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billyjk's avatar
billyjk
Brass Contributor
Mar 08, 2021

Chrome Refugee with Initial Experience Questions...

First post here.  Been in software development since the 80's on the human side - human factors, flight simulation modeling, user interface design, UX, etc...  -  and have used all popular browsers.  I believe in ecosystem diversity and therefore I want to escape the Google-sphere for some services, like my browser.

 

Using Edge on Win10 and on my Chromebook(!) I notice a few initial snags, and I wonder if there are more on the way as I learn Edge, that will push me back to Chrome.

 

First, why is the text size so large in the address bar?  It looks like a design oversight!

 

Next, is it really the case that I can't assign a specific page address for a new tab?  I have to land on a MS page?

 

Next is extensions.  Why not just embrace Google's Chrome Web Store?  It appears that those extensions will work due the common Chromium codebase, and it make make Edge look like the "common denominator" that can pull from anywhere and doesn't need a brand.

 

Thanks for your patience while I come up-to-speed on Edge.

-bk

14 Replies

  • billyjk's avatar
    billyjk
    Brass Contributor

    My Chromebook just updated to ChromeOS v89.

     

    Fixed this problem!

  • billyjk's avatar
    billyjk
    Brass Contributor

    More more parting question...

     

    When I registered to post here, an "app" was added to my MS account, and I needed to provide more personal information that I typically provide to post on a forum.

     

    How do I delete that "app"?

     

    I've looked all over my MS Account page, under Privacy and Security tabs, but I am not seeing anything.

    Any advice on how I can ensure that I have "unregistered" would be greatly appreciated!

    -bk

  • Noel Burgess's avatar
    Noel Burgess
    Iron Contributor

    billyjk 

    This site isn't really the one for new users; it was created for discussions by Edge Insiders about preview versions of the browser. Basic questions like yours have been answered many times before in Microsoft's dedicated Edge forum for ordinary users: Microsoft Edge - Microsoft Community

     

    Specifically, Edge did 'embrace the Chrome webstore' a long time ago. Any extension in that store that doesn't require a Google sign-in can be installed in Edge.

    • billyjk's avatar
      billyjk
      Brass Contributor
      Thanks for the direction.
      I am using the Dev version on Crostini (Linux) on a Chromebook.
      I'll refer to the MS Edge Community.
      • Noel Burgess's avatar
        Noel Burgess
        Iron Contributor

         


        billyjk wrote:
        I am using the Dev version on Crostini (Linux) on a Chromebook.

        billyjk 

        In that case, you're in exactly the right place. Sorry for assuming that as a new user you were on the stable release 🙏

  • Hi,
    welcome to the community,
    first just wanted to let you know that there is an Edit button, you can use it to modify your post and comments if you made a typo etc.

    Microsoft has its own addons store because it's for Edge browser. I know it uses Chromium under the hood but it's not Chrome.
    Edge is using Chromium, with Google stuff removed from it.
    Opera is also using Chromium but they have their own extension/addons store.

    Edge has different UI, extension and themes in Edge addons store are not guaranteed to work with other Chromium based browsers, the same applies to extensions available on Chrome webstore.
    plus, as an Edge user, I wouldn't want to use Google services when I clearly am using a Microsoft browser.

    You can set a custom URL for new tab page using this policy:
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployedge/microsoft-edge-policies#newtabpagelocation

    by default, Edge has its own default NTP.

    I don't think text size on address bar is oversight or large, i think it's the right size. I don't like Chrome's small address bar and UI elements.
  • billyjk's avatar
    billyjk
    Brass Contributor
    *and it COULD make Edge look like..."
    Sorry for not proofing my post!

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