Will Google Chrome signal the end of Firefox’s “geek” domination? That is, will Chrome one day replace Firefox as the computer savvy user’s browser of choice? Maybe, friends. Maybe. Reasons? Chrome is faster, it’s newer (who doesn’t love a shiny, new toy?) and it’s architecturally better—a YouTube tab crash doesn’t bring down the entire browser.
Such is the thesis put forward by author Keir Thomas. Thomas, whose books include Ubunutu Pocket Guide and Reference, seems to think that Firefox has “lost the plot,” and that Mozilla’s focus on whiz-bang features at the expense of core competency have greatly hurt the browser’s reputation. At the same time, Chrome has made headway with the same power users who originally made Firefox popular all those years ago. (Anyone else remember using Firefox when it was called Phoenix? Those were the days, I tell ya!) And if enough of these users go full-Chrome, to paraphrase the movie Tropic Thunder, Firefox would have lost its most ardent supporters.
But the extensions! Yes, we know. Many Firefox users cling to the browser because of this or that extension, and if Chrome can’t replicate Extension_Function, then they won’t be switching. Fair enough, sirs, that’s your prerogative, but are there enough of you guys to prevent non-extension users from switching? I, for one, have regularly used a grand total of one extension, and that was Gina Trapani’s Better Gmail. But considering I use Mail.app most of the time, it won’t really be missed. Besides, WebKit is my browser of choice nowadays; I’m extension-free, and loving it.
I don’t know, just something to think about. Should Chrome mature into a proper browser, and Firefox continue to flounder (if that’s even the right word to use), we may well be seeing more and more “power users” switch over, who will then tell their less savvy friends, who will then tell their friends, etc.
I’m very happy with Safari 4.
geek power!
in other news, some people claimed that firefox is close to 50% market share WTF??? http://technocitizen.tumblr.com/post/88391663/firefox-inches-towards-50-not-exactly
I tried Chrome and loved it but there is no form filler outer and roboform doesn’t work on it. Just roboform would be what it would take.
This whole premise is wrong- like Macs, Firefox is NOT for geeks- just the bloody opposite! This superbly designed browser is FOR THE REST OF US, like me! It’s elegant, intuitive, secure, safe- you don’t have to be a code-typer to get all of the advantages. Just like with my Mac. I believed the lie for years that it was for “geeks”; my beautiful computer is for outsiders as well as geniuses, dilettantes as well as denizens. Together, they make my life so much easier, and pleasant. I will never abandon either of them, because they WORK.
I use linux. A browser without linux version is no-browser. Bye Chrome.
I do believe that chrome is based on a linux only browser.
“I do believe that chrome is based on a linux only browser.
” Which makes it doubly-infuriating for us non-leet Linuxen. Plus, does Chrome have any adblocking ability? And given that the new evil kid on the block (Google) is an advertising company above all else, will adblocking ever be allowed?
/Opera user, btw.
Chrome sucks. Firefox is the best browser ever. Then comes IE8, Safari 4 and Opera . Chrome is the worst browser ever, even worse than IE6.
I love my Chrome. I have to occasionally use Firefox. Chrome is so much better looking with its clean layout. The major reason I have chosen Chrome over Firefox is the movable tab feature. When you grab a tab in Chrome and move it, it becomes its own individual window. Rather than being stuck like Firefox. This is huge for me since I use dual monitors.
And honestly Flash crashes my Chrome browser a lot!
you can detach tabs to seperate windows.
The ability to have such a wide variety of extensions is just amazing and will keep me on FF for quite a while. Its one of the reasons why WoW is so successful, users simply know where the convenience and usabilty is at and develop their own. There is more creativity. If Chrome wants to make it, it will have to have addon features.
Duplicate Tab 1.0.2
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/28
Chrome is fast but it lacks extensibility. Many users are willing to compromise a few milliseconds in page loads in return for a browser that acts as a one-stop-shop application as Firefox does through its extensive library of extensions. And in fairness, Chrome 2 beta really should be compared to Firefox 4 rather than 3 because FF4 is supposed to contain Prism and Weave. These integrated projects are designed to give users the speed and extensibility.
Besides, there are lots of users out there that become more and more concerned about using Google products out of fear of ‘Big Brother’ or a second-coming of Microsoft.
For me, I’ll stick with Flock which uses the FF3 engine. It serves me in ways that few browsers can.
For me its not about the speed, its about the simplicity.
Google Chrome has the smallest visual footprint of all the major browsers.
