Could Google’s attempt at an internet browser be a huge success, or just a flop? Google released Google Chrome on September 2nd and they are making some pretty big claims about their new browser. I’ll start first with the mechanics behind the browser.

Chrome uses a different method behind it’s tab system. Instead of opening each tab under the same process, and lagging the computer as well as consuming memory, some of which cannot be reused until you restart, Chrome opens each tab in a new process. In this way, if one tab goes faulty, the whole browser doesn’t crash, just the tab. If you prefer to use tabs over windows, this is the browser for you. If you prefer to use windows over tabs, this is the browser for you. It’s unique drag and drop design allows you to separate tabs into windows, and windows back into tabs again. This is all done at a quick speed, and there is no lag time involved.

However, this does not solve all the problems of lag with the browser. I find that if you have windows of a different type open, such as an instant messenger, a word document or something that isn’t Google Chrome, then I’ve found that the computer will freeze up for a few seconds, but as far as speed and lag times go, that is my only complaint. I have had every webpage open faster than I had seen them open with Firefox, even with Fasterfox installed and running.

The second topic is plug-ins. This is something I’ve missed dearly, even over just one day of usage. I miss things I had on Firefox, such as some auto-complete things, and the themes. Though there are no special looks for the browser yet, seeing as it’s open-source I’m sure you can expect to see some showing up within the month. The look of the browser is very sleek and stylish, just as the name Chrome implies. It has no huge words telling you Google made it, only a small logo in the top right corner next to the minimize, close and maximize buttons. Unlike other browsers, everything is kept small and discrete and inside your one window. There are no extra search bars, no downloads windows, and no pop-ups. The search bar is the same as the URL bar, downloads are confined to a small bar at the bottom that disappears when nothing has been or is in the process of being downloaded, and popups are put in a small box in the bottom right corner of the tab they came from. This keeps browsing easy, simpler, and faster.

Google Chrome is still in beta (like everything else on Google), and so it still includes bugs and lag fixes that need to be corrected, but as of yet, it is already a faster browser than any you have seen before. The production team borrowed from different browsers as well, such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and Safari. They also used Webkit as a basis for the speed found in the browser. The way that Chrome handles Javascript increases its speed by about 2 times or more what another browser can pull off. Instead of parsing code, and checking for errors, and seeing how well it will run, Chrome uses V8, which changes it directly into machine code that it can compile and run quickly and effectively.

Google Chrome has many protection levels against malware, spyware and phishing as well. When a program tries to install something you don’t want or didn’t ask for, Chrome won’t let it install or look at any files on your computer, your desktop or anything at all you didn’t specifically give it permission to go through. There is also protection against sites of that sort (known as phishing sites).

The last thing Google added was “gears“.  Gears are too difficult to explain, so I’ll keep it simple. Gears are used to help make browsers more helpful and useful to developers, making life better for everyone.

All in all, Google Chrome is not worth switching to from Firefox yet, but in a few months to about a year or two, it could be. Its also possible that the browser flops, and goes nowhere (which is unlikely, looking at Google’s track record).  Only time will tell. All I can say is give it a try, you might find the sleek look and quick loading times good for you if you can live without your add-ons and themes.

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