The Firemonger Project

IZ Reloaded writes "The Firemonger Project is an attempt to create a multilingual easy-to-use compilation CD with Firefox, Thunderbird and an excellent selection of plugins (Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Shockwave and Sun Java), extensions (Adblock, Googlebar, Hotmail tabs, SessionSaver, ScrapBook and more), Firefox and Thunderbird themes, related programs (Firetune and Backupfox) and a comprehensive beginner's guide. Everything you need to start up with and get the most out of Firefox and Thunderbird. There's also a lite version for download."

Comments

licenses???

[Anonymous Coward]

no linux distribution on earth includes those plugins, how are they getting away with it?
why don't the linux distro makers adopt their strategy?

Re:licenses???

[MadFarmAnimalz]

no linux distribution on earth includes those plugins

The obvious stares you in the face, Anonymous Coward, and yet you refuse to accept it. Do you know of a reason why only earthbound beings can make linux distributions?

how are they getting away with it?

Well, before this /. frontpage story they were small and obscure and the risk of getting their asses hauled into court were negligible. Now...

why don't the linux distro makers adopt their strategy?

I'm not sure that "License? What license? We're too small and this project is too dumb to bother with that. Dude, Chill!" qualifies as an actual strategy.

I think you're missing something.

[bigtallmofo]

they should already have internet connection, in which case there should be no reason for making this on a CD unless I am missing something.

The idea behind this is to encourage more people to use Firefox. Giving a CD with everything needed is preferable to sending a link to certain friends/family because a CD sitting on your desk is a constant reminder to install Firefox. Also, some people don't think software is real unless they're given real media to install it with. Why does AOL go to all the expense to send out their CDs? Because it's more effective to get people to install it than many other techniques (giving out a phone number or link for instance).

Why not Improve it first?

[Famatra]

There is still a lot of features lacking in Thunderbird, partly because I do not see many people incorporating other GPL software into it (are there still licensing issues, or is it fully GPL/LGPL now?).

Things that Thunderbird lacks is:
*Any type of attachment based filters (if it has an attachment, size, etc.). For fuck sakes, even outlook *express* has attachment based filters.
*Auto compacting of folders. When you delete something it really isn't deleted and your folders can grow to huge sizes unless it is 'compacted'.
*Auto expirary of mail. Kmail has it (http://kmail.kde.org/features.html) why not Thunderbird?
*A lot more, just look at some features that have been requested over the past few *years*.

A little less self congradulations, especially with regards to Thunderbird, is in order I think.

Wrong !

[CdBee]

Thunderbird supports auto-compacting of folders and has for several releases now. It's an option, unticked by default, in the Options panel.

Re:This is a great strategy!

[pjbgravely]

So, When you parents call, have a bookmark setup so they can find their IP address.
Then SSH into their box, and install the software. Much easier than phone tech support.

Translation

[pipingguy]

All the automated translation efforts "yo mamma, sup, homey, you mammo dogface to the bananapathch?" need to be based on local lingo.

I speak fairly good French, but translating this to something that could be understood by a second-language French learner is quite the challenge.

But that's OK, because the language is always devolving and marketing is our friend.

Re:Drop TBE!

[amber_of_luxor]

The alternative: Tab Mix Plus

Last time I looked t Tab Mix Plus it didn't have nerly as many tab options as Tabbrowser Extensions.

• Close tabs left
• Close tabs right
• Close other tabs

are probably the extensions I use the most, that are missing from your suggestion.

Amber