Sep 04 2008
Google Chrome
Eeek, I shudder to think how many posts there are about Google Chrome – not game to venture into my feed reader. Might as well add my 2c worth…
After Firefox (version 2.0.0.16) crashed for the third (or forth) time today, I though meh, I’ll give Chrome a go. After a few unsuccessful attempts to download here (not the most auspicious start), I was finally successful at the initial link. I guess I should mention here that Google Chrome is a new internet browser, like Internet Explorer and FireFox (n.b. Mum, it’s a simple download and install < 2 minutes & you’ll have it up and running).
I like Chrome! I confess that I haven’t done a lot, but it’s fast. And so far, everything seems to look like it should. I spend a lot of time using an application called SalesForce. FireFox is painfully slow for this site, and the mail merge function is simply not supported in Firefox (or Google Chrome, of course). So I’m forced to use IE because it’s quicker on this app and it does what I need it to do. I must say that Chrome is SO much quicker than either browser – it’s blissful.
It’s interesting to note that SalesForce, logged the browser as being “Safari 3.2”. I have a heavy suspicion that even Google Analytics doesn’t acknowledge the browse, yet, as no visits are being attributed to it (although I have noticed a spike in “Safari” visitors today on my blog stats).
I like to use dLook as being a pretty good indicator of browser usage. It’s not an overly tech savvy demographic (unlike this blog, which obviously has a skewed audience), and is probably more representative of the general population than Obits.
I’m truly surprised at the percentages of people who still use Internet Explorer. For dLook, it’s around 78% (36% of which, still use IE 6). For this blog, it’s just under 60%. It will be very interesting to see what sort of market penetration Google Chrome can achieve?
It’s funny that (I perceive) there has been a real trend towards people using search engines (like Google) as a de facto address bar (i.e. they will type in the domain name INTO the Google search box), and yet this browser is a move BACK to using the address bar (albeit in a slightly different fashion). I reckon they are very generous asking which search engine you would like to use for your default search. I actually went looking for the Google toolbar to add! Old habits die hard, as they say.
What do you like/not like about Chrome?
12 Responses to “Google Chrome”
I read about it but they haven’t got a Mac version yet!…nothing unusual there!
Peter G’s last blog post..Halvas
Bloggers appear to be early adopters and tinkerers. Also the appeal of speed so that you can get through more sites seems to be a theme. Me I just upgraded to FF3 and that is going well for me although You Tube Videos are very problematic with playing and also with sound. Odd.
Colin Campbell’s last blog post..Breaking News from Wasilla
I do like the fact that each window is a new process and a problem with a site in one tab will not crash the whole browser. I am a multi tab user – always lots open at the same time causing plenty of crashes because of script problems and pdf files. I could not do without my Firefox extensions though so Chrome will be a secondary browser only at this stage.
Sueblimely’s last blog post..Lijit Blog Search Tool – Review and Tutorial
I’ve been using Chrome for – lets just check my watch – one day, almost to the minute. I like it.
I like how when you open a new tab you see all your most regularly visited websites. That’s a great feature.
I like how it takes up less screen real estate – well it does for me – because now I don’t need that google toolbar.
I like how it imported all my bookmarks easily without any thinking effort from me.
And I like its speed.
Cellobella’s last blog post..The mystery of the white trees of Perth
Hey, I will definitely use this but after they remove some bugs that can endanger you.
Michal’s last blog post..Count Your Peanut Calories Diet Or How To Reduce Fat Using Peanut Butter Diet
Hi! The speed of chrome is amazing compared to IE7. I haven’t had problems with it so far, but there is one thing that concerns me. Michal touched on it in fact. Not wanting to put any links in, if you search for” “security issues with google chrome” you may be concerned as well.
Peter McCartney’s last blog post..Father’s Day Downunder
I quite like it too
Bettina’s last blog post..Simple Pleasures Sunday
Yep… agree with several others above that the security concerns with Chrome are… well… concerning.
Also, I’m not 100% sure google isn’t mining your surfing behaviour somehow with this browser. It would only make sense, from a business perspective. So, no thanks (for now, at least)
Burgo’s last blog post..Zimbabwe’s Song… it needs your voice.
I have not used it yet but plan on playing with it today. Someone told me that your surfing habits are not private. Can anyone confirm that?
I see Chrome in our organisation’s Google analytics.
I also have read that you can turn off some of the default settings that provide searching options to assist you,. Some of the big issues in some recent articles are Google’s minign of your info to understand your surfing relevance and Google’s terms of service in that they own everything that you pass through their browser. I also saw a response from Google’s legal team that the terms and conditions were just those used in other Google products because they wanted to hurry Chrome to market and will be tweaked to more closely represent what Chrome is. Makes you wonder if you should be keeping important stuff in the Google documents portfolio.
Think about it though, Google has a pretty clean name, they don’t charge for most of their services, and those that are charged, are at reasonable rates, unlike poor Microsoft that gets bashed left, right and centre. besides, Google’s internal motto is “Don’t be evil” so I would tend to think that we can trust Google to do the right thing, however caveat emptor – buyer beware
Hi Mark, you’re right I’m seeing in analytics too. Up to 1.97% share on this blog for the last 3 weeks.
Man, if you guys aren’t using Google Chrome, you’re definitely missing out. It makes browsing so much quicker and easier. There are still some errors however.
For instance, in Blogger the find feature doesn’t work. (I think this has to do with HTML boxes.) Then sometimes the text will go out of wack in design mode.
Still, Google Chrome is sweet. Especially if you’re an Entrecard user!
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