Customer Reviews

Don't Click on the Blue E!: Switching to Firefox

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This book is basically a primer on making the switch to Firefox as your web browser of choice. While Firefox is a better browser in many ways, it is not without its problems. For example, occasionally you run across a website that is poorly written and has sections that are specific to Microsoft Explorer and Microsoft update will only allow Explorer to use the update feature.

So, why change from Internet Explorer? Even with the newer versions it always seems to be a step or two behind other Internet browsers. Firefox is wonderfully convenient with tabbed browsing, better support for web standards, greater user control, and security that is so much better than Explorer as to make Explorer security appear to be non-existent. It has better pop-up blocking and far fewer infections from spyware and other malicious code. Since switching two years ago and adding GhostSurf I have not had any spyware or other infections. I spend a lot of time on the Internet and would become infested on an almost daily basis, but not anymore.

This book is designed for the person who wants to make the switch or wants to try out Firefox. Firefox can run alongside with Internet Explorer so you can learn how to use it while still having the ability to use Internet Explorer's update service and similar Microsoft only items. The authors do a good job of explaining how to setup Firefox, how to use it effectively and even how to tweak it with extensions so it works the way you want it to work. "Don't Click on the Blue e!" is highly recommended and an excellent resource for people looking to improve their browsing experience.

Since I've already read and reviewed a couple of books on the Firefox browser, I didn't expect much new material in the latest title to hit the shelves... Don't Click On The Blue E! - Switching To Firefox by Scott Granneman (O'Reilly). But to my pleasant surprise, this actually was better than I initially thought...

Chapter List: The Problem With The Blue E; Installing And Configuring Firefox; Firefox Features; Killer Firefox Add-ons; Advanced Firefox; Other Web Browsers; Firefox Options; Index

First off, it doesn't look like a typical O'Reilly book. It's a multicolored cover with a full color wolf on the front (there just *has* to be an animal on the front!). It also doesn't spend a lot of time in the purely technical arena, either. The tone is much lighter than what you'd normally see in an O'Reilly title. The author is unabashedly a Firefox fan (and an Internet Explorer basher), so you'll get plenty of opinion interspersed with the facts and details of Firefox. If you're looking for an unbiased comparison, look elsewhere. Granneman doesn't have much nice to say about IE. But it does make for a fun read.

As for content, there's the typical coverage on features, security, flexibility, and all the "selling points" you've heard about Firefox. But there's also some material that wasn't in every other book. In the first chapter, he covers the history of browser development from the beginning up until now. You've probably heard and read all of this before, but having the story all in one place gives you an appreciation for where we've been and how far we've come. I also liked his coverage of Firefox extensions. Every author has his own favorite ones that make the browsing experience special. Reading about how others use Firefox is always useful in that it gives me ideas on how I can alter my browsing experience. Finally, Granneman does an *excellent* job of referencing all his information at the end of each chapter. You'll find an abundance of links to additional sites and white papers that will add to your understanding. Those references are almost worth the price of the book by themselves...

Even if you've already picked up a Firefox book, you might want to consider getting this one also. It's a fun read that will definitely add to your Firefox knowledge and experience...

Firefox is a growing phenomenon, a Web browser alternative to Internet Explorer that the book argues in many ways is superior to IE (hence the book's title). This book talks about why switching to Firefox is a good idea and also discusses in detail its many features. It's also an enjoyable and fast read. Some sections you can skim over (if you have experience using Web browsers as most of us do), and throughout the book you can refer back to a specific section. In fact, I did just that to find out how to install ForecastFox, a Firefox extension which forecasts the weather in whatever location you specify over the next several days.

And yes extensions, themes (aka "skins"), and tabs are just three of many features that makes Firefox much more fun than IE, and are features discussed in this book. It starts off with a brief history of the web browser origins, goes through the "epic browser wars" of the mid to late 1990s and brings us to today. Next up is a chapter about installing and configuring Firefox (reasonably easy to do). And then is a chapter about Firefox's features, everything from how various menu choices work to customizing your toolbar. Chapter Four discusses Firefox "Extensions" (or plug ins) and themes which let you customize your version of Firefox even more. The book's last chapter is devoted to items "power users" might enjoy, although clearly most users with a little practice could quickly learn. There's also back matter describing other browsers available. It's nice to know there are alternatives to the "dreaded" IE.

I regret not "switching" to Firefox sooner than I have, but better late than never. I'm glad a book like this is available for those of us choosing to join the trend towards Firefox. And with Microsoft reportedly planning to charge users for the next version of IE, I suspect more and more people will be using Firefox in the future.

