chrome instead

[749]

I have been a faithful Safari user for 10 years but I am finding Chrome to be obviously faster. . What do you think about the both?

 

[pm-r]

I have been a faithful Safari user for 10 years but I am finding Chrome to be obviously faster. . What do you think about the both?

I would suggest there are too many variables that can make a difference in people's usage so try them all and use the one that suits you usage best.







- Patrick
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[Raz0rEdge]

There are umpteen browsers out there, so try them all and see what works best for you. I use a variation of Chrome but have pretty much tried all the browsers out there.

 

[Rod]

Google has likely poured more money and research into Chrome than any other developer because it is the flagship of a suite of software products that are essentially independent of any specific operating system. It's no wonder it works well and it does, but it's primary purpose is to generate revenue. How do they do that, you ask when Chrome is free? I believe Google may be the largest personal information gathering agencies in the world and these days personal information is money.
Having said that, used with care and insight there is no argument that it's a great browser, although like Firefox very heavy on system resources.

There are essentially only 5 major web browsers; Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox and Microsoft's Edge and on the periphery Brave, Vivaldi and unique browsers like Arc plus many other task and platform specific brands.

I'm with RazOrEdge's and pm-r's view, try them all, at least the major ones, see which one suits your needs best.

If you want ad free privacy, Brave is the best I've found, you can easily opt out of their BAT plan and cryptocurrency features. You don't even need to subscribe.

Vivaldi is also very private and provides unique features that some will love and others may not need/want including an optional email account.

Mozilla's Firefox is good middle ground with reasonable security, privacy and ad blocking features but you need to subscribe if you want full access to all features like cross platform syncing.

Opera is different, not in a bad way, just different. While Chrome, Brave and Firefox are very similar in function and design Opera is not, you'll either love it or dislike it intensely and it's ad blocking and privacy options are not up to par in my opinion.

Then there's Edge, honestly I dislike it for a number of reasons but if you are heavily invested in MS products it naturally integrates well with all of them such as a MS Email account, Skype, OneDrive, MS Office, ect.

Safari I use primarily for Apple related services because it works so well, being integrated with iCloud and now with the Passwords app it's an essential on a Mac but I've never really liked the User Interface (UI). I do admit to being stuck on the Chromium based UI and it's only average for security and as a web browser in my opinion.

Lastly there is no reason not to have more than one web browser. Some are more suitable for some purposes like shopping compared to online banking and as mentioned Apple related web sites.
I keep all my bookmarks in Safari so if I need/want to reinstall a browser or download a new one I can quickly import my bookmarks and copy and paste passwords from Safari with the sure knowledge that they are all safety backed up and synced via iCloud.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I have been a faithful Safari user for 10 years but I am finding Chrome to be obviously faster. . What do you think about the both?

Safari is based on open source code called WebKit. Chrome is based on open source code called Chromium. Most users don't realize that Chromium is a fork of WebKit!

Chrome is indeed a dynamite browser, unfortunately it is packed full of Google's spyware. I recommend completely deleting it and going with another choice.

The really good news is that the folks who make the Brave browser took Chromium, and stripped out all of Google's spyware from it, and added a bunch security features (including a built-in ad blocker), and, depending on what you are looking for, it's the best of all worlds. It's fast, highly secure, impressively compatible with every odd Web site, full of just about every feature you can think of, and even user customizable. Using it is a pleasure!

Brave browser (free)

The browser that puts you first | Brave

The Brave browser is a fast, private and secure web browser for PC, Mac and mobile. Download now to enjoy a faster ad-free browsing experience that saves data and battery life by blocking tracking software.

www.brave.com

I have six or seven browsers installed on my main Mac. I'm always evaluating all of them so that I can tell folks which one that I recommend. For a good while now, Brave has consistently stayed on top. I really don't think that there is any contest. Though Vivaldi has been somewhat close behind.

Safari is a 'meh' browser. It's not the fastest, it's not the most full featured, it's not the most secure, and it sometimes has compatibility problems with odd Web sites. It's what you would expect from a free browser included with the OS. It's just fine, but far from the best. Going back to Safari after using Brave, I find Safari to be annoying, because I expect more from my browser now and I'm not willing to settle.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

I should point out that many Macintosh illuminaries are wild about the new Web browser, Arc.

