[linux-elitists] Firefox Profiles are a Good Idea

[Shlomi Fish]

On Thursday 27 December 2007, Aaron Sherman wrote:
> Shlomi Fish wrote:
> > Using Firefox profiles instead of different users have other advantages -
> > see below.
>
> I file this under the general trap of assuming that a feature that can
> be used well is necessary. I can think of a number of ways to make
> excellent use of a can opener on my coffee cup. However, it would make
> my coffee cup unwieldy and more expensive, so I don't have one there.
> It's not a matter of identifying the benefits alone, but the
> relationship between the costs and the benefits. How much performance
> and/or resident memory size do you sacrifice for that feature as
> compared with other features? Is *that* worth it?

You're right. However, while a can opener on your coffee cup can easily be 
substituted with having a separate can opener, Firefox profiles cannot be 
substituted with anything else. Plus, many people need them and make a good 
use of them. And finally, you don't sacrifice a lot of "performance and/or 
resident memory size" from them, because when Firefox starts with a certain 
profile it just reads/writes some of the settings from a certain 
profile-specific directory, and that's all there is to it.

There can be other disadvantages like decreased usability, etc.

So I still think the advantages outweigh the small disadvantages, and I'm 
certainly find myself needing this feature.

Regards,

	Shlomi Fish

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Shlomi Fish      shlomif@iglu.org.il
Homepage:        http://www.shlomifish.org/

I'm not an actor - I just play one on T.V.