The focus of the book is on convincing/helping people to switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox. However, the "where/what/when/why/how" to switch to Firefox is sandwiched between a chapter on the "history of the browser" and a decent sized appendix on other browsers worth checking out.

Having been a Firefox fan for a while now, I skipped over the "how to install" and "firefox basics" sections. I jumped to the chapers on Firefox add-ons and advanced features. While I did learn a few new things, I think if you are already pretty comfortable with Firefox there won't be any revelations.

If you don't know why it matters how you browse the internet, the author makes a number of persuasive arguements as to why Firefox should be your browser of choice.

Having said that, what I really enjoyed the brief history of the browser from the beginning of the "WWW" to the present. The timeline leading up to the Netscape vs Microsoft Browser Wars, the hiccups and missteps along the way by various companies, and the "genealogy" of the various browsers was as interesting as it was educational.

I enjoyed this book. If Firefox is something you've thought about installing or you've installed it and want to make sure you're getting the most out of it, this definately a book you should check out.

There's been a lot of news about the benefits of the Firefox browser, and Scott Granneman's Don't Click On The Blue E! explores the new features of Firefox, which eliminates many of the vulnerabilities Explorer holds. Surf faster, safely, and customize Firefox's look while controlling the pop-up ads and other problems, using Don't Click On The Blue E! as you guide. Perfect for Explorer veterans who have been considering switching rather than fighting Explorer.

Is there an alternative to Internet Explorer on a Microsoft machine? This book certainly claims so. It is a strong endorsement of the new Firefox. Whether or not this might be so to you, the book is certainly a well put explanation of Firebox. In some ways better than a standard text on a given computer program. Have you ever noticed that most of those pointedly ignore the details of a competing product? So that a book on Oracle's 10g might shun any nitty gritty comparison with IBM's DB2. Here, there is very pointedly a detailed feature comparison with IE. Not all the features of IE or Firebox are covered. But enough to give you an idea of the differences. When comparisons are made, there is no mincing about.

Quite aside from all this, the book also discusses Firebox being able to easily handle the wildly popular RSS and blog feeds. Though any unique abilities here will surely be transitory. The browser contest may be heating up, but Firefox isn't shown here as having any lasting advantage that IE [or Opera or...] can't implement in their next iterations.

With an increasing number of people disenchanted with the flaws, bugs and security holes in the world's most popular web browser (still) switching to the current open source champion, Firefox, it would seem timely to release a volume titled Don't Click on the Blue E. The number of books on Firefox is increasing by leaps and bounds - so far I've read three, fortunately all have their place. Don't Click on the Blue E is O'Reilly's latest entry into the market. It is targeted at the absolute beginner. I found it to have the usual O'Reilly quality: well-written, well-edited and well-designed.

That said, it is not without flaws. I hate most of the first chapter and see it as a waste of space. 35 pages mainly of history (some of the Net, and some of browsers) is almost self-indulgent. Certainly almost all buyers would not miss the information if it was reduced to two or three pages in the introduction or first chapter. There is some useful reasoning to justify the shift from Internet Explorer to Firefox at the end, but the rest needs a good going over with the red pencil.

I also found that for a book titled Don't Click on the Blue E, there was not enough information of the "in IE you did it this way, and in Firefox you do it this way" type. The book is a good entry-level guide to Firefox but I would have hoped for more guidance for people switching from IE to Firefox.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself. First, it has to be said that O'Reilly have done away with their usual cover and given us a bright orange cover with a graphic of a fox about to bite a familiar icon composed of a blue 'e.' I like it, this is definitely an O'Reilly book targeted outside their usual technically savvy market and deserves a different cover style.

The book feels light, despite the 250 pages, and is split into only five chapters and two appendices. As you can imagine, each chapter is a huge chunk of information, but the light writing style combined with a look that is heavy on illustrations and sidebars make it an easy read. Once again, this is a departure from O'Reilly's usual style but well suited to the likely reader. I also thought that they had used a lower grade paper than usual, probably to keep the retail cost down. As this is not a reference book to be kept for years, I didn't see this as a flaw.

I've already mentioned the first chapter; the second is devoted to installing and configuring Firefox. This is full of useful information and good illustrations to explain how to set up the browser in detail. The third chapter is how to use and manage it, covering topics such as the toolbars, the search box and adding engines, the menus, tabbed browsing and pop up blocking. The fourth deals with the add ons - plugins, themes and extensions. The final chapter is a bit of a grab bag. Titled "Advanced Firefox," it covers such topics as Live Bookmarks and searching in pages. Each chapter has a well-researched and useful "Where to Learn More" section pointing to web sites with tools and information.

