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Yesterday Google released a new WebKit-based browser on the world called Chrome. I'm a huge fan of WebKit, it is, in my opinion, one of the finest examples of what Open Source is capable of. That said, I don't even know where to begin when complaining about Chrome.
First, the timing is far from coincidental. I read somewhere that an e-mail containing the link to the comic book that was to market the browser was "accidentally" leaked. Yeah, right. So, Google being the magnanimous and benevolent developers they are, they decided to let the beta out early because the e-mail had "accidentally" come out and the press got a hold of it. All this happens right around the same time as Microsoft is ramping up its hype campaign for IE8. Google may do a lot of really odd things, but none of them are accidental.
Second is the press. I'm so sick and tired of these sycophantic boobs printing nonsense like "Chrome presents a major challenge to Microsoft".. WTF?? An untried, untested BETA product with 0% current market share is going to present a major challenge to Microsoft? Why? Obviously not based on anything factual... the press think that simply because Google makes it, it is going to present a challenge to Microsoft. Total bull.
Third is the browser itself. The comics make a point that I agree with - you shouldn't notice your browser when you're browsing. The problem is that Chrome doesn't fade into the background like its supposed to. Its so damned annoying all you can think about is "Why am I using this POS?" Privacy advocates are going to riot in response to Chrome, whose EULA clearly states that their address bar and search boxes are key loggers, sending everything you type to Google. Every aspect of your behavior while using that browser is also transmitted to Google.
Finally there's the browser itself. Somehow they managed to screw up WebKit because using Safari (Apple's WebKit-based browser) I can get to all my favorite sites, but using Chrome, over 75% of my sites come back as access denied with Chrome complaining that my network administrator has blocked access to that site. Hint: I'm running inside a VM that is not in a domain, with full administrative privileges, and no one has ever set such a policy. And as I said, those URLs work fine in IE7 and Safari.
I am a huge fan of Firefox, and I use it almost exclusively (bet you thought I was going to say IE didn't you??). I use FF3 for Leopard and I use it for Windows. Occasionally I will need to hit a Microsoft-optimized site and I'll pull out IE. While there are religious wars between IE and Firefox, one thing is true about both browsers: they are both fully functioning, stable, reliable browsers. The same cannot be said for Chrome.
Yeah yeah, I know ... Chrome's a beta. Well, so was FireFox 3 and I used it nonstop after the day of the beta 1 release. I have used virtually every Internet Explorer beta 1 with very little trauma (well, IE4 was traumatic.. but it still opened URLs). Chrome is sitting on top of WebKit, so there's absolutely NO EXCUSE for web-based operations like simple HTTP GETs failing with imaginary network policy restrictions.
So I'm perfectly fine with my existing browsers and I certainly do not need another one.. and I especially don't need one that doesn't even function as a proper browser, let alone live up to the "Google hype" that the media blindly lays at their feet.
In the classic quote from the Naked Gun, "There's nothing to see here. Please move along." This is of course said while a fireworks building is exploding in the background. In this case, it's just a crappy browser failing to perform the most basic of browsing tasks.
To clarify, I was using my Macbook Pro at home and was trying out Chrome. I
was getting 404 (not found) errors on sites that were coming up in Safari
and Firefox. I know that this is probably just some beta side-effect. The
real problem I have with Chrome is that it's another browser that offers me
nothing over my existing browsers.
I like it - it is fast, clean, simple and finding things seems super easy.
I've even noticed new things in gmail that were not there in FF3. The
highlighting of entry fields is also nice. The all in one search bar is
great - even the learning tabs is useful.
But.. I don't get the reason for it.. why should I switch to Chrome when 1
- it's a privacy violator (it's keylogging you), and 2- it's a browser that
doesn't really add much that I don't already get with Firefox. Where's the
huge value-add that makes me feel compelled to drop all my current browsing
habits and switch to Chrome?
Kevin, I think the point is to raise the bar for other browsers. Get
JavaScript faster, support application like browser windows (no toolbars
etc). Basically make HTML apps first class citizens - becasue this is what
Google is investing in. They don't want market share, they want other
browsers to borrow the features so that their app suite can better compete
with desktop based apps.
" This is really a big problem with blogging in general as we don't have
the same rigorous editorial process that we have when publishing printed
material."
Frankly, the EULA and Terms of Service scare the crap out of me (closest
I've seen software get to "big brother"):
Luke, I don't care if Chrome actually IS keylogging me. The Chrome EULA
gives Google unlimited license to do so, and that's enough for me to stay
away. No need to claim that I need an editor ;)
Kevin, I mean this in a nice way but you've gone off the deep end, lost the
plot, you're trying to divide by zero man and you need help :) Get a strong
and I mean strong cup of coffee, sit back - do what you do best ... go
figure out all the "good" things this browser does. Lets leave the big
brother conspiracy theories to lesser blogs. I say this because I think
this browser will be around for some time and I think you'll change your
mind and (possibly) rue this post all together :) Now the browser did crash
while I was posting this which I thought was funny, so we can assume this
version hasn't got those tabs->processes figured out ;)
Its only a conspiracy theory if you're wrong. Turns out I was pretty much
spot on, as the huge outcries from people other than me have convinced
Google to amend its EULA for Chrome. So now my only real objection to
Chrome is that its yet another browser and I just don't have time to screw
around with a browser that doesn't give me anything that IE8 doesn't
already have. Maybe I'll play with Chrome during beta 2.
