Microsoft Edge is the second most popular desktop browser. In this regard, it surpasses Firefox and is only ahead of the undisputed top Google Chrome, according to StatCounter analysts.
Microsoft went from one extreme to the other: from the laughing stock of Internet Explorer to a true competitor, to the world's most popular and powerful browser from Google.
I only use Chrome and rarely Safari, so I wondered how my productivity would change if I switched from my usual browser to Edge. I have two laptops - on macOS and Windows, I chose the second one for testing.
Microsoft switched to the most advanced Chromium engine in the browser. Let's see what the browser does that everyone is talking about but no one is using.
Authorize
An account must be created to transfer bookmarks and browser history from one device to another.
To create it, you need to be registered on a Microsoft system, existing accounts on other platforms will not work.
Happily, Microsoft Edge retains one of Chromium's best features - the ability to create profiles for multiple people to use the browser at the same time. Two people can sit in the same browser and still not mix bookmarks, passwords, payment information and browser history.
All you need to do is change your account. This can be done with just a few clicks in the Advanced menu. If necessary, you can set a password on your account.
speed
Browser speed can be tested in JetStream2, MotionMark and Speedometer. We did it. The result is as follows:
Rapids 2
- Google Chrome – 63 points
- Microsoft Edge – 56 points
sports marker
- Google Chrome – 106 points
- Microsoft Edge – 2 points
Speedometer
- Google Chrome – 54 actions
- Microsoft Edge – 42 actions
I've looked into other tests and it turns out the force is in the same order as mine. Microsoft Edge is last in the list of Chromium browsers for speed testing in JetStream2, MotionMark and Speedometer.
Meanwhile, the company itself claims Edge is "the fastest browser on Windows 10." In May 2021, the Microsoft Edge 91 update was released, which is exactly how the company announced it. "What is the basis for this claim, you ask? The answer is simple: boot acceleration and sleep tabs," an official statement from the Microsoft Edge development team.
In practice, I haven't noticed a speed difference between the two browsers. Downloading and uploading files, loading pages - about the same speed.
What do you like
1. Multi-platform
The browser can also be downloaded for iOS, Android and even macOS. This is required to transfer data between devices - you will have access to tabs previously created on the other device as well as your browser history.
Additionally, Edge allows you to import bookmarks from any other browser.
How to do it:
Follow the path "Details" "Favorites" "Import". In the menu that opens, select the desired browser. Uncheck all boxes and enable only the Favorites or Bookmarks option. Click the Import button and wait for the process to complete.
2. Support Chrome extension
Chrome extension
To access them, go to Settings & more > Extensions > Get extensions for Microsoft Edge.
I didn't expect to say this, but the Microsoft Store surprised me. It's become more diverse, it has more apps and extensions. Various types of file readers, utilities provided by computer manufacturers, battery health analysis, screen recording - it's all in one place. Periodically, I encounter a file that my computer cannot read. On Windows, I just open the Microsoft Store and install the desired app. Very comfortable.
Let's go back to browsers and extensions. The company store has everything you need to get the job done. VPN services, translators, tools to play videos in the window of any playlist, etc.
Extensions from the Microsoft Store
Click the "Allow extensions from other stores" checkbox in the extensions menu to open the Chrome store and install what we need. I have similar sites for monitoring site stats and picture-in-picture extensions for watching any video in the window, no matter what I have open on the screen.
I especially like this feature. Considering I switched to Edge instead of Chrome, the migration caused me minimal discomfort, and by the end of the workday, the only difference to Google Chrome for me was the icons on the bottom bar.
Managing their activities is easy. Go to Settings & More > Extensions. In the Extensions popup, select Manage Extensions.
3. Customizable start page
Browsers offer three types of link displays:
- Focused – The page only contains icons for frequently visited sites and search fields, just like in Chrome
- Inspirational - Links are displayed along with decorations and various backgrounds from Bing Photos appear on the screen.
- Informative - Along with links, Microsoft News populates the launchpad. It also displays weather, exchange rates and other data.
I like that the browser has three out-of-the-box options. As a rule, I'm too lazy to deal with browser design, so all my links are randomized. With just a few clicks, there is an opportunity to optimize everything.
4. Annotation in PDF
PDF viewers are built into every modern browser, but Edge extends its capabilities.
Here you can use the drawing tools to draw anything in the document. For example, write something or circle important places in the text.
I took this opportunity to sign. I usually need to transfer the file to my phone and leave it in Adobe Acrobat. For now it is enough to use the built-in tools. As a freelancer who always contracts with clients, I always use PDFs. Thank you for this Microsoft feature.
result
I applaud Microsoft for its commitment to fixing bugs and making rapid progress - in the face of Internet Explorer, they made functional and convenient software from a glaring outsider in the browser, customizable to the type of task and habits.
At the same time, I don't see the point of switching to this browser. The only reason is that it defaults on Windows and users will start using it, get used to it and don't want to change it. But at the same time, he has two reasons to change it:
Microsoft's proprietary browser's reputation is in question because of Explorer. He got into the habit of opening it on a new laptop -- downloading another browser.
On Android smartphones, the default browser is Chrome. If you use the same browser and the same account on both devices, you can transfer data from one device to the other. In this case, the user has two options - download Edge to the phone or download Chrome to the computer. I believe he will choose the second one.
But if you're only looking at Edge in terms of Microsoft's browser evolution, the company has taken a big step forward. I don't know why you need to download it on iOS, Android and macOS, but on Windows you can now choose not to download Chrome in the first place. Maybe you'll like Edge better.
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