Mozilla Firefox - For A Superior Web Browsing Experience

Microsoft's Internet Explorer is currently the most widely used browser on Earth. All things being equal, one could reasonably expect that this widespread popularity would be an accurate reflection of the product's merits. Unfortunately, "all things" are decidedly less than equal in the world of web browsers. The major reason that Internet Explorer is so popular is simply because it is pre-installed on Microsoft Windows based computers. Consequently, many new computer users surf the web with Internet Explorer from Day One of their browsing experience. Many do not even realize that there are viable, indeed significantly superior, alternative web browsers available.



However, one browser, Mozilla Firefox, is beginning to make a significant impact on IE's gigantic market share, and the product is highly deserving of this success. In my opinion, Firefox is simply the best web browser available today. It is streets ahead of Internet Explorer, and even edges out the excellent Opera in the web browsing stakes.

Here's why:

• Speed:
  Firefox is fast! The browser loads web pages more quickly than Internet Explorer and this makes for a more efficient and enjoyable browsing experience.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Security and Privacy:
  Firefox does not allow malicious spyware to be automatically installed on your computer just by visiting a web page. Firefox does not use technologies such as Active X that often lead to security risks in Internet Explorer. Also, unlike IE, Firefox is not integrated with your computer's operating system. This means that hackers or viruses are less likely to infiltrate your system by using your browser as an "entrance". Firefox offers excellent privacy control features, including simple but effective cookie management. Furthermore, it boasts a first-rate integrated pop-up stopper that kills irritating pop-up adds stone dead.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Tabbed Browsing
  Tabbed browsing allows you to open a number of web pages in the same browser window and rapidly jump from one tabbed page to another using your mouse or keyboard. Tabbed browsing is an almost essential tool for the power web surfer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Extendibility
  Firefox allows you to extend the capabilities of the browser to suit your own web surfing needs and preferences. The initial Firefox download weighs in at a lean 4. 7 MB (for the Windows version). However, there are a large number of extensions available that can enhance the functionality of the browser in various ways. An integrated extension manager allows users to easily locate, download, install and uninstall extensions.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Search
  Firefox has a Google search option built directly into the browser tool bar. However, a dropdown list beside the search tool allows you to search in a number of other search engines including Yahoo. What's more, you can customize your search option by adding more search engines. There are hundreds of alternative engines that you can easily add to your search list.
  
  
  
  
  
  Also, key in Control + F, to bring up an unobtrusive "Find Bar" that finds words in the displayed web page as you type.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Intuitive Bookmark and Download Management
  An intuitive bookmarks manager allows you to organise shortcuts to your favourite sites easily and effectively.
  
  
  
  
  
  Often visited sites can be displayed in a bookmarks toolbar at the top of the browser for easy access. Firefox enables users to set "Live Bookmarks" so that RSS news and blog information can be displayed in the Bookmarks menu or toolbar.
  
  The integrated download tool makes managing your downloads a breeze.
  
  

All in all, Mozilla Firefox is an outstanding web browser that I predict will continue to gain many more users and just keep getting better and better. Even if you are a stanch Internet Explorer supporter, you might like to download Firefox and give it a test drive. You may be pleasantly surprised.

What's more, Firefox is completely free!

Click the button to find out more about Firefox and download a copy.

Review by Brett M. Christensen