I’ve already made the switch to Chrome. I used FF for a long time and many extensions. Being free of the extensions and using bookmarklets allows me to cloud compute more efficiently from any computer and any browser. I’m still waiting on the Linux version though. :[
I’m sticking with Firefox until they get the extension thing going. I can’t even begin to imagine developing web applications without the Web Developer Toolbar; I’d end up crying.
I’m an avid user of both, mostly for the reason that Chrome doesn’t have add-ons. I have about…16? add ons at the moment, and yes I use all of them. But I’ve found that it comes to just basic browsing or a quick internet session, Chrome is the winner. However if I’m sitting in front of my computer for awhile I got FF. Sure Chrome doesn’t crash (it FINALLY crashed yesterday after two months of steady use) but I rely on better gmail, fire.fm (need my music) Stumble Upon, Twitterfox, etc. Once Chrome gets add on support, I’ll make the switch. The layout is a lot cleaner and I have more browser space since the address bar isn’t nearly as huge as in FF. Plus, look at the incognito window ^^.
I’ve been an avid Firefox user for longer than I can remember. I love the browser and I love extensions (especially for web development). I recently tried out Safari 4 BETA and fell in love. I’ve always rather disliked Safari but I love this new version. After I switched one of my biggest gripes was that I didn’t have the same functionality due to not having my precious extensions. After a few weeks, I barely even miss Firefox and have learned to get along wihtout many of the plugins I used due to Safari’s superior built-in debugging tools. I only miss tagging my bookmarks and am still searching for a solution. Chrome has been blatantly ignoring the MAC crowd and I probably won’t even switch when an OS X version comes out.
Hey T Ready I agree with you on the RoboForm comment! I actually love the RoboForm software myself. I use it all of the time and it takes all of the menial everyday tasks that I have to perform on my computer daily and shortens them extremely! What once took me fifteen minutes to complete now takes me only one second because RoboForm does the same task with just one click. In fact I wrote a Report about a lot of RoboForm’s capabilities for use that aren’t even touched on in the User’s Manual for RoboForm. You can get that Report here:
http://www.theroboformreport.com/indexb.html
There is also a FREE version of RoboForm that you can download on this web page, just to test the RoboForm software out for yourself! I highly recommend it!
Most real power users have lots of extensions installed, and until Chrome can mimic the same extensibility that power users have come to enjoy on Firefox, they won’t even consider switching.
Also real power users are using multiple platforms, sometimes mac, linux and windows for different purposes. And until now Chrome still windows-centric.
Chrome has just a few points of market share, several months after its launch, and it still a large unproven bet from Google. Hopefully it’ll have a better future than Lively, Dodgeball and others, but there’s no reason to think it’ll succeed other than the author’s cheerfully wishes.
used to use firefox. but the lagginess and the slow boot up and everything just make me detest it
totally happy with chrome now.
I’ve made the swtich to Chrome myself and love it. However, it still has some catching up to do wit hthe masses according to this site:
http://www.statowl.com/web_browser_market_share_trend.php
Chrome still doesn’t exist for Mac. I’ve been waiting and waiting. How can you make such a declaration about Chrome when it still doesn’t support Mac?
@Jarret – you´r so right!!
“I’m sticking with Firefox until they get the extension thing going. I can’t even begin to imagine developing web applications without the Web Developer Toolbar; I’d end up crying.”
i use 11 extensions.
chrome isn’t enough better for me to switch.
Believe it or not IE8 is really good. I might switch after i play with it more.
You only use “one” extension regularly? Astonishing. That’s like having a car and taking the bus; sure, a matter of personal choice, but what potential are you happily sacrificing and for what reason? If that works for someone, then great – but actually you put your finger on the point; extensions are *why* people use FF, not just a bonus for having made an election of choice… No other browser will dominate the market until extensions are ubiquitous and cross-platform. Because people like their coffee differently. :)
how about the idea that Chrome is another tool created by Google…..to gather info about your browsing and deliver tailored ads? I like firefox for now…
Couldn’t have said it any better db. Clearly the author isn’t the “power user” he talks about. The people who use Firefox for what it is will stay, the simpletons and less savvy will jump on the Fisher Price-esque Chrome bandwagon.
Oooo. That’s a bit ‘harsh’ :):):)
db
Well, what the hell? Firstly, FF3 started giving me grief by not allowing link or button clicks until I refreshed it in the taskbar, it’s slow as hell even with only one tab open – then I try Chrome, and the Tools or Customize buttons don’t work! WTF!!! I’m going back to FF, at least it does what I want…maybe a reinstall will fix the clicky issue 8(