Google Chrome, anyone?

ow_tiobe_sb · September 02, 2008, 12:23:27 PM

Has anyone else given Google's new web browser, Chrome, a go? It is currently in its beta testing phase, but I've yet to experience any difficulty with it. I know not if its plug-in system is as advanced as Mozilla Firefox's, but I'm currently happy with the fact that it is only occupying 19 MB of RAM and flies like the wind. :)

EDIT: I should add that this new browser seems to have taken several cues from Opera (most-visited pages pages, etc.) and, I would wager, Safari.

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

Previsionary · September 02, 2008, 12:39:27 PM

Middy brought this to my attention last week. I've yet to test it, but the "most visited" and such was also added to FF3. It'll probably find its way to IE soon as well, heh.

ow_tiobe_sb · September 02, 2008, 01:20:43 PM

Quote from: ow_tiobe_sb on September 02, 2008, 12:23:27 PM
It is currently in its beta testing phase, but I've yet to experience any difficulty with it.

Right! Well, I retract that statement. Apparently the support for Java in Chrome is currently insufficient for some sites or totally non-existent. :(

*sigh* Patience...

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

Epimethee · September 02, 2008, 04:38:58 PM

The real question is, have you read Scott McLoud's Chrome comic? :D http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/#

(But of course, yes, as someone with a strong interest in the subject, I'm going to try the browser ASAP.)

ow_tiobe_sb · September 02, 2008, 09:04:01 PM

Aye, thanks for the link, Epi. Thanks to you, I now have read that most informative (honestly) web comic--AND I now have a greater admiration for Google's project. Of course, I am naturally skeptical about any major corporation's venture, but I am encouraged by the open source nature of this browser (as I was by Mozilla's Firefox) and have high hopes for the architectural and, therefore, functional differences that Chrome promises. In fact, I am using Google's browser now to make this post. ^_^

As for Prev and Middy, they're too hip to keep down (as opposed to up) to our level, eh what? :P

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

stumpy · September 02, 2008, 09:14:56 PM

I hit that comic when I looked at the chrome site earlier (it's linked off their main page, or one near the top) and I must say that it is one of the most informative comics I have read. How many times have I wished I could browse an easy-to-read summary of a complex software project and leave with such a fleshed-out idea of what it's all about? (A rhetorical question, but the answer is "many".) The comic in itself is enough to get me to try chrome.

Well, almost enough... I still have yet to install Firefox 3, so it may be a while before I read a few more specific and in-depth reviews of chrome's features, customizability, and security options.

Podmark · September 02, 2008, 09:34:40 PM

This is very interesting. Might be worth a try but I think I'd rather wait til it's out of the beta stage.

Lunarman · September 02, 2008, 10:52:31 PM

Well, I've downloaded it. I might dump it on my testing machine and see how it flies :)

thalaw2 · September 02, 2008, 11:32:27 PM

When it's out of beta stage I'll put it on my work PC. Its suffering from mal-RAM and the lower demands of Chrome are welcome. I can never get Opera to work so I hope this will.

MJB · September 03, 2008, 05:42:21 PM

I decided to use Chrome all day today and I like it. There are a couple little hiccups but this can all be patched. I'm impressed with the speed and how it keeps track of your most visited pages. All in all good stuff.

:thumbup:

-MJB

GogglesPizanno · September 03, 2008, 06:09:34 PM

It was just another browser to me really.
In the same way that I like aspects of Opera, I like Chrome. But not enough to get me to switch.

Plus I didn't really notice the much lauded speed boost.

I'll revisit it once its out of Beta, but for now...eh.

MJB · September 03, 2008, 08:52:08 PM

IF it ever comes out of beta, heh. Gmail has been in beta for like 4 years. :P

-MJB

ow_tiobe_sb · September 04, 2008, 06:20:08 AM

Quote from: ow_tiobe_sb on September 02, 2008, 01:20:43 PM
Quote from: ow_tiobe_sb on September 02, 2008, 12:23:27 PM
It is currently in its beta testing phase, but I've yet to experience any difficulty with it.

Right! Well, I retract that statement. Apparently the support for Java in Chrome is currently insufficient for some sites or totally non-existent. :(

*sigh* Patience...

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

I'd like to retract my retraction. Apparently there is a Java update (it, too, might be in beta testing) that makes Chrome Java-compatible. :)

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

Midnight · September 04, 2008, 03:20:04 PM

It doesn't have Foxmarks. Yet. I'm also not a huge fan of the look and there are no available themes to my knowledge. Once those are remedied, I'll seriously consider moving over; it's fast. I love fast.

