Since I've already read and reviewed a couple of books on the Firefox browser, I didn't expect much new material in the latest title to hit the shelves... Don't Click On The Blue E! - Switching To Firefox by Scott Granneman (O'Reilly). But to my pleasant surprise, this actually was better than I initially thought...
Chapter List: The Problem With The Blue E; Installing And Configuring Firefox; Firefox Features; Killer Firefox Add-ons; Advanced Firefox; Other Web Browsers; Firefox Options; Index
First off, it doesn't look like a typical O'Reilly book. It's a multicolored cover with a full color wolf on the front (there just *has* to be an animal on the front!). It also doesn't spend a lot of time in the purely technical arena, either. The tone is much lighter than what you'd normally see in an O'Reilly title. The author is unabashedly a Firefox fan (and an Internet Explorer basher), so you'll get plenty of opinion interspersed with the facts and details of Firefox. If you're looking for an unbiased comparison, look elsewhere. Granneman doesn't have much nice to say about IE. But it does make for a fun read.
As for content, there's the typical coverage on features, security, flexibility, and all the "selling points" you've heard about Firefox. But there's also some material that wasn't in every other book. In the first chapter, he covers the history of browser development from the beginning up until now. You've probably heard and read all of this before, but having the story all in one place gives you an appreciation for where we've been and how far we've come. I also liked his coverage of Firefox extensions. Every author has his own favorite ones that make the browsing experience special. Reading about how others use Firefox is always useful in that it gives me ideas on how I can alter my browsing experience. Finally, Granneman does an *excellent* job of referencing all his information at the end of each chapter. You'll find an abundance of links to additional sites and white papers that will add to your understanding. Those references are almost worth the price of the book by themselves...
Even if you've already picked up a Firefox book, you might want to consider getting this one also. It's a fun read that will definitely add to your Firefox knowledge and experience...