Firefox - set new tab to Google on Linux Mint

Firefox was one of the connerstond of the Open Source movement. It has a very positive impact on the web browser world and, hence, our life in general.

The fact that Firefox earned the market share from Microsoft has forced the Microsoft to change its behavior toward the web standards and taking a much cooperative behavior. Because that shift of behaviors, the web standards was able to move forward in a more consistant way and that benefits the general public a lot. Just imaging a world where you will need to track which website needs which browser. Firefox has continued to be one of my favorite even though for some other reasons, I have used Firefox less for a while - still like it a lot with all of its extensions.

Recently, I converted one of my old computer to Linux Mint and, with no surprise, the machine come with Firefox as the default browser. I was happy to get back to use the Firefox as my browser.

Unfortunately, when I begin to customize the browser to my taste, I notice that I have trouble to set the default website when I open a new browser tab. You got two choice there - a Firefox screen, or a blank screen. Even though, recently, I have second thoughts on using Google as my primary search engine, I was trying to start with it as the default page for the new browser tab.

At that point, I was quite disapointed: In my mind, Firefox is an Open Source crown and I expected it to keep an open mind or the freedom spirit, which, to me, means to give users more freedom to control the settings.

Not surprisingly, I went to Google for help. With that, I found articles that basically pointed to a Firefox extension that can help user set the new tab to a different website. In the meantime, I also look up for other browsers offered by the Linux community. I end up installed the Chromium. The Chromium isn't really a Google Chrome but is the Open Source code Google contributed to the Open Source community from its Chrome project.

Not wanting to give up on Firefox, I played with the Firefox a bit more and found that Firefox has gone to the extend that Google is not listed in the search engine by default. You will need to go through the process of 'Find more search engines' on its setting pages to finally add Google as one of the search engine.

    Basically, you go to Settings, select Search from the sidebar,
      scroll down to 'Find more search engines' and this direct you
      to a Linux Mint page. Scroll all the way down and follow the
      instruction to, finally, add the Google as a search engine.

    Once you got the Google search engine added, you can set it as
      the default.
  
    Back to the new tab setting for the Firefox, you can use Firefox
      default page, checked off all extra, and save.

    Now, after you open the new tab, you still see Firefox logos.
      But, at least, when you search, it is a Google search.

Throgh the above process, I learned that the 'Open Source' ironic is the motivation. However, I feel it probably went too far. I understand that we like to remind users that use the Open Source software the importance of the Open Source. But I really wondering if the current practice doing a dis-service to that goal. As you can see, people will try their way to get what they want - like install the extension or install a different browser. With all these extra works, I wonder how many will stay with Firefox and allows Firefox to, again, be the favorite browser.