Google on Chrome for Mac: “Please don’t download!”
By Andrew Heining | 06.05.09
Ah, curiosity.
What’s the first thing most people will do when told explicitly not to do something? Exactly - do just that. And that’s what’s happened with Google Chrome for Mac, released in a special pre-beta developer preview late Thursday.
Chrome, the only browser to escape March’s Pwn2Own security challenge uncompromised, had been PC-only since its release last year, leaving Mac and Linux users salivating as it racked up speed and performance accolades.
Early reviews report the same speedy results as available on the Windows version, but offer a note of caution. Let’s put it this way: if a normal browser is a Toyota Camry, this version of Chrome is a stripped-down Corvette – with no cupholders, radio, AC, turn signals, wipers, seatbelts, or, um … doors. Better hang on!
As Chrome Product Managers Mike Smith and Karen Grunberg point out, this version lacks Flash support, privacy settings, the ability to become the default browser, and, uh, printing. But don’t despair, would-be Mac Chrome user! Lots of stuff works. Michael Muchmore, writing for PC Magazine, reports that “most pages I visited displayed just fine, including, for kicks, Bing, Facebook (even the chat), and My Yahoo.”
And man, is it fast. Computerworld’s Greg Keizer reports that Chrome whips the Mac browser competition. Speed tests found it “10 percent faster than Apple’s Safari 4 beta” and “60 percent faster than Mozilla’s latest Firefox.” But these speeds might decrease when the Chrome team adds in all the normal browser amenities.
Leave comments on your experiences with Chrome for Mac (or Linux) in the comments, and for more on Chrome, check out Chris Gaylord’s post on the European Commission’s bid to force Microsoft to bundle browsers besides Internet Explorer with copies Windows.
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2. A J | 06.07.09
I’m trying it, but not incredibly impressed. There is no flash or streaming video. And It won’t let me use two important keyboard commands– cmd + uparrow for home or cmd +downarrow for end. This is the main reason I don’t use Opera. I will probably be sticking with FF for the time being.
3. Art Kocsis | 06.07.09
I have been a promoter and supporter of Google (both the company and their apps), for many years but am finding it harder and harder to do so.
I have tried Google Chrome twice on the PC and find it to be highly over-rated and basically useless. If there is a speed increase over Firefox or Opera it is minimal and insignificant. What I find that IS significant is the arrogance of the installation and the lack of configuration options or user controls.
Not only does Chrome not allow a choice for the installation location, it installs the program in a dedication DATA folder [docs & settings user application data]! Your only choice is “My way or the hi-way!” This abhorrent behavior hasn’t been seen for at least 10 years and only minimally for the preceding 10 years (post MS-DOS). This alone is cause for removal and implies further unfriendly behavior.
User preferences also get the “My way or the hi-way” treatment. For example:
- Bookmarks: No pull down menu to select bookmark - must first invoke bookmark manager,
- Cookies: Minimal controls - no site specific controls, no disposition controls,
- Options: almost non-existent - no Javascript control, no Java control, no pop up control,
- Security: no site control,
- Privacy: no history control,
Just to name a few.
Even though Chrome is a work-in-progress there is no direct way to give Google feedback on chrome. In fact, it is near impossible to send feedback to Google on anything. For example I have found blatant phishing sites in their search results and been frustrated in trying to notify them for investigation and/or removal.
4. Freddie | 06.30.09
Well, maybe for someone who wants control over every detail of their browsing experience Chrome lacks, but what it lacks does not matter to most of us. I never use those features you mentioned, and there is a book mark menu, I’m looking at it right now, in the upper right of the screen, entitled “other bookmarks” — The fact is, this browser loads immediately, displays pages faster and is easier and more intuitive to use. What do I care where it installs? Most people don’t even know where programs install. Have I ever messed with security settings on browsers? No. Security updates are a mystery to me. I guess they are making me more secure, but I don’t notice it. Google Chrome has stood the test of time for me, with me switching back and forth at first, but now I get annoyed by the other browsers.
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1. anonymous | 06.06.09
google chrome is not bad.. im trying it out right now and i have to say its pretty decent.