Top 5 best Firefox extensions

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Lachlan Grant22 May 2006, 6:28 AM

The PCs at APC are so clogged with plug-ins and add-ons that the system tray often resembles a bowl of jelly beans being attacked with a stun gun. But even on a plain vanilla XP install, here are five Firefox extensions that you absolutely must not be without.


I clog my PCs with so many plug-ins and add-ons that the system tray often resembles a bowl of jelly beans being attacked with a stun gun. I have no mercy on Firefox either when it comes to extensions. Here is my current top 5 extensions that every Firefox install shouldn't live without:

  • FasterfoxFasterfox (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1269/)
    This nifty little nugget comes with a bunch of handy tweaks and settings to make Firefox run a lot faster and smoother.
  • IE Tab (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/)
    No matter how much we kick and scream, some sites will not work properly in Firefox. That's where this handy little extension comes in handy, so you don't even have to leave Firefox.
  • PDF Download (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/636/)
    Nothing breaks a good flowing surfing session than the clunky load-time of Adobe Reader. This extension first asks you if you want to save the PDF, before it attempts to pry it open.
  • Tab Mix PlusTab Mix Plus (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1122/)
    One of the main reasons I got into Firefox in the beginning was its tabbed browsing. This extension takes tabs even further.
  • FlashGot (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/220/)
    If you use an external download manager like me, chances are you'll need this extension to make it work properly with Firefox.

I'm always keen to find out how I can take my surfing experience further, so why not post your top 5 below and let me know.


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DavidF:

Nice list, and much appreciated by someone who's just started really getting into Firefox (yeah, long overdue, I know!).

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Phil:

Nice introduction to FF extensions!

Now you have the inevitable "but you missed this one!" list...

Paste and Go allows copied urls and terms to be searched with only one click. I couldn't search without it.

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/65/

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Peter Dawkins:

May I suggested that Foxmarks,which enables you to keep your bookmarks updated between computers, should be in any top 5 list.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Drew Higgins:

Good extension list, the IEView one especially. Try Unplug...it allows you to get videos embedded in websites. That should be in the top 5.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

sena:

I read your suggestion on best Firefox Extensions...
I'm interested in getting embedded videos etc.
but can't find 'Unplug' in Firefox Add-ons website.
could you tell me on what website I can get the software...

thanx

29 February 2008, 8:33 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Graeme:

What I can't do without is AdBlock and RefreshBlocker, both available from the Mozilla Firefox extentions page. Oh and Adblock Filterset.G Updater. These are brilliant and make getting around the various badly behaved websites much easier.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

knightcrawler:

The PDF extension is not really needed. If you use Adobe Reader you can change the settings to turn off the web page module.

That way every time you click a PDF file it will either open in Adobe Reader or download.

Save your memory for other need extensions.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Bob Builder:

Here are 2 that I find really useful:
1. Mouse Gestures - once you get used to them, you'll never go back!
2. ImgLikeOpera - lets you turn images on and off just like Opera. Great for dialup!

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

joh doh:

hey you missed adblocker

by far the easiest way to speed up your browsing and improve your internet experience with firefox.

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Mike:

Try these:
Tiny Menu
Colorful tabs
Tab x

29 February 2008, 8:28 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

wolis:

For web-developers.. I highly recommend:

FireBug
to debug your JavaScript
and
ColorZilla
to match colours easily

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Adam Moro:

Here's a more recent list of must-have Firefox extensions.

29 February 2008, 8:33 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Justin:

A mouse wand to wave away all the Browser bars and wave them back again.

29 February 2008, 8:49 PM (1 year ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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