Is Microsoft Edge Taking Over? - Comments Page 2

Hate the way the screen jumps while scrolling down. Google Chrome does the same and it is pushing so many adds now that it’s becoming barely usable. Having much more success with DuckDuckGo.com

Bob, thank you for this information!

It is particularly timely, because a few days ago, Edge installed itself on my 2017 Windows 7 desktop.

I use Firefox as my main browser, with Chrome only for Netflix, and I don't use other browsers. You can imagine how surprised I was when I booted up the desktop only to see a large Edge screen telling me I had to set it up. It took me a while to figure out to close the thing, as the usual "close window" didn't work. I then promptly uninstalled it using Revo Uninstaller.

Needless to say, I am not predisposed to trust any program that a) downloads itself without my knowledge or permission, b) installs itself without my knowledge or permission, and c) runs itself without my permission.

Now I'm wondering how Edge managed to worm its way onto my computer in the first place, and how long until it tries the same stunt again . . . .

(Oh, never mind, it was a Windows "important" update: "Microsoft Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB4567409)" installed on 18/06/2020 at 11:59 PM. Silly me, I had Windows set to install important updates automatically. I am now changing the setting to "download updates but let me choose whether to install them.")

I'm not happy about the change. I, too, was surprised when I absent-mindedly (intended to) close the page I was working on via the "X" in the upper right corner, and was NOT asked if I wanted to close all the pages/tabs or just the current page/tab.

Also, the font that is used for the drop-down windows, etc., (for editing and navigating) is so small. Not easy to read now, even on my 27-inch monitor.

How do I get back the previous Edge?

My big complaint about Google AND Microsoft is that they are doing a full-court press to get you to log in the entire time you are on the internet, so they can record every single thing you do, everybody you send email to, and all your log-ins. I can throw AT&T/Yahoo into that conspiracy as well. Brave is a lot better about respecting your privacy, and otherwise it's a lot like Google, but even when you are using Brave, you still have to log in to either Google or Microsoft or both. For example, I just re-built a computer and had to do a clean re-install of Windows 10. The install process tries very hard to get you to log into Microsoft, with no obvious way to decline. I had to use Ctrl-Alt-Del just to get out of that login window.

I am instinctively an independent maverick so prefer third-party software. Opera did a fine job until they sold to the Chinese but thankfully Vivaldi came to my rescue, and it's now my default browser. I hate being manipulated by Microsoft, and would use Linux Mint or Manjaro as my main OS if I could only get the Microsoft computers on my home network to recognize it.

PS - I forgot to mention how annoying it is that now it often (more than 50% of the time) for a page to close -- takes about 3 to 5 seconds for the page to actually close now after X-ing it to close.

I use Viasat incognito mode with DuckDuck as search engine. This provides the best privacy. I found using DuckDuck in google still shows history and don't trust privacy mode in Bing as I don't trust Microsoft not to still see my history even if it is not showing any like Google does.

I used IE for about a hundred years. (Well, since I started using computers anyway.) When my desktop bit the dust and I got a laptop many years ago, I started using Firefox. I also used Chrome, but only for certain sites that FF wouldn't display. Lately, after FF seemed to get buggy on one computer weeks ago - took 10 minutes to load, other problems - I used it even less. This morning FF did the same on another computer. I may have to say goodbye to it soon. Meanwhile, I've used Vivaldi and find it works best of the three. Edge? I installed the newest version voluntarily and gave it a very quick try and I still just don't know. (I don't like Microsoft, Google, Apple, or Mozilla, but what's left?) For searching, I use StartPage or DuckDuckGo. (BTW, I use Linux Mint/Windows 10 about 75%/25%.) I guess I'm just almost impossible to please.

It got installed on my Windows 7 computer on Saturday via the Windows update facility. I haven't yet looked at it and probably won't for a while because I have more important things to do. I use Firefox and, occasionally, Pale Moon. I would use the latter more often if I didn't have to go to the trouble of importing bookmarks, etc.

And, yes, I am pissed off by the sneaky way that they did this; it's no way to act if you are supposed to be a reputable company.

First, I'd like to make sure that everyone has a chance to buy Win 10 pro 80% off, until 30 Jun 2020
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3562330/exclusive-deal-get-windows-10-pro-for-39-99-thats-80-off-retail.html
To stop most adds I use a hosts file, first make a backup of your existing hosts file, then download and save one of the useful replacements mentioned in this article.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-use-a-hosts-file-to-improve-your-internet-experience/
I have been using the frequently updated file mentioned in the Zdnet article "make the internet not suck as much" I love this file, but there are TWO Issues:
1- you cannot download the file, as such. You have to select all of the text on the page & paste into a text document and save as simple text.
2- Some sites I want to go to, such as Dell computer sales ads are blocked. I just go to Dell.com directly.

I've been a long time user of Firefox. I really like the feature in Bookmarks, right click and the dropdown lets you alphabetize a listing. However, they don't like you using ad blockers. I've had some problems of Firefox and Chrome not opening some URL's but I can copy and paste into Edge and it works fine. So, I may have to give Edge a chance to perform in these aspects.

I use FireFox, Vivaldi and Brave as my primary browsers. I did update Edge, just to get rid of the old version. Installed my extensions. I like having toolbars available, only FireFox and Vivaldi still do. Well, Pale Moon might but I've not even looked at that in years. I'll be sticking with my three primary browsers.

I don't use Chrome because it DOES want to track you everywhere, you have to turn that off manually or it will track you even when you've signed out of the browser.

I don't use Chrome and I use Firefox for a search engine I use Start Page. I don't trust any thing of Google or Google Chrome.

I did not let Edge install on my PC. When I logged on to my PC after the Microsoft update, I simply pressed the power button to shut off my PC. After the reboot everything, including Chrome was the same, and Edge was gone. No Edge for me thanks.

I'd like to know if there's anyway to uninstall that *&^%$# Internet Explorer...

I don't really care. after many years I gave up on Chrome (and Firefox before that) some years back. I like Vivaldi a lot and it pains me whenever I get on to help my wife on her Chrome browser. My only problem with Vivaldi is that there seem to be keyboard shortcuts that regularly pop me off whatever I'm doing into some sidebar or drop down. Very annoying! But still superior to Chrome which often wouldn't render my banking website correctly (or at all, at all.).

My husband's Windows 10 updated and sure enough, there was Microsoft Edge pushing itself at us. Not only that, but it gets set up to keep running in the background even when you are not using it, which is something I really didn't like.

We both use either Firefox or Chrome, and having Microsoft foist something else on us makes us uninclined to use Edge, on general principles.

Anyway, I figured out how to stop the background process, and we will continue to browse on FF or Chrome as usual.

I've had Edge since last year. For over 26 years I'd moving between various browsers according to web site. Eleven years ago needed Chrome, IE, Opera, and Safari to access all my sites. Mostly used Chrome, but over time it turned into an appalling energy and resource hog which led me mostly back to FF.

Although I still have Chrome on my PC, I no longer use it. Been at least a year. Edge I use for exactly one site that FF won't allow to fully load. I too no longer trust either Google or MS so use Duck, Duck Go and periodically scrub all the data I can at Google and MS.

The introduction of pop-out video windows made FF my 99.99999% goto browser.

I'm in the UK. I have BT Sport, a competitor to Sky. Edge doesn't work with BT Sport, even after the update. I never used Edge anyway and still shan't.

The moment they pulled this fast one with ASKING me first was the end of any possibility my using Edge.