Safari sucks...

[coldjeanzzz]

I've noticed that Safari is a lot better about activating the discrete graphics card only when absolutely necessary and then about switching back to the integrated card than Chrome. Chrome has made progress in this area but there will still be times when I close a tab that had activated the discrete card and Chrome still sticks to it, requiring me to quit Chrome to get back to the integrated graphics. That could explain your battery life and heat observations.

I prefer the way that Chrome handles tabs, though. Having a defined size that doesn't grow to take up the entire bar when only a few tabs are open is nicer than Safari's, and having the tab close button slide to your mouse when closing tabs is also a very nice feature. Splitting off and merging tabs between windows is also a nice feature.

I actually do not even have discrete graphics on MBA so that can't be it

I agree about the tabs though, Chrome does a much better job with that

 

[henry72]

Well it's my favourite browser because it works great for me

Come on... 100 tabs

 

[DisplacedMic]

wow - watching the keynote right now. looks like i'm way off - everybody might go back to using Safari after all!

 

[beautifulcoder]

I don't even bother with Apple's browser anymore. To the OP, Opera works really well for me and it has a stash feature which should keep you logged in. I'm currently using Opera Mini in my iPad as a web reader: it keeps 20+ tabs open and never lags.

 

[Traverse]

Okay, go back to Firefox then. I thought everyone already knew Safari was bad for anything beyond the Average Joe 10 minute to 1 hour browsing session.

I don't think its THAT bad.

Safari 7 is a nice improvement, and much lighter on resources. Safari's downfall is its slow development. Safari once a year vs Chrome 4+ times a year.