Arc browser (free)

The browser that puts you first | Brave

The Brave browser is a fast, private and secure web browser for PC, Mac and mobile. Download now to enjoy a faster ad-free browsing experience that saves data and battery life by blocking tracking software.

www.brave.com

See:

Arc Will Change the Way You Work on the Web - TidBITS

The Web browser Arc has made a larger difference in jaded tech reviewer Adam Engst’s digital work life than any app in decades. Read his deep dive on what sets Arc apart from other browsers.

tidbits.com

I haven't played with Arc yet. So if you do, please come back and give us your thoughts.

 

[Slydude]

I installed ARC a few weeks ago after seeing it mentioned in a thread here. My intention was to test it for a week or two and decide whether I wanted it to replace Safari as my primary browser.

I have since deleted it because it immediately asked if I wanted to set up an account to be used sync bookmarks etc. across devices. I wasn't ready to do that (I don't need another account somewhere) is I set it aside.

 

[Rod]

Safari is a 'meh' browser

Haha, that is perhaps the best description of Safari I've heard. Kinda average in every way.

I've had Arc browser for a couple of months now. Just playing with it really. It really is very different from any web browser I've tried. "A browser that anticipates your needs" with different "workspaces" and profiles, it takes a bit of time and patience. Is it for me?Probably not, at least not as an every day browser but it might be the shape of things to come.

 

[Slydude]

Is there a way to not need to set up an account? I'd rather not set up another account just to test things and see if I like it.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Is there a way to not need to set up an account? I'd rather not set up another account just to test things and see if I like it.

No, I don't think so. I've been using Arc since they were announced and were in closed beta. It's definitely a different kind of browser well enough. A few of the features like pinned tabs and stuff make it fairly easy to keep relevant sites always present. Their bookmarking is a bit different, but works.

All these browsers have become like Linux distributions, the core is the Chromium browser and then folks put on a different user experience on top of it to customize it.

 

[Rod]

Is there a way to not need to set up an account? I'd rather not set up another account just to test things and see if I like it.

I just used one of Apple's randomly generated disposable email addresses to set up mine. iCloud+ Hide My Email feature is very handy for this.

Create unique, random email addresses with Hide My Email and iCloud+

Get an overview of how you can hide your personal email address with Hide My Email.

support.apple.com

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Is there a way to not need to set up an account? I'd rather not set up another account just to test things and see if I like it.

It requires that you set up an account:

I want to try the trendy Arc browser, but not if they force me to register an account

The Browser Company's Arc internet browser is available to anyone for free, but it requires creating an account.

bgr.com

But you can easily get around this. Just give it a bogus e-mail address. I'd use a disposable Mailinator address.

 

[Jimmysb]

I have just started using Brave, and notice that I have had alerts informing that various site were logged on using Chrome, eventually realised these were my Brave logins, so it would seem some site identify Brave as Chrome.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

....so it would seem some site identify Brave as Chrome.

In essence, Brave IS Chrome. As I explained earlier, Brave is built on the same Chromium codebase as Chrome. Most Web sites that you visit that actually check, perceive Brave to be Chrome.

It's so much like Chrome, that most of Google's free services that are designed to only work with Chrome, like Google Earth, work with Brave too. In fact, Brave will also work with all of the free extensions and themes available for Chrome. (And there are a lot of them to choose from!)

Brave provides the best of both worlds. All the advantages of Chrome, but without Google's spyware, and with lots of extra security features built-in for good measure!

 

[Rod]

Same thing happens with me.

 

[MacBiter]

If you do use Chrome, make sure you also do the following:

1. set your search engine to be Duck Duck Go, not Google
2. set as much as you can to disable tracking, setting cookies by 3rd parties, etc.

 

[IWT]

set your search engine to be Duck Duck Go, not Google

Good advice. There are members here who never use Google - I think Jake is one of them

I use DuckDuckGo for personal, and all private matters; but I do use Google for general information and awkward queries. I have to admit that Google is often better than others when you want a straightforward, direct answer. Say Science, Medicine, Politics etc.

Ian

 

[pm-r]

but I do use Google for general information and awkward queries. I have to admit that Google is often better than others when you want a straightforward, direct answer. Say Science, Medicine, Politics etc.

also a good choice if one is shopping and looking for the best price, Google seems to help out quite well that way and provides search options you might never have thought of and for the same thing as a much better price. At least that has been by experience.

It's recent addition of AI (beta) search results has been a great asset numerous times for me with it summary. It's posted valuable information I had never seen before, even when doing a direct deliberate search in information. I find it works extremely well.





- Patrick
=======

 

[ferrarr]

I always use DDG and only use google when DDG fails, which isn't very often.

 

[MacInWin]

I think Jake is one of them

True. I have nothing in my computers from Google/Alphabet.