Install Firefox web browser alongside IE

[jrbarnett]

Not really a hardware suggestion, but software:

Install the latest stable version of the Firefox web browser, thus giving customers a choice of which they use (updated each time you update your builds).

Firefox is proven more secure than Internet Explorer, resulting in fewer support calls relating to spyware/adware issues, as well as being more standards compliant.

According to http://dellideastorm.com/article/show/62245, Dell are considering doing this.

Could Mesh not consider this as well?

[Davey W]

The general feel is that people would prefer less pre-installed which is why over the years what we include has been toned down quite a bit.

We'd rather not start picking what every customer should have installed by default to please a few at this time.

Perhaps a solution to this would actually be some sort of getting started html page as the home page in Internet Explorer with Firefox and perhaps other software of note/use.

On that thought, any other suggestions regarding software people would like to see?

Davey

[jrbarnett]

If that is indeed the case, can you have an option at installation of no software other than basic OS with drivers, CD/DVD burning software installed, or at least give this as an option at purchase time (with non essential software or without non essential software installed).

By this I mean no demo version of MS Office, no MS Works (but CD and license supplied), no Powerpoint viewer, no Java runtime, Tiscali internet supplied as a desktop icon to install if they don't have a current ISP rather than installed by default (so its not the default IE icon title - how many end users will know that "Tiscali Internet Access" is actually "Internet Explorer") etc. I realise that this means many people will have to install things to get a fully working system, and for those who aren't IT professionals it makes it more difficult to get them running, but its better from the perspective of getting a clean system configured the way they want with the software they need to use on it.

My own experience from is that I work in IT, and generally find that people who don't use the Internet Explorer web browser on Windows experience less in terms of adware/spyware and browser hijacking. Firefox was just a relatively easy change that could end up paying dividends in terms of fewer support calls relating to adware/spyware etc. It could easily have been Opera or another browser instead.

John

[munchie]

out of interest... do companies like mesh get paid "sponsorship" like deals for having all those stuff installed?

[DrATty]

I like Davey's idea; lots of optional software offered for installation on a clean OS installation. It would have to be easy though. Most knowledgeable users will probably carry on and re-install from scratch anyway.
I must give credit to MESH though. My PC was relatively uncluttered compared to other new systems I've seen and yet I could do a lot with what was there.
New users are likely to be disappointed with a basic Windows installation and that's where the catch lies. Vista is better than XP with respect to what the OS alone can do.

[Maffa]

The more people using Firefox, the more likely someone is going to start trying to hack into it.

Keep it quiet, thats what I say