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Chrome Isn’t a Slam-Dunk

December 11, 2008 BY Mark Evans

There’s a lot of buzz about Google taking its Chrome browser out of beta. Now, the question is whether Chrome has what it takes to become the next Firefox, let alone the next Internet Explorer.

Like Ars Technica suggests, Chrome is a viable contender in the browser market but there are no guarantees it’s going to become popular even with Google’s marketing/brand muscle behind it.

So far, I’ve yet to get the sense that Chrome has truly resonated with a lot of users. Sure, there are people who love the no-frills, streamlined approach but Chrome doesn’t appear to be loved in the same way that Firefox users love the spunky-little-browser-that-could.

Perhaps the difference lies in the fact that Firefox is a classic underdog – open source, developed and supported by the community, and seen as David to IE’s Goliath. Chrome, on the other hand, is the creature of the ever-expanding Google empire.

That said, Google’s biggest advantage is it has so many users that Chrome could become a tour de force if a small percentage migrate from Firefox and IE. Still, Chrome has a lot more work to do before it can become one of the big boys in the browser world.

Update: According to ReadWriteWeb, Google has updated its end-user licensing agreement in the wake of complaints.

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  • David M

    I’ve been using Chrome since it was released in beta. I originally intended to just test it out, see how it works. Frankly, I am surprised at how much I really like it…and it is hard to explain why. Maybe it is the speed, maybe the simple look, maybe it is the fact that it does not crash so often, maybe it is the way Google search and other Google Apps work so well, or maybe it is the application shortcut feature. So far, I haven’t really missed Firefox yet.

  • NB

    I too have been using Chrome since beta. I originally liked it but now I don’t. Why? First, it crashes a lot. Really. More than the other browsers. Crashes most when I am using google analytics (oh the irony) with Vista. But mostly I don’t like chrome because I can’t use the google browser with it (will change I’m sure) so I can’t bookmark properly. Also, one firefox plugin I use a lot is zotero (mostly a nerdy scientific thing) but that one ONLY works with firefox.

  • NB

    sorry, I meant I can’t use the google TOOLBAR with chrome.

  • http://colin.smillie.ca Colin Smillie

    I think Firefox v3 really opens the door for Chrome. v3 seems to be a lot less stable than previous versions and it only gets worst with plugins that are built-in like Firebug…

  • http://divwhisperer.com Drew

    I haven’t found anything in Chrome that has convinced me to abandon my emotional attachment to Firefox.

    Designers and developers know that Firefox has done things right, consistently, over the past several years and have become its loudest cheerleaders.

    Google still uses table design on its front page.

    Google has a long way to go to become anything other than people’s second browser of choice.