[tanstaafl]

Now that the changing version numbers seem to have slowed down is it really, really time that I moved from Ver 4 to Ver 11?

[anniebrion]

The version numbers have not slowed, there will be a new version every 6 weeks. V12 is due on the 24th April: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Releases

[John259]

Why not keep up-to-date with the official releases as soon as they come out.? Most people seem to find them very reliable.

It's probably worth installing Google Chrome as well just in case there ever is a problem.

Both Firefox and Chrome are now incrementing the first part of the version number where in the past they would have incremented the third part. Crazy marketing lunacy but harmless.

[tanstaafl]

Originally Posted by John259

Why not keep up-to-date with the official releases as soon as they come out.? Most people seem to find them very reliable.
<Snip>.

I suppose it's because, in the past, I've found that useful add-ons suddenly stop working and I have to hunt around for the reasons. Anyway, if there's a new update every 6 weeks I guess that I'd better bite the bullet. I shall act on the next Ver 11 nag screen.

[tanstaafl]

And no sooner said than the nag screen appears. OK, I'm now on Ver 11. The thing that slightly puzzles me is that, unlike previous upgrades, I can see no obvious difference. Are they all "behind the scenes" changes?

I remember reading on the forum a while ago that Firefox was having to compete in some sort of "versions war" and that discreet, fractional upgrades were a thing of the past. Is this so?

[John259]

Originally Posted by tanstaafl

The thing that slightly puzzles me is that, unlike previous upgrades, I can see no obvious difference. Are they all "behind the scenes" changes?

Yes, AFAIK there haven't been any significant user interface changes for ages.

[Esot-eric]

Originally Posted by tanstaafl

I suppose it's because, in the past, I've found that useful add-ons suddenly stop working and I have to hunt around for the reasons.

You could always go with the ESR version. It's built with businesses in mind that want a stable version with only security fixes.

The current ESR version is 10.0.3 and will be supported until after FF17 is released whereupon FF17 will become the new ESR.

[RobinOfLoxley]

Many add-ons will still work even though they say otherwise. Especially from v4 to now.

Others may advise on how to do that, I just bumble about and get things working.

[NewWorldMan]

Originally Posted by tanstaafl

I suppose it's because, in the past, I've found that useful add-ons suddenly stop working and I have to hunt around for the reasons.

It should be less troublesome going forward now. I think anything that worked in v10 will work in subsequent versions unless they use binaries.

Also, Chrome-style silent updates are not far way.