Long time Firefox user who decided to take the Brave plunge yesterday. I’m running Linux Mint, so it wasn’t just a simple click to download/install either. Not interested in Brave Rewards, so I immediately turned that off right out of the gate. The security aspects seemed similar to Firefox, but there were a couple other things in particular that were a game-breaker for me.
Having a separate search bar next to the URL bar is an absolute must. I typically type the word or phrase into the search bar while still on the page I’m viewing, then switch to a new tab to do the search. I looked high and low, but there seemed to be no way to be able to do this in Brave.
Another absolute must is the browser having the ability to open a link in a new tab, and automatically switch to that tab when I right-click on the link and select open in new tab. Again, I couldn’t find any way to do this in Brave.
It was a bit confusing to set up the browser to open with what I thought was a homepage, only to find out that clicking on the home button in a new tab did absolutely nothing. After finding an online solution I got it to work. Seems to be a bit confusing to have what amounts to TWO home pages.
My only other beef was not having a menu bar, nor did any of the settings include one. I prefer the browser to look and act the way I want it, which isn’t always the way the developers think it should look or act.
Let me start by saying that if you’re using a different browser, and expecting major UI elements to be the same as your old browser (without having to use extensions, etc.), that might be a bridge too far in terms of expectations.
Also these issues don’t seem to be Linux-specific, but I’ll jump in anyway and help if I can.
First, any interest in using extensions or no? You might be able to get the ‘search bar’ implemented through one, but I don’t think you can without that.
Likewise with the Menu bar. When I was a Firefox user I always turned it off anyway so it didn’t bother me that Brave (and Chrome, etc.) didn’t have one – and I can still use the keyboard to access the menu (Alt+E) if needed.
But, if you want to type your search into the URL bar and have it open the search in a new tab, press Alt+Enter after typing your search. Maybe see how that works for you.
For your ‘switch to new tab,’ try Ctrl+Shift+Click on a link.
It was quite an adjustment for me too when I switched, but I felt like the privacy advantages were worth it. I initially told myself I’d try it for 3 months solid, and once I got settled in, the differences melted away and I’m happier running this browser; no thoughts of going back.
I think an option (besides the ctrl-shift-click mentioned) is available for search if I am understanding correctly. You can change the search settings to automatically open links in a new tab and it will automatically switch to that tab when this option is enabled.
Thanks for the response JimB1, using extensions is fine by me, I use a few in Firefox, but couldn’t find any applicable ones in Brave that would have resolved my issues. Actually, I’d prefer to use an extension rather than have to resort to keyboard gymnastics to get something to work.
Typing a search into the URL bar isn’t what I want to have to do, hence the desire for a separate search bar. Ctrl-shift-click isn’t a viable solution for me either, as I’d have to take my eyes off the monitor to ensure I’m hitting the right keys.
Thanks too for the link to the privacy advantages website. I wasn’t aware of it prior to your post, but I did check it out, and the Librewolf browser, an offshoot of Firefox, had both privacy settings that were the equivalent or even better than Brave, and I was able to configure it to my liking in a matter of minutes. Separate search bar, ability to add the Brave search engine as an extension, a menu bar, and I was able to right-click on a link and have it open in a new tab.
I’ve tried a number of browsers over the years (Opera, Chrome, Vivaldi, and numerous others) but never stuck with any of those because of the similar limitations I encountered in Brave.
Thanks again for the link, I truly appreciated it.
If you settle on LibreWolf that’s a solid choice and I can’t fault you for that.
For me, Brave works very well as a go-to browser as the privacy features are very good, the updating process works well (LibreWolf’s is a little janky at least on Windows, from what I can tell), and I lean towards something that will work essentially the same on several platforms. (Also, this could be the subject of some debate in and of itself, but IMHO the Chromium engine wins out in the ‘security’ space, vs. Firefox’s.)
Also I am a keyboard shortcut junkie so I don’t mind banging on keys to navigate a UI. I was a very strict Firefox user for many years and did the same there.
Sounds like you’re in good shape but if you ever decide to give this another whirl, I suspect many of us will still be here if you need anything, drop back in anytime!
Thanks again JimB1 for that link. I guess in my advancing age, I’m getting more concerned about privacy and big corporations having access to my browsing habits and information. I’ve been using gmail for so long you had to be invited to establish an account. Now I’m thinking about using an alternative email. I’ve already ditched my google news homepage and the google search engine, and want to distance myself from both google and microsoft as far as I can. Hence my reluctance to use Chrome or any Chromium-based browser.
I’ll mark this as resolved even though I ended up ditching Brave, though it wasn’t for privacy/security reasons.
I was a very strict Firefox user for many years and did the same there.