Firefox_Versus_IE__The_Icon_by_Archangel_DaemonNow Firefox is a great browser and everything, but there’s one thing I don’t like about it: it takes far too much space with all it’s bars and whatnot.

The question arises: how to reclaim all that space?

Read the full post to learn how!

We Hate Internet Explorer!!

We here at artsyHANDS loathe Internet Explorer… and love the fiery Firefox.

Internet Explorer is the browser that caused so many design problems for me when I was setting up the website. If I made the site IE6/7 compatible, it meant an ugly site and in turn, underutilizing the power of modern browsers. If I made a good looking site, it would cause problems for people who still haven’t moved on…

In the end (that is today), I simply decided to go ahead and cater for the people who use the latest browsers. While artsy still runs with IE, it just doesn’t look that good..

Now onto Firefox: the browser I use, the browser the team uses (Shanipani still refuses move ahead with the times) and the browser we suggest you should use as well.

Step 1: Get rid of useless toolbars

toolbars

Did you know that you really don’t need the bookmarks toolbar? Of course, that means not having to type in your favorite sites all the time, but there’s a solution. Fast Dial: Visual Bookmarks for Firefox! (think using Speed Dial from your phone on your browser). That’s about 15 pixels saved!

Step 2: Install autoHideStatusbar

Screenshot-Add-ons-1

What the above-mentioned add-on does is automatically hide your status bar (the bar at the very bottom) when it’s not in use. Another 10 or so pixels saved!

Step 3: Integrate your Menu Bar into a single drop-down button

personal_menuAnd lastly, you can use Personal Menu to get more space! What this wonderful little add-on does is sort of convert the horizontally aligned Fire Edit View… menu bar into what I like to call a menu button. So you just click on the Personal Menu icon to get to the menu options! Hmmm, that’s another 10 pixels.

The Awesome Result!

It all adds up. Here’s the before and after result:

full

—

optimized

15+10+10= 35 whopping pixels!! I hope I helped :D

Move on to Firefox. You won’t regret it.

Waisybabu