# Google Chrome: new open source web browser from Google **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720 "2008-09-02T18:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/1 "2008-09-02T18:13:49Z")
At some point today, Google will be releasing a beta of their new browser, Chrome. It’s open source and based on [WebKit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebKit), the rendering engine from Safari. There’s a [comic](http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html) that explains how the browser is designed and why it’s different from other browsers on the market (although you really need to be pretty computer literate to understand all the details). Based on that comic, I’m very interested, and will be checking this out after it’s officially released. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/2 "2008-09-02T18:16:22Z")
Yeah, I’ll certainly check it out too. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/3 "2008-09-02T18:22:20Z")
Is there supposed to be more than one page to the explanatory comic? When I click on the ‘next’ and ‘previous’ links, it just takes me to the top of the same page. Seems rather incomplete as a single page. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/4 "2008-09-02T18:27:09Z")
> [@3acresandatruck](#): > > Is there supposed to be more than one page to the explanatory comic? When I click on the ‘next’ and ‘previous’ links, it just takes me to the top of the same page. Seems rather incomplete as a single page. It’s loading the next page into the current window. It’s a bit slow, which is unfortunate. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/5 "2008-09-02T18:31:21Z")
There’s supposed to be a bunch of pages, I lost interest after the first 3 or 4. :rolleyes: But I will try the browser. Here are some (fuzzy) screenshots: [First Images of Google Chrome | TechCrunch](http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/01/first-public-screen-captures-of-google-chrome/) Looks nice and clean, and if the multi-threading works well, it might perform very well. I like Firefox 3.0, but it seems to be getting a little bloated. As far as the market for Chrome, I don’t see why anyone dead set on still using IE would try Chrome, and IE still has ~80% of the browser market. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/6 "2008-09-02T18:34:15Z")
I just looked through it, and the drawing style seemed familiar… at the end, my feeling was conformed. They got _Scott McCloud_ to do the comic! ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/7 "2008-09-02T18:38:20Z")
[QUOTE=ultrafilter] It’s loading the next page into the current window. It’s a bit slow, which is unfortunate. [/QUOTE] Thanks, I’ll give it another shot. Having dial-up service probably doesn’t help matters either. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/8 "2008-09-02T18:51:51Z")
The comic reminds me of a Chick tract, but for geeks. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/9 "2008-09-02T18:52:08Z")
From ComputerWorld: [Google’s Chrome aims to kill Windows, make Web the OS of choice](http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9114004&intsrc=news_ts_head) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/10 "2008-09-02T18:57:24Z")
Interesting: “Expect to see millions of Web devices, even desktop Web devices, in the coming years that completely strip out the Windows layer and use the browser as the only operating system the user needs.” As long as Chrome is stable and secure, I could see this happening. Google has already had success getting their toolbar pre-installed on new computers, maybe they could get Chrome there too. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/11 "2008-09-02T19:03:28Z")
It’s now available!: [Google Chrome - The Fast & Secure Web Browser Built to be Yours](http://www.google.com/chrome) It appears to be a 475K installer that handles the download for you. Don’t like it when they do that, I want something I can save. I guess it’s more flexible that way though. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/12 "2008-09-02T19:18:16Z")
Just downloaded it and am currently posting from it. This is a great day. New board, new browser, what more can a geek want? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/13 "2008-09-02T19:20:07Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Just downloaded it and am currently posting from it. This is a great day. New board, new browser, what more can a geek want? I’m posting from it as well. Seems a lot like Firefox without a “File, Edit, etc” menu bar at the top. Also takes up to 40% CPU just sitting idle with 3 non-intensive pages loaded. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/14 "2008-09-02T19:25:47Z")
I read their little cartoon (ok, it was a BIG cartoon…) and I’ll have to check it out. I’m not usually too keen to switch browsers around - took me forever to get Firefox and I’ve never fancied Opera - but I like their philosophy. I really want a simple, slim browser that works. We’ll see! ---
**Author:** ![Marjorie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@Marjorie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marjorie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/15 "2008-09-02T19:26:35Z")
Me three. So far it’s ok. Downloaded my Docs and now have offline access, which is cool. ETA: The mouseover preview on the board is HUGE! ---
**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:** [September 2, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/16 "2008-09-02T19:27:28Z")
I’m trying it now. It didn’t install correctly: firstly it installed in my profile, rather than the Program Files (x86) directory; secondly, it hung when importing my Netscape info. I’m going to try uninstalling it and reinstalling it. It would appear that the Acid Test pages are down, so I can’t verify Chrome’s standards compliance. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/17 "2008-09-02T19:27:34Z")
I wonder whether it works on Mac OS… ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/18 "2008-09-02T19:29:42Z")
Yeah, mine installed in Documents and Settings instead of Program Files. Shouldn’t…documents and settings…go in the Documents and Settings directory? It hung on the import Mozilla bookmarks for me, but once Chrome is running there’s still an import option. You have to have the browser closed before its bookmarks can be imported. ---
**Author:** ![bafaa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@bafaa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bafaa)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/19 "2008-09-02T19:30:54Z")
Wow! I was using Maxthon instead of Firefox or IE and Chrome is so much faster than any browser I’ve used. I use [my.yahoo.com](http://my.yahoo.com) as my home page and frankly it’s been getting on my nerves because it loads slowly. With Chrome it loaded in like 2 seconds! CPU usage is very low on my laptop (so far). This is my work laptop which is already much faster than my home pc. I can’t wait to try it out there to see if I get similar results. I do notice that I have 3 instances of Chrome running which I assume corresponds to the 3 tabs I have open but the CPU usage is like 1-2 for each. So 5 minutes into using Chrome I already love it. Hope it stays that way. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720/20 "2008-09-02T19:37:29Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > Just downloaded it and am currently posting from it. This is a great day. New board, new browser, what more can a geek want? Same here. So far so good! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-new-open-source-web-browser-from-google/461720.md?page=2)