I have Google Chrome configured in such a way that it accounts for more than half of my daily internet usage, and the rich extension system was partly responsible for that.
Almost everything I do online is powered by Google Chrome, whether I'm talking about browsing, Social Media, email, and other services I use and connect to with the corresponding extensions.
But the more I devoted myself to Google Chrome, the bigger the problem with the browser became. And the more you use it, the more resources it takes up, eventually reaching a point where it actually slows down the system.
As a Microsoft Surface Book user, I never worry about performance issues caused by the browser, especially since these basic activities shouldn't have a significant impact on how a powerful configuration runs.
And yet, it turns out I was wrong, as Google Chrome got to the point on my Windows 10 laptop, consuming over 2GB of RAM with just 3 tabs open. Given that I have 5 tabs open all the time, plus a few more sometimes, I think it's too much for a browser to consume that much.
Of course, I'm not the only one who has this problem. Others are complaining about the same problem, while some are suggesting all sorts of workarounds that will ultimately make Google Chrome a more resource-friendly browser.
The solution, however, is much easier than you think. Microsoft Edge, the successor to Internet Explorer, is the solution I recommend since it has apparently “matured” and actually runs much better.
Microsoft Edge now has the basic extension pack (not the full pack), runs with minimal impact on system performance since it is a native application, and is also quite fast and secure all the time.
That's not to say that Microsoft Edge is a flawless app. And some of the previous drawbacks I mentioned about it still apply. For example, the browser closing on its own for no apparent reason, but these happen much less often now.
The biggest downside I've noticed so far is the slow update rate Microsoft has adopted for Edge. As I said, the browser only gets updates with new Windows 10, and that happens twice a year. So, compared to Chrome, it's not updated as frequently.
And despite all these drawbacks, which at one point were very tiring for me, I am currently willing to use Microsoft Edge full-time. To be honest, I will miss Google Chrome, but a browser that has such a big impact on system performance is by no means the right browser for me.
I want everything to be super responsive and fast all the time and I can't imagine the new generation of hardware being slowed down by a browser. And if that happens, the only option is to get rid of that browser.
That's exactly what I'm doing now, and so far I'm impressed with Edge. Let's hope the upcoming October 2018 update doesn't change the browser too much.
