at the time was not Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, but a company called Netscape’s Netscape Navigator? It was the world’s most popular browser, accounting for 90% of all web use at its peak..
Microsoft decided to get into the game by bundling Internet Explorer with the new release of their Windows 95 operating system. Back then you had to purchase the Netscape Navigator in order to browse the Internet. Microsoft gave the Internet Explorer to you for free with every purchase of a Windows 95 license. Needless to say, Internet Explorer gained dominance in the web browser market–Internet Explorer usage share peaked at over 95% by 2002..Netscape tried to fight back as best it could, but it was eventually bought out by AOL and has never been a contender since. What Netscape did do was start a foundation called Mozilla in an attempt to produce a competitive browser using the open source software model. That browser would eventually evolve into Firefox.
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I was a huge fan of Firefox when it first came out and was an even bigger fan of its introduction of Tabbed browsing. Firefox was definitely my browser of choice until Google decided to get into the game with Chrome in 2008.
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In just a few short years Google Chrome has climbed to number three on the browser list behind Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Chrome is now the most downloaded browser of all the major browsers including Internet Explorer. It is downloaded now over 117,000 times a day compared to Internet Explorer’s 41,000 per day, according to CNET Download.com.
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So why is Google Chrome becoming the browser that everyone wants to use over Internet Explorer? The three main reasons are speed, simplicity and security.
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Speed
Chrome is designed to be fast in every possible way: It’s quick to start up from your desktop, loads web pages in a snap, and runs complex web applications fast.
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Simplicity
Chrome’s browser window is streamlined, clean and simple.Chrome also includes features that are designed for efficiency and ease of use. For example, you can search and navigate from the same box, and arrange tabs however you wish — quickly and easily.
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Security
Chrome is designed to keep you safer and more secure on the web with built-in malware and phishing protection, autoupdates to make sure the browser is up-to-date with the latest security updates, and more.
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These three features are what got me to try Google Chrome, but there are two other not so popular features that have made me use Chrome as my permanent default browser.
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If you are like me and you enjoy tab browsing to its fullest, you have to understand that when you have too many tabs open at one time, you run the risk of crashing your entire browser due to memory limitations. Not only does Chrome cut down on your browser crashing but it will prevent one browser tab from crashing the others.
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The second feature that has me hooked is the Google Chrome applications. These are applications built specifically for Chrome and come in three varieties called utilities, extensions and themes.
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You can get these applications from the Google Chrome store. These applications are so helpful with my everyday tasks and endeavors that I am not sure what I would do without them. They range in applications that will help you keep track of your social media in Hootsuite to making interactive presentations using SlideRocket to providing a temporary release for downtime with Angry Birds.
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The more I use the Google Chrome browser the more I am becoming ready to eventually go completely to the Cloud with the ultimate use of the Google Chrome OS. I don’t have my Chromebook on order just yet but I am steadily heading that way.
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Downloading and installing Google Chrome is as easy as going to http://www.google.com/chrome and hitting the ‘Download’ button. Google Chrome is free and installs in seconds for Windows XP, Vista, and 7.
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So if you are an Internet Explorer user and have not yet given Google Chrome a try just yet, I highly recommend you do. Even if you find you’re not ready to immediately go Chrome, I would boldly suggest you make it your second choice browser over Mozilla Firefox. More arguments for this to come…
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All the best,
JB
