So, what does everyone think about googles' new web browser idea?

http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/fre...on-browser.html

Will anyone be getting the beta when it's released?

Here is what one of my friends thinks of the project (from another forum). He has a BSc & MSc in computer science and information security (we're old uni mates). He usually knows his stuff when it comes to things like this.




He is also a BIG apple fan!

Google using WebKit is probably the most half-assed thing they've done. Imo Presto (Opera) > webkit > *. Gecko and Trident aren't as far apart as ff users think.

Well, I first though they used their own engine, I didn't read anything on it, read the speed results with other browsers, thought oh, how cool, read further, so it just was webkit engine, I like webkit, so they just created a nice looking GUI for it on Windows, really great, it's much better to use it than Safari on Windows.. even thought I would have liked to see Swift browser using Webkit on Windows, but seems it won't happen or it will take a lot of time.

In my opinion, because Chrome is very light, it is really great for most of users who just like to browse the Internet, simply as that, it's fast and looks good. it's webkit, I really like that they didn't use gecko.

I really wish they have used Gecko, even with the minor bugs and stuff in it. WebKit isn't bad or anything, but I still prefer Gecko.

I'm not in Windows right now so I can't try the software yet, but it looks really good. I was reading the online press conference thing and they introduce a lot of features that are similar to other browsers and an advanced JavaScript engine called V8.

Hopefully this won't reduce Firefox/Safari market share by too much, and will help bring down IE.

First Impressions:

-Very quick to install and do not have to answer any questions in doing so.

-The startup is extremely fast.

-The interface is extremely simple, with the right and necessary to navigate sites.

-The browser allows import your bookmarks, search engines, the key history from Firefox and Internet Explorer.

-I visited nearly all Google services, Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail, etc… and have noticed an increase in speed as well. However, on several occasions we became stuck on Gmail.

-By default, if you enter a search in the address bar, you Chrome strip results from Google, but you can change it to any other form.

-The version for Mac OS X is not good(not yet ready).

-It has a spellchecker very fast and like FireFox, you underlined in red with the words mistakes. Unfortunately you do not detect the language of writing.

---

OS:Windows Vista Ultimate Sp1
MD:Asus P5N-E
CPU:2.40GHz/Intel Quad Core Q6600
RAM:Corsair Dual Channel 4GB 800Mhz
VC:XFX GeForce 9800 GTX/512MB

What I noticed:

• Quick installation; a bit concerned about Privacy Policy
  
• Startup is quite fast
  
• Interface too simple; took a while to find File and Tools menus
  
• Was not presented the option to import bookmarks and settings from Internet Explorer 8 or Opera 9; only Firefox
  
• Noticeably speed increase in GMail and several Wikipedia pages
  
• SVG <object>s are not displayed for some reason
  

Where is the Open command?

Waiting for Linux version to be released! I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, Aero disabled with few software installed. I have a Intel Core 2 Duo processor/4GB RAM and it seems quite fast so far. I haven't tried opening tons of tabs yet though. I still haven't found the "Mozilla Prism" feature though, where the site is launched like an app. (e.g. GMail, Facebook, etc).

I wish Webkit was used by more people because I think Webkit is one of the best rendering engine when it comes to speed. However, not a lot of websites are compatible with it unfortunately.

xboxrulz

I am only able to do basic internet here at work, or else I would so be trying to install the new browser. Once I get a chance to get home and install, then I will have to put more on this posting.

I am a huge fan of Firefox, but I also believe that if Google Chrome is the next best thing... then I am sure I will be trying it... I just think that Explorer was the way to go... probably at the time the only way... and then Firefox came along... Everything has to evolve, and I plan on trying the new Google browser. Good topic... at least I think so.

Will get back to it when I can install and then I will critique.

- skedad -

I have since wrote a small quick review of the web browser: http://www.kwokinator.com/node/32

Overall, I'm actually quite impressed with the browser. It's quick, responsive and the rendering engine is only giving me only a small amount of issues with TinyMCE's pop up window. Other than that there's really no problem.