Podmark · September 04, 2008, 06:49:56 PM

gave it a quick casual try. It was fine but it's light on options, I particularly don't like not being able to have a bookmarks pane.

EDIT: Well I have run into one annoying thing, but it's not Chrome's fault directly at least. Stupid Vista permission thing comes up every time I try to load it.

Previsionary · September 04, 2008, 07:35:45 PM

Quote from: Podmark on September 04, 2008, 06:49:56 PM
gave it a quick casual try. It was fine but it's light on options, I particularly don't like not being able to have a bookmarks pane.

EDIT: Well I have run into one annoying thing, but it's not Chrome's fault directly at least. Stupid Vista permission thing comes up every time I try to load it.

Turn off User Account control and you won't get those permission boxes as regularly. You'd be amazed how many people "don't" know about that even though Vista warns you and gives you a chance to turn it off during boot ups. :P

Podmark · September 04, 2008, 08:15:28 PM

huh, thanks. I thought I'd done that ages ago, seems I was wrong.

Lunarman · September 04, 2008, 10:20:52 PM

Well, I gave it a go. Sure it's faster, but ti's not as functional as firefox. Yet. We'll see, Google won't stop until it's big, that's for sure.

Sevenforce · September 05, 2008, 04:44:40 AM

Read the EULA before you install. Just saying.

I'm impressed, but not so much to swap over from Opera. Might give Flock a run for its money, mind you.

Speed Test - A link I recommend :D

Podmark · September 05, 2008, 09:47:30 PM

Quote from: Sevenforce on September 05, 2008, 04:44:40 AM
Read the EULA before you install. Just saying.

What was it? was there something unusual I missed?

Midnight · September 06, 2008, 05:08:44 AM

Sven is referring to this.

Podmark · September 06, 2008, 09:55:46 AM

Quote from: Midnight on September 06, 2008, 05:08:44 AM
Sven is referring to this.

Companies annoy me. Pretty much all the time.

Previsionary · September 06, 2008, 10:06:27 AM

At least google responded fairly quickly and one should always read the Eula anyway. Microsoft, yahoo, apple, and pretty much any software company *might* have similar things set up (especially microsoft) and they probably wouldn't respond about it until several people raised a big enough stink about it. ^^

stumpy · September 06, 2008, 12:18:58 PM

I am not sure if I am more bothered by the unenforceable terms of that (outdated?) EULA or the idea that there may be technology in Chrome that allows Google to tell if a blog post (or a post here at FR) was posted using that software. That would require Chrome keeping pretty extensive and scary records of users' web activity and transmitting it to Google at some point.

Because that's a fairly impractical undertaking, I am taking Google's word that their use of that particular EULA was a mistake and they just grabbed one from some other piece of software and didn't edit it enough to be applicable to Chrome. But, I am very curious as to what software Google (or anyone) does make where such a license would be appropriate...

ow_tiobe_sb · September 06, 2008, 01:32:26 PM

Quote from: stumpy on September 06, 2008, 12:18:58 PM
Because that's a fairly impractical undertaking, I am taking Google's word that their use of that particular EULA was a mistake and they just grabbed one from some other piece of software and didn't edit it enough to be applicable to Chrome.

I'm inclined to agree with this interpretation, stumpy, for if the original EULA were sincere, I highly doubt the programme would be 1/5 as fast as it is on my DSL connection. Of course, there may be more insidious ways of transmitting this data, e.g., when Windows is attempting to shut down or apply automatic updates while shutting down (times when even the savvy Windows user might not notice extensive online transmissions)... :ph34r:

ow_tiobe_sb
Phantom Bunburyist and Fop o' th' Morning

randyripoff · September 08, 2008, 07:12:25 PM

Using it right now. It choked on newegg.com, but otherwise it's been ok.

I do wish it weren't based on the Safari engine.

Epimethee · September 10, 2008, 02:28:36 PM

Quote from: randyripoff on September 08, 2008, 07:12:25 PM
I do wish it weren't based on the Safari engine.

Out of curiosity, what issues do you have with Webkit (Safari's renderer)?

randyripoff · September 10, 2008, 08:09:05 PM

Hmm. More issues with Safari and Konqueror than webkit, but I guess that's damning enough in itself.