Google Chrome: Bare Essentials
Aniket Kadam, Sep 07, 2008 1200 hrs IST
A lot has been said about Google Chrome but let's see what it has to offer the common surfer.
A lot has been said about Google Chrome and most of it in impenetrable tech speak. Sure there's talk of things like V8 and independent processes for tabs, but what does that really mean for the average person? In this, first of a two part feature, let's see what Chrome can do for you.
Browser features
Before we get into the real features, let's see how it does just after you've installed it. Chrome asks if you want to import settings from your earlier browser, it seems to work with Firefox and Internet explorer, taking on any of your previous bookmarks.
It also detects the default search engine of your primary browser and sets the same search engine for Chrome. For example, if you used MSN live search, it sets Chrome's default search to MSN as well. It'll ask you once more to confirm the choice and then it's done. If you want to change it later, a right click on the address bar and selecting 'Edit search engines' gives you the option. Google isn't forcing people to use its search service with Chrome.
Main page
The main page gives you access to 9 of your recently visited sites, as well as a list of bookmarks arranged in the order they were created with a searchable history on the side. Clicking on the tiny "full history" link at the bottom opens up the actual history page.
Speed
Chome, as you've all probably heard a million times by now, is pretty fast. I've been using Firefox for years now and while each incremental version was supposed to be faster than the previous, there wasn't really a noticeable difference. There is more to it than this as you will see in part two; Firefox has an ace up its sleeve. The difference only became clear when stacked against something archaic like Internet Explorer, where you could clearly feel IE dragging its feet.
Then came Chrome, the first time I started it up I noticed that it started up a lot faster than the other browsers, taking about a second to come up. Loading pages was just as fast, with the first noticeable increase in speed I'd seen in a long time. The two times this was most apparent was in Gmail, where I realised how I didn't have to wait a second or two while some action I called for was executed, it just happened instantly. Then out of curiosity, I wondered what the hotmail site would be like (another example of a website loaded with fancy scripts but clearly not optimized for Chrome).
The window gave a warning about how the browser isn't compatible and it would drop into a less featured version of Windows Live Mail. Chrome was running Windows Live Mail faster than even Internet Explorer could. There's no greater testament to its versatility.
All this speed is useful when you're using Google Docs or Notebook or a lot of other very useful Google apps that are now responsive enough to use as seamlessly as installed applications. Unfortunately, most of them aren't completely integrated into Chrome yet, but Docs works pretty well. But since the browser is still beta and pretty young beta at that unlike Gmail, this is expected.
USER COMMENTS
It,s Wonderful, Two problems I am facing are --not able to make it default browser in Window Vista --not able to close browser window from right corner top signs -+*
by Dr Jagdish Gupt, Shimla (HP), on Sep 11, 2008 08:21 PM, Report abuse Reply
hello every body..... this is very easier and faster than previous google... i am sure google crome will be success in daily users.... thank u...
by shashank kumar, new delhi, on Sep 09, 2008 08:55 AM, Report abuse Reply
Guys! i believe that its faster n neat & clean interface but still have problem "don't send" error occurs and browser suddenly close only when its find to installed missing plugins.
by Priyank, Ahmedabad, on Sep 08, 2008 07:32 PM, Report abuse Reply
KYA MAMU TU BHI NA...KYA MAST BANAYELA HAI ...ABHI BOLE TO BILKUL APUN KE CIRCUIT KE MAFIK KAM KARELA HAI.....BOLE TO ...JHAKAS....
by SHASHANK, KOLKATA, on Sep 08, 2008 02:13 PM, Report abuse Reply
g chrome is a lovely browser, very neat and clean interface, faster than any other browser, but still in this early stages doenst make me want to be used as my default browser, mainly cause i use addons with firefox such as piclens, cool iris and some others, which provide additional usability.. if goodle comes up with addons for their new browser, walla !!!
by bhuvan chowdhar, pune, on Sep 08, 2008 11:59 AM, Report abuse Reply
Good browser for casual browsing. But for serious stuff, like online banking I'd prefer to stay with Firefox till the time Chrome matures. The speed with which Chrome renders AJAX libraries is amazing. Installed perfectly in my XP desktop and Vista laptop. no issues till now.
by Faridur R Choud, Delhi, on Sep 08, 2008 09:54 AM, Report abuse Reply
i downloaded d very next day of the release. look is austere with good interface and the speed is very cool. but it not seems to be good, in a gig race as it, lacks a lot, with simple features. time being happy with my old browser.
by Hari, Chennai, on Sep 08, 2008 07:40 AM, Report abuse Reply
I hate Chrome, because there is one process google update which runs in background which you can see in background and if you close that then chrome web browser will not get open. I dont want to run some extra process just for using web browser
by Atul, Mumbai, on Sep 08, 2008 06:37 AM, Report abuse Reply
its a good effort by google and it will give tough compitition for rivels including firefox.its just the matter of time giant google pumps in more money for its development.i wonder if google crome will have pop up blocker feature since google earns lots of money with those adds.
by sachin, goa, on Sep 08, 2008 01:01 AM, Report abuse Reply
i dont know why it gets stuck or mayb sometimes crash-possibly bcoz its beta.otherwise its awesome,they have done away with many bars so as to provide more space to view a website.downloads are very fast in chrome,this is wat i hav noticed
by vaibhav, noida, on Sep 08, 2008 12:35 AM, Report abuse Reply
I didnt get that part about having problems with XP. I havent heard of any such things around me.. And yes chrome is good. But firefox stays with me for the time being.
by Anant Bhushan, Roorkee, on Sep 07, 2008 09:18 PM, Report abuse Reply
very promising works brillianty cant wait for the addons and plugins Firefox still stays my default browser for the time being though
by Divij Bhatia, Mumbai, on Sep 07, 2008 08:53 PM, Report abuse Reply
I downloaded, i worked on it, i loved and now its my official browser. Speed and reliable. Works as a browser should really work. Only 1 thing missing: Google Toolbar. Hoping to see that soon also.
by Tapan Bhanot, Chandigarh, on Sep 07, 2008 07:47 PM, Report abuse Reply
I downloaded it but I could not surf the web since it didn't worked out. My connection uses a proxy server so I configured Chrome accordingly but I could not open any of the sites not even Google Homepage. I don't know what the problem was but whenever i tried to open any site, the title of the page was shown but nothing in the browser tab, I tried opening Yahoo so luckily it got opened but the images on the yahoo page were half shown so the experience was scary. Maybe Techtree ppl should try using it through a proxy connection and then submit their reviews since most of the college people uses a connection with a proxy settings.
by Aakash Sharma, Amravati, on Sep 07, 2008 02:47 PM, Report abuse Reply
I downloaded the same day when it appeared in the news paper, it worked well. I could go to to any sight without problems. I have BSNL Broad Band connection.
by K.P.Tunga, Bangalore, on Sep 07, 2008 06:58 PM, Report abuse
Downloaded chrome right on the very day it was released and i must say that I totally love it. The minimalistic design works for me and the interface is very 'google'. It is not yet ready to be my main web browser but I am using it more and more. I look forward to their mac release!
by Ankan Bhowmick, New Delhi, on Sep 07, 2008 02:21 PM, Report abuse Reply
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Browser is fast but if we download any files it slows down the whole which it lacks. and also we cant find whether its downloading or not
by Jaggy, chennai, on Sep 15, 2008 08:19 AM, Report abuse Reply