Firefox

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Why should I Switch to Firefox?
[|Download Firefox here.]

Firefox is an open source browser produced by Mozilla under public license. This ensures that Firefox will always remain free for public consumption. In contrast to Internet Explorer, which runs off of the same codebase as Windows Explorer, Firefox works independently from the operating system of your computer.

While Internet Explorer is used to browse the Internet, Windows Explorer is what you use when you browse your files on a PC. It is not a coincidence that Internet Explorer and the window in which you save files (Windows Explorer) look similar. They are in fact one and the same. While this makes for a cohesive PC experience, it leaves you vulnerable to hackers, viruses, and worms because if a hacker can get past Internet Explorer they have already gotten past Windows Explorer. Since Firefox is a separate software, and is based on different code than Windows Explorer, hackers have to hack Firefox and Windows Explorer separately. While this is not foolproof, it is much safer.

Unlike IE, Firefox also obeys all W3C standards. This means that if a page displays properly in Firefox it is most likely very close to W3C compliant. This is why you may notice that many web pages look better in Firefox. In addition, it is believed that Firefox renders sharper-looking images than IE.

[|Firefox Extensions]
In addition to the merits listed above, Firefox endears itself to developers, graphic designers, programmers, and bloggers because of its modular nature. By making hundreds of extensions free and available to the public, each user can tailor the browser to fit his or her individual needs.

This is a list of some favorites:
 * [|Web Developer: JavaScript support, DOM inspection, this is a must!]
 * [|Internote: Imagine being able to stick a Post-It note to a web page and find it when you go back later!]
 * [| Measure It: Take pixel measurements right on the screen.]
 * [|Colorzilla: Ever think, Hey that's a cool color? This extension has an eye dropper that will give that information and it includes a 1000% zoom feature!]

These two are now integrated into the Firefox 2.0:
 * **Resuming your browsing session:** The Session Restore feature restores windows, tabs, text typed in forms, and in-progress downloads from the last user session. It will be activated automatically when installing an application update or extension, and users will be asked if they want to resume their previous session after a system crash.
 * **Inline spell checking:** A new built-in spell checker enables users to quickly check the spelling of text entered into Web forms (such as Angel's) without having to use a separate application.