Firefox

This week we'll take a peek at the latest browser from Mozilla - Firefox 2.0. This column was prompted by an e-mail I received from a very concerned reader who wondered what the effect would be on his computer should he decide to switch from Microsoft's Internet Explorer to the new Firefox. In addition, the reader was wondering if he could still be able to do the same things and whether or not the rest of Microsoft would remain the same. First, I will begin with the response that I gave to the reader.

AOL has released the latest version of its Netscape browser. Netscape 8.0 is based on the popular Firefox, an open source Web browser which originated from Mozilla. Previous versions of Netscape were based on Mozilla. However, the Netscape 8.0 release and future versions of the browser will be based on Firefox. Netscape 8.0 will offer better ease of use for beginners and stronger security features. Netscape 8.0 will use a dual engine for determining trusted sites - one based on Internet Explorer and the other on Firefox.

Changes are pending for Mozilla browser users, as support and security updates for the Firefox 3.6 browsers end on April 24, according to a Mozilla blog post. Firefox 3.6.28 will be the last release in the 3.6 release series. Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2 users are urged to upgrade their operating systems prior to the release of Firefox 13, which is due to be released in June. Read more at http://bit.ly/H9Bctu . April 24 also will mark the date set for the launch of Mozilla's upcoming Firefox 12 browser release.

This week, the mini laptop spotlight is on the Acer Aspire one. This is one of the first ultra-mobile laptops featuring Intel's new Atom processor. This stylish mini laptop weighs less than two pounds and comes in four different colors - Gemstone/Saphhire blue, which is my personal favorite; seashell white; golden brown; and coral pink. The Aspire one runs with a choice between two operating systems - Linpus Linux Lite or Windows XP Home. Among the one's many features are an 8.9-inch screen featuring resolution up to 1024 by 600, up to 1GB of RAM, a built-in WiFi connection, a 5-in-1 card reader for SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO and xD media, three USB 2.0 ports, an external VGA display port, headphone/speaker/line-out jack, a microphone-in jack and an ethernet port.

This week I will focus on a question taken from the mailbag involving Window's Autorun feature. Linda S. writes: "Have over 2000 pictures in folders on my Vista Windows and when I save them to a CD and play the CD it shows all of the pictures on a slide show. This has been going on for about two months. Thinking it was because I was using different brand of CDs but this is also true of the flash drive. How on earth do I get it back to showing folders as it so fast for me to open up a folder but on a slide with over 2000 pictures it takes so long.

Talk of the Windows Vista Express Upgrade coupon program has been traveling around the Net for a few months now. Last week, Microsoft finally made its official announcement outlining the program. The program will enable anyone purchasing a Windows Vista-capable PC between Oct. 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007, from select distributors and system builders to receive a free or heavily discounted upgrade coupons to get the new Vista operating system. The program will benefit both the computer industry as well as the consumers, especially with the Vista release being pushed back.

It appears that the browser wars of yesteryears have returned this month with a bit of a twist. This time we are presented with new browsers from Mozilla, Yahoo! and Microsoft. Mozilla released the latest version of its Firefox 2 Release Candidate 3 (RC 3). While this is not an official final release, it will give users a good idea of what to expect. Firefox is an awesome browser and a great alternative to the standard ones that most computer users are accustomed to using.

This is my last column of the year, so I thought it would be time for a year-end technology in 2009 recap. This isn't a month-by-month recap, but more of a top eight most notable list. First up are my beloved netbooks. Netbooks have been the technology game changers since they first debuted. They have caused a chain of reaction that has led to cheaper computing options such as full-sized laptops for less then $300. Windows XP's life was extended thanks to netbooks much to the delight of Windows users.

Netbooks, netbooks and more netbooks! OK, so it's no secret, I love netbooks! But I'm getting to the point where I will probably have to commit myself into tech rehab soon. Tech rehab - the state of mind I must put myself into when a bit of technology comes around that engulfs me. I've gone there only once before, back in the early 90s when the Internet first became more accessible to the public. I was totally addicted to the Internet during the pre-Web days. Back then, that was long distant Internet access via telnet (i.e.

The Fourth Annual Desktop Linux Summit will kick off Monday and Tuesday at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. This extraordinary event is the only such happening dedicated exclusively to desktop Linux. The event is sponsored by nearly four dozen companies ranging from Linux operating system distributors and software distributors to Linux magazines and online communities. Numerous familiar names will be represented at the event, such as Novell, Linspire, RedHat, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Xandros, HP, Via Technologies, TUX, Linux Journal, KDE, Knome, FarStone, Borders and The University of Phoenix.

