I use Firefox because for a long time I believed it was a superior and safer browser than Internet Explorer 6. And, while it is mostly stable on my Linux and Mac boxes, Firefox is a disaster on my Windows PC. It crashes, it leaks memory (very badly!), and add-ons wreak havoc on its already tenuous stability. And, oh yes, Firefox 2.0.0.11 doesn't run at all one my old iBook G4 that still runs Panther (Mac OS X 10.3). So, it was interesting to note that Mozilla calls the 2.0.0.12 release a stability e and security update. I still don't see anything about fixing memory leaks for the Windows version in the list of security fixes. Here's hope that Firefox 3.0 addresses these problems.

Firefox 1.5 would have gotten a 4 or 5 (out 5) Walruses rating back in its day. I grudgingly give Firefox 2.0 a 3 Walruses rating only because it gives me a consistent (if buggy) interface across my Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux computers.

ADDENDUM Firefox's auto-update routine works under Windows XP. However, if you are running Vista, it looks like you have to go to the Firefox.com site, download a full copy, and run a full installation to update to 2.0.0.12.