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Come On Baby, Light Your Fire!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas

Bob Stewart, our very own Social Media Guru, Community Builder and Creative Mind Extraordinaire,suggested to me that I try FIREFOX, a Mozilla browser, instead of my Internet Explorer. Hum...I smiled and said I would but subconsciously my head was shaking back and forth while crossing my arms. Nope, huh uh, no way, not a chance, not me.


crackedegg.jpg image by dabydollI'm a tough egg to crack. From the beginning of time I have been a die-hard Internet Explorer fan. In my mind and my world it ran my entire puter!

My VISTA and my IE have been really knocking heads. I couldn't load Active X, Flash, Java, play any games and of course...the infamous ERROR MESSAGE on Active Rain was driving me nuts. I couldn't even pull up a video or watch YouTube.com.

My emotions were scrambled (pun intended).

As far as I was concerned you could tar and feather me, tie me up over a bonfire or make me wear cement shoes while you dropped me into Lake Livingston but I would NOT MESS UP MY PUTER FOR FIREFOX.

After tweaking and exploring and maximizing and decompressing and loading and unloading programs that still wouldn't work...After spending a small fortune at the "we can fix it store", I cratered. Yep, I did.

I typed in FIREFOX.COM.

I just knew I would hear a tick, tick. tick. "BLAM" and that would be the end of my puter.

I clicked LOAD FIREFOX. Before I could bolt out of the room "voila" it was loaded. I skipped the tutorial (because I only like learning the hard way) and was then looking at a very attractive "user friendly" looking screen. Needless to say I have to admit I was wrong and Bob was right. Active Rain is moving faster and cleaner than ever (gee, I guess it wasn't all their fault), I'm playing my games today with everything working and life is copacetic. Simply by listening to Bob I have wiped out so many of my challenges and for free! I can go back and forth between FIREFOX and INTERNET EXPLORER in the blink of an eye.

So, Come On Baby, Light Your Fire!

Try it today my friends and let Bob and I know how you like it. If you're like us you will love it!Your key to a successful Real Estate Transaction is in the Hands of Your Agent, Brooks Prime Properties.

Comments (36)

Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Good call Deb - so many don't understand that you can use both, even at the same time.  No learning curve, faster, more forgiving, FREE, and better features, plugins and less freezes and lockups.  Again, good call!! :-)

Jan 24, 2009 12:40 AM
Kathy Fisher
Parker Properties - Decatur, TX
Realtor Wise County Texas

Hey Girlfriend, I related to EVERYTHING you said about Firefox. I mean I litterally thought IF I download it, my computer will explode, it's going to freeze up, I'm going to loose EVERYTHING, ect...

SO, I downloaded on the office computer first!!!! LOL It worked fine and so I downloaded to my laptop. As previously stated however, I do have to keep IE because our MLS and SO MANY other programs won't run through Firefox. But for faster surfing, I use it most of the time now.

GREAT POST! Take care and Happy SELL'ng.........kat sig

 

Jan 24, 2009 01:56 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Deb, I am SO glad you wrote about this.  I am having a terrible time with AR and IE (and can't get in AR at ALL from AOL).  I thought it was my computer and I'm afraid as well it's going to crash if I download anything else.........hmm, time to back up and TRY firefox.  But I'm sure glad I'm not alone.  PS--If you don't see me you know what happened :)

Jan 24, 2009 02:03 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Deb,   Just stopping by to say Hi.  When y'all coming to Kerrville?

Jan 24, 2009 02:09 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Deb I could not even imagine using IE over Firefox. Firefox is the bomb for so many reasons including the awesome SEO tools, faster loading time, security, and if you computer turns off it comes back to where you last left off.

Jan 24, 2009 02:12 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Deb, I was the same way.  My teen kept telling me to get with it too.  I use Firefox now, but like you, I still need explorer because our local MLS won't work with anything but explorer. 

Jan 24, 2009 03:01 AM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Deb:

Very interesting, I must give this a try. Thanks for sharing it with us. Hope all is well with you.

Jan 24, 2009 03:11 AM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Deb, welcome aboard. Mozilla, firefox and Safari are so much more user friendly, safe and faster than IE, it blows the mind and they have now surpassed IE as a web browser. I only wish the rest of the tech world that builds web pages and design would make their sites compatible....like NetFlix. They have not figured it out. Either way, it is tons of fun

Bo

Jan 24, 2009 03:45 AM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Deb - I'm going to look into this (wink) ...but subconsciously my head is shaking back and forth! Huh uh! I might be a little like you were!  

Jan 24, 2009 03:49 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Hi Deb,
I've been us FF for a long time and would never go back to IE.  My guess is you will soon be a "born again FFer".  I believe it is more secure BTW.

Jan 24, 2009 05:09 AM
Bob Stewart
ActiveRain - Seattle, WA
ActiveRain Ambassador

:-)

Pay it forward Deb, fantastic!

