Google released its new look last week and already Web browser extensions have been released to undo it! Change is hard, and some Web users would rather Google didn’t change. You’ll notice that the text refers to the classic version, but the updated Google keeps the same functionality. Instead of requiring you to show the options, though, it automatically expands and offers what it thinks are the most relevant options.
If the new Google isn’t for you, you can grab one of the new extensions that will take you back to April 2010! Google Chrome users can try out the Hide/Show , Hide Google Options extension as well as the scripts Lifehacker highlighted, the Classic Google or Remove Sidebar scripts. The latter two can be used by Firefox users with Greasemonkey installed, as well as the Retro Google or Google20100508 experimental (as of today) extensions.
Or you might just give it a shot and see if you can adapt! The drawback to using scripts or add-ons to control Google’s look and feel is that you may in fact be missing out on some of the power Google intends to provide. Your personal usability comfort may not be worth the trade off.
