Google 'auto-suggestions'
 

Oh what a horrible moronic feature the drop down auto-suggestions are!

Default for preference choice is set to 'on'. Default should be 'off' so we can choose [or not] to use the preferences we choose.

If you set your browser to dump cookies, this action also dumps the google preferences cookie which retains your preferences. If you don't dump cookies, your preferences with reset to default with any new session! Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

I've searched the web. and the only way the to disable this annoying little beast, besides changing to a different browser, is to go tools and replace google.com [or google .com.au] with:
http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0

What you then get is a google search page without the annoying auto-suggest feature but you do loose the 'search in Aust. only' feature. I can live with that!

At the bottom of the choices is a link called CLOSE.
Just click on that and the box is out the way.

Easier than that - just click off to the side and the box disappears....

Thanks for the simple heads up Moeee and Dennis. Yeah I know I can do what you suggest, but I'm one of those computer weirdos who like things the way I want them. And I don't want the suggestions there full stop. The suggestions should be an option, not a default. It's all about directing to advertisers, not helping the user.

Interestingly I don't get the suggestions in Opera, only in Explorer. So I use Opera when I want the easy ability to change to larger font size on a page [I have a central vision eyesight problem that glasses can't fix] or/and use 'Aust. only'. I use Explorer for most of my regular sites where I know the font size is OK but with the http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 browser . Explorer is my default search engine and Opera is my option. I have both on my desktop.

Cheers Guys.

i find the suggestions very amusing :D

try writing phrases like "why are" or "why do white people"

and the phrases they offer you are 'why are there school?' and 'why do white people smell like wet dogs when the come in from the rain'

and and my personal favourite, 'can i catch' gave me 'can i catch aids from swimming in a pool with black people in it'

ahh simple pleasures