simplest solution is this greasemonkey script, works fine with Chrome and Firefox.

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/90222

(Firefox users need Greasemonkey Add-on, Chrome users: Install directly)

I find instant previews really annoying. Using several machines and browsers, even with an add-on option it's problematic when Google.com choses such defaults. Same for opening links from results in a new window in China... I can disable it once, but using several machines and browsers and often emptying the cache for development purposes will get rid of the setting...

You may want to check out this script as well – http://blog.varunkumar.me/2010/11/how-to-turn-off-google-instant-previews.html It adds a button to enable / disable Instant Previews

Thanks,
Varun

Add these 3 rules to AdBlockPlus:
google.com##.vspib
google.com##.vspi
google.com###vspb

Say by by to previews.

Yeah, I agree those previews just seem to get in the way.

Maybe Google will dump them? It's not a horrible idea, but maybe they should only come up when the magnifying glass is clicked on?

Google being clean and simple is what I like about it.

-Bob

ArpitNext Very well done. Recently I was looking for a script like this.

Google seems to be doing worse and worse ... I guess that's what happens when you keep on hiring uncreative geeks. The day Facebook will rule over the web seems more and more likely.

It's Google's Inevitable Ruin: http://blogoscoped.com/forum/175509.html

I wish Google offered an option (if I'm logged in) for "Classic Google" that would put everything back to the way it was a year or two ago...

-No Instant Previews
-Let me use Up/Down arrows to scroll SERP again
-No Instant Search
-Left align SERP
-Better, more accurate search results like it used to be
-No Yahoo or Bing-like icons on SERP
-No "Search Options" Sidebar always open
-Use classic Google logo without the extra bright colors
-No customizable google.com background image
-Bring back the classic blue border at top & bottom of SERP
-No more giant search box and giant search buttons
-Classic Google Image search

What else am I missing?

Maybe they could let us mix-and-match and turn these on/off individually or altogether...

> I wish Google offered an option (if I'm logged in) for "Classic Google"

I use https://encrypted.google.com/ and I don't get any of that fancy stuff.

Ironically, there is a link on that page that says "Go to Classic Google", but it actually goes to the fancy-schmancy Google.

you may want to see this clip http://youtu.be/FS8Ox56WuPM