Google’s Own Browser : Chrome – First Impression

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Google released their very own open source browser today. I was eagerly waiting for it’s release like many others, because, we expect the best from Google.. right ? I  kept reloading the browser tab on Chrome’s URL, but it gave 404, not found error all the time, and finally, google reader sent me the official release post. Or if you go to google.com, you will see an announcement there too.

Installation was pretty easy. Click “Download”, Agree to TOS, and then, wait for few moments to get it installed.

So, Google Chrome is ready on my Laptop. Let us test it now. First website ? Okay, we will try, gmail.com. Was it fast enough ? YES !! Google Chrome works little faster than firefox. But that was just my first impression ok ?

Google Chrome has a lot of new features to offer. Like, the way of tab design, ( you can drag your tab away and make it a new window itself ) etc. If you need a full list of new features, go here.

Oh, I forgot to test if Google Chrome can display Malayalam correctly. So, I went to mathrubhumi.com, and try to read Malayalam. Perfect, better than firefox ? can’t say that now, but fonts look better anyways. ( Firefox used to display Malayalam fonts larger than we expect them to be. )

Next, I went to WordPress.com on Google Chrome, and what did I see ? Arvind’s post on the Homepage !! Now, that’s a good sign. Isn’t it ?

If you are so used to firefox, you will feel like “something is missing” hmm that’s what I felt anyway, because, there is lot of free space available all over. ( hmm what ?? ). I looked for an option to put some “addons” or “plugins”, but couldn’t find any there.

Now what ? hmm let us try importing everything from firefox, – history, bookmarks, etc etc … wait, etc etc can not be imported !! ok fine, leave them, what about history and bookmarks ? “Hey, close your firefox so that we can import it” Then I said, wait, we will do it later then. ( Is Google Chrome trying to really “close” firefox ??? hi hi, wait, just wait babeeee lets see what happens.

Trying to compose a mail from gmail, using Chrome, spell check works fine, ( good good ). Then I tried to move tabs here and there, I mean change the order of tabs, guys, that looks really cute. Shortcut keys work same as that of Firefox, I mean, ctrl + T, Ctrl + T etc. But when you login somewhere, “Remember Password” is option is available, but “Not Now” is missing ( understand ? ) Status bar popups up ( half the size ) only when something is actually happening , like loading, downloading , etc. 

So, now I am going to save this as a draft here, and close firefox, and login from Chrome again, and this post will be the first blog post here, on my blog to be published from Google New Browser, Chrome.

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45 comments ↓

#1
Brian O'Flynn on 09.03.08 at 1:40 am

My first impressions are that of a very minimalist GUI. I have created a Google Chrome Users Group in LinkedIn and would like people to join it and share their impressions.

#2
dinu on 09.03.08 at 1:41 am

@ Brian O’Flynn

Thanks for your comment… that was pretty fast :)
Yes, Minimalist UI :) first impression.. but I was not so impressed with that LOL

#3
Alan on 09.03.08 at 2:10 am

Fast
Minimal
Works
Looking Good Google Baby

#4
Philip on 09.03.08 at 6:56 am

Java doesnt work. It means i have problems with my internet banking. It looks a bit slow now on my PC. Malayalam and hindi fonts are ok. But telugu doesnt seem to be working well. I still see garbage.

Anyway, hope google will fix all the issues soon. Another nail in the coffin of Internet Explorer ;)

#5
dinu on 09.03.08 at 7:50 am

@ Alan

thanks for the feedback :)

@ Philip

I was able to login to my bank account and do some stuff … language things.. they will get it fixed, telugu right, and Google has an office in Hyd, so things will be much easier.

RIP IE

#6
Rekha on 09.03.08 at 8:57 am

I was eagerly waiting for the release of ur impression of Google chrome!!! :D

n congrats to ARvind !!! :)

#7
dinu on 09.03.08 at 9:01 am

@ Rekha

Akkiyathanalle ?

#8
Rekha on 09.03.08 at 9:06 am

:P

i really wanted to know abt this when i read this in newspaper! just 15 mins b4..n when i saw ur post i was really happy!! :)

n abt chrome …The most visited the thing is really cool ..bt it will get me into trouble when my parents see ma most visited sites!! n a lot of empty space !
Simple look Rules!

Rekha now reporting from Google chrome!! :) hihihi

#9
dinu on 09.03.08 at 9:39 am

@ Rekha

hmm cool ;)
but, when I close multiple tabs, it’s not asking for confirmation :(

#10
Poonam on 09.03.08 at 9:56 am

I actually came here hoping to find review of google browser Chrome. And have you checked out new search engine cuil, released by ex-google employee?

#11
dinu on 09.03.08 at 10:05 am

@ Poonam

hmm it is not a review yet, and I am not so good in reviewing browsers etc, just that I can compare it with few other browsers.

I dint like cuil :(

#12
vishesh on 09.03.08 at 10:13 am

i am going to stick with firefox…have this fully personalized…did try opera for a while,but it lacked the personal touch….:) well this is a new one,so will w8 for a while :P

#13
dinu on 09.03.08 at 10:19 am

@ vishesh

good good, chrome is not yet a reason to leave firefox ;) so, wait until it gets addons and more features. However, you can import all your history, passwords, bookmarks etc from firefox and IE

#14
renil on 09.03.08 at 1:10 pm

it doesnt work for manoramaonline.com ;) even changed the utf settings

#15
dinu on 09.03.08 at 1:11 pm

@ renil

manoramaonline.com sucks :P forget it .. check for utf font sites like mathrubhumi.com

#16
Hasit on 09.03.08 at 4:23 pm

i downloaded it and first it was slow but now it works properly. i have all (popular) browsers posible on my PC. i love downloading software. crome adds to my collection. but still, Firefox remains my fav.

