Do You Need Another Browser?
September 1, 2008
Tomorrow, Google will launch its new web browser Chrome. Now, I can tell you that I will be downloading it as soon as I can, kicking the tires and driving it around the web – mostly out of curiosity. Although sadly, I will not be able to do so on my MacBook as it apparently will only work in Windows for now.
On the eve of its release, I sit here utilizing Firefox 3 to craft this post. As I do so, I am not consumed with some horrible browser problem for which I have a burning desire for Google to solve for me. Thus, I wonder if if large numbers of people will move to adopt this product. At this point it is hard to say.
In Google’s favor is the ability to leverage the Google homepage for marketing, ensuring that people will know about Chrome. Better still is the fact that the product is free, so it will be easy to try. From all accounts Chrome will also offer some unique features regarding stability, speed, efficiency, mobility, security, layout, the enhancement of web apps and the utilization of Google Gears. They even created a comic book to describe the product – a very different and exremely cool approach to a product launch.
Still, Google faces a huge challenge in that the browser market is currently served pretty well. Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari have been competing with one another for a long time in the browser world, and people generally have a favorite amongst the 3. So for Chrome to succeed, Google needs to create a sense of dissatisfaction with the current browsing experience and then convince people that Chrome somehow addresses this dissatisfaction. They need to provide people with a compelling reason to change.
While I can’t be certain as to the ultimate fate of Chrome, I do know this. A few years ago, I had a Hotmail account and a Yahoo Mail account. At that time, I did not have any problems with email. Then I was invited to try Gmail, and I have not used either since.
How about you? Do you plan on test driving Chrome?
Will you try out the new Google Browser CHROME?
- Yes, I can't wait to try it (52%, 12 Votes)
- No, I have no need for that (30%, 7 Votes)
- Someday... Maybe... (18%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 23
Loading ...Official Google Blog: A fresh take on the browser
Comments
6 Responses to “Do You Need Another Browser?”
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Just updated LUCRUM blog with a post about Google Chrome http://tinyurl.com/66qb76 Will you test drive this tomorrow?
I am going to download it ASAP! This browser is completely built from scratch using a completely different architecture that none of the top 3 browsers use. BTW, the comic strip rocks! It shows how great Google is at taking something very technical (like building a web browser) and breaking it down to understandable chuck that everyone can understand.
It’s going to be fun comparing it against IE and Safari.
So far I really like how Google Chrome utilizes diff .exe files as to not freeze up your memory as I found FF3 do to me but this should change when add-ons become available
Ironically, the Chrome browser, designed to compete with Microsoft, has driven me back to a PC to test it out. I am begging for Google to create a version for the Mac ASAP, because this product is great. I am going to be jealous of my PC using co-workers until I get it for the MacBook. Chrome is definitely faster, and seems to do a much better job of managing multiple tabs than other browsers. I am very impressed. Google docs screams, and videos seem to load It has crashed a few times for reasons I can’t explain. Hopefully, that is a temporary problem. Overall, I am very impressed.
Yeah, I grabbed this the evening it was released. Not sure what I’m looking for yet, but really like the minimalist experience. I was thrown for a minute trying to find where Chrome put its download files. I found ‘em doing fine now
I’ve decided to use it for my entire day and take a break from Firefox. While I like creating application shortcuts, I’m puzzled at why, when I click a link in that shortcut, a new browser window opens. I also would like to see the Address Bar in the same window with my application shortcuts.
In general, so far so good. If other developers will create some add-ons, this may become my browser of choice.