Google released the beta of their browser not too much time ago, although it doesn't have a native Linux client, there is a package provided by Codewears titled Chromium and it runs under Linux and Mac and runs very alike Windows version. However, it uses a javascript engine named V8 and runs a new process for each tab so it tends to be faster and gains performance without any problem when you close a tab.

What you think of it? :O

I tried out the Codeweaver's version... Not bad - but I prefer a browser that grafically fits into the rest of my desktop.
From the marketing point of view I think Chrome is very important. Google has completely other possibilities than mozilla. And distributed on the start page of google.* even as a beta version it gained quite a good spreading after this short time.
So I see that perhaps it could help the web to more of a healthy competition between the browser producers. More standard compatibility, some development of new features (HTML 5?, JavaScript2? CSS3?) - in ALL browsers...

We'll see what time an chrome v1 brings... ,-)

I see it similair as michel4910. One of Chrome 's tasks is surely to show a way how web browsers (and javascript, html, css) shall develop as well as setting mozilla and likes under pressure. This would more than support google to spread and evolve they're web apps (esp. google docs), but of course creating or exhausting sources of income. It's strategic for google.

Personally, i won't use it since i do not want to let google collect my data
(they shall ask Schäuble for it *mumble*)

I'm currently using Firefox 3.1 beta and man, this **** is fast after you enable the new javascript engine. Whether or not Chrome takes a permanent share of the market or not, it is a good time to be an internet user. Competition ftw.

First, I don't think that Chrome will change the world, as any app can't change anything by itself.
Just remember Safari, and all the noise it produced when it become available on Win platform.... just noise....

Second, there are so many cohoices, so many different browsers these days(especialy FLOSS ones) that I don't think any browser ever again needs to be called "a must have"...

Take a look at QtWebKit: It already produced several new browsers (I personaly like and use Arora). No, of course, the cannot be compared to Konq or FF at this stage, but the important thing is that the selection is getting bigger.... And when u have so many options it's always a good thing

So, no, I don't think that Google Chrome is the next best thing since the invention of the wheel....

well, I can't agree, Githzerai: there is a difference between Apple, Mozilla and all the others on one hand and a browser made by google on the other hand: People do know Google - they work with Google - be it Google Mail or the search engine. I know people who don't even know that their browser somehow lost its address bar, because google.* is their one and only entry to the web!
If this company decides to promote its own browser it will definitely be more effective than apple's attempt to spread safari, because the "normal" windows user has never heard anything about safari and seldomly heard about a mac.

That's how I see the situation - any arguments against it?

michael4910 wrote:That's how I see the situation - any arguments against it?

Yes, I can't argue on monopoly Google has, but there is a big difference between a search engine and a browser.

1. Monopoly doesn't automaticaly mean success - like M$ and Vista...

2. No company can reinvent the use of Internet by itself - Web is such a changing ground that no single company can keep up with all of it's aspects. Google Chrome does perfect (and very much promote, which is what I think is it's purpose) the use of Google services, but hey : Google services aren't everything.....

3. Personalisation is one of the most important aspects of software industry these days - Browser doesn't define Web, quite opposite , it's the Web that defines the look and feel of modern browsers. And ability to customise and adapt browser to one's needs is not such an easy thing to achieve. The fact that we have so many browsers available speaks for itself....

Yes, one must admit that Google Chrome has a good idea or two, but that also doesn't automaticaly mean that Chrome will now be a browser god, it's more like that other browsers will came up with similar if not the same ideas....

What i read about Chrome was very nice but since it is spying you so hard i wont use it

Well, Google Chrome itself will don't do nothing but Opera, Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla, and of course KDE people will have a source to get more ideas and of course, competition that at the end benefit the users.

Githzerai, you're right* - but you forget one thing: there are still between 50 and 80 percent internet explorer user - people that Mozilla or other producers of all those fantastic browsers couldn't reach. And with this point google has a good chance to get perhaps 10% or 20% market share. Then we would finally have a healthy browser market without monopolists.. For the first time in the history of the web?
We will see what future brings. But the market definitely needs a third big browser, be it Safari, Opera, Konqueror or Chrome...

By the way: I, too, won't leave my firefox/Konqueror to switch to Chrome...

* regarding M$: What can be more success than publishing real **** that no one wants (Vista) and still being the world market leader with a product that they coded ten years ago?

I know also a lot of older people that use the google page to surf the net, they never touch the adresbar. For them it could be a good browser because they get live search results to pick from.


On my windows its pretty fast and it replaced firefox, but dunno if it will replace konqi/opera maybe if it uses QT. Testing the QT firefox but i hate the different file dialogs i rather use a bad konqi because of those file dialogs.

Githzerai wrote:First, I don't think that Chrome will change the world, as any app can't change anything by itself.
Just remember Safari, and all the noise it produced when it become available on Win platform.... just noise....

Second, there are so many cohoices, so many different browsers these days(especialy FLOSS ones) that I don't think any browser ever again needs to be called "a must have"...

Take a look at QtWebKit: It already produced several new browsers (I personaly like and use Arora). No, of course, the cannot be compared to Konq or FF at this stage, but the important thing is that the selection is getting bigger.... And when u have so many options it's always a good thing

So, no, I don't think that Google Chrome is the next best thing since the invention of the wheel....

+1

If i had a choice between firefox and chrome, i would pick chrome. Chrome through wine loads faster than native linux firefox ( although no Gtk app was open at the time.... but neither was a wine one ) however i choose it purely because it loads faster than firefox, which takes at least 20 seconds. Konqueror still beats them all though.

Dryfit wrote:On my windows its pretty fast and it replaced firefox, but dunno if it will replace konqi/opera maybe if it uses QT. Testing the QT firefox but i hate the different file dialogs i rather use a bad konqi because of those file dialogs.

I remember reading about Qt-Firefox on Vladimir Vukićević's blog some time ago, but I never actually tried it. How is it? Does it have all the functionality of the GTK+ Firefox? How actively is it being developed?

Dryfit wrote:I know also a lot of older people that use the google page to surf the net, they never touch the adresbar. For them it could be a good browser because they get live search results to pick from.


On my windows its pretty fast and it replaced firefox, but dunno if it will replace konqi/opera maybe if it uses QT. Testing the QT firefox but i hate the different file dialogs i rather use a bad konqi because of those file dialogs.

I think a lot of people can say that... Heck, I'm guilty of it from time to time myself I've used it on Windows and I absolutely love it. But, like most things, I'm gonna wait until it hits final until I use it full time.

Anyway, yeah, I'm with ya man, I'd love to see Chrome on Linux soon. And I'm sure it'll use Qt (it better! :P)

Alec wrote:I remember reading about Qt-Firefox on Vladimir Vukićević's blog some time ago, but I never actually tried it. How is it? Does it have all the functionality of the GTK+ Firefox? How actively is it being developed?

Yeah, what's going on with that anyway I wonder? We need some updates! His blog says nothing new - http://blog.vlad1.com/