Jan 24, 2009 06:00 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Deb, I've been using Firefox for a very long time now- and I love it! The only time I use IE is when forced to, by some site that requires it, and then I'm resentful of the force! Go for it, Girl! You might find yourself at some point going back and forth less and less.....

Debi

Jan 24, 2009 06:56 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker

Hey Deb!  I was scared of making that change too, and it took me awhile to remember not to click that IE button, but now I ONLY use FF except for the MLS.  So much easier, faster - just a better experience.

Jan 24, 2009 10:00 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Tony and Darcy, Mine won't either! But, it's easy enough to switch between the two if I have to go there.

Sherry, They told me months ago but I'm just a stubborn person. I just couldn't see it.

Bruce, I wish I had not been so sssslllloooowwww....picking up on this.

Gary, I'm sure there are problems with it. Like not being able to view my MLS with it. But at least we can switch back and forth. My IE won't let me do anything BUT look at the MLS. Go figure.

Dan, I may even try some more widgets now! How cool.

Randall, I may just try it! I'm really getting my feet wet now!

Jan 24, 2009 11:58 PM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Hal, I wonder the same thing. I'm trying not to be afraid of change.

Russell, I was tickled to see Liz back too. I've been so worried about her. Thank heavens she's okay.

Bruce and Mary, Let me know how it works when you try it! I do hope you like it. I sure do.

Missy, As always, you're ahead of the curve my friend! I've lost many a post.

Brad, you can thank your buddy Bob for that. I do. I love it so far!

Kathy, long time no hear! Good to see you again. Yep, I like it too. I guess with enough programs we will be able to do most anything now. I'm empowered...

Carole, You won't crash! Please let me know how this goes! I will love to hear your feedback. Good luck and don't be afraid. If I've helped one person here then I've done my job.

Jan 25, 2009 12:07 AM
Deb Brooks
Brooks Prime Properties Wichita Falls Texas - Wichita Falls, TX

Ricki, I would love to visit. Scott's been talking about it recently too. Maybe soon...

Bill, I love the fact that it takes me right back to where I left off~awesome.

Susan, nothing will be perfect I guess but the combo allows us to enjoy more!

Alan, Oh my...try it Alan. You must. You must. Let me know if you like it.

Bo, I'm sure a fan now too!

Carol, Believe me! Let me be your guinee pig...it works.

Cynthia, You betchya. I'm the new FF'er. LOL

Bob, YOU'RE THE MAN, MAN!

Debi, I'm so glad I finally tried it. Bob had told me this several times...I just closed my mind.

Lisa, Good to hear from you my friend. How's life? Running faster I guess now that you're an FF'er.

Hal, I wonder the same thing. I'm trying not to be afraid of change.

Russell, I was tickled to see Liz back too. I've been so worried about her. Thank heavens she's okay.

Bruce and Mary, Let me know how it works when you try it! I do hope you like it. I sure do.

Missy, As always, you're ahead of the curve my friend! I've lost many a post.

Brad, you can thank your buddy Bob for that. I do. I love it so far!

Kathy, long time no hear! Good to see you again. Yep, I like it too. I guess with enough programs we will be able to do most anything now. I'm empowered...

Carole, You won't crash! Please let me know how this goes! I will love to hear your feedback. Good luck and don't be afraid. If I've helped one person here then I've done my job.

 

Jan 25, 2009 12:15 AM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

I use FF off and on, but not regularly, so I think I'm going to start using it for my AR stuff.  Here's to AR and FF!

Jan 25, 2009 03:12 AM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

The last IE update I did practically ruined my whole internet experience. My wife had an online class she HAD to get to ... I loaded Firefox from scratch in about 5 minutes and she was in. I haven't turned back yet. It is faster, faster, faster. Everything is faster. I think I even drive to work faster now.

Jan 25, 2009 05:58 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I use Firefox all the time and have for years. Of course, I could use Safari, but I can't use IE on a Mac. Which is just as well. I vastly prefer FF. And the tabs have saved me more than once "Do you want to close all your tabs?" No, I don't want to close anything, I hit the wrong key by mistake, heh, heh.

Elizabeth Weintraub Land Park Real Estate Agent in Sacramento

Jan 28, 2009 05:41 AM
Kim Southern- "Sold" with Southern Hospitality
Century 21 In the Mountains - Ellijay, GA
Greetings from the North Georgia Mountains!

Deb: My computer crashed in mid-December (Merry Christmas...). I took it to a local computer repair shop (Blue Ridge Computers...I can't say enough good about them!). The tech was able to resurrect my computer with everything intact, but he switched my browser to Firefox. He said it wasn't prone to as many glitches as Explorer. I'm a fan now, too.

Feb 03, 2009 11:08 PM