Yesterday, along with about a bazillion other people around the world, I downloaded the latest version of Firefox. Here's my take on it so far:
The good news:
1. Fast? Wicked fast. Like, wow.
2. New windows open flush top, instead of 1/4" down the page (thus obliterating the bottom status bar). I've been waiting a long time for this.
The bad news:
1. The Mac version has dark gray tabs that are very hard on the eyes. Why do they have to be so dark?
2. I have my preferences set so that when I start up Firefox, it will open all the same tabs and windows I had open the last time I used it. I like this option in case of a crash, so I don't lose all those open tabs. The problem is that now I can't seem to figure out a way to make new windows open up to a blank page. The default Mozilla page keeps opening up. Maddening.
I had to download it too. :) When I open a new window, it defaults to my homepage - which, if you haven't changed it, is probably the Mozilla page. My homepage is my iGoogle page. I'm so used to that that I automatically hit F6 immediately to highlight address bar and type in a new url. (Me getting to a new website: "Ctrl-N", "F6", "URL".) I have no clue what Macs have if they don't have the F# keys.
Posted by: Deborah | June 18, 2008 at 08:18 PM
What I like about opening up to a new blank page is that the cursor is already in the URL bar, waiting for me to type, so I don't have to do Command-L to get there. (Yes, Macs have F-keys, but that's my muscle-memory key command for URL bar.) In FF2, I could set it to restart with all my old tabs open AND open new windows to a blank page. I want it all.
Posted by: Karen | June 18, 2008 at 08:46 PM
You know, I know everyone's saying FF3 is super fast, and I'm sure it is, but I'm honestly not noticing a difference in my day-to-day browsing.
Posted by: Debra | June 18, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Mmmmkay, I have new version. Lightening fast.
Downloaded add-on Colorful tabs and have lovely tabs in various colours.
When I CTRLT for a new tab it opens a nice blank page and my cursor is at the URL ready to go. I no understand your issues you crazy MAC people!
Posted by: jo | June 19, 2008 at 09:51 AM
I can get a blank window to open, but only if I select "open to a blank window on startup" in Preferences. I want to select "open to previously opened tabs & windows on startup" AND have blank windows whenever I need 'em.
Someone will come up with a prettier theme for Macs soon; they were trying to emulate the Mac OSX look, but the gray is just too dark.
Posted by: Karen | June 19, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Scuse me while I rush off to download it!!! I can't stand that someone else had it first!!! Fast? I'm so excited!
Posted by: Di | June 20, 2008 at 09:30 AM
http://sogame.awardspace.com/xpi/NewTabURL.xpi
Extension that restores this functionality of FF2 that was for some inexplicable reason removed from FF3 :(
Posted by: Stealth | July 22, 2008 at 11:06 PM