Last year, Google released Chrome.  It was highly anticipated and, yes, has a lot of great features.  It’s also gotten a general “so-so” reaction.  But after four months, has anyone said “Wow. That really turned out to be the best browser!”?  Not so much.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge advocate for Google.  This just makes me ask: Google, why not stick to what you’re good at?  Remember that little monopolistic situation you’ve got going on in Search?

Isn’t it a basic rule of good business and the inevitable death of so many in niche industries: don’t try to do a bunch of things mediocre, just do one thing really, really good? (Disclaimer: I’m in no way saying Google is mediocre.)

I still have two major issues:

1. There is still no Mac version. (I may or may not be edging bitter with that one…)
2. My FireFox extensions are still near and dear.

But don’t take my word for it.  Take a look at the numbers….

Graph from Wikipedia.

I think these numbers will speak more highly than my rant – just over 1% of people use Chrome.  But I have to wonder…what would browser usage look like had Chrome been released before Firefox 3?

Nicki Hicks
Who could resist a cute, cuddly fox for a mascot?

Well, it’s official.  As of September 2, 2008 at 2pm EST, Google released its very own web browser: Google Chrome.

Yes, another Chrome post.  I know there’s a million out there.  But I noticed that many of them are very one-sided: either Chrome rocks or it stinks. (Strange I know, who’d have thought…opinionated bloggers?!)  I’d like to take a look at all sides though, especially what I’ve seen.

The Bad

(For when asked “I have good news and bad news, what do you want first?” I always reply, “the bad”.)

• I’m still waiting on the Mac (and Linux, if we want to get technical about it) version.  Being on a Mac OS, I’m obviously partial.  So running IE on my Parallels program is really not ideal.  Though, from what I’ve been able to play around with, it is pretty neat.
• Is it any better than Firefox 3? I think that’s one of the bigger questions.  Even in the short time FF3 has been available, I’ve become a huge fan.  Chrome has many of the cool gadgets that FF3 has.  So the argument remains: Why should I switch over?
• Where are the plug-ins? I have so many plug-ins in my FF browser that I have to turn some of them off so I actually have a large enough window to be able to view something!  I’m sure Chrome won’t take long, but when I go for my Gmail icon, I have to remember that I have applications now!
• It’s just plain hard to switch browsers. (Yes, now I’m whining.)  More than anything, how am I supposed to remember the dozens (if not hundreds) of passwords and logins that Firefox has saved for me?  (Obviously the important ones I have written down.)  But it’s going to take a while to get all those passwords automatic again!

The Good

• Increased Security (aka The Sandbox)
  
• Enhanced Search Options. And no, they do not MAKE you search in Google.  You can select whatever default search engine you’d like.
• Individual Tabs. Each tab runs as its own process, so if the application fails for any reason, ONLY that page and tab will close.  Pretty handy when you have a lot going on.
• Thumbnails of your most visited sites on the homepage.  This is just plain cool and helpful.
• Not tied to any other Google application. Man oh man, has there been an uproar about this one! Just check out any of Matt Cutts’ recent posts on the matter!

The Ugly

• “Google is taking over the world.” Or at least the Web.  There will always be negative rumors and connotations flying around a large, successful organization.  Take a little Google-Twitter situation that took place Wednesday!

All in all, I think Google Chrome will do well.  I can definitely see how users going from Internet Explorer to Chrome will be amazed by the switch.  But again, for FF3 users, the wow factor really just isn’t there..yet.  I’m just waiting for a Google OS now!!

Nicki Hicks
Committed to Firefox (for now)