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Topic: Microsoft

Chrome is a browser? What's a browser?

Summary: New users to Chrome sometimes find themselves submersed in a world of confusion. Several users on the Google Chrome discussion group couldn't figure out what exactly Chrome is, or how to get back to "plain old Google".

Garett Rogers

By Garett Rogers for Googling Google |

New users to Chrome sometimes find themselves submersed in a world of confusion. Several users on the Google Chrome discussion group couldn't figure out what exactly Chrome is, or how to get back to "plain old Google".

It's a wonder these internet pioneers figured out how to post their (extremely humorous) questions. Here are a few of the questions that have surfaced about Google Chrome:

"I want the old Google search engine, not Google Chrome. How do I go back to regular old Google? I want to change my default search engine from Chrome to Google. The tools don't help me," asks Orville.

"If I change from Outlook Express to Chrome browser does my E Mail address have to be changed to a G Mail address?" wants to know Haljoan.

"I don't like the design of the Google Chrome.page. All of the toolbars I'm familiar with are missing, and I don't even know how i got it. If I uninstall it, will I be able to get just plain Google?" wonders Stellar.

"Should I remove my original Google now that I have installed Google Chrome?"

-- quotes posted on Google Operating System

Topics: Microsoft, Browser, Collaboration, Google, Software

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  • Like I said....some people...

    ...or rather many people don't understand how to use a computer period. All this "average user can't use Linux" crap is just that....crap. Many people have no clue what they are doing on any OS. They've simply become accustomed to "pictures" and shapes and would become completely lost if you simply rearranged them.
    storm14k
    Reply Vote

    • Some People...

      ...are not adapt to change though. If they have been used to using Windows, for better or worse, changing the UI on them drastically will only cause confusion. To an extent, some would point at Vista with that, even 7 may be that worry, though a level of training will be needed no matter what just to get people caught up.

      Nonetheless, it's a combination of training, time, practice, patience, and possibly a touch of interest to really get the whole understanding.
      clindhartsen
      Reply Vote

    • Those are the people who wouldn't like Linux

      "All this 'average user can't use Linux' crap is just that....crap."

      No it isn't. Your average user can't use Linux. This just spells out why: They hate any sort of change, and guess what? Linux is a huge change. The last thing you want is to get people completely lost.

      . . . and that's why Linux, despite all of their dreams of becoming big on the desktop, isn't going to be a reality.
      CobraA1
      Reply Vote

      • Maybe a test is in order.

        Let's take a pre-configured laptop with say Ubuntu on it and let the average computer Joe try doing his usual things. How bad could it go?

        I agree to the average computer Joe that installing a Linux distro is out of the question and even daring to try a few commands on the command line might be too much. But let him try out a system that is ready to go and see what would happen.
        bricar2
        Reply Vote

        • What would happen

          A rip would occur in the space-time continuum. That's what would happen.
          aspit
          Reply Vote

          • Of course

            Anything that flips the MS fanbois world on its head automatically causes a rip in the space time continuum.

            However, in an alternate universe known as reality... most people will see icons, click them, see Google, and then forget that it's not Windows.

            There will be points where they get lost, but if they don't expect Windows then they will take it as part of the learning process.

            If need evidence of this then look at cell phones, each one is entirely different yet they continue to sell far more of those than computers.

            Some people are slow learners but the ones who are adopting new technology already expect a learning curve.
            T1Oracle
            Reply Vote

          • What would happen? LOL

            pretty much as stated above, except when they try to print/scan/copy something. Then they would say WTF?! Windows can do this.......
            what do I do with my music?.... whats this Flash thingy all about?......where's my finance software? huh, I have to connect to some dutch/german overseas ocx exchange what?!
            Hey, my cell phone is not tranferring files to the machine.....Where's tha paint/photo program....Gimp? whats that? why does it have a zillion windows......screw it, windows can do I what I want and I dont have to learn anything..
            So, what would happen?
            No rip in the space time continuum, just wasted time. I dont mean to bash Linux distros...I am a windows user, and I have used some linux,( it's my fall backback option on an additional drive) albeit in limited fashion due to the statements above. Oh well , bash me away....:-)
            TechMoid
            Reply Vote

      • Pure, unadulterated bull......

        I take users from windows to linux all the time and not one, has found linux to be any harder than Windows. Actually, many of them state that linux is easier to use than Windows.

        Over all I install more linux desktops and servers than Windows, and many others converted from Windows. So I can say, based on experience, your claim is knee deep.
        linux for me
        Reply Vote

      • And

        ironically, they're the ones who would actually benefit by switching to Linux- no malware, software installation only from safe repositories, better community support for the questions of the sort mentioned in the article.

