about the page you're currently viewing. For example, as a Web site loads, the Status Bar displays progress information via a progress meter. When you move the mouse pointer over a link on a Web site, the Status Bar displays the address of the linked page. The Status Bar also displays information about the security of a Web site, as I discuss in Chapter 15. Sidebars Firefox displays certain types of content in sidebars that open on the left side of the screen. A sidebar doesn't replace the Web site you're viewing; it just shoves it over to make room, as shown in Figure 2-5. This location makes it an ideal access point for things you might need while surfing. For example, Chapter 6 demonstrates displaying browsing history in a sidebar (shown in Figure 2-5) so you can keep track of where you are and return to old sites quickly. You can also display your bookmarks list and even arbitrary Web sites in sidebars, as I discuss in Chapter 5, and as shown in Figure 2-6. Figure 2-5: The History Sidebar displays your history list so you can keep track of where you are and revisit sites. Figure 2-6: The Bookmarks Sidebar allows you to access and search your favorite sites quickly. The Find Bar The Find Bar (see Figure 2-7) is a thin toolbar that appears above the Status Bar when you need to find text in a page. It replaces the Find window that most other applications use, and we think it's a much faster and less intrusive way to search. Chapter 4 discusses the Find Bar in depth. Figure 2-7: The Find Bar opens at the bottom of the window, so it never gets in the way of your searching.           Chapter 3: Setting Up Firefox Installing Firefox is as easy as using it. After you install Firefox, the handy Import Wizard allows you to import your settings and bookmarks from other browsers - like switching flights but having your luggage transferred automatically. Whether you use Windows or Macintosh, this chapter tells you everything you need to know to get started. System Requirements You should check to make sure that your computer is powerful enough to handle Firefox before installing it. If you bought your computer in the past three or four years, it should be fine. To install Firefox on Windows, we recommend using Windows XP, although other flavors of Windows (such as Windows ME or Windows 2000) are supported as well. Your computer should also have at least a 500 MHz processor and 128MB of RAM. To install Firefox on the Macintosh, we recommend using OS X 10.1 or later. For best performance, your computer should also have at least a 667 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with 256MB of RAM and 72MB of free hard drive space.