People who are used to using one type of Internet browser may be reluctant to trying another brand, even when people claim the wonders of one over the others. While programs like Internet Explorer® serve many people well, some users may want to consider Firefox® if they have dealt with certain issues, like security breaches and download problems, in the past. Each browser software has its own pros and cons, but Firefox® is often considered to be among the fastest and safest available. It does have disadvantages, however, including compatibility and memory issues.
Advantages
- Speed — Firefox® is reported to be the fastest browser when it comes to download speed. Not only do programs and files download faster, but users get a record of all their downloads in the form of a table, so they can erase or move them at their convenience.
- Security — This browser has some advanced security measures that help protect a computer from spyware and even certain viruses. It also comes with a state-of-the-art popup blocker that stops almost 100% of popups.
- Tabbed browsing and other advanced features — Tabbed browsing allows the user to open an unlimited number of pages in a single window, thus helping to organize browsing. Firefox® also has an embedded memory, which means if the computer is turned off by mistake, the browser will remember which sites were open and offer to restore the previous session.
Disadvantages
- Compatibility issues — The main disadvantage of Firefox® is compatibility. Some websites do not show properly in this browser and require the user to view them with IE®.
- Memory — Firefox® takes a lot of memory to run. Even with an up-to-date computer, some users may find that it becomes hard to run the browser when several other programs are open. The software also tends to freeze and close when too many tabs are open simultaneously, which is why the brand invested heavily in creating the recovery memory feature.
- Interrupted service — Another disadvantage is that downloads cannot be resumed if they are interrupted. This may not be a big deal for people who have cable or DSL service, but those on a dial-up connection may encounter many problems because of it. The browser was actually designed for people using high-speed Internet, which means dial-up users can run into many problems when using the software.