It’s about time Google entered the market with a browser. Microsoft needs some good competition, and while Mozilla is giving them a run for their money, the more the merrier. Much of Internet Explorer’s features are taken from other applications, which for the most part is fine. Good products should be imitated. This is how progress works. When one sole product dominates, the advancements are slow if at all. When Firefox released I jumped aboard. It being backed by Mozilla was a big plus. Tabbed browsing was great. This sat very well with Firefox users and Microsoft made sure to include it with their next Internet Explorer release. Thanks to competition this feature finally arose. Now imagine three large players in the game. I will not say it is new with Chrome, but it is the first time I’ve seen a feature such as Incognito Mode. Opening a new window that does not save any history when the window is closed is a great feature. Also, being able to search, go to an address, and view your history from one box is very welcome with me.

First off, Google Chrome oozes simplicity. This I like. The options, while minimal, are very close at hand. And the default page containing most often viewed pages is ingenious; much better than blank white. Ironically, while I like simple, the biggest complaint I have is lack of plugin support. There are certain things I want to control in a browser and that is how I feel it should be accomplished. Tons of features should not be included out of the box, unless they are disabled or have an option to not install. Firefox has become bloated recently and this would be a wonderful solution: Deliver the minimum needed to browse the web and let the user add on what he or she desires via first or third-party plugins.

Now let us talk about speed. Google Chrome seems to be at par with or perhaps a sliver quicker than Firefox. There are a few pages that have crashed Firefox for me that Chrome has successfully loaded. Oddly enough the problems I have most with Chrome are from certain applets in some pages. Chrome is using a new Java engine and should run them quicker, but crashes still ensue. And honestly, it’s probably just my PC is too outdated to handle what the web is throwing at it.

Security, Security, Security. This is what I want them to stay focused with. I am to the point I remove all references to Internet Explorer and attempt to enforce my family not use the garbage. First off, I hate writing CSS that renders wonderfully in every browser just to have to create “hacks” to make it look somewhat similar in Internet Explorer. And just browsing the web period makes me want to have a box set up with Linux in which to use for financial transactions. I am literally to the point I have to run my anti-spyware, anti-virus, anti-malware, etc routine before I make any transactions over the web. Than again, I’m a very paranoid person if you’ve ever met me. Do you not find it amazing that the same web page will install an active-x application on your machine without you ever knowing using Internet Explorer but Firefox blocks them. I’ve reduced infections by 99% (not a statistically accurate number) by just switching to Firefox. Given Google’s track record about it’s users privacy I am safe to presume security is their number one concern.

Google Chrome definitely came as a surprise, yet I should have expected it. Thus far it is a good browser with much potential. In future releases I hope it keeps its simplistic and straightforward design. With that said, I welcome Google Chrome to the game.