Vox Populi - Your Favorite Browser
Rahul Srinivas, Sep 05, 2008 1725 hrs IST
Firefox: 63%
Opera: 25%
Internet Explorer: 12%
Chrome sure promises to change the course of the browser war.
A few weeks ago, we at Techtree ran an opinion poll asking users what their favourite browser was. The results were predictable. Out of the three options provided - Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera - Firefox garnered as much as 63% of the votes! Opera was a distant second with almost 25% while Microsoft's Internet Explorer languished at the last place with a measly 12%!
We still find it hard to believe that IE still holds over 70% market share worldwide! This is obviously due to the large share of non-tech savvy users, who do not see anything further than Internet Explorer. And why not? It comes out of the box and you need it to download the others in the first place! I remember helping an American gentleman install Firefox, as his IE crashed frequently. He went, "Firefox?! What's that? Will it harm my computer?" He was paranoid at the thought of having to install something else that was not Internet Explorer!
While this may seem surprising to some, a large majority of non-tech savvy users are:
1) Concerned about their privacy
2) Suspicious of anything that's not Made by Microsoft
3) Unaware that there are alternatives to IE and Netscape (Believe me, there are those who still swear by Netscape!)
Coming back to our poll results, what we did not know last week was that Google was all set to announce the Chrome. The announcement took everyone off guard and the battle lines will be redrawn very soon! With a much-improved Internet Explorer 8 joining the fray, the browser war is getting bloodier - and we love it!
Anything that comes from Google has to be BIG! The Chrome is a little like the iPhone -- you expect a lot from these and in most cases they go on to become trendsetters. At the same time, they manage to get away even with the lack of some basic stuff. If it was the SMS forwarding and video recording bit (amongst others) for the iPhone, it is the lack of basic ad-block plug-ins and lack of integration with Google services for the Chrome. While we agree that it's too premature for us to comment on the lack of plug-ins and extensions, there were some more features that should have been included out-of-the-box - simply because this is from Google!
This week, we started a new poll - just after the launch of the Chrome. It was simple - and based on our previous browser poll. With Firefox being the obvious choice for techies, we wanted to know if they would switch loyalties to the Chrome, and how soon. Last time we checked, it seems Firefox still rules the roost. As much as 41% of the respondents maintain there is no way Chrome is going to replace Firefox as their main browser. However, an admirable 36% respondents said they loved the Chrome's speed!" Staying with the results so far, another 23% said they might switch to Chrome, once extensions and plug-ins become freely available for it. The poll results do reflect one common sentiment. The Chrome might end up as Firefox's fiercest competition in the not-too-distant future, especially when the add-ons start trickling in. Chrome sure seems to be on track with the 1% market share it managed to garner within 10 hours of launch!
First Reactions
When we first posted our view of the Chrome, there were lots of comments from our readers - many of them interesting. However, reactions here too were mixed. Like Kaushik from Delhi, who quipped, "Trying this browser since yesterday. Am very disappointed. Even Gmail and social networking sites are opening very slow or getting stuck. Very few features / controls are available. Also, there appears to be a problem with operating buttons. Nothing happens when buttons are clicked. Firefox beats it any day. I have loaded Firefox with lots of add-ons and always have at least 10-15 tabs open, yet, it works fast and great. Chrome may beat it in future but at the moment, Firefox rules. Strangely, my machine is also rather slow from today." Looks like Kaushik will stick to Firefox for now. But his very comment does give an indication of a possible switch once the Chrome is loaded with features and finally does manage to "beat" Firefox!
Naveen Chaudhary from Meerut, an Opera fan, seems unimpressed with both Firefox and the Chrome: "I'm an Opera fan since 3 years, now it comes without ads. It's far better than other browsers. Tweak Opera a bit and it's the fastest browser, for Opera 9.51 go to Tools>Preferences>Advanced>Network- and increase number of max connections to server and also increase number of total connections. Then you will realize that opera is the fastest." That's one hardcore Opera fan there! But he adds at the end: "Well it's good to see something new in browser section, especially from Google. Will definitely give it a try." Don't you folks think it's just the Google brand that's doing wonders here? I am doubtful if Naveen would even give other browsers a chance had it been from some other company.
Venkat from Bangalore is impressed with the IE8 and had a more or less unbiased view on all the major browsers out there. Venkat says: "Chrome is probably just going to be another one of those applications from Google that will create some hype for a month or more and then fizzle out. What is strange is that most of the visual things that you see with Chrome are copies from other browsers like the thumbnails from Opera, tabbed browsing from Opera, incognito mode which seems to be a clone of IE's InPrivate mode. The browser as such lacks some of the most simple [sic] things like Java Applet support. Google as usual is trying to lay out a lot of techno jargon in the market to attract people but it will probably (and sadly) end up wooing Mozilla users rather than IE users. IE 8 on the other hand looks pretty awesome when you look at the concept of accelerators for instant blogging and emailing articles. IE really has hit the buzzer on what people need today which is easy and fast collaboration. In the end it looks like Chrome will go the same way as a lot of other Google Apps that are still sitting in the Lab. Let's at least hope that Google makes a release version of this unlike all its other BETAs." That's some serious food for thought there.
Anant Bhushan from Roorkee seems have liked the minimalistic, clean, Chrome interface and very soon sees himself shifting loyalties.
