Ditching Firefox for Google Chrome not an option?

Summary: After my article last week, I received an incredible number of emails explaining why the new version of Chrome still isn't a good alternative for Firefox. There are some valid points, but for me, none of them hit home enough to prevent me from thinking that switching is a great idea.

After my article last week, I received an incredible number of emails explaining why the new version of Chrome still isn't a good alternative for Firefox. There are some valid points, but for me, none of them hit home enough to prevent me from thinking that switching is a great idea.

Here are some of the main complaints that I heard (multiple times) from readers:

1) Printing doesn't work well in Chrome I don't really print anything, so I've never noticed this issue before, but several people complained about the printing engine in Chrome. If you often print out websites, it sounds like you should probably think twice before switching to Google Chrome.

2) Google Chrome is "spyware" This complaint is complete garbage in my opinion. Many people sent me email saying that they would rather take the risk of getting spyware with Firefox or IE than directly installing "spyware" by using Chrome. Comparing Chrome to spyware is ridiculous -- I'd personally take Google Chrome over "spyware" any day -- how about you?

3) Some websites don't work properly still I haven't found any websites that don't work with Chrome, so I can't really speak to this one. There are many people who do seem to have issues still, however.

4) Lack of hardware integration (like fingerprint scanners) Firefox doesn't work either, so this is more of an issue for people that use Internet Explorer. If you have, and use, fingerprint scanners, you are out of luck.

None of these complaints really have me wondering if I should switch or not -- in fact, I've been using Chrome exclusively since the article I wrote last week. I haven't looked back.

Topics: Hardware, Banking, Browser, Data Management, Enterprise Software, Google, Malware, Security, Software

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244 comments
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  • if you chose a side, stick with it and dont pretend to ask questions

    as titled
    crislevin
    • not about sides

      its rediculous you think a person has to "choose a side", of course everyone has their favorite browser, but that hardly means you have to start evangelizing for them. And if you do, that doesn't mean you can't make your best effort to be unbiased. (EVERYONE is biased, its the most basic principle function of how the brain functions) Kudos to the author for the effort. The readers should be able to take an opinion with a grain of salt and decide its value for themselves.

      On a side note, I have noticed one website that doesn't work exactly right. Hotmail. In every version since I started using chrome and on different machines, if I scroll down in my messages I can only select one message at a time, which is a pain in the butt when I'm trying to mass clean the junk mail. The only other issue I've experianced is lacking some plugins, but thats got a lot better as market share has been growing.

      I still use Chrome as my primary browser.
      shadfurman
      • Have you tried Gears?

        Doesn't Hotmail have gears integration? Maybe
        that'll help, but I'm not really very sure if it
        does.
        ZaiberVaireus
    • Irrational

      So, stick to it no matter what?

      Fixed opinions that don't change based on the evidence are ridiculous.

      Always look for a better way. Try everything with an open mind and realise that effort is needed to review the options and make a sensible choice.
      dogknees
  • I like chrome

    don't believe all the paranoia about Chrome being spyware...

    Well on the top of my head, one site that doesn't work with Chrome 4.0l.249.89 unknown (38701) is http://forums.pcworld.com

    All formatting is screwed up and sometimes you don't see the thumbs up/down icons...

    However, editing is screwed up in Firefox 3.6 and IE8 the latest...

    Go figure! So I use Chrome to edit my posts, but IE8 for everything else including sensitive banking...

    Now why this exclusivity thing? Why not use all three of them? This isn't marriage.

    A good craftsman, has more than one hammer...

    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Attack complexity with simplicity.
    ~ Sun Microsystems
    WinTard
    • Works for me

      That's strange, I'm using Chrome and had no
      problem w/the link to pcworld.

      Chrome's clean, fast and doesn't crash (at
      least on me).
      shyster@...
    • Other Options

      I use IE for many of my browsing, but I do have Firefox installed as well, and I just added Chrome to test it. I like that it's faster, however, it doesn't support some of the features that I use, which IE and Firefox have with extensions.

      I also loaded Chromium Plus, which is an offshoot of Chrome, and I seem to like it much better than chrome. It's as fast, looks and feels the same, and some features are standard, without the need of extension. Doesn't have some of the features I use yet, but definitely better than chrome. Some features that are standard (which are with extensions in others) are Gestures, IE like browsing (some pages don't load correctly unless in IE).

