I downloaded the latest build of Mozilla Firebird a few nights ago, and i've been using it almost exclusively these past days to surf the Internet. My verdict: Internet Explorer (IE) 6 is finished as the "king of the browser hill" unless it does something quick. Microsoft has released a statement that IE6 SP1 will be the final standalone installation - does this mean that no further development will be done on IE? I'm not sure, but it sure sounds like it. Perhaps a bit of hubris has set in; after winning the browser wars, Microsoft doesn't see the need for further investment in IE.
And while Microsoft stands still, Mozilla is chugging away. While the full-client Mozilla may not be suitable for everyone (currently version 1.4 and includes everything you could ask for from an Internet + email browsing and editing suite), Firebird caters for those who prefer a simple, fast, and lean standalone browser; no frills, just usable to the max. To put it mildly, its a real kick-butt browsing app - downloads at about 6MB, doesn't require installation to work (just unzip into a folder, and you're set to go), and is blazingly fast (certainly faster than IE and perhaps marginally so over Mozilla 1.4). What more can you ask for from a browser? Note: comparisons between browsers made using the same Internet connection, accessing the same websites.
For a full list of reasons why you should switch to Firebird, read this. To download Firebird, use this link.
Don't just take my word for it, read some other excellent reviews by tech experts, here, here and here.
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