This is probably not a book for the average Slashdot reader. You may like to buy a copy so you can lend it to Uncle Bob or Aunt Susan after you spend another wasted afternoon cleaning the viruses and spyware out of their PC, but I doubt you'll want a copy for yourself. Taken as a whole this is a well-written, thorough book for the absolute beginner with one or two minor flaws. Despite the book's flaws I still find myself recommending it. If you would like a better look yourself, O'Reilly have their usual page of contents and two excerpts from the book.

I would recommend this book over Firefox and Thunderbird Garage for more serious readers. Garage has an occasional quirky tone that might annoy some -- for others it might be a benefit to learning. It also has a little more detail in some areas. Of course if you want a book that covers both applications, then Garage is the only book I've found. Don't Click on the Blue e is a good volume for a beginner who doesn't need the coverage of both Firefox and Thunderbird of the "Garage" book and would like a little more detail.

This is a very good intro to Firefox. In fact, if it were a commercial product, this should be even more widely distributed because it does a convincing job of showing why alternatives to Internet Explorer are necessary.

Of course, being an O'Reilly book, you can count on it have good substance. This book does. It also is easy to read. The first part gives an excellent history of the Internet and browsers (I remember those days!). Unfortunately, instead of highlighting why Firefox is needed, it points out many of the pitfalls of IE and then just jumps in with here-is-Firefox. Sure, some of the blanks can be filled in, but it would have been helpful if the book did that more directly.

The how-to-use sections are straight forward and have many helpful screenshots. The section on other alternatives to IE (Camino, Opera, Konqueror, Safari, OmniWeb, and Lynx) is very good and open minded. There are many helpful tips and watchful gotchas pointed out. Definitely a good book for the subject.

I don't consider myself a big IE fan; I know the standard browser is bloated, horribly tied to Windows, and has some serious security issues especially for those not on XP SP2. Even so, this title has a lot of biased IE bashing, one-sided arguments, and unfair feature comparison. I often felt like I was reading politics-inspired anti-Microsoft propaganda rather than a Benefits of FireFox book.

From the standpoint of an average computer user brand-new to FireFox and who has never installed or used the browser before, this title is just OK. Being the third book on FireFox I've read in the last month alone, I found this title provides the least intermediate / advanced information and the most fluff and filler. Chapter 2 is dedicated to graphically showing you how to install FireFox, with a page-length section dedicated to web sites the author thinks you might want to bookmark. Chapter 3 walks you thru the basic interface; things like the menus, toolbars, the on-line help file - with several notes and stand-alone sections telling you what search engines the author likes, some definitions of common internet-related terms, general comments. etc. Chapter 4 deal primarily with extensions and plug-ins you can download and install. The author gives you an introduction into "how", then continues page after page with overview of his favorites extensions. The last chapter is reserved for covering intermediate level browser features (some of which are native, some of which are downloadable extensions), as well as changes to the browser itself you can make by directly editing configuration files.

An appendix is dedicated to Other Web Browsers, none of which are IE-based IE replacements (Avant Browser, SlimBrowser, etc.) that can provide a more robust and secure environment, giving you built-in popup blockers, ad-blockers, tabbed browsing, etc. If you are going to dedicate space to tell the reader about other browsers in a Switch To FireFox title, some acknowledgement of IE alternatives would have gone a long way in making the title less one-sided against Microsoft technology.

While not a bad title, the information is really only for those that have yet to download and use FireFox on their own. Anyone who has the basics of FireFox down already will probably not find much more information about the base-browser than what they already know. Although an easy and enjoyable read, one is left feeling like this title is capitalizing on current browser marketing trends more than anything else, and the mud-slinging and anti-IE jabs get annoying. Other introductory titles for FireFox (like ISBN: 0131870041) present the same basic information in half the space, while still other intermediate titles (like ISBN: 0596009283) provide the basics in one chapter and then really educate the user on advanced FireFox usage.

This book gives non-technical users a convenient roadmap for switching to Firefox, the next-generation web browser. It contains all the information needed to make a smooth transition. It covers migrating all your Favorites, settings, and customizations from your current browser (most likely Internet Explorer). The settings and options are all conveniently contained in Appendix B. There are plenty of screen captures to show you exactly how to make all the settings. Get this book, and start using Firefox! Ed L.