Tuesday, September 14, 2010

On browsing browsers

Dear Firefox,

We’ve been together for a while now, though we never said we’d be exclusive. I must confess I am still seeing I.E. behind your back. Yes, on the other computer. After all, I only went with you on this one because you were supposed to be faster. So far you haven’t really lived up to my expectations, and I’m beginning to wonder if faster really is better…

In light of my continuing affair with I.E., I thought it was time we talked about what is good about this relationship. And what is not. Perhaps if you change, I’d be willing to stay with you. Until then I don’t really see a future for you and me.

To start with your good sides, I really like that you are considerate of my needs and wants. When you first asked me if I wanted to “close and save tabs” or just “close” the browser, it made me feel really special – like a princess. After the 874,766th time, however, I think it is high time that you learn that I don’t really want to save the tabs I close for next time I open the browser. When I close something, I close it. I don’t want to save. Yes, I do realize that I can ask you not to ask, but I really wanted you to figure it out for yourself.

(By the way, I don’t mind when I.E. asks me if I want to re-open any closed tabs whenever I open a new tab. He just has better timing than you. After all, it is more likely that I want to open the same tab several times within the same browsing session than that I want to reopen them hours later.)

I like your memory. I think it is cute that I only have to type a few letters, and you recall any website I’ve visited. The problem is, I also find it slightly disturbing. It’s like you’re monitoring me. Sometimes I just want to ask for a little space. I.E. is much more discreet about this. The whole star-thing doesn’t really work like I.E.’s favourites. He knows what sites I like. When you make me assign stars, I feel like an elementary school teacher. I hate not being able to give stars to everyone.

I guess there were a few things I didn’t like mixed in with the ones I like. You just make me feel ambiguous like that. I haven’t yet decided if it’s a good thing.

As for the bad things, there are a few. There is no easy way of saying this, so I’m just going to jump right in.

I hate – HATE – your uncooperativeness when it comes to Blogger. I realize that the two of you don’t get along very well. I get that sometimes the chemistry just isn’t right. But as long as Blogger is important to me, it should be important to you too. So I suggest you try a little harder. Don’t block the Google Friend request (I.E. manages just fine, just so you know it). Don’t mess up my formatting when I want to paste a blog post from Word into Blogger. And don’t stop me from posting altogether. It has happened a few times. You know what I talk about. It makes me so frustrated!

Finally, I just can’t get used to how you have the "refresh" and "home" buttons on the wrong side of the top page bar. It just looks weird.

As long as things remain like this, I’m sorry to have to tell you that I.E. is still my “standard program”. I just can’t see myself changing that anytime soon. It’s all in your hands now. I know it must sound cold-hearted since I am the one who strayed, but I honestly don’t think this is my fault. If we are going to make this work, you have to change.

Yours (only partly) truly,
Cruella.

30 comments:

Jan Morrison said...

Very funny, Mari and I totally get it. Trouble is, I'd like to be single altogether. yes. I've had it with all of them. why can't I go it alone? oh never mind...4:45 AM ramblings...

Nicole said...

Oooh I can so sympathise!

http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

M.J. Nicholls said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
M.J. Nicholls said...

I never use Firefox for Blogger. How dare you make me program HTML code!

Anonymous said...

Transport osobowy do Holandii i Niemiec, tanio i szybko, busami Opel Vivaro

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I loved your letter, perhaps firefox will pick that up also.

Take care.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

At least you let Firefox down easy.
I've used both and prefer IE as well.

H.B.Markor said...

Funny, I never really used IE much.
I went from using Netscape in high school to using Firefox on my own computer several years later because that was the "secure" one we used in college.

I always found IE too slow, but perhaps things have changed since I last saw it.

And you mean to tell me it's Firefox's fault that I can't post directly into Blogger from word without a stop over at Hpana to use the comment form to remove html first? Ridiculous!

Amusing post, even if I don't see the attraction to I.E..

Summer Frey said...

And this is why I Chrome! I was not happy with Chrome at first, coming from Firefox, but after about a week, I loved it. Now I can't imagine using anything else.

Deb and Barbara said...

Huh? Really? Firefox is the bane of my Blogger existence?? I've had so many commenter problems. Is it FF's fault? And the Word copy and paste so sucks. Although, I will say this: if you choose "edit html" and paste from Word, then press "compose" for any further futzing, it all translates (make sure you choose "enter for paragraph breaks" in the "post options").

omg, am I giving computer advice? RUN!!!!

Anonymous said...

When it comes to IE, I'm jailbait. I have a relationship with a very, very old version of IE at work. Mozilla, on the otherhand, is my boytoy at home. I hope you can work things out between your lovers.- G

LTM said...

ahh... and then you met Google Chrome. You naughty girl~ ;p

Jules said...

