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Is Firefox for Search?
Speaking of Firefox, Chris Sherman over at SearchEngineWatch recently posted Mozilla Firefox: The Searcher's Browser, in which he says:
Firefox has emerged as the first browser in years to seriously challenge Internet Explorer with good reason. Firefox has superior security and anti-scumware features, it works on Windows, Linux, MacOS X and other operating systems, and it's free. Best of all, Firefox offers lots of goodies for searchers, both through a built-in Google search toolbar, as well as dozens of free extensions created by an active open-source developer community.
Clearly the open source nature of the Mozilla products has led to an outpouring of extensions for Firefox. But IE users have their choice of search related toolbars (including our very own).
That got us wondering what browsers Yahoo Search blog readers use? And how important is search integration in your browser?
Are you a Firefox user? What are your favorite extensions?
An IE user? Which toolbars does your browser sport?
Maybe you're a Safari or Opera user.
In any case, if you haven't yet tried Firefox, today's the day. After a long development process, the first production release hit the wire this morning. Congrats and thanks to the worldwide Firefox team!
Jeremy Zawodny
Technical Yahoo


Comments
FireFox user:
Extentions:
* Switch Proxy
* UA Switcher
* The blog thingie
Search? No way, I want to visit a site for search, though i do use the context menu right click search, that's pretty cool :-)
Posted by: Nick W | November 9, 2004 03:54 PM
Firefox
- Sage (RSS, love it)
- Webdev (don't use much)
Posted by: ct | November 9, 2004 04:01 PM
I'm a proud FireFox user! My favorite extension is the Bloglines notifer, followed by Web Developer.
One of my favorite features is being able to search sites right through the link box. Bookmark a site that has a search engine, add %s where the search query in a GET URL goes, add a keyword, and you're good. "Y search query" searches yahoo for me, "$ TICK" searches Y! Finance. It's great!
Posted by: Jon Gales | November 9, 2004 04:09 PM
I've been using Firefox since 0.1 (Phoenix). Search integration is extremely important to me. I search the Web using Google through my Firefox address bar -- by typing "g <search term>" and hitting the ENTER key.
Ah, that reminds me, I need to set up a bookmark for Yahoo Search:
Location: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%s
Keyword: y
;-)
Posted by: Manish Jethani | November 9, 2004 04:47 PM
Firefox
I stared using it a couple months ago, and since then I have rarely used IE. In fact I gave up Outlook for Thunderbird and the Caledar extension.
I use quite a few extensions regularly, and they have greatly improved the functionality of my browsing. My top 3 are:
1 - Y!Companion Toolbar - the latest version is practically indistinguishable from the IE version.
2 - Context Search - lets me highlight a word and send it to any search engine I've added from the Mycroft set.
3 - Tabbrowser Extensions - this, combined with the native tabbed browsing abilities of Firefox, makes IE come in a poor second for me.
Posted by: Jerry Welch | November 9, 2004 04:57 PM
Opera! I have customized the menus and search boxes to search Y! My Web and to save to it, but I desperately crave a Yahoo! Companion bar for Opera. When is Yahoo! going to develop it for Opera?
Craig
Posted by: Craug | November 9, 2004 05:44 PM
Firefox. My favorite feature is the "Smart Keyword". http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/smart-keywords.html
I have about 50 keywords defined. I know it's also possible on IE with TweakUI, but Firefox is easier.
Favorite extensions:
1. Super Drag & Drop
2. Dictionary search.
Posted by: ML | November 9, 2004 05:49 PM
Firefox user. Regarding extensions, I can't really live without web developer, live http headers and weather fox.
Yes, I know this just shows how much of a geek I am. The first two are for development tasks, and the other one is so that I know how cold/warm the real world is without having to go outside.
Posted by: Wilson | November 9, 2004 06:45 PM
Firefox for months now, Firebird before that, and Phienox before even that. Extensions: FoxyTunes, WeatherFox, fireFTP, Gmail Notifier, Image Zoom, Paste-n-Go, Super-Drag-n-Go, Web Developer toolbar.
