Bookworm's Musings

Because it has been quite a while since my previous Firefox extension posts (see them here), I thought it might be time for a new one. I have been using Firefox for over two years now, and I still love it. In fact, it is probably the single most important and most used application on my computer. All told, about 95% of my computer time is spent in Firefox. Over time, extensions have come, extensions have gone, yet through it all, Firefox remains eternal.  I now present a list of extensions that have passed the Tests of Time, becoming so much a part of my browsing habits that I won't even consider switching to Firefox 3.0 until these extensions are fully compatible. And, to round it all off, I will list the Bookmarklets I use and add some nifty screen-shots of my current setup. I am currently using the Firefox 2.0 nightly builds, FYI.
( On to the Good Stuff )

Updated August 3rd, 2007.
As Firefox grows and changes, the extensions that I use and recommend grow and change as well. I've been using Firefox for over two years now, and I've learned lots of stuff about it. I love it even more than when I started, especially because of wonderful extensions like Deepest Sender, the blogging client I'm using to make this post.

Absolutely Necessary Extensions:
To make this list, I imagined that I was fixing up a copy of Firefox for my Mother, who is not overly computer savvy. I use more extensions than just this, of course, but these are the ones I think Firefox must have if I fixed it up for someone else. Hopefully, many of these features will be built in to future versions of Firefox, but until then...
( See the Extensions )

Updated August 8th, 2007.
Previously, I show-cased some Absolutely Necessary Firefox Extensions that no user should be without. They were simple, functional, and suitable for even novice users.
This list is for more experienced Firefox users. The extensions here are functional, but are more complex and may involve some user interaction. While a relative novice to Firefox should have few problems using these if they are reasonably familiar with computers and browsing in the first place, dear Great Granny who is convinced that she will literally blow up the computer if she hits the wrong key might find some of these challenging. ;)
We are also moving into the realm of individual taste. You may find some of these extensions more useful than others, depending on your browsing habits.
Those extensions that I personally find invaluable will be marked with: Favorite!
( The Extensions )

I've recently upgraded to a new browser and I just have to share!
I'm now using Firefox 1.5, and I love it! It's fast, simple, intuitive, and highly customizable! In fact, it's so customizable that it makes IE look stiff and restrictive. I can rearrange and remove individual buttons on the toolbar, dock several toolbars in the same row, etc. Plus, there are hundreds of user-created extensions to add even more features to Firefox.
Also, Firefox is extremely secure. Popups have become a thing of the past with Firefox's built-in popup blocking, and there is an excellent extension that offers in-page ad-blocking, so those bandwidth-consuming ads are also a thing of the past.
Firefox also offers several convenient features such as tabbed browsing, integrated search bar for many search engines, and customizable skins or "themes" for the shell.
Click on the button below to download the most recent version and try it for yourself.

If you need help with Firefox you can find it at Firefox Tutor. Also, check out the online Wikibook called Using Firefox for a complete, comprehensive introduction to all of Firefox's features and step-by-step instructions for downloading and using Firefox.
And, if you're feeling brave, the ultimate tweaking guide  can be found here.
After you've downloaded the browser, you'll want to download some extensions to customize your experience even further. You can find official themes, plug-ins, and extensions here.
( See My Favorite Extensions )
Want to see what extensions I'm using right now? Click here.