Although, I have to admit that I'm disappointed that they only released a Windows release and that the Mac and Linux release is not out yet. Once the Linux release comes out, I bet it's like the first "broad" release of a WebKit browser on the Linux platform since Konqueror doesn't count due to the fact that it still uses KHTML and not WebKit (understandable that WebKit's genesis came from KHTML, no real point having both rendering engine on the same machine).

xboxrulz

I’ll give it a try but you can't tell much with 10 minutes of messing around. I am looking for a long term browser not just a small thing that doesn't even load JavaScript. I use Opera and I like its features and speed, but I am always up for trying new things. The download was extremely fast but the installer has been initializing for a few minutes now... The screenshots look good and the very small size just adds to it.

I just wish the installer would load already lol...

Using Windows XP (That’s probably the problem)

From what you have seen would you say it is better then Opera or should I just stick with what works?
Sparkx

Currently, the software only runs on Windows XP/Vista.

It isn't a small thing that doesn't load JavaScript, in fact the JavaScript engine is much faster than other ones (or so I've been told).

Don't forget this isn't a final version, it's still under development and there are still a lot of features that should be added.
Anyway, I'm not realy impressed by it, It's not that different from other browsers and doesn't offer anything realy new.

Wutske, have you play around with its tab process isolation? It isolates every single tab into its own process. It's quite neat.

However, I found a problem. They're using an older version of WebKit and it's creating problems with some actions on Facebook like deleting a post or some other AJAX functions.

That's my only problem so far aside from those two issues I listed.

xboxrulz

So from what I am hearing it is only a Windows Vista support, I see. Well, my wife has our laptop and that is the only running version of Vista at the moment. My desktop has been running, and will continue to run Windows XP until I purchase or upgrade to Vista on my desktop. It's kinda funny seeing that right before I went into work tonight, I downloaded the setup file and left it on my desktop. I guess I will not be running it...

I would've found out the hard way, but I am so stubborn that I will go ahead and try it for myself... nothing like seeing things for yourself. It may give me requirements and then I will be like, ok no biggy.... I will continue to play with Firefox and Explorer.

- skedad -

Where did you read it's Vista only ? I installed it on XP and it's working.

I read somewhere that that EULA for Chrome basically states that Google can monitor every thing do and everywhere you go with it and can do whatever they want with that information.

I think I'll pass.

I was going to say that I don't have a problem with it installed on XP, but now that I double checked a previous post, I do see that it did say that XP and Vista both support Google Chrome. I am still very slow to demonstrate the new browser, but I did however finally install and I ran it a little. I will at some point link it to my Dreamweaver, and see if it is compatible.

Oddly enough, I was about to say I don't do much with newer browsers. I don't really like using Safari, but ironically, I am using it right now! Our Macs here at work all have Safari. So I really don't mind using newer browsers as long as they work well with me.

Darasen, could you please quote that fragment? It seems unlikely that nobody noticed that before, with so many privacy concerns regarding Google and it's software. Perhaps you're referring to this issue?

When it comes to me, my main problem with (my currently favourite) Firefox was poor handling of many tabs at the same time. I don't really care whether it's due to Gecko or poor memory management but I don't believe that even 80 tabs open should create such a memory demand (sometime even up to 50% of my 2GB RAM, depending on the complexity of the webpages displayes). Chome is definitely a beta, especially with such security bugs/design flaws like secure browsing being cached. But the idea seems extremely tempting, something that Firefox is slowly drifting away from - a quick and small minimalistic browser. My library of FF plug-ins I got used to so much will be hard to forget, but excellent memory management and webkit's speed available on Windows apart from Safari (sorry, I don't like Apple and try to avoid their products) will definitely be a good argument.

Another interesting point about Chrome is where it will end up in the great browser war. Contrary to the popular belief (amongst others supported by numerous articles on tgdaily.com) I believe that it will eventually hurt Firefox pretty badly. As long as IE is offered with Windows and it is the OS installed on most computers, Microsoft will hold its trenches quite well - majority of casual users just can't be bothered to try different browser unless those bring some serious change to the functionality of the webpages people use. Even though Mozilla secured Google's funding for the moment, Google itself has relatively much more resources of all kinds at its disposal. Even with unchanged funding of Firefox, as a safety measure against Chrome failure, Google can successfully push Chrome to the level FF achieved after years of experience and make its own browser surpass FF pretty quickly right after that.

Firefox supremacy relied on it being a comprehensive and completely open alternative to IE, with other competitors on the market, with the same or even better logistical abilities and the same open-minded approach, FF may be in trouble pretty fast. Chrome managed to gain 1% of the market share right on the first day of its beta release. It's not really hard to imagine that soon (after Chrome hits v1.0) a huge community will gather around it, recreating all the functionality that we would otherwise miss after FF.