I feel that the Yahoo and Google search pages are fine places to start looking for something. Give me enhanced within-the-page search tools. Find as you type is a _great_ feature. Extend that to searching the pages linked to the one you're on now. Also, don't make it an all-or-nothing spelling model. I spell poorly, type worse. You've got the technology to match close words - it's called spell check.
Posted by: danielcole | November 9, 2004 08:27 PM
Firefox.
With --
1) Live http headers/web developer
2) Sage
3) UA Switcher
Search is tops, specially now since the default comes with google, yahoo, amazon, ebay, dictionary support
Posted by: vrikodhara | November 9, 2004 08:34 PM
Firefox.
Ext:
Yahoo Companion toolbar (http://companion.mozdev.org/)
Adblock (http://adblock.mozdev.org/)
Last Tab (http://timothy.humphrey.name/firefox/)
Posted by: Miles | November 9, 2004 09:13 PM
I've been using Firefox for a while now... and I can't do without the Tabbrowser extensions.
Used to use Internet Explorer, but no more!
Posted by: Alden Bates | November 9, 2004 09:59 PM
Firefox.
I make extensive use of the integrated search on the toolbar. I've added in the Wikipedia search option. to find text on a page also works very well.
The plug-in that tipped me over to Firefox from IE was "IE View" which allows you to right click on any page and send the URL over to IE. This is especially helpful for those sites that have not yet updated their support to include Firefox support.
Posted by: Ian Kennedy | November 10, 2004 12:13 AM
I was an IE user until very reently. The only thing that had me use ie was precisely the Yahoo toolbar. it used to be extremely limited for Firefox users and not customizable.
Now that Irecently discovered the new Firefox version I'm using Firefox.
As I am a new user I dont know all the extensions but those I daily use are the AdBlock and the mouse gesture
I believe it is very important for Yahoo to continue developping for Firefox. Your engagement on this part would not only help Firefox getting popular among the general public but would also really differentiate Yahoo from MSN (cause you guys are the same for a lot of people) and you would appear much more open and universal
Posted by: Guillaume | November 10, 2004 12:56 AM
Extensions:
Adblock <- very cool
PageRank-Statusbar
Posted by: sandro | November 10, 2004 02:04 AM
Firefox.
Favorite search extension: Needlesearch ( http://needlesearch.mozdev.org/ ) with a large list of search sites installed.
Other extensions that are very important:
Bugmenot
EditCSS
User Agent Switcher
Searchkeys (installed yesterday)
TinyURL creator
TargetAlert
Posted by: RB | November 10, 2004 03:30 AM
Firefox. Use internet explorer for windows update, and that's about it!
Adblock, all in one gestures, bugmenot, cute menus, launchy, live http headers, minit drag and indicator, resize search box, sage, web dev. Many others.
From that list, I really can't live without adblock, all in one gestures and minit.
By the way, the new Yahoo! front page breaks automatic find as you type in firefox (the pref name is accessibility.typeaheadfind, set to true).
Ian
Posted by: Ian | November 10, 2004 08:42 AM
Happy and proud Firefox user. Most of my Extensions got killed with the 1.0 upgrade, and the site was hard to reach yesterday ... so I'm still poking around to see what's most useful to me now.
But search elements are huge.
Posted by: Cap'n Ken | November 10, 2004 10:57 AM
What browser do I use? Firefox
How important is search integration in my browser? Very.
How important is search integration in my desktop? Very very very.
I *heart* the HotBot Quick Search Deskbar (with Yahoo! plugged in as the default search engine).
http://www.hotbot.com/tools/deskbar/
And my favorite Firefox extensions are:
Firefox UltraBar (w/Blogger capability) @ http://www.firefoxtoolbar.com/download
Quirk's Search Status @ http://quirk.co.za/searchstatus/
Posted by: augustdiva | November 10, 2004 11:00 AM
I use Opera. I use Firefox if Opera won't render a page successfully and IE for IE only websites and testing.
