Do NOT Install the New Firefox -- Read This
Firefox has long been a better browser than Internet Explorer, not because of any profound features or UI elements, but because of the little things: location of the "Home" button, that sort of thing. This morning, I installed the new Firefox 2.0.0.4, and boy was that a mistake.
One "small thing" Firefox had over IE was the fact that the "close box" -- the button for closing a tab -- was way over on the right, whereas IE's was annoyingly placed on each tab. With previous versions of Firefox, you could just position your mouse pointer on the close box and close large numbers of tabs by simply clicking. Now, with the new version, you've got to slowly hunt and peck your way to closing Tabs -- just like IE.
Another hideous annoyance: Rather than shrinking tabs infinitely, Firefox will only shrink them so far before totally hiding peripheral tabs.
For me, they've just made Firefox unusable. I don't have time for slow, cumbersome tab UI functionality.
Is Firefox to become like AOL Instant Messenger, where each new version takes you away from the things you liked about it in the first place?
What do YOU think of the new Firefox?
2:32 PM * PERMALINK * 51 comments
Comments:
um..... WOW!
OMG rather than searching for a way to fix the problem, lets not upgrade to the new version which possibly has more secure features and better rendering and less bugs. I mean I would just go to about:config and change the browser.tabs.tabMinWidth value so its smaller before firefox hides them.. Then I might also change the browser.tabs.closeButtons value to 3. But you know you're method is so much better.
Try googling before you give up next time. Most problems are easily solvable
Did anyone have security problems or rendering problems in the previous version? I didn't.
I have found also that the new version has weird slow-downs, etc.
Yes, I can always fix issues like this by being a technical user who searches google, finds obscure fixes and implements them.
The issue is that with previous versions of Firefox, none of this was necessary. The "out-of-the-box" experience was perfect without tweaking.
If somebody had told me about this before I installed the new version, I wouldn't have. So I'm doing people (who agree with me about the tab annoyances) a big favor.
Mike
Blog spam. Plain and simple.
Don't know what you mean by blog spam. Can you explain, Anonymous?
Mike
I agree it might be annoying that they changed a default feature. Most updates include security related fixes as well, so I would think it dangerous to advise people to not upgrade. Sure most people might not have had issue with a bug they fixed, but what would happen if people just stopped upgrading any software because "they didn't see the bug"? How many viruses have come out that wreak billions of dollars of havoc because people leave their systems unpatched? I think it is the same thing here (though obviously to a lower risk). Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean someone might try to exploit it in the future.
I, personally, have used a tab extension since I started with Firefox- Tab Mix Plus. My biggest issue is that I like the tab bar on the bottom. Plus I can easily decide where close buttons go, what closes a button, where tabs open, etc etc etc. Some of the features it had before 2.0, Firefox has now, but it is still pretty useful.
For me...perfect. As always...
Man, I'm shocked.
You staid all this time with Firefox 1.5.x? I don't know about you, but I hated that button in the corner. but if you do like it - find an addon, i'm pretty sure there is on out there. Just don't waist your and mine time reading this b.s.
:)
Good luck.
Um, the close tab button has been on the individual tabs by default since Firefox 2.0.0. I use Firefox 1.5.x when I'm not at home, and find it's much harder to use without the individual close buttons - to close a non-active tab I have to select it, then move all the way to the right to close it, rather than just hitting the close button right there on the tab.
I did dislike the new positions when I first upgraded (although I didn't run off to make an inflammatory blog post about it), but I got used to it pretty quickly, and now much prefer it over the old method. If you want to close a whole bunch of tabs, what's wrong with hitting ctrl+w a few times? (or, I guess, just changing the preference like Alex suggested in the first comment).
And as for Firefox being better than IE because of the "small things", its two biggest attractions in my opinion are that it supports a decent subset of web standards, and that they don't sit on critical security flaws for months on end like Microsoft have done (and probably still do) -- both of which are pretty major things in a web browser
I suppose it's better to wait for security issues to materialize and fix them rather than preempting them in the first place.
Silly me, I had it backwards all along.
Try using Ctrl+W instead. If you can touch-type, then you'll never need to try to mouse over a super-small region of your screen.
Aaron
Actually Mike, I agree with you. I prefer the way the Tabs worked before. I wouldn't have changed the format if I had a choice.
