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Comment by alexb_ | Hacker News Reader

Probably an unpopular opinion here but Edge is surprisingly good. Feels like they are the only browser actually innovating.

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My problem with Edge is that the ultimate intentions are still the same (data collection) since the product is free. Microsoft's recent behavior with Windows 10 also confirms the business model has shifted from "selling software" to data collection and "growth & engagement".

What areas do you find Edge different/better than Chrome?

Basically Edge is Chrome with all the privacy features other browsers have but Google refuses to implement.

> privacy features other browsers have but Google refuses to implement

I am willing to bet MS is collecting all that data instead.

Is it possible to change the search bar in the new tab page from Bing to another search engine yet? It seemed like it was set to bing, couldn't be disabled, and only the address bar could be changed to another search engine.

Not quite, but there is a setting called "Search on new tabs uses search box or address bar". When set to "address bar", typing anything in that giant search textbox on the new tab page automatically switches focus to the address bar (which uses the default search engine you've configured), so you can just do Ctrl+T and type.

Sure, the rewards, shopping assistant, multiple preloading pages and sending results to Microsoft is so much more privacy friendly.. if you ignore reality

Native vertical tabs in Edge is great.

A completely subjective take:

Edge's dev tools have smoothed over some of the more rough edges of the standard Chromium dev tools.

Also, I find Edge's browser settings to be slightly more navigable.

I like using edge, because it allows me to keep my computer totally free of Chrome.

So you instead of having the inconvenience of opting out of a few privacy settings, you'd rather have to opt out of a bunch and still get spied on by Microsoft. I hate to break the news but Edge has turned into the worst browser of all when it comes to privacy.

Option 1: Have only Edge installed.

Option 2: Install Chrome. Edge will stil be present because I cannot remove it.

I choose 1 every time. At least Google is not getting my data in addition to Microsoft.

You can use local group policies to configure whatever privacy settings you need.

Others have mentioned vertical tabs and dev tools, but they also have some nice built-in features that I would get from extensions on Chrome. Things like their collections, tab groups, shopping extension to find coupon codes, web capture, and immersive reader.

What's more I get the sense that they're innovating. I don't always prefer the changes they make but I like knowing there's a dev team actively working on new features to try and make the product better.

Edge's default handling of third party cookies is the same as Chrome's.

with the added benefit of sending telemetry & usage data to Microsoft and Google

As is Safari.

Over the last decade, Safari has been innovating in areas that people aren't calling for, and are trailing years behind in areas that people want to use.

Thank god for the collective effort of the Epic v Apple lawsuit, the recently approved EU regulations designed to allow other browsers on iOS devices while allowing users to uninstall Safari, and Jen Simmons' user and developer advocacy, giving the kick in the pants to force Apple to start catching up with the other browsers.

> recently approved EU regulations designed to allow other browsers on iOS devices while allowing users to uninstall Safari

Unfortunately all this will do is speed up Chrome's already out of control market share growth. It'll kill the web, because companies will be able to deploy Chrome-only features, and force iOS users to install Chrome to proceed.

> Over the last decade, Safari has been innovating in areas that people aren't calling for, and are trailing years behind in areas that people want to use.

Ok. Given the downvotes it sounds like those people are pretty mad about it. Specifics?

I'm talking about a browser here, like the parent was talking about a browser and not talking about an operating system or a company. We all get that distinction, right?

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