The Best Firefox Extension Ever?

		Print
		Email weblog link
		Discuss
		Blog this

Preston Gralla
Jan. 31, 2006 04:25 AM
Permalink

Here's my vote for the best Firefox extension of all time: IE Tab, which lets you run Internet Explorer right in its own Firefox tab.

It's the biggest time-saver I've come across in a long time. After you install it, when you're viewing a page in a Firefox tab, right-click the page, select "View Page in IE Tab" and it loads the page into IE, right in that tab.

Up until now, I've had to run both Firefox and IE at the same time, because some Web sites still only work properly in IE. But now, I just run those sites right inside Firefox.

It's run every page I've tried, without a single problem. So if you're tired of having to run IE and Firefox at the same time, check this one out.

Preston Gralla is the author of Windows Vista in a Nutshell, the Windows Vista Pocket Reference, and is the editor of WindowsDevCenter.com. He is also the author of Internet Annoyances, PC Pest Control, Windows XP Power Hound, and Windows XP Hacks, Second Edition, and co-author of Windows XP Cookbook. He has written more than 30 other books.

What's your favorite Firefox extension?
You must be logged in to the O'Reilly Network to post a comment.

Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

firebug
2006-02-01 17:15:34 ark2 [Reply | View]

IE Tab is great, also try FireBug

However, there is a bug in Firefox: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=228205

That causes otherwise great FireBug to report wrong errors in certain conditions.

I switch back and forth between Firefox engine and ie using IE Tab, and miss FireBug in IE tab =)

cool... well wait
2006-01-31 06:31:25 tlaurenzo1 [Reply | View]

My first thought on reading this was "cool"... This seems like one of those hacks that makes me smile and say "well done".

Then I realized the (not so) sad fact that this does not apply to me anymore at all. I have completely switched from Windows to a combination of Mac and Linux. This was really an organic process where I realized one day that I don't use Windows anymore. I may still use a Windows VM or two when doing development work for some clients, but web browsing is done on the host (Linux) not on the VM.

And I am genuinely curious... What sites have you experienced that don't work in Firefox. Seriously, in the several months since my transition, I cannot recall a single one. I have run into numerous sites that don't work quite right in Safari but they all seem to do fine on Firefox... which has led me to stop using Safari on my Mac.

Now, I know that drawing conclusions from my personal experience like this is tantamount to saying that there is no such thing as global warming because it is cold at my house. Still, I can't help but wonder... how big of a problem is the IE-only site these days?

best ffx extension
2006-01-31 06:18:26 js546 [Reply | View]

Depends on your browsing habits really. IE Tab is undoubtedly very useful. If I were to pick the best one, I'd say "Adblock".

Other good extensions in my view [in no particular order :)]... NoScript, dotComplete, DownThemAll, FasterFox, Flashblock, Greasemonkey, Menu Editor, Paste and Go, PDF Download, SuperDragAndGo, TrashMail.net, Organize Status Bar, Tab Clicking Options, All-in-One Gestures.

Showing messages 1 through 3 of 3.

Return to weblogs.oreilly.com.

Weblog authors are solely responsible for the content and accuracy of their weblogs, including opinions they express, and O'Reilly Media, Inc., disclaims any and all liabililty for that content, its accuracy, and opinions it may contain.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.