So many browser toolbars are available you could easily reduce your ability to see anything in a browser to almost zero by installing them all. Several useful toolbars exist and there are even some I've found I really enjoy having on my own computers. Reader's participating in the survey were largely in agreement on a favorite toolbar, with only 3 toolbars putting up numbers that were more than a blip on the map.
Reader's Choice: Google Toolbar ran away with this category receiving 64% of all reader votes. I used to use Google Toolbar more frequently, but find myself using many similar features now built into Firefox and Internet Explorer. Over time, it may be that if you like the Google Toolbar, you'll be better off simply downloading Google Chrome.
2) Yahoo Toolbar is a distant second to the mighty Google (not unlike in search) with 10% of readers picking it as a favorite. The only computer I've ever used Yahoo Toolbar on is a new HP system that came with it pre-installed. I have to admit, being able to automatically access my Flickr and de.icio.us accounts has a certain appeal, but I'm not convinced I'd use it otherwise.
3) StumbleUpon is even further down the toolbar popularity list to Google, with 4% of reader's picking it as their favorite. I've come to find the StumbleUpon toolbar to be a great diversion and a serendipitous way to find new thing on topics I like. While one man's useful is another's complete waste of time, I think stumbling through the Web by category is an excellent way to filter some of the noise while still finding things of interest.
4) Windows Live Toolbar eeked out 2% of reader votes, providing access to other components of the Windows Live solution set, but not really getting at the point of a toolbar, which is to make the things people use more readily available.
Possibly most telling were the 5.5% of readers indicating that they don't use a browser toolbar of any kind, beating out both StumbleUpon and Windows Live. I contend it's because they haven't tried StumbleUpon yet, but it could also be that there's something to be said for a clean browser experience uncluttered by additional wasted screen real estate. 74 other toolbars received at least one vote.
