Top reasons to make the switch to Firefox

Posted Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 12:20 am by Dave Moyer

I use Firefox, and it’s a great browser! No wonder it’s growing almost exponentially with users. These are my top 5 reasons to make the switch.

5. Great interface - It just works! Firefox has Google search built right in, with a selection of other engines to search with. Plus, with free extensions, you can add search engines at the click of a button. The downloads window is incredibly convenient (but, of course, this can always be turned off or changed if you want something new), and the Find function is much better than that of IE. It has no extra windows, simply a little, unobtrusive toolbar at the bottom of your screen.

4. Theming - Not found in IE or Safari, lots of people love the theming capability of Firefox. I usually choose not use them to conserve RAM, but browsing and trying on new themes can be lots of fun.

3. Security - Firefox is, by far, one of the most secure browsers you can have. With phishing security that doesn’t have annoying pop up windows, spyware protection, and a quick window to clear private data, Firefox has all the features to make it very secure, plus it’s open source! This means that it’s updated when it needs to be, with patches released when the holes are found. It’s even got an auto-update feature to make sure you get your security updates as soon as possible.

2. Session Restore - It’s another feature that IE lacks, and it’s saved me countless times. Everyone experiences the occasional crash (especially if you’re working on a PC), and Firefox has got you covered. If you’re forced to end the process or you get a beach ball and/or blue screen of death, you’ll be greeted with a little window next time you start Firefox, asking if you want to restore the previous session or start a new one. Unobtrusive, and quite the life saver. What’s not to love?

1. Plugins and Extensions - I don’t know where I’d be without Firefox extensions. With a gigantic directory full of free plugins, almost every function that’s not already built into Firefox can be added right in! I’ve written about some of my favorite plugins in the past, and will soon be publishing a post on the best plugins for productivity. Of course, IE doesn’t support any add-ons, and I don’t expect them to be supporting them any time soon.

Still not convinced? Check out the logo. Dudes. It’s a fox hugging the earth. How can you say no to that cute little guy? If you still need more evidence, check out the official features page for more information on the features mentioned above and even more. If you use another browser or have a question about Firefox, post a comment! It’s quick and easy.

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