Browser UI

[torkell]

A usability question for you all: of the four following layouts, which of the following positions for the address bar in a web browser is the best? Apologies for the quality of the screenshots - I hacked together the bare minimum of a VB program needed to make these.

[Poll #1427428]
It's interesting that the major browsers use very different layouts. Internet Explorer 7 and 8 both use layout 1, while Firefox and IE6 are closest to layout 3 (ignoring the lack of built-in tabs in IE6). Opera uses layout 4, while Chrome doesn't really fit into any of these (though it's most like 4).

Comments

[olego.livejournal.com]

I actually put my tabs on the bottom in Opera - so there's a fifth option for you. :-)

[link077.livejournal.com]

I prefer as little interface as possible, as to provide the most space to actually display web pages. My ideal browser would get rid of the menu bar completely, and put the address bar and the toolbar on the same line.