Dear Firefox

Spoiler: This is a nerd  post. In fact, it prompted a new “Nerd” category!

I’ve been a loyal Firefox user. While not the first in the industry, it was the first to introduce me to the wonders and miracles of tabbed browsing. I was a victim of Internet Explorer and Firefox saved me. There were no more relentless pop-ups. No more ActiveX. No more spam and viruses that magically installed itself. No more troubleshooting computers from relatives and family members that had toolbars that took up half the browser window. Windows XP and Firefox. Never bothered with Internet Explorer ever again. If I did, it was to download Firefox. It was the first thing I did with any new computer I built. Install Firefox. You don’t even think twice.

Upon my switch to OSX a few years back, I didn’t even bother with Safari. It was the same deal. Install Firefox and remove Safari from my dock. Lately though, I’ve been a bit promiscuous with browsers. I don’t know what keeps me attached to Firefox anymore. Every major modern browser does essentially the same thing. Why stay with Firefox? They all adhere to web standards pretty well. As a user, I don’t really care that I can go on Facebook, Twitter and/or Gmail milliseconds faster than one over the other.

Nonetheless, I see it in the corner of my eye. I wonder if I should. I almost feel guilty for doing so. Switch to chrome. The user interface look so clean, so minimal. Chrome, you tease.

I recently installed Firefox 4. A major point upgrade. I didn’t really do any research and I definitely didn’t expect any major UI change. I just like my software updated. Boy was I surprised. Imagine Firefox and Chrome having a child together. The bastard baby that would be produced is Firefox 4 (in terms of UI). So much empty space around the title bar! I bugs me even now.

Still, I remain loyal and devout. Firefox 4, I’ll put tabs on the bottom and learn to love you like I once did. I am attached to our memories… attached to comfort. But in the corner of my eye is this sexy little thing flirting with me. So at the end of the day, it may not be the how fast it renders javascript or how it handles HTML5 or even if Chrome drops H.264 support. It may just be a revised icon that will push me over and prompt me to cheat on Firefox. I’m sorry.