IE8, and tracking download status in Firefox.

Factual Questions
1

So I downloaded IE8 this weekend. I don’t like it. The tabs are long overdue, and it’s a lot more polished around the edges, but it’s soooo sloooow.

First off, any tips on speeding it up? Especially opening new tabs, which takes a couple of seconds (at a minimum), way too slow for me.

Now, before everyone jumps on me to switch to Firefox, Chrome or Safari, I have FF and Chrome already, and I do use them for a lot of browsing.

Here, however, is the only reason I like IE, and the only reason I still use it: when I download files, IE shows a download window, one that’s reflected on the Windows task bar (with percentage progress). When I’m downloading multiple files, I enjoy being able to see at a glance the status of all my downloads WITHOUT having to click on anything. Also, IE downloads stay downloading once I back out of a browser (I think you can get FF to do that, right? Add-on somewhere?).

Anyway. . . is there a way I can get either Firefox to track downloads like this, especially on the task bar? Honestly, it’s the only thing holding me back from junking IE entirely (and I say this as a Microsoft fan, by and large-- nothing personal Bill, I just need to change!). And while I like the “bare bones” style of Chrome, I’d rather use Firefox.

Any help?

2

I don’t know of a way to make Firefox show its download progress in the task bar, but go to Tools -> Options and there’s an option for showing the download window whenever you start a download. That window has a progress bar in it, and what I also like about it is that it’s a window that also lists prior downloads so you can track what you’ve already downloaded.

Also, I’m sure there’s an extension that lets you put a progress bar in the task bar, I’ve just never looked for one. But there’s an extension for everything!

3

I haven’t installed an extension for it and get a progress bar in the taskbar showing “x active downloads” (multiple machines and operating systems, perhaps not on all of them) but as **kushiel **says, it is a simple matter to enable the download manager window to remain visible and show the progress of multiple downloads.

I usually have this enabled and then click on the downloaded file’s name to install it or run it.

4

I recommend the download statusbar. You have a bar at the bottom of the window with all running and recently completed downloads, you can launch the files with a double-click.
There’s also the option of letting your virus scanner automatically scan all downloaded files.

5

Adrian, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for-- even includes the option of downloading after you quit Firefox.

Thanks!

6

Well, yeah – where did you think IE8 copied that idea from?