take these other great ideas under their wing offering those developers funding and protection as they openly make plans to take on the giants of the world, in their mind, making it a better place.
Am I talking about Microsoft, Google, or the Mafia? You choose but I think you all need to be careful what bandwagon you jump on
;)

[jlreich]

[color=red]
Am I talking about Microsoft, Google, or the Mafia?
I will take D: All of the above me thinks. :p

[freewarer]

Warez = pirated and otherwise dirty software.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warez


Why have Warez when you can get good stuff for FREE

On Firefox Google we carry google ads for firefox / google toolbar on our site and not many people have downloaded it from/via us. I only use it for site testing.

[PrntRhd]

Freewarer,
The posted subject is Firefox vs IE and if incentives will drive useage in one way or the other. How does your reply and freeware link relate to that?
BTW the link doesn't work.

[freewarer]

I was just answering some of the above where people have stated that Google seem to be pushing Firefox in advance of IE7 coming out with a search box on. And just informing that although we carry big colourful ads by google nobody seems interested in downloading it. I know this because my site stats register outclicks.

The link is in my sig and not on the post.

[PrntRhd]

The link in the signature doesn't work.

[freewarer]

http://www.yesitsfree.co.uk

I have missed the i out on sig

[PrntRhd]

I am not surprised users do not wish to have Google toolbar and Firefox loaded together. You do not need the toolbar to use Firefox, so why make it more complicated?

[freewarer]

I very rarely trust toolbars (except ebay for security) I think they could give alot of info to the vendor. But despite my spelling in my sig googles tbar does have a good spell checker so its got one good point at least. I rarely use firefox i am using IE6 while I am online at this minute