Firefox versions........
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 69
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From: The World
Firefox versions........
I'm about to upgrade to an Acer 5742Z ( Windows 7 Home Premium ) and will use Firefox as the browser. My old laptop has Firefox version 3.6.16 and I'm very comfortable with it. I see there are F'fox Versions 4 and 5 out but there seems to be some varied opinions as to their pluses and minuses. My gut feeling is to go with what I know ( as my IT knowledge is near zero..) as 3.16 is still available.
It also is one less " new " thing to have to deal with in the initial stages of familiarization.
Do any members have any experience or suggestions, re F'fox Versions ? Thanks.
It also is one less " new " thing to have to deal with in the initial stages of familiarization.
Do any members have any experience or suggestions, re F'fox Versions ? Thanks.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,663
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From: Earth
I concurr with Bushfiva..... "it's just a browser" .... and there's not really any excuse of running FF 3.6 these days !
On a more important note, you should always be running the latest version of any browser (and plug-ins) due to vulnerability exploits against older version.
On a more important note, you should always be running the latest version of any browser (and plug-ins) due to vulnerability exploits against older version.

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,290
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From: BHX LXR ASW
Except the later versions of FF aren't recognised by certain banks for online banking purposes. When I last looked FF 4. whatever didn't work with NatWest. 3.6.16 is fine for me thank you very much.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 246
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From: Fife, Scotland
I've got version 6 and it works with my bank.
After the last update I started getting hangups with the message "a script on this page is busy .." but I updated all my plug-ins and add-ins and no problem now.
Accidentally installed Chrome on a an old laptop whilst I was updating something there and must admit it looks faster then FF, at least on that out-dated specification.
After the last update I started getting hangups with the message "a script on this page is busy .." but I updated all my plug-ins and add-ins and no problem now.
Accidentally installed Chrome on a an old laptop whilst I was updating something there and must admit it looks faster then FF, at least on that out-dated specification.

Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 238
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From: Cow Corner
crewmeal - something wrong with your settings? NatWest works fine for me on both FF4 and FF5. I've sort of reluctantly come around to the latest FF versions, I still don't like the lack of status bar (and I don't want to add an add-on for it) and the UI still feels strange even a couple of months later.
Good performance, though, and can't remember if it's ever crashed on me.
Good performance, though, and can't remember if it's ever crashed on me.

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,290
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From: BHX LXR ASW
Bombay Duck & Saab Dastard Thanks for the tips. I've seen the error of my ways and upgraded. Now using FF 6.0 beta on my Macbook pro. I would use Safari more but it doesn't have a drop down address bar.
"The INTRODUCER"

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 437
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From: London
Gears
Green Granite, Gmail works fine with FF 5 &6. But Gmail offline does not, which is well-documented. A key point of Gears is to provide offline Gmail and Google Reader, which is extremely useful when travelling, especially on aircraft.
Google has ended development of Gears in favour of an html5 "solution" which however does not actually exist yet. This is the sort of thing that means Google and the cloud in general is still far from being a serious alternative for business.
Google has ended development of Gears in favour of an html5 "solution" which however does not actually exist yet. This is the sort of thing that means Google and the cloud in general is still far from being a serious alternative for business.
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,513
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From: land of the clanger
Thanks for that info Algy, I have no need of it so I hadn't researched it. 
It's typical, produce something useful and then drop the support for newer platforms. I suspect it might be an attempt to get people to migrate to google chrome so they can keep tabs on you.

It's typical, produce something useful and then drop the support for newer platforms. I suspect it might be an attempt to get people to migrate to google chrome so they can keep tabs on you.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 69
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From: The World
Many thanks to those who offered their advice and experiences.
Being an IT coward...... I went with the old 3.6.19 version, as I wanted to be able to use the Google Toolbar ( I like the " cut/paste " and " Translate " features ) that I had on the old laptop.
Now I find the current Google Toolbar doesn't support " cut and paste "...
Being an IT coward...... I went with the old 3.6.19 version, as I wanted to be able to use the Google Toolbar ( I like the " cut/paste " and " Translate " features ) that I had on the old laptop.
Now I find the current Google Toolbar doesn't support " cut and paste "...

Hippopotomonstrosesquipidelian title
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 1
From: is everything
Couldn't you just use ctrl-c and ctrl-v? Or right click on the button bar, customize, drag copy & paste buttons to the bar? I don't do Firefox 3.x but I don't imagine it's missing customizing features its competitors have. The Google toolbar copy & paste buttons aren't a magic Google thing, they're simply using existing features in your browser.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 175
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From: Ireland
I concurr with Bushfiva..... "it's just a browser" .... and there's not really any excuse of running FF 3.6 these days !
Google Gears (and therefore Gmail offline) does not work on latest versions of Firefox (5 or 6 I think) and there is no intention that it will. (Google decision not Mozilla.)
Sorry for the slightly OT rant



