Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Switch to Flock

Yes I’ve STOPPED using Firefox!

Well not quite… I’ve actually been using the Flock Browser (which is based on the open-source Firefox engine) for the past 3 months now, and I haven’t looked back since!

Why Flock?

1. Flock is the iPod of browsers

It just works! That’s true for the iPod, and that’s true for this browser. Not that Firefox is difficult to use…but Flock tweaks the interface ever so slightly that the line between browser and web services fade away. Email, RSS, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter… everything completely integrated into the browser user interface. Try it to believe it.

2. Firefox extensions = Flock extensions

One thing I loved about Firefox was its extensibility which I grew dependant on. When I switched to Flock, I compromised nothing – I was able to install ALL my Firefox extensions directly into Flock without hassle. Note: I’m sure there are some extensions which are not 100% compatible but these cases seem to be few and far between).

3. Flock Feed reader whips Live Bookmarks

I first started using RSS with Live bookmarks, so I am pretty fond of it. Even so, I have to say that the Flock reader completely blows Firefox Live bookmarks absolutely right out of the water! It’s extremely simple to use, yet pretty powerful when you get down to it.

flock2

4. Faster, simultaneous search

The search box located at the top right hand corner which made Firefox such a joy to use has been tweaked in Flock so you have the option of searching through multiple search engines, and favourite sites simultaneously as you type!

5. It’s not Internet Explorer

No, this last reason is not aimed at Firefox users, it’s aimed at the 62% of users which still use IE. The user experience of Flock vs Firefox is a significant one, but if you’re an IE user moving to Flock… trust me – the user experience is so much better that you will want to lick the screen.

Would you like to try Flock? Tell us in the comments and take our poll!

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15 Comments For This Post

Edrei Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm

Flock is so 2007. For some reason, it’s become bloated and slow over the months since it’s development. The idea is sound and all, but the bastard child of Firefox is trying a tad bit too hard.

kucau Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm

ermm, i think flock does not have “memory leak” problem

TechnoLaziness Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm

James, I am a bit concerned about flock’s memory usage. With rich features, it is obviously gonna bloat my system. But nevertheless I am going to give it a try for its tempting feature set.

red Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm

Thanks for the post, James.

I gave it a try long time ago and I gave up on it. After reading your top 5 reasons I was intrigued by your reason no. 1. So now I’m typing this comment in Flock 1.1.

Those integrations could be very handy, but somehow the sidebar style just don’t capture my heart.

vickie Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

ok I will give it a try :D

Syahid A. Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 5:17 pm

Imo, either Flock or Firefox use nearly the same amount of memory (big, of course). Opera performs slightly better but will suffer too once a lot of tabs had been opened.

keeyit Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm

I still using IE.. :(

A.Faith Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 4:56 am

I’ve tried to switch to Flock once, but updates come to late and I’ve faced a few problems with it! Even so, it really impressed me, even if in my native language the name of this programs sounds like pubic hair :))

Chris Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 7:54 am

Another great list… I posted it on http://listdid.com

Chris

James Yeang Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Edrei: I don’t really feel its bloated, perhaps it depends on system specs.
@A.Faith: Yeah – the new version is awesome tho
@keeyit: Switch :)
@red: You need a widescreen monitor to fully appreciate the sidebars. On a normal monitor it clutters up the screen.
@vickie: Great!
@kucau & Technolaziness: Syahid’s right… didn’t see much of a dip in performance moving from Firefox to Flock.
@Syahid: Agree – Opera is the more robust browser – but Flock is just so much sexier :)
@Chris: Thanks for posting the list up on listdid!

Kelley Says:
March 27th, 2008 at 9:36 am

I tried flock about a year ago and went right back to firefox…I gave it another shot after reading your post….OMG it is great and just what I needed…I feel so bad because I have been such a loyal firefox fan and user….I really feel guilty…but I am staying with flock!

Nirmal Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Superb article, I too had written a similar post on this 6 months back. Flock is a great browser.

ITrush Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

This is very interesting, haven’t tested it yet, thanks for sharing.

nhick
http://www.itrush.com

Web3.0 Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am

Isn’t it about time for the Internet based applications to leave th confines of a web browser?

There is a better way. The servers can host virtual applications that are accessed not by a web browser, but by a remote client (akin to remote desktop.) This gives a true fat client that is running on the server. The server has much greater control over the environment in which the application is running. This yields better user experiences, better security, better reliability, better performance for many. Pretty much better everything.

