Re: Why should ordinary user have to tweak the program after updating?

"Greywolf" <[email protected]> wrote in message 
news:[email protected]...
> From mozilla.support.thunderbird:
>
> On 14/11/2011 6:05 PM, Ron Hunter wrote:
> [...]
> > I have been using Firefox for as long as it has been in existence, even
> > by its previous names, and the current versions are the most stable I
> > have seen.  There are several things that users can do to assure
> > stability.  First, make a new profile if you are having strange problems
> > no one else seems to have.
> > Second, disable all your extensions, and see if that gets rid of your
> > instability.  If it does, then add them back 1/2 at a time, and find the
> > culprit.
> > Third, don't try to keep a FF session active for a month, or even a
> > week.  This kind of software isn't designed for long-term continuous 
> > use.
> > Fourth, make sure that if you use themes, and/or personas, they are
> > designed for your version.
> > Fifth,  Disable, or uninstall plugins you don't need, and USE.  This may
> > include Java, WMV, etc., IF you don't use them.
> > Sixth, make sure that you send crash reports to Mozilla.
> > Seventh, keep your version CURRENT.
> > Eighth, make sure that when you install a new version, your firewall
> > recognizes it.
> [...]
> Ron, I know you mean well, and it's all excellent advice.
>
> However, the days of leaving it up to the user are long past. The average 
> naive user, who just wants to surf ans facebook and such isn't going to do 
> any of this stuff. And IMO (s)he shouldn't have to. Releasing updates that 
> require precautionary maintenance in order to work as they should is 
> something that's OK for hobbyists, but not for ordinary users.
>
> Cross-posted to mozilla.dev.usability, where I'm probably being ignored. 
> ;-(.
>
> HTH
> Wolf K.

Why would a browser NOT be designed to have a session active for a month? I 
know Fx is not but Opera is so why not Fx? Why would you think a user should 
be delighted to have to continuously open and close Fx? It takes time to 
reopen the last session when that session has 50-100 tabs. Fx should be 
stable enough, without excessive RAM usage and proper release of RAM when 
minimized to the task bar for long periods, to not need to be closed and 
reopened more than once a month.  With Opera, you never shut down because 
that shuts down Unite and then others cannot fetch files off your file 
server, etc.  Besides who wants to have to restart Fx frequently? That is an 
irritant that should not be a part of any browser. Opera properly releases 
RAM on minimization. I read yesterday that Memshrink team says part of the 
RAM problem with Fx is memory leakage from extensions but if the RAM problem 
can be solved then Fx should be stable enough to not require shutdown except 
when one is forced to reboot their computer which for desktop users might be 
once or twice a month (Microsoft Tuesdays).