What's So Great About Google Toolbar?

[vicwang]

Ever since the release of the Google Toolbar, I've heard dozens of people talking about how great it is and how it's the best pop up blocker they've ever used.

Since I use Firefox for most of my browsing needs and Panicware Pop-Up Stoppper when I use IE, I've never had a problem with pop ups and, naturally, no need for the Google Toolbar (never mind that I find it ridiculous to use an entire toolbar consuming screen real estate just for the purpose of blocking popups).

But I'm curious--is there truly anything fundamentally different about Google Toolbar which makes it superior to other popup blockers? For that matter, is there any evidence that it IS the best blocker on the market, at least among the free blockers? (I've done a few searches for scientific comparisons to other blockers but haven't found any substantial evidence).

Personally I don't recall that I've had any popups slip through while using Panicware (and obviously not when using Firefox) so I'm not sure how much "better" other blocking software can be.

 

[MrChad]

For Internet Explorer, I haven't found anything better. Panicware's blocker tends to block pop-ups that *I* initiate (e.g. from clicking on a link), whereas Google's does not.

 

[Schadenfroh]

the free version of ad shield works fine for me, blocks banner,flash and iframe ads along with pop ups

 

[spherrod]

I don't think it's the best pop-up blocker but it seems to do an ok job - I prefer using Opera or Firefox though which has it all built in

 

[Apocalypse23]

Originally posted by: spherrod
I don't think it's the best pop-up blocker but it seems to do an ok job - I prefer using Opera or Firefox though which has it all built in

Yeah, the firefox popup blocker works FLAWLESSLY in my opinion. I think someone posted an article at the mozilla forums about how its ranked number one in pop up blocking or something.

I've tried a few other pop up blockers for I.E(before i got firefox) and none of them blocked pop ups as good as Firefox does. Some of them were too conservative, others blocked a little too much.

 

[Safeway]

I have the google toolbar for IE as well as Firefox. I like that you can block Flash ads entirely. I hate those ads that float on the page and can't be closed. For normal use, the Google Toolbar works great.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: vicwang
(never mind that I find it ridiculous to use an entire toolbar consuming screen real estate just for the purpose of blocking popups).

I guess you didn't realize that you don't need NEED the toolbar there? It's a toolbar, you can have it there or not like any other toolbar.

As for whether it's the best or not... i don't know, i went from Popup Blocker to the Google toolbar, and it definitely worked better than Popup Blocker.

It's free, the toolbar is good (i like it for the search function), and it's free. As for 'scientific comparisons'... what the hell do you mean by that?

 

[vicwang]

I guess you didn't realize that you don't need NEED the toolbar there? It's a toolbar, you can have it there or not like any other toolbar.

The popup blocking capabilities of the Google Toolbar are disabled when the toolbar is hidden. I have tested this in the past, and I just confirmed it again with the latest version.

As for 'scientific comparisons'... what the hell do you mean by that?

Based on actual tests of specific pages and certain scenarios, not based on purely subjective opinion.

For example, conducting an actual test as to whether the toolbar needs to be visible in order to block popups would be scientific in nature. Assuming popup blocking is enabled while the toolbar is hidden/disabled would not.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: vicwang

I guess you didn't realize that you don't need NEED the toolbar there? It's a toolbar, you can have it there or not like any other toolbar.

The popup blocking capabilities of the Google Toolbar are disabled when the toolbar is hidden. I have tested this in the past, and I just confirmed it again with the latest version.

As for 'scientific comparisons'... what the hell do you mean by that?

Based on actual tests of specific pages and certain scenarios, not based on purely subjective opinion.

For example, conducting an actual test as to whether the toolbar needs to be visible in order to block popups would be scientific in nature. Assuming popup blocking is enabled while the toolbar is hidden/disabled would not.

It's FREE. So why don't you do your own 'scientific' tests if you want to be sure it's unbias and done correctly.

 

[vicwang]

It's FREE. So why don't you do your own 'scientific' tests if you want to be sure it's unbias and done correctly.

Because it would be a monumental waste of time if such information is already freely available on the web.

Just to be clear, I'm not trying to take anything away from those who have provided feedback based on their experiences above. Opinions based on personal experience are certainly valuable, I'm just curious if any *evidence* exists that Google Toolbar is truly the best popup blocker available, as many people claim. I'm also curious if there is something fundamentally different about the technology behind it compared to other blockers.

One reason I'm particularly skeptical of it is, ironically, an article I read about Google itself a few weeks ago. There was a study conducted of the major search engines, which ultimately concluded that they're all pretty much the same. Google wasn't any better or worse than other search engines at finding relevant hits on various topics, despite its reputation as the "best" search engine.

 

[n0cmonkey]

I think it's horrible. I have to use it at work and it stops almost nothing.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I think it's horrible. I have to use it at work and it stops almost nothing.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it "horrible." It stops almost every pop-up I encounter. However, there are a few techniques to get pop-ups by it, and now that it is so popular, more and more obnoxious websites are employing those techniques.

 

[highwayxingfrog]

For a college student who uses the internet for virtually all academic...and non-academic...activities, I find that the Google toolbar is tons of help. It's so convenient to just type in whatever I don't understand from some reading or assignment.

The pop-up blocker is just an extra. I downloaded the toolbar to make studying and reasearch a bit easier. I didn't even expect the darn blocker to work when I got the toolbar, but after about a year of having it in my machine, I'm glad I stumbled upon such a simple program that offers so much help. It probably isn't the best blocker out there, but the whole google package was exactly what I needed.

 

[XplosiV]

Whats so great about ANY toolbar ? i have no use for any of them as i run just a couple of progs that do everything i want.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
I think it's horrible. I have to use it at work and it stops almost nothing.

I wouldn't go so far as to call it "horrible." It stops almost every pop-up I encounter. However, there are a few techniques to get pop-ups by it, and now that it is so popular, more and more obnoxious websites are employing those techniques.

I think it's horrible. I don't have these issues with a decent browser.

 

[Spetsnazgg]

I like the popup blocking feature, and if you think it takes up space, you can always put it on the same line as the other toolbars and then move it off as far away from sight as possible, and it's no longer a problem.

The search feature can be a big help when you need to search things fast and furious.

There are also some other features such as search website (specific website), blogging tools and some other things, I don't remember them all.

It can be useful. I had pop up stopper, but I like an integrated one w/ IE more.

 

[vicwang]

I like the popup blocking feature, and if you think it takes up space, you can always put it on the same line as the other toolbars and then move it off as far away from sight as possible, and it's no longer a problem.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've found you can hide most of the toolbar, but you still have to keep the search field visible at all times.

Of course my complaint isn't a matter of practicality (since I use Firefox with browser-level popup blocking anyway), I just find it inherently absurd that one would need to consume ANY screen real estate in order to block popups.

I'm fully aware of the reason behind it of course (get you to use Google in exchange for the popup blocking capabilities) but if anything I find that thought even more unappealing.