Today, like many other people, I downloaded Google’s browser Chrome to take it out for a test drive. At the time I didn’t and still don’t understand the need for yet another browser. Mozilla has the popular Firefox. Apple has Safari. Microsoft has IE. Opera Software has Opera. There is even the divergent version of Firefox called Flock. Between these, every major operating system is adequately covered. Google even funds Mozilla to make Firefox. Isn’t that sort of a conflict of interest? Do we really need yet another browser?
However, there is a tool for every job. So I thought I’d see what Chrome has to offer. Certainly, Google will draw upon criticisms of Microsoft to make a better browser. Or so I thought.
The installation was not without problems. For starters, Google only allows you to download a small stub. The actual installer is really a larger download that silently installs itself. I waited over an hour. I’m not sure why this would be the case, given Google has tens of thousands of servers around the world. Also, given their loyal followers, it seems like making the full installer officially available over bittorent would have made sense. My coworkers downloaded it no problem; a regular installer would have been nice for file copy purposes.
Upon the start of my next attempt, I was greeted with the following error:
The “Help me fix this” link was completely unhelpful. After rebooting and trying again, I’m an hour into my second attempt. It is stuck at about 90% this time.
I did hear a lot of comments on how fast it was, but I never really thought Firefox (or even IE) was that slow. That seems to be its greatest advantage. Google might learn what Microsoft already knows: Writing software for every specific computer is not without its challenges. I saw a lot of posts about proxy servers and anti-virus conflicts. Those are certainly not the issues you want if Google plans to have Chrome preinstalled on PCs.
Will another browser mean more work and testing for all the Web sites out there? Probably. Chrome and Safari do use the open source rendering engine webkit. Those browsers (as well as the IE 8 beta) therefore pass the Acid 2 test. However, it appears no one is doing too well on the Acid 3 test.
I’m sure Chrome will eventually be that quick download that most people install by accident when they update Flash or WeatherBug. Google has deep enough pockets to stick it everywhere. If it is simple and quick, they’ll get the causal/novice browsers. The power users, I suspect, will stick with Firefox after the shiny, new feeling of Chrome goes away. For now, Firefox has unparalleled amount of free powerful add-ons that pretty much let you do anything. IE 8 does have a lot of new features, but it still more or less lags behind the other players in several areas.
But for now, I give up. I know this is technically beta software, but come on. Gmail has been around for years and Google still calls that a beta, too. I’m sure I’ll get it to work in time, and blog about the browsing experience. Consider this post a cliffhanger. I could still see me loving or hating Chrome after I get it installed.
I think it’s great that there is competition between all the browsers, but I’d much rather see something completely new from Google. A Google Maps if you will. I think we’ll have enough browsers available if and when Google (or the next great software powerhouse) creates the next great cloud computing application on the Internet.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I had no problems with the download or install. 1 hour seems a bit excessive compared to my experience. Remember this is a beta and not a full blown program so it will be prone to bugs for now.
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I suspect it was downloading and maybe installing at the same time. There is probably some weird configuration/software on my PC, that caused it to be a problem.
What’s weird, is that similar PC by one of my coworkers didn’t have the problem. Installing software can be such fun…
I do really intend to try it, I’m sure it will happen soon enough.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
I didn`t have any problems either. Ed, you may have had a connection problem or maybe caught the Google servers at an overflow hour.
The last thing I need is another browser! But, like every one else, I have to see and try the new kid on the block.
September 4th, 2008 at 5:16 am
If you have a second, look for the comic strip about chrome. It explains a lot that is different between chrome and other browsers. Do we really need another browser? Probably not. Is Chrome just another browser? Definitely not.
I look forward to your opinion when you finally get the thing installed. =)
September 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Ed, you might want to read this article on Chrome and hold off a little while before you down load it, since you had some problems already.
http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2008/09/two_more_chrome_crashes.php
September 4th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Thanks for the heads up. Per my Dell post about virtual machines, I typically install these kind of software in a VM to keep my main desktop PC as lean as possible. Just to evaluate it and see if it is really something I will really use.
I may use Chrome in time…. However, I think it will be away before it can really compete with Firefox. Even compared to what IE 8 will offer, they may rank about the same.
Ultimately, for most, the browser choice will just be personal preference.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Probably want to try dloading and installing outside that behemoth of a firewall…
haha. just kidding…
September 5th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Yes, separate processes and sandboxing is reason enough to switch. Faster JavaScript is a big plus.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Ed,
I think you missed the point. Google isn’t in the browser business, and they may let this fall to the background in the future. But, in the meantime, they have jump started a bunch of browser development in their direction. Faster, more stable Javascript is free for the taking in the V8 engine. Do you think there will be a single non-Microsoft browser without V8 or a variant of it by this time next year? That means that Google’s online cloud computing model just got faster and more stable. If it is as good as they say it is, even Microsoft will have to include better faster Javascript in their browser to avoid looking like the clunker of the bunch. I’m a writer and published a detailed article about it here: Chrome in Google’s Battle Plan
I installed and run Google Chrome in just a few minutes. If it was installing in the background, then they sure got the order of things right because I was using it right after install.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Ed, be honest, did Microsoft put you up to this? Google Chrome downloaded and installed itself in less than a minute, rendered pages fast, wowed me with its tabs and interface, and had only one hiccup, which is good for a beta. Chrome even has a an incognito mode if I ever need it (which I doubt I will, but you never know). The only thing I miss in Chrome are all of my Firefox extensions like AdBlock. Dell has enough ads out there that they should love the lack of ad blocking in the Chrome beta. We will probably see some ports of Firefox extensions into Chrome by the time it comes out of beta.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Nope, I have no affiliation with MSFT and while I didn’t specifically state it, Firefox is my browser of choice. Agreed, no Adblock and plugins would be a big negative. I set up a new PC recently over the course of a few days. Firefox was the last item to be put on (for whatever reason) and surfing for drivers, info, etc. etc. with ads was horrible.
I’m all for progress through competition, I just thing it’s a little misguided to fund Firefox and go their own way with Chrome.
Also, per my Gmail comment, I don’t think Chrome will be out of “beta” for over a year. That allows them to support more Firefox plugins gradually. If Google can keep the speed and support plugins, then it would be hard not to switch.
I plan to attempt another install soon and will follow up with a post.