I on the other hand am on the other side of the fence. I use Firefox but use live writer for composing posts. IE is too slow, to prone to hacks for me.

I love your letter though and do agree with the button issue. Nicely done :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Unknown said...

I don't use IE and I only use Firefox. I don't know why you're having issues but I think for now, I'm going to stick with what I know.

CD

Hart Johnson said...

*giggles*

I think you try to do more than I do. I get frustrated with both now and again, for different reasons, but mostly I like that Firefox remembers stuff.

Southpaw said...

I’ve heard that the blogger issue is not FireFox it’s a google issue –just what I heard. Chrome has issue with google products too. Isn’t that amusing?

Cruella Collett said...

Jan - oooh, browser single sounds good! No annoying habits and quirks we'd have to put up with...

Nicole - we've all been there..

Mark - precicely!

Anonymo - I couln't agree more! Vivandi the Opel indeed...

Yvonne - we'll see, maybe I should send it to customer support? ;)

Alex - it's funny, because I had the feeling the entire rest of the world prefers Firefox, but I'm glad to see that's not the case.

Maria - haha, what if you accidentally post your blog to HPANA? I think Microsoft notebook would do the same trick, by the way ;) (And it sort of works in the html mode, but it requires *slightly* more work from me, and that's annoying...)

Summer - hmmm... Perhaps I need to try my luck with Chrome?

Barbara - good advice too! I didn't know about the line break thing. That is one of the things that annoy me with Firefox&Blogger.

Georgina - sounds like you've got a sweet deal ;)

Leigh - he seems to be the talk of the town...

Jules - I suppose the main reason I prefer I.E. is because it's what I'm used to. Firefox just isn't the same...

Cruella Collett said...

Clarissa - I think it's mainly about what we're used to. Firefox and Blogger CAN cooperate, but it takes a little extra work on my part.

Tami - yeah, I.E. has its quirks too, but to me they are smaller than the Firefox ones. Bah!

Holly - Chrome has Google issues? That's certainly ironic!

Dr. Mohamed said...

This is one of the most creative and clever product reviews I've ever read; you might want to try your hand at reviewing other products at various review sites.

BTW, can you two still be friends....I mean, once you're seen each others' internal codes and all, things could get awkward...:)?

nonamedufus said...

Huh? Wait a minute. Who knew you ladies thought faster was better...you're browsing, I mean.

Sandra said...

I like this conversation with the powers of world wide web capabilities. Very clever. And I learned a lot because I'm a big nerd when it comes to technology!

CA Heaven said...

Try Google Chrome. It's nice and fast and works very well with Blogger >:)

Cold As Heaven

Melody said...

Awwwww, poor Firefox!
I switched from IE to Firefox several months ago (and from Outlook to Thunderbird) and have been VERY happy. But then, I wasn't doing it for faster.

Gotta admit - I really like being my own little wallpapers. :)

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

I’m technology challenged, but I’m happy to say I understood and enjoyed this post. Thanks for the chuckle.

Cruella Collett said...

Mohamed - really? Thank you! And I suppose we'll have to be friends, seeing as Firefox is pretty hard to avoid entirely. I've learnt my lesson - don't eat where you browse...

Noname - tee hee, I'm surprised you're the first to pick up that one... ;)

Sandra - you learned a lot? Wow, I never knew I was educational! Glad you liked it :)

Ketil - I'm getting mixed signals here. Some say it's working with Blogger, others say it's not... I may have to try for myself....

Melody - oh, now I feel bad... I see I'm not the only one who is seeing other people, though, as Firefox seems to have a lot of "friends" around... ;)

Jane - I can be technology challenged too. It all depends on the technology. Any Apple product, for instance - they just don't like me (and it's mutual...)

Private said...

I.E is way better! Poor Firefox, though. Noone loves him.

Shaharizan Perez said...

This was hilarious. I love it and you bring up so many of the same issues I have with Firefox. Brilliant!

Jemi Fraser said...

I'm afraid of technical changes, so I've stuck with IE so far :)

Pat Tillett said...

I'm sorry to laugh at your misfortune, but this post was hilarious! Hope you work it out!

Cruella Collett said...

Alexandra - oh, I'm not so sure. There seems to be plenty of people loving him out there...

Chary - I suppose I could have tolerated certain quirks if it had been true love, but since Firefox and I was forced into this relationship in the first place, it's not wonder I'm not willing to settle...

Jemi - yeah, I'm a traditionalist too. I can't stand anything Apple, for instance.

Pat - hehe, I'm just glad you got a laugh out of it. And I think I'll survive ;)

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