I have split my previous thread into smaller (easier to answer) threads. Thank you for your replies.

I would like to have my web browser up to snuff with ol' Bill Gates Internet Explorer. What I mean by that is, a web browser that can do shockwave, flash, in browser video (quicktime, wmv etc..). Though konqueror looks cool, I was compelled to download and install mozilla firebird. The download was nothing more than a tarball. OK, so I extracted it to /usr/local/bin (which my normal user had no access to btw, I had to change the permissions using chmod 777, seems like a dangerous thing to do can someone comment?). Mozilla Firebird runs fine. Web browsing is very fast, the popup blocker is saving my innocent brain from subliminal advertising. I'm catching up to the Bill Gates army. How do I get video playback in the browser? By video playback, I mean quicktime, wmv, possibly mpeg.. From that same web page mentioned in #2, i saw xine-mozilla-plugin-0.2-031103.i586.rpm, is this the answer to all my problems? I ran it and it appeared to install, but there are no plugins listed in my web browser. I searched the mozilla plugins directory and copied the installed xine plugin (which I think is a symbolic link) to the mozilla firebird plugins directory, with no success.

Also, whenever I launch mozilla firebird, it is asking me to select a profile, and complaining that the default one is already in use, anyone seen this before?

Thanks again,

Murray

Usually when it asks you to select a profile, You have a mozilla window or Download Manager already open. So, close Download Manager and all open windows, then open Mozilla. This should fix your prob

yes that works, but why is that happening.. can i not open 2 browser windows without getting that prompt?

Yes you can, to open another window do Ctrl + N

OK, fine. though it would be nice if i could hit the shortcut and it opens a new window, no quesions asked.

Nextly.. what directory should I install firebird to? i see that /usr/local/ write rights get taken away when i reboot. where do mandrake users typically install this sort of thing?

thanks again

murray

Where you install depends on how the computer is used. If you're the only user (or if there's only one user account - eg, called "murray" - shared by lots of users), I'd just install to /home/murray/MozillaFirebird. Changing the ownership of root folders is generally not a Good Idea, and surfing the web as root is a recipe for disaster.

If your machine has more than one user who wants access to firebird, get them to do the same - it's just a case of copying the directory to their own home dir.

Can't help you with the video plugin thing, sorry...

Cheers,
M

Have you tried Opera? 7.21 seems to handle everything you throw at it.

After a late night of installing, Mozilla's looking pretty good now. I got the popup blocker working, most videos play right in the browser (quicktime is still flakey).

One thing I like about mozilla is the fonts, I can't seem to get the same look in firebird.

This is the way i get around it. Create a MozillaFirebirdLaunch.sh and insert the following:

#!/bin/bash
MozillaFirebird -remote "openURL($@www.google.co.uk, new-window)" ||
exec MozillaFirebird "$@";

Then chmod +x

Now you will be able to open up new Firebird windows without being prompted with the Profile in use message.

Swipe

COOL!
I am guessing the same thing applies for regular mozilla too?

As far as movies goes, install mplayer and the mplayer plugin. I know mplayer is included with the distro, but I don't remember whether I got the plugin from PLF or not...

URPMI makes worrying about stuff like that a non-issue. You may have to create a symbolic link if the mplayer plugin doesn't guess your plugin directory right. Same with the plugin you have already tried. Dig around for other mozilla plugin folders, the plug in is probably there.

File-> Open new TAB.

this makes a new browser TAB open (Like Excel), you can use it like to browsers, you just have to click the TAB at the top of the screen to switch between them.

murray_linux, don't forget to give Opera a try - you'll love the multiple windows.

yeah, but i'll hate the advertisements

Well, murray_linux, I've used Mozilla, Konqueror, Galeon, Epiphany, and Opera. I find that I can use Opera for 99% of the sites on Linux. I usually needed to switch browsers due to some plugin issue. Maybe I just don't understand Mozilla's mimetypes or don't know how to force Konqueror to open WMV files with Xine instead of KWrite despite explicitly telling Konq to open the friggin' WMV with Xine. Opera listens to the user. The only thing that sucks about it is that it's proprietary.