What I'm really interested are the privacy concerns. What do you guys think? Any articles about monitoring Chrome behaviour when it comes to sending data home?

Well, you have to remember that Safari is bundled on every Mac like how Internet Explorer is bundled on every Windows machine. It's just how Apple and Microsoft dig their feet into the browser market.

Google Chrome is related to Safari in the fact that both run the same rendering engine, known as WebKit which descended from KHTML (HTML renderer) and KJS (JavaScript Interpreter). However, Google Chrome is different in the fact that it doesn't use WebKit's JavaScript interpreter and has its own called V8 which render JavaScripts like crazy.

xboxrulz

well besides the obvious bugs, privacy/security issues, memory eating, ugly interface it is fast I will give it that, however, chrome has a long way to before it will be any serious threat, which I doubt.

For those interested I had made a few topics about chrome on trap that should interest people

http://www.trap17.com/forums/index.php?act...&pid=406456

http://www.trap17.com/forums/index.php?act...&pid=406466

try going to
about:internets

then go to
about:internet
(be quick on this one because it's gone before you've seen it )

I see nothing.

about:internets give me a tab saying "The tubes are clogged"
about:internet just stays as "New Tab"

xboxrulz

I still can't get it to initialize the installer. I don't think Google web browser supports my computer or something. I have Windows XP but it has non-defaulted services (which I think might be the problem). Does anyone know what service(s) need to be running to get it to download? I have also had similar problems with automatic updating virus scanners in the past. I have also have had similar problems being connected to from other networked computers (I can connect to them just fine but they can’t connect to me). Would these things indicate maybe a messed up windows setting? I do have a firewall but it is on my router and not on my computer (I wouldn't think that would get in the way, it doesn't do anything like that for other computers on my network). I am a system administrator and network administrator. Sorry for being a little off topic, but I really want to try out Google's web browser and get my XP back to normal.

Thanks,
Sparkx

I am loving it so far. I have been using it for a week and I have already gotten rid of Firefox.

Anyone else tried Google Chrome (beta)?

I tried it, and from a surfers point of view, it seems quick, responsive and well worth trying.

It is open source, so hopefully there are none of those Google tracking issues.

As yet, there are no extra features or add-ons, but with it being open source, it is possible.

I don't play online games, so can't vouch for it's effectiveness in that field.

Hi,
You posted this topic in the "tutorials" section of our forums.
It seems that you missed the first specification for the topics in this section, see here http://www.astahost.com/how-s-tutorials-f6.html :

That's why I moved your topic here, where is most probably it's place.
By the way, maybe you should have a look here : http://www.astahost.com/google-chrome-t19264.html
Regards
Yordan

I have given Chrome a (very) brief test run and so far I like it. It's light weight, open source, responsive and fast. Obviously it seems to be lacking some of the 'heavier' option sets that firefox and potentially IE has as standards now but that isn't the point of chrome so it seems it has done the job well for what it set out to do. I'll be using it a lot over the next few days so will hopefully have a more in depth look in the near future.

sparkx is the installer not downloading at all or just not starting after the download? Mine claimed it would download and then install automatically. It DID download but then just died, but since I had the installer a simple double click started the process back up and I was on my way. The install went smoothly after that (note: I am running on vista on this machine, will try again at home with xp when I get there to see if there is a difference)

hmm.. I am also using XP, and It worked for me..
I am not 100% sure.. but before I had service pack 3 (after it came out), I couldn't install things.. I was running service pack 2..
I don't know if you are using service pack 2 or 3.. but if you are using 2, maybe you should try updating to 3.

I doubt that's the case, they wouldn't neuter non-updated windows xp's ability to install to force an upgrade to SP3, or else it'd be VERy public news.

I have heard rumors that Google might be offering webspace to customers. I haven't read any articles about this. I merely stumbled upon it while reading something. If this rumor is true, what do you think Google will offer if their webspace just happened to be free? I personally thi ...more

Hey! here's My Guide to 'skinning' Google Chrome, Now I No Longer Use The Program Myself, I have tested it and it worked on google chrome with the ending extension .27 and .30, it also works on all others! -- Thanks yordan Ok, first get your Theme from... ...more

when Google chrome operating is going to be launched? ...more