Google Chrome

[Pohlkat]

Well folks, it's officially out. Haven't heard of it? Well here's the comic they made that explains everything about it in a relaxing blue motif:
http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/

Here's the download site:
http://www.google.com/chrome/index.html?hl=en&brand=CHMA&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20chrome

Initial reactions:
Clean, cool interface, less cluttered than other browsers without feeling stunted or unusable. While touted as being faster, I haven't noticed anything remarkable, but everything runs very smoothly, especially javascript, due to their new engine.

But we all know that chrome is inevitably going to be compared to firefox.
Personally I believe that chrome can surpass firefox, but only if the community supports it. If my favorite add-ons like scriptblocker and add-blocker from firefox are made for chrome, I would happily use it. Features such as moving tabs around (seamlessly into other windows or their own) and separate processes for each tab (one bad tab wont kill them all) are fundamental features that I enjoy.

Ultimately, chrome seems like another project from google to take more stabs at microsoft, but they need the community involvement to make it happen.

 

[Lt. Sera]

Only issue I have is that the scrolling is too fast. And I'd like the NoScript add-on but that's of course not up to Google to deliver.

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Interesting post, and I loved the little comic on it.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

So far I have loved all of these little Google gadgets, but this one is unfortunately a swing and a miss. It may be faster than firefox, it may be more compact. But that is the problem it is too compact after ten minutes of searching I couldn't find any menus and it took me another five to get to Google itself.
This round goes to Firefox.

 

[Lt. Sera]

The URL bar doubles as a Google search.

 

[Conqueror Kenny]

The URL bar doubles as a Google search.

It didn't do that for me, it worked as a youtube search. Either way, I still have yet to find a fault with Firefox and so I will stick with that. For now at least.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Trying it as we speak, and liking it so far. I'd kill for AdBlock Plus compatibility though. I never knew there were banner and thumbnail ads on the Escapist, now I know.

And knowing's half the battle.

Okay, derailing this enough. The browser itself is functional and customizable, already has my Firefox bookmarks and toolbars, which is nice, and leaves a very large percentage of the screen to the web page, which is disorienting, but very useful. The simplicity of the design is commended by my processor, but my aesthetic taste almost feels like I'm being cheated out of what I would think could be a cleaner series of graphics. But for the $0.00 price tag, and the effective functionality, I'm going to have to say "I like it."

Give it a shot if it's your kinda thing, just pray you aren't too used to ads being non-existent.

 

[Pohlkat]

It will probably take a few generations before it even comes close to being a contender. Firefox took a good long time, I think this is pretty stellar for a day-old browser, I'm surprised I haven't run into any problems yet.

 

[sunami88]

I hate the comics, but damn, I was bored in class when I found the download link and... and... and... I came.

I don't mean that comment as a troll, god damn that programs got a lot of potential. Just needs an Adblock extension and a better bookmark/cookie manager and I'll switch from FF3. The rendering was that fast.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

Well, as I like to say.

Firefox
Chrome
IE
Safari

thats my list

 

[John Galt]

*sobs* Oh Google Chrome, where have you been all my life???

 

[Reload92]

I tried it out a couple of hours ago and I have to say, I was amazed!
The only thing they have to do is add plugin support and I (along with a lot of other people) will switch over.

 

[Kiytan]

very nice (as someone mentioned moving the tabs around is very nice) but it does need a lot of plugin support first, and themes because man its ugly.

the new tab window is brilliant, i wondered (for a long time) why firefox or IE doesn't do this (IE has to be the worst "you have opened a new tab!" every single time...I FUCKING KNOW I HAVE, that gets to me)

history search is also godly. I also laughed at "icognito mode" they might as well have called it "pr0n surfing mode". (the task manager thing to see memory useage is cool as well)

one last note from my tired brain: It needs a better icon, current one is naf

 

[Anarchemitis]

I'm using it right now. It is very fast, but I want my adblock back from Firefox.

 

[PhoenixFlame]

It's ok - it looks good and feels good. Moving tabs is nice, and having one place where everything goes - downloads, blocked pop-ups, and the like - is a good idea. I already experienced a crash which only took out my current tab and not the entire browser. Good stuff.

Still, the jury's out. I like Firefox, especially for its add-in capability. But I'll try Chrome for a little bit and see where the chips fall.

 

[Alex_P]

I want someone to steal the JavaScript engine and process separation features and stuff them back into Firefox. Beyond that I really don't care about it.

-- Alex

 

[Pohlkat]

The spell-checker annoys me; specifically the lack of the option to disable it. I don't need colored lines under every proper noun littered about, it's distracting. An oversight, I'm sure, but it does not bode well when someone has forgotten to include basic user control over the automatically-included, non-critical features.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

Google browser? Another one? Seriously, I upgraded to FireFox 3, and all of a sudden I have the google toolbar, a google search bar next to my URL bar, and an automatic google bookmark. It's like American Idol with their Ford and Coke "sponsorships"

 

[Alex_P]

Changed my mind.

I'll probably use it once someone scrapes a Linux-friendly de-branded version together.

-- Alex

 

[vun]

Read point 11 in their ToS.

I think I'll stick to Firefox for now.