Chrome Winning the Bowser Wars?

[Matthew Schenker]

Hey,
I've been a long-time fan of Firefox, but feel it has been lagging lately in many ways.  Safari is looking great, and even Internet Explorer is looking pretty good these days.

But the one that is impressing me the most lately is Google Chrome.  It's fast, simple, and clean.

And now they have an irresistable marketing campaign.

CHECK THIS OUT

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[John Stevens]

Man, I must really be "type A" because I watched the ad and just couldn't understand it.  Can't believe I've been to a dozen Dead and Zappa shows, seems like someone else's life.

But, my present squareness aside, I don't understand how people can trust after-market browser software.  How can you know whether the browser is gathering and reporting data about your internet usage while you're using it?  The only reason I trust IE and Safari is that any problems like that would probably be  reported in the general news media.

Regards,

John

 

[Matthew Schenker]

John,
Zappa, yes.

I also detected some Monty Python in the ad called "Dr. Squirrel's Lab."

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[JayStPeter]

I agree with John.  The Google toolbar has turned me off of installing anything of theirs on my machine.  I suppose I would if it was the only way to use the Google search engine, but until then ...

 

[b_m_hart]

Man, I must really be "type A" because I watched the ad and just couldn't understand it.  Can't believe I've been to a dozen Dead and Zappa shows, seems like someone else's life.

But, my present squareness aside, I don't understand how people can trust after-market browser software.  How can you know whether the browser is gathering and reporting data about your internet usage while you're using it?  The only reason I trust IE and Safari is that any problems like that would probably be  reported in the general news media.

Regards,

John

All browsers track all of your web surfing habits, in several ways.  The notion that you can't trust an after-market browser is a bit of a naive assumption.  Many of the sites that you visit (if not all of them) track your web usage habits, and keep databases of your activities.  This is the basic functionality behind pretty much all web advertising mechanisms out there currently.  You might want to look into the use of cookies on your computer, and the manner in which web sites use them.

There are substantial reasons to go with programs such as Firefox or Chrome over IE, the main one being security.  Here's a prime example of IE and Safari being not-so-hot:  http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/249768/safari-falls-in-10-seconds-at-hacking-content.html - and there are tons of documented issues with IE out there.  What this article fails to mention, was that Google's Chrome was the only browser that wasn't able to be hacked within the framework of the competition.  Now, that doesn't mean that it can't be hacked, it simply means that in a 'clean' situation - just using software that came pre-installed on the machine and the given browser, no one was able to break into, and take control of the machine that was running Chrome.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
The security issues seems to be improved with Chrome, as compared with Internet Explorer or Firefox.  The more I use Chrome, the more I like it.

It's true that we all gave up total privacy long ago in exchange for faster information.  But your browser should have the ability to strip out the private information after each browsing session.  And you can now use a "private browsing" option on modern software.  Of course, I am sure the marketers will soon come up with a way to still collect information even from "private" browsing.

The point is: if you are concerned about total privacy, you have to stop using the Internet altogether.  And you have to stop going to the grocery store (they collect data on you).  Oh, and you need to never send back a "product registration" card when you buy something, and while you're at it, never give your phone number at a check-out counter, don't register for any prizes, or request information through the mail (e-mail or snail mail), and...

The Google toolbar has turned me off of installing anything of theirs on my machine.  I suppose I would if it was the only way to use the Google search engine, but until then ...

I agree that the Google Toolbar is annoying.  I never install it.  Remember, you have the choice whether to install it or not.  Usually, at some point during the installation process, you are asked if you want it.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[woodshopdemos]

Matthew,
  I was set on to Firefox by your post months ago. I has served e well until recently and it seems like it has just bogged down. I downloaded the new explorer yesterday and it is quick but the opening page is too "clummed up."
  Just downloaded Google and I love it already. Fast and clean and Google is a great company. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

John,
Yes, I don't know what is going on with the Firefox developers.  They were once at the top, in my opinion, but now are slipping quite a bit and the competition will push them further down if they don't make some big changes.

But that's the marketplace!

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[b_m_hart]

John,
Yes, I don't know what is going on with the Firefox developers.  They were once at the top, in my opinion, but now are slipping quite a bit and the competition will push them further down if they don't make some big changes.

But that's the marketplace!

Stay in touch,
Matthew

I wouldn't say that they're slipping per se, it's more a java and adobe flash issue.  Chrome's rendering engine handles both substantially better than anyone else right now - and given that sites are becoming more heavily reliant upon these two technologies, and building richer (read: more complicated) scripts, Chrome is going to feel "less bogged down" while browsing.  Until someone leapfrogs them.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Brian,
That's interesting.  I hadn't thought of Java and Flash as the issues, since those technologies have been around for a while.

Even if that is the reason, I wonder why the developers at Mozilla are not able to have Firefox work just as well as Chrome with these technologies?  They have been in the browser business for something like 15 years now.

Anyway, it will be fun to see where the browser wars go next.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[John Stevens]

The point is: if you are concerned about total privacy, you have to stop using the Internet altogether.  And you have to stop going to the grocery store (they collect data on you).  Oh, and you need to never send back a "product registration" card when you buy something, and while you're at it, never give your phone number at a check-out counter, don't register for any prizes, or request information through the mail (e-mail or snail mail), and...

Good point, Matthew.  Another reminder that privacy is not a right, it's a discipline.

Regards,

John

 

[b_m_hart]

The point is: if you are concerned about total privacy, you have to stop using the Internet altogether.  And you have to stop going to the grocery store (they collect data on you).  Oh, and you need to never send back a "product registration" card when you buy something, and while you're at it, never give your phone number at a check-out counter, don't register for any prizes, or request information through the mail (e-mail or snail mail), and...

It's true if you use a telephone, or the internet for anything.  All of your calls are tracked, all of your internet activity is recorded.  There really isn't such a thing as privacy in our country anymore, unfortunately.

 

[JoeFowler]

There has been a lot of talk of how the development of Firefox has been slowing the browser down, there as supposed to be significant changes in the new version currently the new 3.5 Beta 4