Writers Note:  Since writing this blog in January 2011, I have totally ditched using Firefox and started using Google Chrome. Look for a new blog coming soon about my thoughts on use chrome especially with as a independent insurance agent.

We have quite a selection of Internet browsers that we can use now days.  I use a collection of several.   I am required to use Microsoft Internet Explorer with many insurance related sites simply because that is what they require.  Our agency management software at GoVaughn.com Insurance (AMS360 by Vertafore) will only work inside of IE.  Hopefully that is going to change soon.

Insurance company websites such as the Progressive foragentsonly.com site are another example of ones that will only work in IE.  The insurance industry in general seems to be uniquely woven into the Microsoft Internet Explorer experience to many agents dismay.

The Google’s Chrome Internet browser seems to be working quite well for me.  It is fast and looks like a browser I will be using more of in the future.

The browser that I use most often is FireFox.  Below are some add in programs that work in conjunction with FireFox.  Many even work with Google Chrome but none of them work with Microsoft IE (Internet Explorer).  Check them out and let me know which ones you like.

Add-on’s are programs that help your browser do and look the way you want it to. Many times they are free and quite beneficial. Below are a collection of several that I like and use inside of FireFox.

Adblock Plus stops advertisements from appearing on your pages. Sweet and simple. Regain control of the pages you like and not be annoyed by obtrusive online advertising.

IE View – Lets you make FireFox your default browser but then when a site requires IE it will automatically switch to IE and load the site. Example when we need to run our Vertafore Management System AMS360 the site only works in IE. If we type the url in FireFox it automatically invokes IE and loads the site in IE. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/35/

Readability a simple tool that makes reading on the web more enjoyable by removing the clutter around what you are reading. This is also nice when you want to print a book like PDF of just text on a blog or site. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/46442/

Screengrab captures what you can see in a window, entire page or just a section. Saves webpages as images either to file or clipboard. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1146/

Smart Bookmarks Bar this little tool hides bookmarks names and just shows icons so you can squeeze more in. Bookmark names will be displayed on a mouse over. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4072/

Easy YouTube Video Downloader Ever need or want to download a YouTube video? This handy tool allows you to do so. It is updated often and works quite well. I use it a lot for church media work. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/10137/

What are some that you like? Do you use other browsers? Which ones and why? I seem to be totally over using IE (Internet Explorer).