I have limited time to to have to constantly tweak things when they're updated. Security updates are great, but changes (seemingly arbitrary) to how the interface works, without an easy way to opt out, isn't nice, or user friendly.
i dont have any problems.
then again, ive got mixed-tab plus also - which changes how all my tabs work@
Mike, to change the tab close behavior, do this (quoting from http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1781/firefox_2_0_change_tab_close_buttons_x)
1. Type about:config in the address bar
2. Change browser.tabs.closeButtons to the value you wish.
0 - Display close button only on the active tab
1 - Display close buttons on every tabs
2 - Never display close buttons
3 - Display single close button at the end of the tab strip (This is the old, default Firefox 1.5 behavior)
If browser.tabs.closeButtons does not exist, you can create it. Right-click the page and select New and then Integer
The new version has been running fine here for a day, btw.
Um, you can just use the middle (scroll) button on your mouse to close tabs...
Go Opera go!
Firefox 2.x started getting slower and slower, easily 2-3X clower than IE7 surfing to the same sites. Tried all the tricks in about:config, didn't work.
Tried Opera and have never looked back.
I think you're hysterical and you lost some proportions. I mean, a tab UI feature causes you to display that tasteless graphic? give me a break.
Overall I use Firefox only for testing purposes since some time. I just don't like it and after installing the new version it got worse. But hey...it's everyone's choice and everyone has to chose what browser fits the peresonal needs best. I'm using the new Maxthon for example.
For me, the x factor in each tab is much-desired improvement. Woopee! I'm liking the new version a lot.
Could one not say that you may be being slightly pedantic? It is just a tab closing button. I remember the times when you opened a web-page and then left for 3 minutes for it to load! Ahh better times. The times when books were predominant. They still are, in mine, and other people's, opinions. However I do accept the fact that times are moving on and such things are important to your generations.
I've got Tab Mix Plus installed, it allows the spillover tabs to create new rows. I frequently have four rows of tabs (roughly 30 open). I didn't notice the UI changes from the latest update, perhaps TMP overwrites them?
Tab close icons: about:config.
Tab bar scroll is fast: try mouse wheel.
just need to do a little customizing with about:config, like others have said.
Not a big deal...
Friends, I write "how to" information for a living. I don't need suggestions about how to configure Firefox.
The questions are: 1) Is Firefox 2.x less friendly for the masses (not geeks like us) out of the box than previous versions; and 2) does that mean Firefox is slipping down that slope that AIM did where each new version is worse from a usability standpoint than the previous version?
Another question: Does anybody here prefer 2.x over 1.5.x? If so, what's better about it?
Mike
Wow, Mike, are you having a bad day or something? I've read your blog daily for a long time, and this just doesn't sound like you.
What is the point of your post? Were you just blowing off steam, or are you hinting at switching back to IE over this?
Just about anyone who uses Firefox knows there is a long list of advantages it has over IE. But they can basically be grouped into two categories: 1) better security, and 2) easier to tweak to work the way you want.
To give up on Firefox over a minor change to the UI is irrational, especially when it is so easily changed. Your readers suggested several ways to change it, and you threw it back in our faces.
What's going on?
***** Your readers suggested several ways to change it, and you threw it back in our faces. *****
Not sure I'm throwing anything in anyone's face -- don't know what you're talking about. I'm starting a conversation about the new Firefox.
The conversation has nothing to do with how Mike Elgan can configure Firefox. Nothing could be more irrelevant than that. : )
This conversation is about the relative advantages of upgrading to the new Firefox vs. sticking with the old one.
In my previous comment this morning, I've asked four very simple questions to get this conversation started:
1) Is Firefox 2.x less friendly for the masses (not geeks like us) out of the box than previous versions?
2) Is Firefox slipping down that slope that AIM did where each new version is worse from a usability standpoint than the previous version?
3) Does anybody here prefer 2.x over 1.5.x?
4) If so, what's better about it?
Anyone want to take a shot at any of this?
Mike
This is, without a doubt, the dumbest thing I've read on this blog, and I've been reading for a long time.
I feel that commenting on this post elevates it to a status it should not have, but hey.
For one thing, the "new" Firefox has been out (with the tab behaviour in question) for MONTHS without anyone throwing their toys out of the pram about a close button. For another thing, UNLIKE MSIE you can CHANGE THAT BEHAVIOUR as many have noted.
And finally, if you don't like Firefox just say so - calling for people not to install it betrays an ego out of control. You're just a tech journo. We may read you, but we don't respect you. The two things are completely different.
***** This is, without a doubt, the dumbest thing I've read on this blog *****
Oh, come on. I've posted WAY dumber things than *this*.
Mike
***** the "new" Firefox has been out (with the tab behaviour in question) for MONTHS without anyone throwing their toys out of the pram about a close button. *****
Don't know what a "pram" is, but the masses are just this week getting alert messages saying there's a new version and do they want to install it.
I just wish I had clicked "No" and am spreading the joy.
