# Google Chrome As Default Browser VS IE 8? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183 "2009-06-27T17:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/1 "2009-06-27T17:15:25Z")
Anyone using this one? I have IE 6 installed both as 64 and 32 bit. WoW won’t play on 64. so I’d like to avoid any future hassles with a new browser. Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/2 "2009-06-27T17:56:55Z")
I use chrome at work but have to go back to ie for certain apps due to formatting issues. And I can’t seem to get the citrix client to work in it, not sure why. I generally like chrome, especially the way it shows scaled down images of recent pages when you open a new tab, it makes it quick to click on one of the common pages I go to. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/3 "2009-06-27T18:06:28Z")
I tried Chrome and it does have good points, speed being one (although Firefox 3.5beta is even faster). My main objection to it is the lack of an adblocker. (Some are saying that Google does not want adblocking capabilities in its browser, and that makes sense considering the income they get from ads.) It is possible to get round this by using something like Proxomitron but that’s a gigantic pain to set up. I’ll stick with FF and its infinite adaptability. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/4 "2009-06-27T18:06:45Z")
I use it as my default. Every once in a while it crashes and needs to be restarted which is annoying but it’s not the bloatware that IE is. I used to use Firefox and it had annoying quirks too. And I second \*\*RaftPeople’s \*\*like of the thumbnails of recent pages. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/5 "2009-06-27T19:43:03Z")
I just did a google on IE 8. Apparently it has too many bugs and the general concencus seems to be not to install it. I wrote before that I have IE6, but now I’m not sure and “properties” doesn’t tell me. How can I tell which version is instAlled? Alsol I wrote before that WoW won’t play on 64 bit. I think I meant the COMPUTER won’t operate on 64 bit IE. It’s an IBUY gaming computer runing VISTA home. 64 x2 4Gb dual core processor. Thanks for your advice! Q ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/6 "2009-06-27T19:47:39Z")
I use Chrome at home because I let the wifey use FF so I don’t have to reenter passwords and such. It doesn’t work too well with Facebook apps or GameTap, though. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/7 "2009-06-27T21:07:13Z")
I’ve just recently installed Chrome and was wondering if it has any capability of resizing pages. So far I haven’t found anything, but perhaps I’m overlooking it. HALP! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/8 "2009-06-27T21:25:25Z")
I use Chrome and it’s fine. It has trouble with Microsoft’s own pages, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/9 "2009-06-28T06:25:58Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I just did a google on IE 8. Apparently it has too many bugs and the general concencus seems to be not to install it. > > I wrote before that I have IE6, but now I’m not sure and “properties” doesn’t tell me. How can I tell which version is instAlled? Select _About_ from the _Help_ menu… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/10 "2009-06-28T06:28:09Z")
I use G Chrome at home but it majorly interferes with a lot of the server based (and admittedly older) programs I run at work so there it’s not an option. I mention because it may be a consideration for you. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/11 "2009-06-28T10:03:40Z")
I don’t use anything else, I think it’s great. > [@faithfool](#): > > I’ve just recently installed Chrome and was wondering if it has any capability of resizing pages. So far I haven’t found anything, but perhaps I’m overlooking it. HALP! Hold down ctl and use the mouse wheel. Or just use “+” and “-”. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/12 "2009-06-28T18:26:12Z")
If you’re looking for a lightweight browser that speeds along very quick, try K-Meleon. Like Firefox it uses Mozilla as it’s engine so it’s similar to FF but much quicker and I honestly have never had anything work as fast or as well. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/13 "2009-06-28T18:26:30Z")
I use Chrome to zip through some things quickly, but I have noticed some glitches: There was no audio until I downloaded Adobe Shockwave plugin. It won’t browse to my photos when I’m listing on eBay, so I have to use IE for that. It kills the pop ups on the Paypal site when I’m trying to print out packing slips and shipping labels for ebay sales. It won’t let me work on Amazon Mechanical turks. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/14 "2009-06-29T06:57:45Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > Select _About_ from the _Help_ menu… **Imasquare** , just checked back into this this thread. Thanks, I have IE7. It sounds like Chrome has a lot of compatability problems, so I’m gonna hold off for now. Thanks, Y’all! Q ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/15 "2009-06-29T08:10:04Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > It sounds like Chrome has a lot of compatability problems, so I’m gonna hold off for now. Every other browser has problems with Microsoft’s website. A browser’s just a tool. I use Chrome most of the time; I use Firefox for sites where I use Greasemonkey scripts, and I use IE on Microsoft’s websites. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/16 "2009-06-29T08:12:51Z")
I’ve used Chrome for awhile, though not as the default browers (still firefox, though I went with Opera for awhile). I like Chrome. It is fast and efficient. Just not sure I like the layout that much. I guess everything takes some getting used to though. I tried IE8 and wasn’t impressed. It is funny how I mostly use Windows but hate IE overall. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/17 "2009-06-29T18:46:35Z")
I just had to switch over to IE7 to reply here, since Chrome won’t let me log into the SDMB. I hated IE8 and couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/18 "2009-06-30T00:54:09Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I tried Chrome and it does have good points, speed being one (although Firefox 3.5beta is even faster). My main objection to it is the lack of an adblocker. (Some are saying that Google does not want adblocking capabilities in its browser, and that makes sense considering the income they get from ads.) > > It is possible to get round this by using something like Proxomitron but that’s a gigantic pain to set up. You can also block a lot of ads (in all browsers including Chrome) by downloading a HOSTS file with known adservers redirected into a non-existant address. It doesn’t make up for lack of AdblockPlus, but it’s sure better than nothing and quite easy to do. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/19 "2009-06-30T01:13:03Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > I just had to switch over to IE7 to reply here, since Chrome won’t let me log into the SDMB. > I hated IE8 and couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. Chrome lets me log in but sometimes it won’t let me post anything. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183/20 "2009-06-30T01:18:40Z")
I use Chrome but it’s far from perfect. I’ve had cookie issues (not saving/recognizing my computer so I have to re-re-re-re-re-enter my info, which gets old). It’s bookmarking isn’t as convenient as IE/FF. It doesn’t have an ad-blocker (that’s easy to install). And there are plenty of websites that I give up and bring up FF because it just doesn’t agree with Chrome (I had to do that today with [AAA.com](http://AAA.com)’s website when trying to book a rental). The worst part of Chrome is when there’s a problem with a webpage not completely loading. It’ll have half the page loaded which you can readily see, and if there’s a glitch, the whole page turns into an infuriating “Aw, Snap!” page. At least with other browsers you can see the portion that was loaded. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-as-default-browser-vs-ie-8/501183.md?page=2)