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High on a Hill

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by Hillary Chan, Malaysia


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Google Chrome is a step forward without two steps back

Remember how amazed we were when we first got Google.com? I remember how my eyes almost popped out when I saw the speed that it got search results. I remember eyeballing the "Results 1 - 10 of about 6,360,000 for Toyota Prius. (0.05 seconds) " with a gaping mouth. :)

I tried out Google Chrome today and felt the same euphoria as when I first tried Google.com. Web sites are loading so quickly, I  could almost be convinced that we had wrongly blamed TM Net Streamyx for the slowness all these years. 

For example, the search above for Toyota Prius was done on Google Chrome. I then did the same search using Internet Explorer and got this result:

"Results 1 - 10 of about 6,360,000 for Toyota Prius. (0.08 seconds)"

See the difference? 

I can't help noticing how Microsoft seems to churn out heavier software e.g. Windows Vista to replace Windows XP, whereas Google produces lighter ones.

Let's hope that doesn't change. CNET did an excellent speed test comparing Google Chrome to Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.



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    Talkback
Archangel says...
Not necessarily...

In terms of privacy, Google Chrome is intrusive in ways that Microsoft could never have gotten to. For example, did you know that anything you type into the Omnibox gets sent to Google? This is even before you press .

Also, flaws in the design have started to appear (there is a way that malicious codes are able to crash the entire browser, not just the one tab).

Somehow, it seems that everyone is a lot more forgiving of such things just because it's Google. If Chrome was a Microsoft product, I'm positive the reactions would have been a lot more negative.

 
 
Hillary says...
Hi Archangel,

When I installed it, I was surprised that it automatically imported everything (Bookmarks, et cetera) from my previous browser. Firefox would have asked if it's okay to import. That part, I really didn't like.

Lots of things that I can't do with Google Chrome too, for instance I had trouble blogging this post last night.

What I meant about it being one step forward without two steps back is that while it tries to be a more powerful browser, it does so without sacrificing on speed. That, I find commendable.

 
 
Archangel says...
Fair enough.

My take is that speed is not everything. Stability, and security are the two more important 'S' to me. Time will tell whether these two were sacrificed... ;)

I'm going to hold back on Chrome for now to give it more time to mature. & also to consider if I really want to give Google even more insight to what the heck I'm doing online... :p

 
 
Hillary says...
It is always a good idea to hold off trying beta versions of anything unless you enjoy the thrill of being the product tester.

 
 
Archangel says...
Oh beta testing is fun... My laptop is like a beta machine, but it's just that the information on the net about the intrusiveness of Chrome is just a bit worrying...

 
 
ceevee369 says...
I didn't read very positive comments on Chrome - though I am a beta-tester for lot's of things , I even will not put my head up. Skipping this one.
Reason: Importing old favorites from other browsers by default is a no-go. For sure - info about your past surfing behavior WILL be posted - transmitted to Google (they do not work for free on Chrome do they..?)

 
 
isaac976 says...
still a no go for me to chrome, well at least till ppl stop talking about bugs and how stable it is, does anyone notice that their firefox 3 is gettting slower and slower? mine is like crawling just to load a page ? is it just me or a virus has crept into my HD ?

 
 
Hillary says...
Isaac, you really should try out the new Norton 2009 beta. I've been going around telling every one they must get this anti-virus software. Will tell you why in my review, coming up soon.

Ceevee, I totally get what you mean about importing the old favorites thing. Thankfully, I haven't stored anything in my favorites since I use online bookmarking tools, so what they imported were the standard ones that came with my browser anyway.

Archangel, yes, it's lots of fun but not when everything crashes XD

 
 
isaac976 says...
hi hillary, the beta testing seems to have ended, happily listening to your advice.. i went online looking for the norton 09 beta and was rerouted to the webpage and was asked to purchase rather than test it out, looks like My pc will be without a AV for some time ..

thanks for the advice.. will wait for your review to see if its worth spending a couple hundred on the norton like i used to in 04..

 
 
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About Hillary Chan


Hillary loves people and nature and enjoys blogging about using technology to better manage our planet.


She appreciates any help to write a better eco-tech blog so feel free to email her any stories and/or events related to green technology.


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