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Firefox slow on MacBooks?

S

specialist

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 4, 2004
30
0
I have had my MacBook for just over a week. When I got online, I immediately downloaded Firefox because I loved it on Windows. But I've noticed that after a little while, FF gets really slow - to the point where it is forever on the "Looking up [whatever website]" status. So I end up quitting FF, only to open again to the same problem.

So now I use Safari and Internet surfing is as smooth as ever.

Has this happened to anyone else?

And an addtional inquiry (excuse me if it is lame, I'm new to Macs and haven't really uninstalled programs): how do I go about completely ridding my Mac of FF? The FF website says to trash FF from the Applications folder, but I read somewhere else that I must do something with the Profiles folder. Step-by-step instructions, anyone?
 
realityisterror

realityisterror

macrumors 65816
Aug 30, 2003
1,354
1
Snellville, GA
You read something about the Preferences folder rather than Profiles.

Most applications create .plist files in home/Library/Preferences that can be removed but don't effect anything. If you like to keep everything clean you can find an applications files via Spotlight and remove them. If you're ever unsure of whether or not a file can be removed, don't guess ;). As a tentative rule of thumb, a .plist file or a folder of the application/publishers name in ~/Library/Application Support can be removed with little worry.

If you're nervous about deleting those files manually, consider an investment in AppZapper. Some consider it a waste of money as it replicates what you can do with Spotlight, but it might be worth a shot. I think you still get 5 free zaps :cool:
 
iMeowbot

iMeowbot

macrumors G3
Aug 30, 2003
8,634
0
Yes, the Firefox interface is kind of slow on Mac. It's not even so much that the browser is actually slow, but it's laggy and feels that way.

Camino does a better job with response. It's the same thing under the hood but doesn't go through quite so much API glop to get to the Mac GUI. The downside is that the slow interface glop is needed for all those Firefox extensions, so Camino won't run them. It's just peachy if you don't care about extensions, though.

Supposedly there will be a stable Mac Firefox with not-so-gloppy glop one of these days, but today isn't that day.
 
wmmk

wmmk

macrumors 68020
Mar 28, 2006
2,414
0
The Library.
the reason that firefox isn't a fast mac app is that firefox isn't a mac app. if you like the gecko rendering engine (used in all mozilla browsers) but want speed and a cocoa (or is it carbon?) interface, get camino.
my personal favorite rendering engine is WebKit, becasue it's the fastest stable one out there. therefore, I use safari.
 
S

specialist

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 4, 2004
30
0
Okay, that was simple. Thanks for the prompt assistance.

I'll move up to another browser once I become more Mac savvy.

:)
 
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