UPDATE – March 28, 2011
A new review is now available HERE. It features reviews of Firefox 4, Chrome 10 and IE 9.
June 2010 – Is Google’s Chrome the worst browser ever? It isn’t the worst ever, but it is the worst browser today. I originally took a look at Chrome on its release in 2008, and after recently reading a few glowing reviews, I decided to take another look at it. In 2008, I found the browser fast, but crashy and lacking in features. Now, in 2010, little has changed. Installation was quick and problem free. Chrome even did an excellent job importing my Links Bar from Firefox – I was impressed. It still seems to be fast at rendering pages.
Now the bad. I had heard a lot about how Chrome now has extensions ‘just like Firefox’, so I tried to find extensions similar to the six extensions that I use with Firefox, I could find only one of the six. Strike one!
Very few things in Chrome’s interface can be customized by the user. Buttons cannot be added or removed. The tab bar cannot be repositioned (even with an extension). For a tweaker like me, this Apple-like, our way or no way attitude is a major negative. Strike two!
I was unable to test on a Mac because Chrome is only available for OSX 10.5 and later. Lastly, I again found crash problems. Crashes occurred on only one of two Windows XP systems that were tested, indicating a possible software conflict on the suspect pc, but since no other applications on that pc have crash issues, that is strike three – Chrome, you’re out!
Also, Chrome has always tauted its ability to isolate a crash to the lone offending tab. I have never observed this behavior; when it chrashes, all tabs and the browser go down.
Chrome does make sense on netbooks, where its speed and light weight are big positives. However, with screen real estate scarce, Chrome’s lack of customization is even more painful. Why can’t the Download Bar be disabled?
Chrome may be a good choice if you want a no-frills browser, but I will not be using it. I still prefer Firefox for all of the customization that it offers. I even rate Internet Explorer slightly above Chrome, although I won’t be using IE either. Hopefully, my next review of Chrome will be more positive.
Download Chrome HERE
Madison, IL
No it isn’t the worst browser ever is SAFARI so far what i’ve used it lacks typically evrything plus it crashes more often than google chrome in my opinion FIREFOX IS THE BEST
Obviously Bob is an Idiot !! Safari blows the doors off Chrome and is almost as Good as Firefox, although personally I believe Opera is far away the cleanest, and the fastest WC3 net.2 compliant browser there is.
If you feel, chrome is the worst browser ever, you have no idea about internet browsers in the world.
You may be right. I gave the new 64 bit IE9 a test yesterday and it is a complete mess. It reminded me why I quit using Internet Explorer several years ago. I plan to give Chrome another look in the near future – possible a head-to-head with Firefox 4.
Now I know why this blog is called Dummr. because dumbers post in it. IE is the worst browser ever. Chrome, Firefox and others are far better, safer and faster. As a Web Designer i say IE SUCKS.
You obviously are no a web developer… IE6, 7, 8 are the worst. Chrome, FF and Operah are pretty good browsers, at least their behaviour is not random as in IE they run js pretty well. Safari uses almost the same engine as Chrome…
Chrome is the best browser, dumbass
Chrome FTW!