I tried Google’s new browser, ‘Chrome’, a few week ago.
It seemed to be very fast and has some interesting features.

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I normally use a Linux system: as of today Chrome is not available for Linux, but it will be some time soon. I tried it on a Windows machine just because I’m curious.
What is the Chrome Browser?
I won’t use much space here for a full description of Chrome and what it is aiming to do.
You can read all about that at Google, in comic book format
That’s a detailed description, 38 pages.
The short version: main points:
These days web users access a lot of web applications rather than static web pages, so it would be good to have a browser optimized for that kind of usage.
Some of the things Chrome developers want to achieve:
Better, faster rendering
Better memory use
Better javascript engine
Better auto-complete
Better management of pop-up pages
(Pop-up pages will be confined to the tab they originated from.)
Inbuilt protecton from malware and phishing
Processes run with restricted rights - they cannot just read and write anywhere on your hard drive. Also Chrome will know a blacklist of bad websites so it can warn about potential threats.
An ‘incognito’ mode.
In this mode Chrome does not record any of your browsing history or keep the cookies
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I see on the internet that people have a lot of questions and opinions about Chrome and what Google is doing.
For example:
What exactly is Google planning by way of a business strategy, and future applications?
Why do they really want to develop a browser?
Should Google even be getting into browsers?
How much control of the web does Google want?
Will there be another browser war?
Well, I can’t answer those questions.
What I have here are some notes and impressions about what it was like for an ordinary user to download, install, and give Chrome a quick trial.
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Downloading and Installing Chrome
First, just a niggle: I didn’t like the look of the terms and conditions: there was something about keeping Google up-to-date with my personal details. But it’s not really any different from many other license agreements.
But there is something that this should remind us about: using the internet is increasingly a matter of connecting with other people. The biggest money and traffic on the web is at the social sites - the social web. This means places like Yahoo Groups, Gmail, FaceBook and so on. Places where people can become known, share their thoughts, preferences, bookmarks, pictures, news. If, like me, you are concerned about privacy and security on the web, then let’s face it - we belong to a different age. Privacy is not the default setting any more.
Also in the Google terms and conditions there was a suggestion that I might want to print the terms for later reference. Does anybody actually do that?
When I continued to download and install Chrome it did not ask for my details anyway. I suppose that would come if or when I actually want to “access services” that they mentioned.
The installer offered to import bookmarks, passwords (!!) and other settings from Firefox.
No Thanks.
I do not like keeping passwords in any browser’s password utility.
Here’s why: Page about password security at ComputerSecure.net.
So, in summary:
Installation: Fast and easy. Pretty much a one-click download, one-click installation.
Start-up of Chrome browser: Fast.
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Configuration Options
Let’s check the options.

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Options in the ‘Under the Hood’ department.
- A place for a proxy setting.
- Option for DNS pre-fetching for fast browsing.
- Phishing and Malware protection.
- SSL settings.
- Cookie Settings.
- Something about “Gears”.
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