Search integration into our browsers is critical. I love having the Google search feature immediately available.
Opera has a nice Search feature where I can search Amazon, Download.com, Ebay, and Comparison Search.
Posted by: Michael | November 10, 2004 09:28 PM
Firefox.
Extensions:
http://spellbound.sourceforge.net/
http://www.chrispederick.com/work/firefox/useragentswitcher/
http://optimoz.mozdev.org/gestures/
http://www.chrispederick.com/work/firefox/webdeveloper/
http://www.quirk.co.za/searchstatus/
Posted by: SEbasic | November 11, 2004 02:30 PM
Firefox.
I use the shortcut key to search(firefox original feature).
e.g. type "g game" in address bar let me googled for game.
Posted by: Squall | November 12, 2004 05:32 PM
Firefox
* Adblock
* Mouse gestures
Posted by: Ashwin N | November 16, 2004 11:04 AM
I love Firefox, but it is VERY unfortunate that the colour and graphics option of Yahoo! Mail doesn't support Firefox. Is there any plans to introduce this?
Posted by: Ben | November 16, 2004 09:18 PM
I will not go back to IE for any reason. I have never had a problem with Yahoo e-mail, they set the standard. BUT (here it comes) a feature IE had was the ability to set a default e-mail program, then Yahoo's little plug-in allowed the e-mailing from any web sites "contact us" or forms. Is it operator error? I think I've tried everything!
Posted by: dale | November 16, 2004 09:42 PM
I ceased using IE long ago for anything other than testing site displays (I started with NS via my first ISP), mainly due to personal preferences and security issues. I've been using Opera for some time now, and prefer searching via Opera's search box. Love the browser. Unfortunately, I'm not able to determine how to get the Opera search box to switch to Yahoo or any other search engine.
I also use Firefox a bit (again, for testing), but FF1 is excellent, particularly with the Web Developer's Toolbar.
I'd certainly like the option of being able to search more search engines via a browser.
Posted by: DianeV | November 18, 2004 01:27 AM
Well, I use Opera and I like it.
Firefox is my second chance if the page doesn't render correctly under Opera, but I can't see a reason to switch to Firefox if you're an Opera user.
Posted by: PaoloV | November 19, 2004 07:44 AM
Firefox
Extensions:
Adblock
Switchproxy
Close on double click
Foxytunes
Gmail Notifier
Posted by: Manu | November 22, 2004 08:35 PM
Used Firefox for the last year, perhaps. Opera before that. MSIE only when I have to.
My big issue with MSIE vs Firefox is that MSIE has poor keyboard support and no tabbing. With Firefox, when I want to run a Google search, I just hit Ctrl-T (open new tab), Ctrl-K (go to the keyword search), and type whatever I'm looking for. Ctrl-W always closes the current tab, and Ctrl-PgUp/PgDn lets me scroll through the tabs.
I've used many different extensions for Firefox, but the only one that gets real use is the "View in IE" extension (for testing web pages). I don't even use the Web Developer extension so often, strangely.
Posted by: Steve | November 24, 2004 12:56 PM
Firefox
I love the superior extensible capibilities that let me personalize the browsing experience to fit my habits. The integrated search engines is great i have 19 frequently used engines for various topics from yahoo to yahoo news to download.com to wikipedia.
Unfortunately, i'm also a passionate Yahoo! junkie and subcribe to yahoo! plus. I really hope that you people can put out Firefox compatible code on your sites at least for the people who pay to use them. A Yahoo Plus! package for Firefox like the IE based Yahoo! Browser would be great.
I'm curious who will make a Firefox package first Yahoo! or Google.
Posted by: Michael Joseph Arcement, II | December 20, 2004 11:57 AM
I like Firefox, the mouse gestures, the extensions and all, but for me it's still to much like IE. Firefox is way better than IE. Is it my browser of choice? No. But it's definitely a great browser and perhaps just as great as the one I use.
Posted by: Shawn | May 9, 2005 08:42 PM