The Best Firefox Add-ons of the Year for 2008

As a long-time Firefox user, I have long known the benefits of this amazing browser. However, while it is clearly better than Internet Explorer, it is not the browser of choice for many people. A great benefit of Mozilla Firefox is that it can be customized with themes and addons. I am hoping that after reading about just a few of the great addons, you too will be a believer in the superiority of Firefox. The following is a list and description of the five best Firefox addons for 2008.

#1 Best Firefox Addons of 2008-IE Tab

If you're staying away from Firefox, because you think it won't show things the same way as Internet Explorer, then you need to get IE Tab. IE Tab allows a user to switch a Firefox window to a Internet Explorer window with a single click. To get back to the original window, just make another click. It is easy to use, useful, and a great reason to drop IE.

#2 Best Firefox Addons of 2008-Foxmarks

Many of us use more than one computer. I have two at home and one at work. As long as Firefox is installed on each of the machines, then Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer is the best way to keep up with all of your information. Foxmarks keeps all bookmarks and passwords updated between all of the computers. If you are not near one of the computers, just go to the Foxmarks Web site and access your bookmarks remotely. When I left my old job, I was able to take all of my bookmarks with me without having to do a thing!

#3 Best Firefox Addons of 2008-Adblock Plus

Ads are the bane of the Internet. They are evil and should be destroyed. Well, the next closest thing to do is install Adblock Plus. While Firefox does a great job of protecting us from the ugly underbelly of the Internet, Adblock Plus is the top of the line in keeping ads and banners out of your face. I don't know a single person that wants MORE ads instead of less, and this addons can help you to have less!

#4 Best Firefox Addons of 2008-Video Downloadhelper

I, like millions of other people, like YouTube. The funny, informative, and entertaining videos are a great source of entertainment for many of us. However, when you want to share a video, you usually have to send them a link to the page. If their firewall blocks YouTube, then they can't watch the video. Video Downloadhelper to the rescue! Video Downloadhelper lets you download videos from many sites, including MySpace, Google, YouTube, iFilm, etc.

#5 Best Firefox Addons of 2008-Fast Dial

I use a lot of tabs in Firefox. I am what most people would call a "power user." However, I sometimes decide to open several tabs, but I forget which ones I'm looking for. Fast Dial is a Firefox addon that might help. In new tabs, Fast Dial shows a group of thumbnails from your favorite sites. If you want to add a new page to your Fast Dial list, it's as simple as a few clicks!

And one to grow on... Open IT Online

Since Mozilla goes above and beyond to make their web browser the best in the business, I'm going to go above and beyond by adding an extra Firefox addon for no charge. Open IT Online allows you to open documents and images within your web browser with no additional software. That means that you can view Microsoft Office documents without purchasing the (very expensive) software! Open IT Online opens documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and image files.

If this doesn't change your mind about using Firefox as your web browser, then you probably work for Microsoft. If it does, then head on over to the Firefox website and try it out!