Many people don’t even pay attention to the web browser they are using. They are happy with the default browser that came with their computer. However, a vast majority have switched over to Google Chrome, and will not look back.
Recently Microsoft released a new browser that is above and beyond all of the company’s previous attempts. Even as Internet Explorer came standard on all Windows based machines, most people found the browser to be slow and clunky. Edge was supposed to change all of that, but seemed to miss the mark.
Microsoft went back to the drawing board and really came up with a great new browser this time. There are a few reasons you should give Microsoft Edge a shot.
Built on same platform as Google Chrome
What many people might not be aware of is that the Microsoft Edge browser is actually built on the same platform as Google Chrome. Edge is not just a newer version of Internet Explorer, it’s a completely rebuilt browser.
The Edge Browser uses a platform called Chromium. “Chromium is a free and open-source software project developed by the Google-sponsored Chromium project. The source code can be compiled into a web browser. New versions of the code are published daily. Google uses the code to make its Chrome browser, which has more features than Chromium.”
In this sense, the browser is built very similarly to Chrome, but has some additional features and enhancements.
Collections
One of the features that is unique to Edge is their Collections. This takes bookmarks to a whole new level. Collections allows you to categorize different bookmarks into a specific collection.
For example, if I’m working on a specific project researching different software programs that could help solve a problem, I can create a collection for this research project. As I find programs, I can add them to the collection and then back track through them to dig further. Once the project is complete, I can remove the collection, or keep it for referencing later.
Collections has the ease of Pinterest, but it’s just built right into the browser. Create as many different collections as you need, and you won’t have to scroll through an endless list of folders to try and find what you are looking for.
Same extensions as Chrome
Another reason someone might be reluctant to make the switch over to Edge is the extensions and add-ins they use for Chrome. Some of these add-ins include password managers, tasks, note taking and more.
The good news is that many of these extensions and add-ins are already available on Edge. Since Edge is built on Chromium, many of the most popular plugins are already working with the platform.
Sleeping tabs
If you are one of those people who has a TON of tabs open at all times, this feature will be a game changer for you. Browsers with a lot of tabs open can really tax the available memory on your computer. Edge has a feature that allows you to put tabs to sleep so they aren’t eating up memory, but they aren’t closed either, so you can easily access the site again when you need it.
Vertical tabs
Here is another one for you tab junkies. Edge also features the ability to see your tabs vertically in the browser. This allows you to see more of the title on the tab so you don’t have to keep guessing on which tab you want to view. You can easily toggle between horizontal or vertical tabs, so you can switch it up whenever you want.
Edge is really a whole different animal than previous Microsoft browsers, and it’s worth a shot to check out. Give it a try and I promise, you probably won’t even miss Chrome.