425100 - universal problem - web display (every website), unable to type clearly in message boxes (everyplace I've tried)

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[C Klum]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X; en-US; rv:1.8.1.12) Gecko/20080201 Firefox/2.0.0.12
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X; en-US; rv:1.8.1.12) Gecko/20080201 Firefox/2.0.0.12

This problem appeared with the first of several FF patches I installed in 2008 -- I'm an early adopter. It got worse with every upgrade/patch. What happens is:

(a) when viewing ANY and every website, type crunches on top of type, worst is the hyperlinks, which sometimes are 2-3 layers deep. I even see this on your website.

(b) when typing in any box -- such as this one, in my Yahoo mail, in other submission boxes on any website -- the text also overlaps so that by the time I am toward the right-hand margin, the cursor is usually two letters to the left, so I'm effectively "typing blind." 

NOTES: I do not experience any of these problems on the same sites when using a PC. However, my computer is a Mac, so the option of using a PC is not viable for me. I am on a MacBook running OS 10.4.11. I imagine I have minimal plug-ins. 

I would describe this in typographical terms as a problem with horizontal tracking or variable spacing -- not sure what you folks call it.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.launch FF. 
2. visit ANY website -- yahoo, yours, honoluluadvertiser.com, starbulletin.com, etc. Any professional website has the problem; sometimes there is a degree of difference.
3. attempt to read the page.
4. attempt to type in a message box like this one without 
doing a hard return after say 30 characters of typing.
Actual Results:  
see above. I don't really do anything except try to use your browser.


Expected Results:  
I would like to be able to see web pages without text overalapping and 
to be able to type in boxes like this without horrible typos.

I think the only changes I have made to your default settings are to restrict cookies and popups. Other than that, I've left well enough alone. 

I have marked this as "major" because you are my preferred browser and yet I cannot even rely on FF to use in sending a professional-looking e-mail -- ie one without spelling errors. 

Thank you very much. I hope this can be resolved so that I don't have to switch away from you.

Comment 1

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

Did you installed addons in Firefox that may cause this ?
Please run Firefox in the Firefox safemode if you have.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode

Could you attach a screenshot of you problem ?
You can attach the screenhost by using the "Add an attachment" link in this bug report.

Comment 2

[C Klum]

Thanks. Please advise how to make a screenshot and I will send by attachment to this report.

P.S. the problem is just as bad with 2.0.0.13

Comment 3

[philippe (part-time)]

To take a screenshot on OS X: hold command+shift 4, you'll see the cursor switch to a cross mark, drag around the offending area of a webpage and release the mouse. You'll find the resulting image on your desktop (labelled Picture 1.png). Upload the image as explained in comment 3.

I suspect that this is bug 288047 again (type crunched, overlapping text).

Comment 4

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

This is a mass search for bugs that are in the Firefox General component, are
UNCO, and have not been changed for 800 days and have an unspecified version. 

Reporter, can you please update to Firefox 3.6.10, create a fresh profile,
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/managing+profiles, and test again. If you
still see the bug, please update this bug. If the issue is gone, please set the
resolution to RESOLVED > WORKSFORME.

Comment 5

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

No reply from reporter, INCOMPLETE. Please retest with Firefox 3.6.12 or later and a new profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). If you continue to see this issue with the newest firefox and a new profile, then please comment on this bug.