Hello -
Recently, Mozilla's Firefox browser introduced a few new features that
got me to remove Firefox on my Windows PC altogether. The features were
Hello, Camera Access (Android), and screen-sharing. Every single one
of those features did not sit well with me from a security perspective.
On top of that, Firefox seems to be splitting away from the Gecko
engine, the Gecko engine was the main reason for my using Firefox in the
first place - because I disliked the functional model of WebKits. If I
wanted a WebKit, I'd have used Chrome.
Then there is the interface - I prefer the Firefox 1 interface... in
fact, I prefer the Netscape Navigator 4's interface even better -
practical and informational. I like my status bar, and all my buttons
showing all the time, even if disabled. I like status indicators, which
includes grayed-out buttons. I also prefer the old settings screen
where the browser remembers the last settings tab, and I can see all the
settings without scrolling. I am still amazed at the fact that Firefox
would just abandon their core fans and move away to cater to others.
Debian's Gnome uses Iceweasel much like Windows uses IE.
MY QUESTION: Would Iceweasel also be incorporating those bothersome
features in the near future? If so, would it be possible to use Debian
without Iceweasel or any Mozilla product?
Window 7 coming to an end in 2020, and Windows 10 being essentially
spyware, I am seriously looking for an alternative system. I have been
using Debian on my 2nd computer for a few years now and I am quite
comfortable with the basics of the operating system so Debian is my
first choice. But if Iceweasel incorporates those Firefox features, I
would have to also switch away from Debian.
Thanks. - hk