I am seriously tired of the rampant geek support for Firefox. I don’t really understand the basis for it either - does this geek loyalty exist solely as an outlet for the vigilant anit-Microsoft clan? Is it counter-cultural backlash to the IE norm? I honestly don’t know, but what I am certain of, is that Firefox fans are either blindly ignorant, or completely uninformed. It isn’t difficult to surf around on the internet for a while and discover legions of pro-Firefox, anti-IE missionaries, espousing the virtues of Firefox and the blatant evils of Microsoft. The problem is that none of these disciples see fit to admit that Firefox sucks too, just in different ways.

Firefox does do a few things better than IE - add-ons and page rendering come to mind - but does that make for a better browsing experience? I don’t really think so.  Admittedly, my job would be a lot more difficult without the web developer toolbar and firebug. Even still IE has a reasonable alternative, and I was making websites and browsing the internet successfully before I’d ever even heard of add-ons.

Firefox claims to be faster and safer, but I’m yet to see any proof of either. IE7 and Firefox are both equally prone to user error and stupidity, so to blame the software is akin to blaming the car when a drunk driver wraps it around a post. What’s more, I’d say that the known exploits for IE are more a result of IE’s widespread use (85%+) than Firefox’s superior programming. Every application has bugs, if the bugs aren’t found because no one’s using the software I’m not certain that counts as “better”. Both display pages with very little difference in render time. If anything I’d say Firefox is usually a little slower to boot up - especially if you’ve installed add-ons. What’s more, Firefox updates more than any other software I’ve ever used. As much as I love opening a program, only to be told that I have to close it and open it again, they seriously can’t need to update that often.

Firefox absolutely craps the bed when it comes to displaying rich media - especially Windows Media Player. Now the conspiracy theorists among us will claim that Microsoft is obscuring Firefox user’s from using the player, but that doesn’t explain why it worked just fine in FF 1.5. More likely, Firefox is taking a  obstinate stance and refusing to endorse some pathetically minor flaw in the way WMP write to the screen and a pissing contest in being pursued in the face of Firefox users.

I’d have to say though, the biggest flaw with Firefox is that it’s open add-on architecture is ripe with plug-ins which support piracy. As a professional I’m often on the protection side of content management, and Firefox make it almost impossible to successfully protect content - even on the most rudimentary of levels. This is a burden on the internet itself, as content owners aren’t willing to make their content available so that it can be stolen and redistributed.  I’m not certain why so many people assume they have the right to anything they want for free, but by creating an environment where not only is blatant thievery possible, but encouraging it, Firefox automatically loses my support.

I believe that both Firefox and IE and a long ways to go before either is an acceptably capable browser, but it’s important to keep an open mind and encourage competition between the two. By unilaterally and unfailing supporting any one side of an argument in spite of fact or reason, the so called intellectually superior, geeks of the internet are opening themselves up to support the failure of a once promising product. I use IE and Firefox equally as each have their strengths and weaknesses. I’d encourage web developers everywhere to have an open mind and do the same.