I still haven't heard anyone make a case for why the new version is better than the old.
If it's better, why don't you make the case? What's better about it? Why should everyone just automatically upgrade?
Mike
Why can't you just use Ctrl+Tab to navigated between the tabs and Ctrl+F4 to close them!
Minor annoyance, but doesn't come close to the annoying IE7 search "facility" - stoopid popup window - vs the ultra cool FF search in the status bar!
Oh... btw, "pram"="parambulator"
***** Why can't you just use Ctrl+Tab to navigated between the tabs and Ctrl+F4 to close them!
*****
I do use Ctrl+Tab to switch tabs and I use Ctrl+W to close them.
Again, not a single comment has been able to tell why 2.x is better than 1.5.x.
Mike
***** Minor annoyance, but doesn't come close to the annoying IE7 search "facility" - stoopid popup window - vs the ultra cool FF search in the status bar! *****
I actually think the pop-up search is the one thing about IE that's better than Firefox, but, then again, I have a 21-inch monitor in "portrait" mode, so that search box at the bottom is waaaaayyy down there.
***** Oh... btw, "pram"="parambulator" *****
Yeah, I was joking about that. The word and its abbreviation are never used in North America, to the best of my knowledge. We say baby carriage -- I think "pram" is a UK thing.
Mike
Greeting Mike,
I think you are exaggerating. I know exactly what you mean about the X button and it is very annoying. But I have not clicked that button for a long time, I use mouse gestures instead. I have been using it for last 6 months originally on a another bowser but when that browser went down to hell, I switched over to Firefox and installed a mouse gesture plug in. Put up a poll with this and see how many people use mouse gesture, I'd like to know.
I have always found Firefox's UI extremely stupid.
Adding scrolling to tabbed browsing is incredibly stupid.
As far as close button is concerned Opera has the best solution. At first it places the close button beside every tab. Then if you have too many open tabs, to reduce clutter it removes the close button from all but one.
The thing that annoys me most about Firefox is that it adds scrolling even to the context menu after I have added a few items to it. Instead of positioning the right click context menu smartly to fit it inside the screen, it adds scrolling.
Opera has a much much superior UI to firefox. Heck, even Maxthon's UI is better. Opera is more secure (firefox has unpatched secunia advisories), its faster and it provides pretty much all the functions I need out of the box (without being a bloat - its download package is smaller than fx and its not a memory hog).
What are the changes between 1.5 and 2.0? I just use the newest version, and I like the default features better. The close on each tab is so much better than that stupid X at the end.
I also use TabMixPlus, and atleast one feature I know of is default in Firefox: the close on each tab.
Your rant on FF2 seems childish. Why do you want everyone to stop using FF2 because of an annoyance of yours?
For a self proclaimed geek, you can easily modify the setting if you even know to from the start. There's no shame in admitting fault, but you seem awfully defensive. Are you sure your "how to" articles are worth reading?
As some people have commented, getting the close button in the place it was on Firefox 1.5 only takes 10 seconds, so stop winning and please do not make stupid statements!
***** Your rant on FF2 seems childish. Why do you want everyone to stop using FF2 because of an annoyance of yours? *****
My four questions are very simple, and the fact that not a single one of the Firefox 2 apologists in this comments area has been willing or able to answer a single one of them proves my point.
Mike
I'm the person who wrote "...threw it back in our faces..."
I wanted to take a shot at answering your 4 questions, but I couldn't. The reason is, the transition from 1.x to 2.x was pretty much seamless for me, so I don't remember the differences. (Also, it was about 7 months ago.)
It may have been so easy for me because I use several add-ins to make it work the way I want. I do remember that several of my add-ins didn't work at first, but the developers soon released new versions of the add-ins and everything was fine.
So...
1) Is Firefox 2.x less friendly for the masses (not geeks like us) out of the box than previous versions?
I don't notice any difference that would matter
2) Is Firefox slipping down that slope that AIM did where each new version is worse from a usability standpoint than the previous version?
I don't see why that would be. Your issue is probably the most trivial issue there could be. You know how to set it back to the way you want.
3) Does anybody here prefer 2.x over 1.5.x?
Yes, I do.
4) If so, what's better about it?
Well, spell check, search suggestions, web feed previewing (which I use on Raw Feed several times a day), anti-phishing protection, stability, security & session restore after crash to name a few things.
Click here for the release history.
I prefer the tab close button "way over at the end" (thanks Gary for the simple fix) because there's less chance for me to close a browser when I switching between tabs. Might not be a problem for most people, but I have to deal with tics, twitches, etc. that often cause me to "click" when I don't want to.