#17
dinu on 09.03.08 at 4:26 pm

@ Hasit

so, how many browsers do you have ? why don’t you write a post on that ;) idea idea ..

#18
JoE on 09.03.08 at 4:31 pm

There is a pblm for malayalam fonts when i tried Manorama online and also 4 the youtube videos.

#19
JoE on 09.03.08 at 4:32 pm

Design and features are gud but sometimes it is taking much time to load site like bbc.com

#20
dinu on 09.03.08 at 4:37 pm

@ Joe

hmm Manoramaonline.com never worked for me on firefox or IE, and I never bothered about it .. may be these guys left out support for accii ?

#21
Vaibhav on 09.03.08 at 5:13 pm

i think this will eat more into Firefox than IE. Anyway, I like it, and am considering giving up Firefox as soon as some kinks are worked out. Here’s my impression: http://blog.gadodia.net/google-chrome-vs-mozilla-firefox/

#22
dinu on 09.03.08 at 5:16 pm

@ Vaibhav

Yea, if FF is not fighting back, Chrome will take over :)

#23
Chirag Chamoli on 09.03.08 at 7:54 pm

Tried it not bad, but for the love of FF, I went back. Nice attempt at a browser though.

#24
dinu on 09.03.08 at 7:57 pm

@ Chirag Chamoli

Thanks for your comment :)

Yes, I am still using firefox, but I am curious about what Google can do :)

#25
arvind on 09.03.08 at 8:17 pm

wow.. thats a news to me .. :)
i will subscribe to google blog first :(
already started downloading the chrome..u know what i am really excited to use a new browser :D
thanks for linking my post dude.. :D
thanks for sharing the news too

#26
dinu on 09.03.08 at 8:22 pm

@ Arvind

Hi hi, glad to know that it was helpful :) be sure to post your experience here or as a post on your blog :)

#27
Kavi on 09.03.08 at 10:13 pm

Am just trying it ! Thanks for writing about it..

#28
dinu on 09.03.08 at 10:17 pm

@ Kavi

Good Good :) be sure to write about your experience :)

#29
xylene on 09.04.08 at 9:15 pm

cool…. I need to test it…
I liked your blog footer !!! its much better than the header.

#30
dinu on 09.04.08 at 9:21 pm

@ Xylene

:) Do want me to swap it ?

#31
Hasit on 09.05.08 at 8:08 pm

i just realised u had such a cool footer. thnkx xylene. i am not one hose technical guys. i cant write reviews on software. websites is yet ok.

#32
Jamsheer on 09.07.08 at 3:59 pm

Why manoramaonline is not working??

#33
dinu on 09.08.08 at 10:27 am

@ Hasit

thanks :) I got it from another theme that I had tried :D

@ Jamsheer

I wrote another post on this.. :) hope u got it …

#34
sstephen on 09.10.08 at 9:14 pm

Here is the help for working manoramaonline and deepika in chrome . Download the specified fonts into c:\windows\fonts
and restart your chrome.

http://www.justascrap.com/2008/09/08/making-malayalam-news-websites-work-in-google-chrome/

#35
dinu on 09.10.08 at 9:45 pm

@ sstephen

thanks for sharing the link

#36
rishabh on 09.11.08 at 9:54 pm

it is a very poor software. i am hardly able to understand the fonts.

#37
Google Chrome Wordpress Theme | Blog of Small Things on 09.27.08 at 11:20 pm

[...] not a wrong title. We actually have a theme which looks like Google’s Baby Browser, Chrome. ( Why is it called Google’s Baby Browser ? [...]

#38
Anish K.S on 10.11.08 at 11:19 am

But i miss my Favorite Google toolbar in Chrome.

#39
dinu on 10.11.08 at 11:27 am

@ Anish K.S

hopefully, we will get it with the next update

#40
Anish K.S on 10.11.08 at 11:29 am

@ Dinu what a Quick response :) ,

I am Waiting for next update ………

#41
No Limit Texas Hold Em Poker on 10.11.08 at 12:45 pm

I like Google Chrome, I am just waiting for the ability to add add-ons to it. I feel Chrome it is lacking a little bit in that area. I really like the fact that each tab is its own platform so you wont crash everything you are working on from the account of one site.

#42
Google Chrome Theme for Firefox | Blog of Small Things on 10.23.08 at 11:47 pm

[...] Chrome, was love at first sight. Many people fell in love with her, and wanted to make her their primary girl friend ( yea, with [...]

#43
jithu on 10.31.08 at 11:53 pm

i like chrome at the first site .
it is faster the firefox i think…..
simple look…
easy to use……….
good look 4 all the sites….

#44
ash on 04.15.09 at 9:12 pm

really its superb using google chrome.. very fast n easy to add all the needed sites.. but i found a problem in reading malayalam ..what should i do for this.. should i go for any softwares to download for reading malayalam fonts

#45
dinu on 04.15.09 at 10:24 pm

I sent you an email with all the info !! thanks for visiting

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