For those who are more in the know. How do you feel things will change once/if google chrome comes pre-installed on computers?

Just so you all dont say: I dont know, google it

http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=10974

12/30/2008 5:25:24 PM

well, personally, i'd rather have a browser that's been tested and has less security flaws.

i think Firefox & IE are both better options than Chrome. watch, just because it's new means it has flaws that haven't been fixed yet.

12/30/2008 5:28:18 PM

I'd still stick with Safari

12/30/2008 5:34:43 PM

I'd still stick with Netscape

12/30/2008 5:43:51 PM

It won't change a thing because people who are aware of Chrome will bother to download it

As long as the default browser is IE on Microsoft platforms it will dominate.
The vast vast vast majority of users don't care what their browser is, just that it works.

The ones that are savvy enough to recognize not only that there ARE alternatives, but better alternatives will try the ones available and pick from them.

The only thing having Chrome pre-installed will help is that those users will try Chrome as an alternative first.

12/30/2008 5:57:01 PM

I'd still stick with Mosaic

12/30/2008 8:14:24 PM

if they had called it 'Google Internet Browser' instead of 'Chrome' they'd destroy IE's market share

12/30/2008 9:41:19 PM

i'd buy into that point to an extent, it'd certainly have given them a boost from those less in the know about these things.

[Edited on December 30, 2008 at 10:15 PM. Reason : why can't IE just die in a fire already ]

12/30/2008 10:14:50 PM

IE's still around because those "less in the know" make of the majority of computer owners

12/30/2008 10:23:37 PM

they should just call it "The Internet" then

12/30/2008 11:58:23 PM

I like Chrome. Firefox was awesome until after a few months. Almost every time I opened firefox it had to update itself or an addon, which usually takes 30sec to 2 mins. I didn't even have a lot of add-on's, only like 5-7 add-on's. Chrome is very fast. The only firefox add-on's I even miss are Foxmarks and IETab. Chrome is a better browser, it has the Google simple intutive schtick going on. So, pre-installed Chrome is a good thing.

12/31/2008 12:41:12 AM

i like chrome other than the few bugs it still has

12/31/2008 12:56:39 AM

i was messing around with Chrome just now. it seems significantly slower than Firefox for me. and it doesn't seem to have the customization options that i crave using Firefox. Overall, a 6/10.

12/31/2008 1:20:33 AM

Quote :

"IE's still around because those "less in the know" make of the majority of computer owners"

oh i know... it's one of those things said with a long sigh just before cranking out a few more CSS hacks for IE

12/31/2008 1:26:46 AM

well, I guess the point was... with chrome coming pre-installed I could see it easily gaining a lot of market share. Google would then have google desktop, the browser, search, maps, image, video... I mean, its kinda ridiculous. Not to mention I'm huge on Android.

Did anyone else notice their firefox changed icons to chromes when you installed it? I thought that was weird.

12/31/2008 9:39:25 AM

IE6 supremacy

12/31/2008 10:19:30 AM

Quote :

"I like Chrome. Firefox was awesome until after a few months. Almost every time I opened firefox it had to update itself or an addon, which usually takes 30sec to 2 mins. I didn't even have a lot of add-on's, only like 5-7 add-on's."

So you'd rather not get updates resulting in a better browser? I don't mind my browser needing updates frequently, as long as it's improving my browser. It just shows people are working on problems/improvements all the time.

As for add-ons, that's all on the user and the creator of the add-on, can't fault a browser for that.

12/31/2008 10:24:38 AM

The fact that Firefox seems to have another update you have to download every other day really is annoying.

I mean, I like the fact that it's constantly being worked on and constantly updated and patched, but at the same time it really does scream "incomplete software".

12/31/2008 11:58:52 AM

that's a really silly thing to complain about

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 12:01 PM. Reason : .]

12/31/2008 12:01:00 PM

how is any software truly complete? I'd rather have daily updates than software that has security and functionality flaws.

12/31/2008 12:01:53 PM

^ so, you like would argue the same for microsoft releasing craip and then patching it constantly?

not putting FF in the same light as MS, that would be just wrong.

12/31/2008 12:14:47 PM

n/m

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 12:18 PM. Reason : .]

12/31/2008 12:16:52 PM

Quote :

"microsoft sends out updates as soon as they are available"

i thought they do updates once a month (except in rare cases like the recent security patch). and "as soon as they are available" too often means months or years after the vulnerability was discovered

12/31/2008 12:20:52 PM

Quote :

"so, you like would argue the same for microsoft releasing craip and then patching it constantly?"

like, I would like for any company to like release crap, and then like have to repair it. Like, microsoft isn't constantly like sending out updates, as ^ said. And I really haven't seen like crap from MS in a while like. All of my MS stuff is doing just fine.

12/31/2008 12:43:43 PM

^^all recent critical security patches have been sent out immediately, most non-critical vulnerabilities are patched on 'patch Tuesday' which are the 2nd Tuesday of the month. typically non-critical vulnerabilities are one's that are found by security firms and not high-risk (not found in the wild yet)

the key here is that Firefox 3.x has 0% patches unfixed. IE7 has about 27% of their fixes unfixed.

the minute Chrome sees limelight will be the minute we all find massive security holes, just look at the webkit fiasco.

[Edited on December 31, 2008 at 1:14 PM. Reason : .]

12/31/2008 1:04:20 PM

i just made the leap to chrome on the laptop

it's just quicker to respond on this system

waiting for may to come around and for someone to port adblock, mouse gestures, and maybe some other small things over to it and i'll be golden

2/17/2009 6:55:53 PM

I set up a new HP yesterday that had firefox preinstalled.

2/17/2009 7:10:32 PM

^^ you can run most greasemonkey scripts on chrome



honestly I've been using it since day 1 and haven't looked back

2/17/2009 9:27:09 PM

you've had no problems with the early access development builds?

2/17/2009 9:38:35 PM

I think Firefox's greatest strength is its biggest weakness; Addons. There great because they give users options, they are bad because they are developed by garage hacks who aren't getting paid. Addon's in general are buggy and aren't optimized for speed.

Firefox with just a few addon's is actually slower than IE or Chrome in my own personal experience. Then tack on a few Browser updates and addon' updates every time I open the program. Its really annoying.

If only Chrome had Foxmarks, then it would be a no brainer for me. I think Google's strategy should be to just take the most useful Addon's that Firefox has and make them features in Chrome. That way you get a great useful browser that was developed by professionals who optimize for speed.

2/17/2009 9:44:49 PM

^^ None.

2/18/2009 8:05:46 AM

^^ The only addons you need in FF are AdBlock Plus and IE Tab.

2/18/2009 8:27:00 AM

Any browser that starts seeing large-scale usage is going to need frequent updates to keep up with exploiters finding new security holes. The only reason Safari is an exception is because it is Mac-based; hackers dont use macs.

2/18/2009 10:31:35 AM

And because Apple actually doesnt care.

2/18/2009 11:02:42 AM