When I upgrade a program I like for there to be a simple way to change default UI features. I don't really like to have to search the internet for ways to have a program work the way I want it to. I have better things to do.
This later version of Firefox crashes on me at least once a day. The earlier version never crashed on me that I can remember.
Security updates are needed, change merely for change is not.
All this fuss over some simple questions leads me to think that some of the respondents to this thread are a little too easily excited and need to cut down on their caffeine intake. Can anyone say "Fanboy"?
Either answer the question asked, or ignore the question and don't post. Insulting Mike because he asked a valid question is pretty weak. If you don't respect his opinions why do you take time out of your day to read his blog?
Hey Mike,
Great post. Anything that stirs up the hive like this must be worth the discussion. While I don't personally agree with you with regards to the usability of FF2, I think it is always a good idea to ask if progress is actually moving us forward. As you point out with AIM, all too often, it is not.
So, your questions:
1) Is Firefox 2.x less friendly for the masses (not geeks like us) out of the box than previous versions?
While FF2 did make several changes to the UI that could (and obviously do) annoy long time users, I think it is clear from the other posts that this is a case of personal opinion; some people will find the changes more usable, and some will not. FF2 does introduce several new features (which I will save mention of until q#4) which I personally believe do make it more usable for the "masses"... and us geeks as well.
2) Is Firefox slipping down that slope that AIM did where each new version is worse from a usability standpoint than the previous version?
This is a good question... though without any usability research at my fingertips, it is going to come down to a battle of opinions. However, I can say that the changes you have mentioned were implemented because the developers of Firefox felt they were an improvement to the user experience. Specifically, they found that "mass" users were closing the wrong tab by mistake. Adding the close button on each individual tab was an attempt to alleviate that scenario. Likewise with regards to the now scrolling tabs, the developers found that "mass" users were unable to find the tab they were looking for when they had too many tabs open. So their solution was to eliminate the infinitely minimizing tabs, and add the ability to scroll through them.
3) Does anybody here prefer 2.x over 1.5.x?
I think your readers have already given their answer.
4) If so, what's better about it?
There is a pretty lengthy list of changes between 1.5.x and 2.x. Some of the most notable enhancements (and the new features I personally appreciate the most) include:
* The ability to re-open closed tabs
* Auto spell checking (with a red squiggly line, like Office) inside web forms.
* Session restore
* Enhanced RSS reader / live bookmarks
* Phishing protection
Other new features can be found at:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/features.html
Obviously, many of these new features were previously available through extensions... but then, so are the corrections to the changes you find so irritating.
I still use Firefox 1.5, i think anything newer than that release is junk.
You may want to have a look at this from Alex Faaborg blog:
"Ever wonder why the close button was moved from the far right side of the browser to be on each tab? Did you know that Mozilla coordinated with Google and NASA Ames in order to make the decision? This paper by Andrea Knight, Guy Pyrzak, and Collin Green explains how a combination of user studies and cognitive modeling software was used to improve the user interface for closing tabs in Firefox 2."
http://blog.mozilla.com/faaborg/2007/05/09/chi-2007/
Interesting! Mike
Thank you, Stream. This is exactly what I've been fishing for.
Mike
The close button on the Tabs is one of the actual improvements in Firefox 2. Mike this has been there since v2.0.0.0 and Opera has had it much longer. There are many legitimate reasons not to use Firefox:
It is slow, insecure and not completely W3C compliant (Acid2)
www.FirefoxMyths.com
I suggest trying Opera.
http://216.55.161.203/theonekea/tabprefs/
The Tabbrowser Preferences extension lets you revert back to the old behaviour of pre-2.0. Firefox is a tedious browser without extensions anyway.
I'm just an old man with a head injury that remembers "Geek" as someone who does weird things at the circus sideshow. I've been using FFX for a few years now and the changes have, as someone said, been so seamless I haven't really paid attention.
Personally, I prefer the way the tabs are set up now. I can close what I want in an instant and get it back if I goof. even I can make changes through the options menu and know what will happen. Usually.
as for your four questions, uuuhh, okay, sure...
I think, Mike, as a facilitator your doing a good job. Like poking a stick in an anthill. Some are going to crawl up the stick to attack, some are going to curse and run, some are going to analyze and situation and THEN bite your butt.
jim
Thanks Alex for the fix - now it's back just the way I liked it
Yup, I'm browsing with firefox 1.5.0.12 'till the end. Firefox 2.0 (and the 3.0 alphas) is kind of like windows vista... Way too many "flashy" features. Less functionality. I have to say that the new spell checking feature is cool. (I tested the 2.0 betas - then switched back to 1.5)
h4xedster - from iwantmybeta.blogspot.com
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