google-chromegoogle-search
For some reason, Google search is hiding the input field in Chrome and using the URL field as the search parameters. Is there a way I can disable this feature?
How I don't like it:
How I would like it:
Also, the weird thing is that it is not consistent, it somehow only happens at work and not when I am home.
It doesn't seem to be possible with Google. In the paragraph about the site operator, GoogleGuide says,
You can use many of the search operators in conjunction with the basic search operators +, –, OR, and " ".
but it doesn't seem to work for the inurl operator.
The following works for one specific site:
popcorn -site:thepopcornfactory.com
You could string together all the sites you don't want (which is how I use it), but that's hardly optimal and only works on the domain name, not the entire URL:
popcorn -site:thepopcornfactory.com -site:popcornhour.com -site:popcorn.org
As partial domain matching seems to be limited even for Google's Custom Search, I suspect that this might be a limitation of the way they keep or access their index. So above may be the only way, unless someone else knows more.
The problem is for non-windows users I believe. Windows users use Ctrl + F and it works to open up the find interface. But when you're using a Command button with other systems, it seems that it is not registering the Command, just the f which "favorites" the message. Is that the issue you're having? Here is a list of the new keyboard shortcuts. 
There is no way to disable them without going back. But if the problem I mentioned is the correct one, you might try de-activating selection of the current message. Push Esc first.
Best Answer
OK, I think I see what the pattern is.
Note that for scenario 2 and 3, it is not easy to distinguish between entering a search term and pressing enter, and entering a search term and selecting from the suggestion list. Pay close attention to which keys you are pressing, and to what is selected when you press Enter. In order to invoke scenario 2, I must press Enter immediately, before the suggestion list pops up.
It also seems to matter if I'm already displaying a Google search result page. If so, the next results page seems to always include the search field.