I’m relatively savvy when it comes to gadgets. I like PDAs. I used to have a Palm Pilot m105, a Compaq iPAQ, and now I have a Treo Smartphone. Wireless technology is too cool for words.
When it comes to my desktop, however, I’ve less savvy and adventurous. I’m the type who’s always afraid if I hit the wrong button, I’ll break the whole system. That’s why it took me so long to try Mozilla Firefox. The hidden security dangers of Internet Explorer (IE) were just that: hidden. As long as I didn’t see worms or other nefarious programs invading my system, I was OK.
The thought of downloading a new browser seemed daunting and drastic. (Am I dramatic?) After all, was it so bad to have to download a new Microsoft security patch every week?
Yes, it was. I finally got tired of reading (daily) about some new threat to IE, so I took the plunge. I went to the Firefox web site, read the instructions and downloaded the browser. As I waited, I wondered about my IE favorites and the chore of rebuilding all those bookmarks. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Firefox imported all my favorites. In the same order. Cool. But I was still skeptical.
For a while I used IE most of the time, but I’d open Firefox every now. Web pages looked better and the toolbar was less cluttered. As I browsed with it more often, I got used to the “feel” of it. In comparison, IE is clunky.
I like the way my blog looks in Firefox, too. It looks awkward in IE, and the page has too much white space. I assume most of you still use IE. This blog looks so much better in Firefox. That’s reason enough to switch. 
The only extension I use is Adblock, which allows you to delete ads on a web page. Bugmenot isn’t compatible with Firefox 1.0 yet.
That’s my Firefox endorsement. (Can I have my money now?). Here are a couple of stories about Firefox v. IE:
Washington Post: Firefox Leaves No Reason to Endure Internet Explorer
Boston Globe: Firefox helping to make Web better for all
Informal survey: Which browser do you use? If you haven’t made the switch from IE to Firefox, what are you waiting for?
Update: This is new — Spread Firefox.