Have you have tried Chrome yet? If you have, share your experiences with us! Are you ready to shift from your current browser to Chrome? Or is it just the Google hype that made you try it and it left you unimpressed? Has Firefox found a formidable opponent in Chrome now? And what about the old warhorse IE? How does the IE8 compare to Google's browser? Finally, does anyone think Chrome has what it takes to topple Firefox from its current position?
USER COMMENTS
good job but i will stick to opera
by prem tourani, mumbai, on Sep 06, 2008 01:38 PM, Report abuse Reply
Well i tried every Known Browser to me including Maxthon & i must say When it comes to Features nothing can beet OPERA, one feels like he found Browser Nirvana with OPERA, but the downside of it is that it can be overwhelming to Novice users. They'll quickly get confused with so many options.. When it comes to CHROME it seems to be Faster than Opera but for only a few sites which rather appears strange but i guess thats because its still BETA.. But when i went to the options section i had only one thing to say " Thats it?? these are the only Options OMG!!! " so it'll be a while before CHROME can take on the biggies!!!
by Gadget Guy, Hydeabad, on Sep 06, 2008 05:57 AM, Report abuse Reply
I very much liked the simplistic look of Chrome. Three Cheers!
by Neeraj, Delhi, on Sep 05, 2008 11:29 PM, Report abuse Reply
Google Chrome looks clean but has some way to go, but can be granted a bit of a liberty. After all it is beta... I did have problem with some sites, options were not so intuitive which I would expect from Google. Guess will take some time to be used to it. Will wait for more updates...
by Pankaj, Bangalore, on Sep 05, 2008 10:48 PM, Report abuse Reply
Opera is still Popular. Though Firefox gives out an impression of a rugged & stable browser. I used to swear by Opera till they released the notorious Version 9.51 which refused to load primary sites. I now use firefox & love it. People do listen to user inputs. Chrome lacks the basic infrastructure. But once there are plugins to do just about everything other than boil you an egg, it will gain popularity, I am sure of it.
by Alap, Mumbai, on Sep 05, 2008 10:33 PM, Report abuse Reply
The best browser is Apple Safari. It lives up to Apple's reputation. It has an excellent speed, and is a clean browser, which serves its purpose, and more, very well. It is the right blend of customisablity and simplicity, and is a refined product. I used to use Firefox, but i find it gets bulkier over time. I'm just waiting for Safari 4. Google Chrome seems to have speeds similar, maybe a little faster than Safari but I found a few annoyances. It is a good product all in all, considering it's beta. Though its a great browser, I'm sticking to Safari.
by Samir Otiv, Pune, on Sep 05, 2008 06:55 PM, Report abuse Reply
You might be interested to know that Google Chrome is based on the same codebase as Safari. It has been developed on Apple Webkit which powers Safari and Mozilla which powers Firefox. What's revolutionary is the V8 engine which is has been written from the grounds up to handle heavy javascript.
by Faridur R Choud, New Delhi, on Sep 05, 2008 09:44 PM, Report abuse
Good to see Opera fans around here :)
by amrit, mumbau, on Sep 05, 2008 07:51 PM, Report abuse Reply
I am a relatively new user of net. Tried both OPERA and Firefox 3. Filling more secured & at ease with Firefox 3.
by Abir sarmah, Digboi (Tinsukia), Assam, on Sep 05, 2008 07:24 PM, Report abuse Reply
I jus love Opera which i have been usin for the past 5 years(from the time i owned a PC) and i don find any reason to shift away from it... I am with Opera when it evolved frm Version 6 to 9.52... Its jus awesome... Opera is the real innovator...and others are followers...
by Jitender, Chennai, on Sep 05, 2008 05:43 PM, Report abuse Reply
Agreed 101%! I love Opera and it's sad to see it get so little credit for its innovations and speed. More should adopt it! Best. Browser. Ever!
by bateman, mumbai, on Sep 05, 2008 05:50 PM, Report abuse
I agree with jitender... Opera is the real innovator... Its the unsung hero...
by Thomas, Bangalore, on Sep 05, 2008 05:59 PM, Report abuse
very true opera rulz but doesnt get the recognition even tho its much better than firefox
by Ani, Bangalore, on Sep 05, 2008 06:34 PM, Report abuse
i am using opera for the last 3 years. i find it very user friendly. its fast as well as it some very usefull features. it has content blocking. it can block any pictures in web page if ur boss is around. its very fast and stable. i love this. chrome is fast but it lacks features. its just a baby.
by Nitin, Bangalore, on Sep 05, 2008 06:09 PM, Report abuse Reply
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I tried Chrome, first reason bing its from GOOGLE... Really unexpected move imho... Since till then I thought Firefox and Google are made for each-other, seeing many addons for google related things in firefox... But now they are competitors (at least for my eyes...) Reg. my experience.. Both have good and bad.. Good thing in Chrome is speed, simplicity, the page loaded when opening a new Tab, tips & tricks shown in techtree.. Things I hate is NoFullTitleBar showing, Crashes sometimes, not all web-pages are showing.... Finally Chrome is threat to FireFox or Opera only than IE8.. Reg my exp, I can arrange as FireFox >= Opera > Chrome >>> Maxthon >> IE7/8
by Prasath, Sivakasi, on Sep 06, 2008 03:44 PM, Report abuse Reply