Changes are pending for Mozilla browser users, as support and security updates for the Firefox 3.6 browsers end on April 24, according to a Mozilla blog post. Firefox 3.6.28 will be the last release in the 3.6 release series. Windows 2000 and Windows XP SP2 users are urged to upgrade their operating systems prior to the release of Firefox 13, which is due to be released in June. Read more at http://bit.ly/H9Bctu . April 24 also will mark the date set for the launch of Mozilla's upcoming Firefox 12 browser release.

This is my last column of the year, so I thought it would be time for a year-end technology in 2009 recap. This isn't a month-by-month recap, but more of a top eight most notable list. First up are my beloved netbooks. Netbooks have been the technology game changers since they first debuted. They have caused a chain of reaction that has led to cheaper computing options such as full-sized laptops for less then $300. Windows XP's life was extended thanks to netbooks much to the delight of Windows users.

This week I will focus on a question taken from the mailbag involving Window's Autorun feature. Linda S. writes: "Have over 2000 pictures in folders on my Vista Windows and when I save them to a CD and play the CD it shows all of the pictures on a slide show. This has been going on for about two months. Thinking it was because I was using different brand of CDs but this is also true of the flash drive. How on earth do I get it back to showing folders as it so fast for me to open up a folder but on a slide with over 2000 pictures it takes so long.

Netbooks, netbooks and more netbooks! OK, so it's no secret, I love netbooks! But I'm getting to the point where I will probably have to commit myself into tech rehab soon. Tech rehab - the state of mind I must put myself into when a bit of technology comes around that engulfs me. I've gone there only once before, back in the early 90s when the Internet first became more accessible to the public. I was totally addicted to the Internet during the pre-Web days. Back then, that was long distant Internet access via telnet (i.e.

Are you an online shopper who loves combing the Internet for the best possible buys? Wouldn't it be nice to shop for your favorite stuff and have someone else help pay? You can do just that with Microsoft's Live Search Cashback program. Using the Live Search Cashback program is quite simple - search, shop and save. First you go to the Live Search Web site at www.live.com . In the search field, type in what you're looking to purchase. Next, look for the special cashback symbol and click it to activate.

This week, the mini laptop spotlight is on the Acer Aspire one. This is one of the first ultra-mobile laptops featuring Intel's new Atom processor. This stylish mini laptop weighs less than two pounds and comes in four different colors - Gemstone/Saphhire blue, which is my personal favorite; seashell white; golden brown; and coral pink. The Aspire one runs with a choice between two operating systems - Linpus Linux Lite or Windows XP Home. Among the one's many features are an 8.9-inch screen featuring resolution up to 1024 by 600, up to 1GB of RAM, a built-in WiFi connection, a 5-in-1 card reader for SD, MMC, MS, MS PRO and xD media, three USB 2.0 ports, an external VGA display port, headphone/speaker/line-out jack, a microphone-in jack and an ethernet port.

This week, Mozilla will launch the latest version of its Firefox Web browser - Firefox 3. Users can expect a great collection of updates in the new version. Firefox 3 is based on the Gecko 1.9 Web-rendering platform, which comes with more than 15,000 updates. The updates offer improvements in performance, stability, ease of use and more. Firefox 3 will be available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms. Read more about Firefox 3 at www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ . The folks at Mozilla are trying to set a Guinness World Record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours.

Today, I'm taking an e-mail from my mailbag. Mary J. writes: "About one and a half to two months ago, I started having a pop up stating my 'Internet Explorer had encountered a problem and needed to shut down,' which it does. This occurs in a variety of places from my e-mail box to a variety of Web sites. I can't pin it down to one spot. Any suggestions?" First, I needed a little additional information about her system. So I asked her what operating system she was using and which version of Internet Explorer she had. She was running Windows XP SP2 and Internet Explorer 7. Next, I asked if she remembered installing anything right before her troubles began.

This week we'll take a peek at the latest browser from Mozilla - Firefox 2.0. This column was prompted by an e-mail I received from a very concerned reader who wondered what the effect would be on his computer should he decide to switch from Microsoft's Internet Explorer to the new Firefox. In addition, the reader was wondering if he could still be able to do the same things and whether or not the rest of Microsoft would remain the same. First, I will begin with the response that I gave to the reader.

Talk of the Windows Vista Express Upgrade coupon program has been traveling around the Net for a few months now. Last week, Microsoft finally made its official announcement outlining the program. The program will enable anyone purchasing a Windows Vista-capable PC between Oct. 26, 2006, and March 15, 2007, from select distributors and system builders to receive a free or heavily discounted upgrade coupons to get the new Vista operating system. The program will benefit both the computer industry as well as the consumers, especially with the Vista release being pushed back.