      The one feature that would bring me over most fully into Chromium would be full integration of Roboform. As it is currently, the extension doesn't work as well as in IE or Firefox. And I rely heavily on this little program.

      In answer to the main question, I wouldn't ditch Firefox, at least not yet, as firefox has many features supported through extension, which chrome definitely lacks. However, Chrome or chromium, would be a good addition when one needs a quick look at a webpage as it is faster to load.
      Janly
    • Chrome faster than Firefox

      On Win 7, Chrome opens far faster than Firefox and renders pages faster than Firefox. Chrome also offers enough extensions to do want I want the browser to do. Basically, it's become my number two browser behind IE 8, followed by Opera (also faster than Firefox), with Firefox last.
      NameRedacted
      • If You're Addicted to IE, Just Pop in the IE Extension! :D

        When I do find myself in IE8 (rare) it's as a quick
        set up of my router. Where it's safe from actually
        venturing out on the web! lol

        Seriously though, in Chrome Beta (which is better
        than any final release browser) you can install IE
        tab extension and not even have to reboot your
        browser or Win 7! ;)

        As far as the FEAR MONGERS here, M$ has been
        spying on Windows users for ages and we haven't
        heard a peep out of people over that. Right now
        they've come up with a new slant on WGA that
        should be raising some eyebrows. Not to mention
        that they have refused to grant full privileges to
        3rd party Firewall Developers unless they build in
        Microsoft access both on and off your computer.
        They claim it's for their hyper tunnel server
        feature. But that will only be available to
        Corporate Subscription Clients ONLY!

        ...and don't give that OLD M$ bullshizt spiel
        about them not using your personal information
        crapola! haha ;)
        i2fun@...
      • ... and it's not crashing like Firefox

        Folks,
        I like have many tabs opened. 20 tabs is an average. It is when Firefox is getting stuck. It draws ~50% CPU utilization and becomes unresponsive. While I like Firefox very much for its plug-ins, I did not experience this problem with Chrome 2.0. So, go figure...
        zbatia
    • SPYWARE????

      I laughed when I read that some people said it was
      spyware.

      Spyware? They people that said that are employed
      by Microsoft!
      AirborneDude
    • Chrome works best for me

      I've been using Chrome since it came out. I
      used to be a big Firefox supporter but after
      using Chrome it seems too smooth and fast to
      ever use Firefox as my default browser again. I
      tried uninstalling the add ons to pick up speed
      but even then it couldn't keep up and now with
      the Chrome extensions I'm way ahead of the
      game. I've only had 2 web pages not open with
      it so far so I stepped back in time and used
      Firefox and used the sites.
      CapFantasy
      • See your narrow little column of text?

        That is what Chrome does to your postings. It adds linefeeds or line terminations where you did not place them. It also does a terrible job on Blackboard postings, for those who are in college / university. It totally lacks formatting capabilities, even those provided in Java on Web pages.
        Isocrates
        • Rubbish

          I'm looking at this page in both at the moment, and the breaks and widths are identical.
          dogknees
          • You misunderstand

            It's not the output, it's the input. The breaks and widths are (according to the OP) created by Chrome. (I have no idea if that's true, but that's what the OP was claiming)
            Badge3832
        • I Wish It Would Auto-Format Narrow Column Of Text !

          Imminently more readable. Imagine trying to read a
          newspaper with only one column stretched across
          the page.
          Prime Waverider
  • RE: Ditching Firefox for Google Chrome not an option?

    You're right. Those aren't good enough argument, imo. I
    don't really care about #1 and #4. #2 is just ridiculous
    like you said. And #3, eh, most do. I just open up Fx/IE
    if Chrome doesn't like a certain website. But everyone
    has their own preferences, and the more options that
    users have, the better. Plus, competition accelerates
    innovation. That's a win for consumers :)
    eid3tic
    • Competition. That is the best point...

      ...I have seen posted in this forum. We consumers need and deserve the benefits that are the products of competition!
      Isocrates
  • FF or Chrome?

    Neither. They both stink.
    Vokar
    • That' s a bit harsh

      As a senior web developer I still prefer firefox for development reasons.
      But what I hate about both is that I still can' t use a 64 bit version on my
      mac. I think that is why for regular browsing I still prefer Safari.
      Furthermore I' m starting to get annoyed by some little faults/short
      comings in the complete google products set. Everything works, ... ,
      almost (let' s make it beta a decade). I also think I don' t like all my
      information to be available to google and only google.
      Neomusashi