Review by Mark Baggesen, About.com Guide to Windows
Not happy with creating a myriad of applications that keep Microsoft Executives up late at night worrying about market share, Google has done it again. In creating an open source browser, from Apple code, Google has not only created a wonderful new tool for web surfers to use, it has shown the way browsers should work. And better yet, it allows users to genuinely architect their browser experience.
Not happy with creating a myriad of applications that keep Microsoft Executives up late at night worrying about market share, Google has done it again. In creating an open source browser, from Apple code, Google has not only created a wonderful new tool for web surfers to use, it has shown the way browsers should work. And better yet, it allows users to genuinely architect their browser experience.
Fast, Faster, Fastest
Having used this browser for more than a month, I can tell you that it is 2 to 3 times faster, on average, than other browser in downloading web pages - there is very little, “click and wait” for the next page to appear.
Easy to Use
When you install this application it imports all your settings and favorites. You can then start browsing without delay. Some of your top links are displayed on a line on the browser header, all the rest are under the icon button titled “Other bookmarks”. You can drag and drop Bookmarks from this menu to the browser header.Useful Features
This browser has many useful and innovative features that are both obvious and hidden in the sub-menus (Page and Tool icon in the top right corner of browser window).
- Security – If you enter a web address for a site that does not, for whatever reason, appear to be safe, Google Chrome displays a page telling you and offers two selections: Continue On or Go back to a safe web page.
- Downloads – When you first download a file or program, Chrome creates a folder in My Documents called “Downloads”. You can access a current or past downloaded file from this browser, or by going to the “Downloads” folder. While it downloads, you can either wait for it do finish or go to a completely different web site – it will continue to download and show you when it is done.
- IDs and Passwords – Each time you go to a web site that requires an ID and password, Chrome offers to save these after you enter them. This is a huge time saver, especially if you use password protected web sites often. Chrome will auto-fill the ID and Password fields when you go back to the logon screen for this web site. It will also keep you from forgetting your logon IDs and Passwords. There are many other features worth investigating as well. Such as: Opening a new tab will cause the browser to show you images of the sites you most frequently visit; Setting up your default opening screen to return to the last page you viewed, creating application shortcuts; and a find feature that allows you to click down a page to each occurrence of a word you are looking for.
Learning Curve
Like any new application, Google Chrome is somewhat different than IE 7, Firefox and others. These differences can be easily learned and exploited.
No Print Preview Screen
If you like to preview a web page for printing before you print it, Chrome will not do this for you. If this is a deal breaker for you, stay with IE 7 until Google adds that function.Website Incompatibility
Some web sites will not recognize this browser and recommend you upgrade to IE 7 or Firefox – I can’t talk to the reasons for stating this, other than perhaps these web sites are only set up to work properly with those browsers. At least 98% of the time, Chrome works with everything.Some Multimedia Plug-ins Do Not Work
Occasionally, 2% of the time you will see this happen. When it does, you will see a frowny face and a statement that you might go somewhere to download a new plug-in. If this happens to you, copy the web address and paste it into IE 7 or your other favorite browser and see if it works. It probably will.No Export of Your New Faves
If you use Chrome for a while and accumulate new favorite links, you cannot automatically export those from Chrome, like you can in IE 7. You would have to copy and paste each link into IE 7 and save it.The Bottom Line
Screen Capture
Google Chrome is a real winner of a browser and worth investigating. Keep your IE 7 or other browser for now. Chrome still has a way to go before you can use it exclusively.
Download Chrome for Windows on the Web at chrome.google.com.
