Firefox 3 is real, it runs fine
I use Debian Linux, Lenny -Sid (Future Debian 5)
On a lark I downloaded Firefox 3.0rc1 and installed it (took about 5 seconds to decompress after the download of the compressed file and that was it.)
It just runs and as far as the flash plug-ins were concerned, they were basically auto installed once a site like youtube was visited.
I like the bookmark editor and even though this was a release candidate... It just works, no crashes or bad things... It is pretty fast too. A little faster than Debian, Iceweasel-Firefox 2.0.0.14, but I guess that is the goal along with better security features.
It just sees all of the previous settings and I can switch back and forth between the browser versions without issues.
As far as the gloomy posters are concerned, I think it is a normal reaction to success were jealousy is what happens with those who can't deal with it, or is a normal anti fan reaction now that IE is on the slide to oblivion.
For those who are fence sitting whether to try it or not, my vote is to go for it.
I am using it about 50 percent of the time (comparison checks) and I think it is movement forward for Firefox.
Debian GNU/Linux Lenny-Sid rocks too. Should not surprise those in the know of course.