        That aside, most flavors of desktop Linux today offer a much easier computing experience than Windows, it'll take no more than a week to learn how to get the most out of an Ubuntu install for a neophyte used to Windows. It's the power users who have a harder time switching.
        Of course, once the number of these 'clueless' folks using Linux reached a tipping point we'd start seeing a wave of malware being written for Linux. The target isn't the OS, it's the user.
        balaknair
        Reply Vote

      • Hogswallop

        Case in point: the last person I migrated to Linux was happily telling someone that she had gotten "that Ubuntu Windows" and she didn't get viruses anymore. Her favorite feature, weirdly enough, was the file manager because the preview is so good. She thought it was a photo manager.

        With this kind of user, you give them a browser, OpenOffice, add Flash and video codecs, set up the printer, and let them go. They'll rarely if ever even touch the office suite. All they want is a machine that's set up for them and that doesn't break. If they could buy it in a store that would be 2 points to Linux.
        dave.leigh@...
        Reply Vote

    • completely agree, i would extend it to:

      "some/many people shouldn't be allowed to get less than 10 meters close to a computer"

      usually this kind of people is really funny when you let them use vmware/vnc and get 2 desktops in their monitor...
      benitodarder
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Chrome is a browser? What's a browser?

    I don't think Chrome causes confusion. -- Actually I should hate Chrome because it doesn't work well with my website (http://www.cdncast.net/weibo/?p=830).
    I like to use Chrome for two following reasons:
    1. It have bigger read area.
    2. It saves a click to start search.
    boxiongboost
    Reply Vote

    • You "website" is poorly designed . . .

      "Actually I should hate Chrome because it doesn't work well with my website"

      Your "website" seems to have some poorly coded JavaScript on it. The "outlines" that are overlaid on top of the text don't always seem to align correctly on the web page, even when in a major browser.

      "I like to use Chrome for two following reasons:"

      I like to use it because of how easy it makes it to handle tabs and windows.

      BUT - in most major browsers, the reasons you listed are only because you don't know how to use them fully:

      -Heaving a bigger read area isn't much of a big deal, because in current browsers I can hit F11 and go to full screen mode.

      -All major browsers have a search box in the upper right, which can be set to any search provider. I have both Firefox and Internet Explorer set to use Google as the default when searching using the box.

      . . . and despite what you've circled for "this should NOT be a reason" - guess what? It is a reason for many people. Sorry, but you don't get to determine why people do or do not like things. Apparently some people like their toolbars.
      CobraA1
      Reply Vote

      • F11

        Hey, thanks for that F11 tip, I never knew about that, now I can view some tookbars again.
        Clayman1000x
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Chrome is a browser? What's a browser?

    Have tried Chrome a few times, but it stinks compared to Opera. :-)
    Cosmo54
    Reply Vote

    • I just can't get myself to like it.

      . . . and as much as I'd like to like Opera - I just can't get myself to like it. It doesn't seem to be much different than other browsers, except that it has this weird white/black color theme going on that I don't like very much. All things being equal, I like Firefox the best because it has some nice addons I use.
      CobraA1
      Reply Vote

  • Some People Just Don't Get It

    I was once called by a nurse in a hospital yelling at me to get down here and fix her icons on her Windows PC because they moved over an inch. Turned out she had changed the resolution of the screen and once changed back was fixed.
    It doesn't matter what OS, PC or device for that matter. Some users just don't get it .
    hrpuffnstuff
    Reply Vote

  • Well....

    It is true. Some people honestly don't know tetris from openoffice.org. And they don't know the difference between a web browser and a search engine.

    In some ways though it does reflect how integrated the web and web apps have become in an average or sub-average computer user's experience. When they don't know the difference between the desktop and the internet... it seems to me that you could probably hand these people an Ubuntu computer, point them to the web browser, and they'd probably continue on their merry way oblivious of the OS in question. Assuming they could turn the computer on themselves.
    teddybairs1
    Reply Vote

    • Exactly. nt

      nt
      T1Oracle
      Reply Vote

    • ABSOLUTELY TRUE

      And you don't have to worry about them screwing it up or getting eaten by viruses.

      Just don't give them root access. And use one of my favorite stupid pet tricks... when it's just how they like it, simply tar/gzip their home directory. If they do manage to screw it up you can restore it in a heartbeat.
      dave.leigh@...
      Reply Vote
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