Google Chrome

Google Chrome

I’ll go ahead and state it right off the bat: Google Chrome is manna from heaven. It is probably the fastest application on Windows. I’ll go even further ahead and say it’s faster than NotePad (if that’s ever possible)!

Learn more about Chrome after the jump!

I installed version 1 of Chrome a few months back. It was fast but painfully incompatible with many websites. It crashed on numerous occasions which only left a bad taste in my mouth. I ended up uninstalling Chrome and started using Opera, which is only second to Chrome in terms of swiftness.

Just recently, Google released version 2 of Chrome and YES! It has improved phenomenally. It’s 30% faster in loading JavaScript and far more compatible. However, I still face some hiccups from time to time esp. on facebook’s Chat system but that comes along with up and coming software, so I forgive it.

The one thing that shoots Chrome to stardom is the fact that it is extremely fast at everything it does.

Undeniably, there is a striking similarity.

There is a striking similarity...

PROS

  • It’s starts-up faster than any application I’ve seen
  • Faster loading of heavy websites with WebKit layout engine
  • Tabs situated at the absolute top, no menu system for File, Edit, View (Instead, it’s all compiled into one button) help increase real-screen estate
  • Home Page is actually helpful i.e. it shows your most visited pages, your bookmarks and recently closed tabs
  • Clean interface
  • Separate process for each tab for added stability
  • Add-ons and plug-ins community that is slowly but surely building up.
  • Search engine can be used right from the address bar.
  • Did I mention it’s fast?

You just got served.

You just got served.

CONS

Undeniably though, Google Chrome still faces growing pains.

  • Still incompatible with some sites (read: Yahoo!)
  • Randomly heavily reads the hard disk for no apparent reason (this issue is especially prevalent on XP SP3). This can be prevented by turning off “Malware and Phishing protection” from Options>Under the hood.
  • Add-Ons community needs to grow
  • Chrome’s User-End Agreement gives Google to ability to read whatever you’ve been doing on the internet. This gives them unrestricted access which is never a good thing.

It’s a restricted recommendation. *Thumbs up at 45degree angle*. Check it out here. Alternatively, read this post for even more detailed info related to Chrome 1.

Liked it? Loathed it? Let me know and feel free to add or subtract anything from the Pros and Cons section.

Chrome’d,

Awais