But best of all, no crappy web browsers.

And you can still do all your SaaS, SOA, and the like. You just don’t have to deploy applications in HTML and use kludges like AJAX to make a web app look like a real application.

The best of the web and the client. No compromises.

Web3.0 Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:23 am

BTW, The really interesting thing is that this new browser will hurt Firefox far more than it will IE. Very much like the Mac hurts LINUX more than it does Microsoft. (Remember, Microsoft makes a significant amount of money from software sales on the Mac.)

I have to question your stats for browser marketshare. Most I’ve seen put the share of Firefox much lower and leveling off.

And within the firewalls of corporate computing, IE reigns supreme.

But, as I pointed out above, the browser is going to stop being an application platform and return to its proper use of being a browser.

And there will be much rejoicing.

Edrei Says:
March 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Flock is so 2007. For some reason, it’s become bloated and slow over the months since it’s development. The idea is sound and all, but the bastard child of Firefox is trying a tad bit too hard.
kucau Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
ermm, i think flock does not have “memory leak” problem
TechnoLaziness Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
James, I am a bit concerned about flock’s memory usage. With rich features, it is obviously gonna bloat my system. But nevertheless I am going to give it a try for its tempting feature set.
red Says:
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Thanks for the post, James.

I gave it a try long time ago and I gave up on it. After reading your top 5 reasons I was intrigued by your reason no. 1. So now I’m typing this comment in Flock 1.1.

Those integrations could be very handy, but somehow the sidebar style just don’t capture my heart.
vickie Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
ok I will give it a try :D
Syahid A. Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Imo, either Flock or Firefox use nearly the same amount of memory (big, of course). Opera performs slightly better but will suffer too once a lot of tabs had been opened.
keeyit Says:
March 24th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
I still using IE.. :(
A.Faith Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I’ve tried to switch to Flock once, but updates come to late and I’ve faced a few problems with it! Even so, it really impressed me, even if in my native language the name of this programs sounds like pubic hair :))
Chris Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Another great list… I posted it on http://listdid.com

Chris
James Yeang Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Edrei: I don’t really feel its bloated, perhaps it depends on system specs.
@A.Faith: Yeah – the new version is awesome tho
@keeyit: Switch :)
@red: You need a widescreen monitor to fully appreciate the sidebars. On a normal monitor it clutters up the screen.
@vickie: Great!
@kucau & Technolaziness: Syahid’s right… didn’t see much of a dip in performance moving from Firefox to Flock.
@Syahid: Agree – Opera is the more robust browser – but Flock is just so much sexier :)
@Chris: Thanks for posting the list up on listdid!
Kelley Says:
March 27th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I tried flock about a year ago and went right back to firefox…I gave it another shot after reading your post….OMG it is great and just what I needed…I feel so bad because I have been such a loyal firefox fan and user….I really feel guilty…but I am staying with flock!
Nirmal Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Superb article, I too had written a similar post on this 6 months back. Flock is a great browser.
ITrush Says:
March 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
This is very interesting, haven’t tested it yet, thanks for sharing.

nhick
http://www.itrush.com
Web3.0 Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Isn’t it about time for the Internet based applications to leave th confines of a web browser?

There is a better way. The servers can host virtual applications that are accessed not by a web browser, but by a remote client (akin to remote desktop.) This gives a true fat client that is running on the server. The server has much greater control over the environment in which the application is running. This yields better user experiences, better security, better reliability, better performance for many. Pretty much better everything.

But best of all, no crappy web browsers.

And you can still do all your SaaS, SOA, and the like. You just don’t have to deploy applications in HTML and use kludges like AJAX to make a web app look like a real application.

The best of the web and the client. No compromises.
Web3.0 Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 10:23 am
BTW, The really interesting thing is that this new browser will hurt Firefox far more than it will IE. Very much like the Mac hurts LINUX more than it does Microsoft. (Remember, Microsoft makes a significant amount of money from software sales on the Mac.)

I have to question your stats for browser marketshare. Most I’ve seen put the share of Firefox much lower and leveling off.

And within the firewalls of corporate computing, IE reigns supreme.

But, as I pointed out above, the browser is going to stop being an application platform and return to its proper use of being a browser.

And there will be much rejoicing.

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