But I wish Microsoft found a way to merge the vacated top space with the page’s view instead of filling it with the website’s title. Microsoft Edge’s vertical tabs - which push your tabs to the side from the top - are too, in theory, a clever idea as they allow you to concentrate on your current web page and not at the long, messy line of tabs at the top. Plus, Edge adds your pinned tabs to the Taskbar so it’s easier to visit the sites you need the most. Though this could easily descend into chaos if you have tons of tabs, it’s perfect for someone like me who generally prefers to stick with a few at a time. The browser lets you jump between tabs from the same alt-tab menu you use for windows and apps.

I’ve also grown dependent on Microsoft Edge’s alt-tab multitasking on Windows 10. Smart Copy lets you copy and paste a table from a website without compromising on its original formatting. With “Collections,” you can organize related web pages, text snippets, images, and more into folders - which comes in handy when, say, you’re planning a trip. While browsing your history, you can look up items in language like “news articles from last week,” as opposed to trying to trace a specific web address. Further, it automatically mutes those pesky notification pop-ups from websites.

Other than the usual collection of privacy tools like automatic HTTPS and tracker prevention, for instance, Microsoft Edge has a more accessible dashboard where you can manage which permissions sites are allowed to access and the cookie data stored on your machine. On top of that, Microsoft has added a range of its practical touches. It’s equipped with the speed and vast third-party marketplace of Google Chrome along with the privacy-first trappings that only recently drew me to Mozilla Firefox. Microsoft Edge’s most compelling attribute, however, is the balance it sets.

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