We hope by now that to browse the web you’re using a superior browser such as Firefox (if not head to mozilla.org and follow the prompts to install Firefox 3).

One of the lovely features of Firefox is the “add-ons” that you can use to “supercharge” your browser. Think of them as a bit like the optional extras you can get when you book a flight: more luggage, speedier check-in — that kind of thing. Only they’re free. There are hundreds to choose from and you can browse them all on the Firefox add-ons home page (search Google for Firefox add-ons and take the top link).

A good one to start with is “speed dial”, which lets you display up to nine of your most frequently visited websites on one page and makes each accessible with a single click. Speed dial shrinks each page so that they display alongside one another in miniature on your home page. Search for speed dial on the Firefox add-ons home page and you should see an “add to Firefox” option. Follow the prompts and you’ll be asked to restart Firefox. A settings box should then pop up. Select “set speed dial as home page” and, at the top left in your browser window, you should see a little icon with purple squares. This is your short cut to your speed dial page. You can set each window to display whatever favourite web pages you like by clicking the “settings” button at the top right.

Another simple and worthwhile add-on is “smoothwheel” which, as the name suggests, makes web pages scroll much more smoothly. We’ve become accustomed to text jolting around as we scroll up and down . Smoothwheel makes web reading much more pleasant. Again search for smoothwheel on the add ons page, and hit “Add to Firefox”. After the browser restarts, go to tools and then add-ons in the top menu of your browser and within Scrollwheel there’s an “options” button that lets you choose how fast you want to scroll. If you don’t like these or any other add-ons, go to tools/add-ons and select “uninstall’ when the add-on is highlighted.

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