We are now current with Firefox 4.0 and 26 Add-ons enabled. Add-ons are what used to be called Extensions. The best new standard feature is inline spell check.

Below I updated the version numbers for the few that I list now. Counting my disabled add-ons I have over 40. That's way too many to list here and keep updated. Make sure to get the Nightly Tester Tools Add-on if some don't work with 4.0 yet.

I have Internet Explorer 8.0 now which is the latest for XP, but Firefox is still my default.

The Original Story

Since I decided to leave Internet Explorer behind there have been a few changes in my browsing experience. I became an avid Opera user but as time progressed it seemed that Firefox was going to be the dominant substitute for IE.

Having tried both Opera and Firefox a while back it was Opera that won my default crown. It had so many features and was fast. Firefox seemed troublesome with the Extensions having to be found and added. It wasn't that it was hard, but that it just seemed like a bother.

Now fast forward to 06/08/2011 and Firefox 4.0 is my default. With the right Extensions it has almost the same features that Opera has or at least the ones that meant so much to me. It has the bonus of some nice Extensions for web design folks like myself.

The purpose of this little page is to layout my favorite setup to be shared with anyone who might like a similar setup. Remember that versions and links can get out of date fast on an application that is still in the growth stage of development.

Below is a list of my favorite Extensions and where they can be found. Please be patient if the link doesn't bring you right to the extension as they add to the list all the time and it makes them move a little. Usually they can be found alphabetically once you get in the neighborhood. Make sure to back up your customized setup Profile. It can be found in Windows Explorer for XP at C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. For XP and other systems just copy the Profile directory to a safe place or include it in a regularly scheduled backup with your other important data.

Some of the versions listed below have been updated. It would be to much trouble to keep up with the progress here, but Firefox prompts you when updates to the main program or extensions are available. These are the versions for Firefox 4.0.1 as of 06/08/2011.

Web Developer 1.1.9

"Adds a menu and a toolbar with various web developer tools."

ColorZilla 2.5.5

A little Eyedropper resides in the lower left corner of the screen to give an "Advanced Eyedropper, ColorPicker, Page Zoomer" etc.

HTML Validator (based on Tidy) 0.9.0.4

Adds HTML Validation to the View Source page

ieview 1.4.5.1

Allows you to see quickly how a page looks in Internet Explorer. After all we care since they still have a 90%,(and falling), share of the browser market.

Groowe Search Toolbar 1.6.9

Has most of the Google Toolbar features and more.

Nightly Tester Tools 3.1.7

"Allows you to force the application to believe an extension is compatible with the current version and enable it."

DeskCut 0.6.0.3

Allows you to create a desktop shortcut icon that links to the page.

Flashblock 1.5.14

Gives you a big "F" where the flash object was and you can click on it if you want to see the Flash content. Gets rid of some distracting ads that are slow to load especially for dial-up users.

Session manager 0.7.5

Lets you crank off in the morning where you stopped the night before. Another Opera look alike.