Microsoft Edge Browser is Nothing Like Internet Explorer…Thank God!

While Internet Explorer is dead with it's carcass buried deep within Windows 10, there is a new kid on the block preparing to make his debut. The new Microsoft browser, built from the ground up with little regard for IE is named Edge and with the exception of the slightly confusing icon, bears little resemblance to Internet Explorer.

Edge is fit and trim, secure and an up and coming competitor to Google Chrome and FireFox. Scrapping the bloat, the baggage and ActiveX support (what a mistake THAT was) is the right direction for this fledgling browser whose modern interface and cool new technologies and features continue Microsoft's redirection to producing performance software for the people, instead of for it's own ego.

Edge will be at least Microsoft's browser of the future and is included with Windows 10 out of the box. And Edge is the default, and it will be available across Microsoft’s product line, from PCs to smartphones to Holo Lens and Surface Devices. Microsoft said it built Edge to be clean, tight, and responsive and in our testing...they have mostly succeeded.

After IE, Microsoft has some work to do to rebuild users' trust, and the company says the days of cluttered, unwanted task bars are long gone. Edge uses its own HTML rendering engine, which is built based upon the engine in IE 11...but put on a diet. It is fast, responsive and modern but with a lot of room to grow. It is more standards compliant meaning that the vast majority of websites will render perfectly in Edge and Javascript has been tested running faster in Edge than even in Chrome. As many of you know, Chrome has grown a bit fat and slow, not to mention it's memory issues, over the years. But that is what happens when you get lazy.

So while even I, personally still use Chrome more often than Edge...I'm hopeful for the future. But I design websites and write computer software. My personal and professional needs are different from the day to day Windows user and I believe that if you haven't taken Edge for a ride, it is time to do so. Edge is very consumer friendly and built to handle their every need. So give it a try, decide for yourself and don't be prejudiced by IE's history. Edge is something completely different.

While Microsoft's browsers, IE specifically haven't been given much consideration over the last few years, Edge will likely change all that. Embedded as the default browser in Windows 10 is a good starting point...but there is work to be done and minds to change. Edge needs to complete the addition and management of extensions (specifically Ad Blocking) to complete into today's browser marketplace where Google Chrome is still king. But with the financial and technical backing of a newly refreshed Microsoft...Edge may just be, the browser of the future.